While Chrono continued fighting Alex in the arena…
Almost no one paid attention.
To the other cadets, it was simply a duel between two low-ranked students, and most were busy with their own matches.
However—
Two pairs of eyes were quietly observing.
At the edge of the training grounds stood Professor Clara and Professor Nox Valen.
Clara frowned as she watched Alex's erratic movements.
"That boy…"
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"He swallowed a Chaos Stone."
She folded her arms.
"Those are strictly forbidden under academy regulations."
She glanced toward Nox.
"Should we interfere now?"
But Professor Nox didn't answer immediately.
His sharp blue eyes weren't on Alex.
They were fixed on Chrono.
"…That child."
After a moment he spoke.
"What rank is he?"
Clara glanced down at the tablet in her hand and quickly checked the student list.
Her eyebrows rose slightly.
"Oh?"
"He's Rank #2500."
Nox looked mildly surprised.
"The last ranked cadet?"
Clara nodded.
"Yes."
Then she added casually,
"He's also quite troublesome."
Nox tilted his head slightly.
"Troublesome?"
Clara sighed.
"Yesterday he was sleeping in my class."
She shook her head.
"These youngsters truly have no fear."
Nox let out a quiet chuckle.
"Is that so…"
His gaze returned to Chrono.
"Interesting."
After a brief pause he spoke again.
"Let's wait."
Clara raised an eyebrow.
"If he can't handle it…"
"We'll step in."
Nox nodded.
"But for now…"
"I want to see how he fights."
Chrono stepped back, his boots scraping against the stone floor of the training arena.
Across from him, Alex stood hunched forward, breathing heavily.
His eyes were bloodshot.
Veins bulged across his neck as dark mana pulsed violently through his body.
The Chaos Stone had completely consumed his sanity.
Yet despite the madness, Alex grinned.
A feral growl escaped his throat.
"Grrrr…!"
Without warning, he lunged forward again.
His sword tore through the air in a crude but monstrously powerful swing.
CLANG!
Chrono raised his blade and parried.
The impact rattled through his arms.
Damn…
His strength has almost doubled.
Alex didn't stop.
He swung again.
And again.
Each strike was reckless, heavy, and wild — but the raw power behind them forced Chrono backward step by step.
Dust scattered across the arena floor as Chrono slid back.
From the sidelines, a few students began noticing the fight.
At first it was only a handful.
But soon more heads began turning.
"Hm?"
"Isn't that the last ranked kid?"
"Wait… that other guy… something's wrong with him."
Alex's movements were clearly abnormal now.
His swings were erratic.
His breathing unstable.
Dark veins crawled across his skin like cracks.
A few students frowned.
"Why is he bleeding so much?"
"Is that… mana backlash?"
Yet the duel continued.
Chrono exhaled slowly.
"Paradox."
A blue screen flickered faintly before his eyes.
[SKILLS]
Time Perception – Lv.1
Type: Passive
Effect:
Slightly slows the user's perception of time during moments of danger.
Future Skills: Locked
Chrono narrowed his eyes.
"Time perception… huh."
As if responding to his thoughts, another notification appeared.
[QUEST]
Defeat Alex and uncover the truth.
Reward:
• Time Perception → Lv.2
• New Skill
Chrono's lips curled slightly.
"Now that sounds interesting."
Before he could think further—
Alex roared.
"RAAAAGH!"
He rushed forward like a beast unleashed.
His sword crashed down with terrifying force.
But the moment the blade descended—
Something changed.
The world slowed.
Not physically.
But in Chrono's mind.
Alex's movement stretched out.
Every muscle contraction.
Every shift of weight.
Every swing of the blade.
Chrono could see it all.
So this is Time Perception.
The sword that should have struck him instantly now felt slower.
Predictable.
Chrono tilted his head slightly.
The blade missed his shoulder by a hair.
WHOOSH.
Before Alex could recover—
Chrono stepped forward.
One precise strike.
SLASH.
The cut landed across Alex's ribs.
Blood sprayed.
Gasps rose from the sidelines.
"Did you see that?!"
"He moved so fast—"
But Alex didn't even flinch.
Instead—
He laughed.
A twisted, broken laugh.
"HAHAHAHA—!"
Alex swung again wildly.
Chrono frowned.
He really feels no pain.
The Chaos Stone was pushing his body far beyond its limit.
Muscles tearing.
Bones straining.
But Alex didn't care.
He charged again like a berserker.
Chrono clicked his tongue.
"If I keep trading blows like this…"
…I'll lose stamina first.
His purple eyes sharpened.
Then I just need to end this quickly.
Alex rushed forward again.
But this time—
Chrono stepped inside the attack.
Alex's sword slammed violently into the ground.
Before he could pull it back—
Chrono twisted his blade.
A clean arc.
SLASH.
The strike landed directly on Alex's wrist.
CRACK.
Alex's sword fell from his hand.
Students around the arena gasped.
"That kid's arm—!"
"He broke it!"
Alex froze.
Chrono moved again.
One final strike.
THUD.
The hilt of Chrono's sword smashed into Alex's temple.
Alex collapsed instantly.
The arena fell silent.
For a moment…
No one spoke.
More students had now gathered around the arena, staring at Alex's battered body lying on the ground.
"Wasn't that guy ranked around 1900?"
"How did the last ranked kid win…?"
"That other guy looks seriously injured…"
Whispers spread rapidly.
Then a notification appeared before Chrono.
[QUEST COMPLETED]
Defeat Alex and uncover the truth.
Rewards:
• Time Perception → Lv.2
• New Skill Unlocked: Future Trace
Chrono blinked slowly.
"Future Trace…?"
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He closed the system window and sheathed his sword.
Without saying a word, Chrono turned and began walking toward Professor Nox.
But just as he stepped out of the arena—
His body suddenly stiffened.
An instinctive chill ran down his spine.
Chrono's eyes shifted to the side.
And there—
Standing near the edge of the training grounds—
Was Vayne Desmond.
The silver-eyed girl was staring directly at him.
Not casually.
Not curiously.
She was watching him.
Her pale face remained completely expressionless.
And she didn't even bother hiding it.
For a brief moment, their gazes met.
Chrono felt the strange sensation again.
The same unsettling feeling he had during her match earlier.
…What the hell is with this girl?
Vayne continued staring at him silently.
Then—
She slowly turned away.
As if nothing had happened.
Chrono frowned slightly before continuing toward Professor Nox.
But one thought lingered in his mind.
She definitely saw something.
Chrono continued walking toward the instructors.
Around the arena, whispers were still spreading among the cadets.
"Did you see that?"
"The last ranked guy actually won…"
"That other dude looks completely wrecked…"
Several students were now staring openly at Alex's unconscious body lying in the arena.
Dark veins still faintly crawled across his skin.
Professor Clara stepped forward first, her brows furrowing as she examined him from a distance.
"…So it truly was a Chaos stone."
But before she could say anything else—
Professor Nox suddenly walked into the arena.
His presence alone made the surrounding students quiet down.
The tall man with sharp blue eyes and long white hair looked down at Alex's unconscious body.
For a brief moment, his gaze hardened.
"…Enough."
His voice was calm, but it carried across the entire training ground.
"Cadets."
"The session ends here."
A wave of murmurs spread through the crowd.
"But sir—"
"Dismissed."
The moment the word left his mouth, the authority behind it made the remaining protests die instantly.
Students began dispersing from the training grounds, though many still glanced back at the arena with curiosity.
Professor Nox crouched beside Alex.
He grabbed the boy's collar and lifted him up effortlessly as if he weighed nothing.
Chrono noticed it immediately.
…That's insane strength.
Even unconscious, Alex's body looked heavy and completely limp, yet Nox lifted him with one arm.
Professor Clara walked closer.
Her eyes scanned Alex carefully.
"…Mana corruption."
Clara's expression darkened slightly.
Nox then turned his head slightly.
His sharp gaze landed on Chrono.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Chrono felt as if he were being completely examined.
Not just his movements.
But everything about him.
Then Nox spoke calmly.
"You."
Chrono stopped walking.
"…Yes, professor?"
Nox studied him for another second.
Then he spoke.
"You handled yourself well."
Chrono didn't reply.
After a moment, Nox continued.
"Report to the training grounds again tomorrow."
"…Understood."
Without another word, Nox turned away and began walking toward the academy building with Alex's body in his grasp.
Professor Clara followed behind him.
Soon the training grounds were nearly empty.
Only a few cadets remained nearby.
Chrono exhaled quietly.
Chaos Stones inside the academy…
His mind drifted briefly to a certain noble.
Jake Umbra.
But another thought quickly followed.
That silver-haired girl.
Chrono glanced across the training grounds.
But Vayne Desmond was already gone.
As if she had never been there.
Chrono frowned slightly.
…That girl is strange.
He turned and began walking back toward the dormitories.
But somewhere inside the academy—
A certain noble was starting to panic.