Theo's POV
Normal didn't last.
It never did.
The training grounds were active again.
Students moved through drills.
Spells flashed.
Weapons clashed.
Everything looked the same—
But it wasn't.
Because this time—
The attention didn't spread randomly.
It focused.
On us.
Class D.
"…Here we go again," Kairo muttered.
I didn't respond.
Because I already saw them.
Approaching.
Not in a rush.
Not loud.
Confident.
Like they didn't need to prove anything.
Three of them.
Uniforms marked clearly.
Class B.
A small shift in the field followed.
Students noticed.
Some slowed.
Others stopped entirely.
Because everyone knew what this meant.
"…They're not even hiding it anymore," someone behind me whispered.
They didn't need to.
Not when the gap between classes made things like this feel… justified.
One of them stepped forward.
Tall.
Calm.
A faint smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"…Class D," he said.
"…You recovered quickly."
No greeting.
No respect.
Just acknowledgment.
Kairo clicked his tongue slightly.
"…What do you want?" he asked.
The Class B student tilted his head slightly.
"…Straight to the point. I like that."
A pause.
"…We heard something interesting."
My focus sharpened.
"…About your last gate."
Of course.
The rumors had already spread.
"…And?" Kairo said.
"…We wanted to see if it was real."
That wasn't a request.
It wasn't curiosity.
It was a challenge.
"…You came all the way here for that?" Kairo asked.
"…Partly."
The student's gaze shifted.
Landing on me.
"…And partly for him."
The field grew quieter.
Not silent.
But close.
Because now—
It was direct.
"…Theo, right?" he said.
I didn't react immediately.
Just met his gaze.
"…Yeah."
His smile sharpened slightly.
"…You're the one who caused that opening."
"…I got hit," I replied.
"…And survived."
That again.
People were focusing on the wrong part.
"…Barely," I said.
He didn't respond.
But his eyes didn't move away.
"…We want to test something," he said.
There it was.
"…Not interested," I replied.
Kairo glanced at me slightly.
Probably expecting that answer.
The Class B student didn't look surprised.
If anything—
He looked amused.
"…That wasn't a request."
A step forward.
The air shifted slightly.
Pressure.
Controlled.
Intentional.
Not overwhelming—
But enough to make the difference clear.
Class B.
Higher rank.
Higher control.
"…You don't get to choose when you're challenged," he continued.
"…Not at your level."
Silence spread again.
Because no one disagreed.
Not openly.
This was normal.
Expected.
Accepted.
"…Then I'll decline anyway," I said.
A pause.
The pressure in the air tightened slightly.
Not explosive.
But sharper.
"…You think you can?" he asked.
I didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
Because—
I stepped forward.
Just enough.
Not aggressive.
Not defensive.
Just—
Present.
The movement alone shifted the atmosphere.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
Kairo exhaled quietly beside me.
"…You're really doing this," he muttered.
"…Looks like it."
Because avoiding it—
Would only make it worse later.
The Class B student watched me for a second.
Then—
He smiled.
This time—
Genuine.
"…Good."
He stepped back slightly.
Giving space.
Opening the field.
"…Let's keep it simple," he said.
"…One exchange."
Not a full fight.
Not a drawn-out match.
Just—
A test.
"…Fine," I said.
Because that was enough.
For now.
The space between us cleared.
Students backed away.
Creating distance.
Creating a stage.
I stood still.
Breathing steady.
Awareness expanding.
Not rushing.
Not forcing.
The air responded faintly.
Moisture gathered.
Subtle.
Controlled.
Across from me—
His stance shifted.
Relaxed.
But ready.
Confidence in every movement.
"…Whenever you're ready," he said.
I didn't move immediately.
Because this time—
I wasn't trying to overpower anything.
Just—
One point.
One action.
The space in front of me tightened.
Condensed.
Focused.
Then—
It moved.
A sharp, controlled stream shot forward.
Fast.
Clean.
Precise.
His reaction was instant.
A slight shift.
A minimal movement.
Enough.
The attack passed just beside him.
Missing.
But—
Not completely.
The edge clipped his sleeve.
Tearing it slightly.
A small mark.
Nothing serious.
But not nothing either.
The field went still.
For just a moment.
Because that—
Shouldn't have happened.
Not from Class D.
Not from me.
The Class B student looked at his sleeve.
Then back at me.
The smile faded.
Not replaced with anger.
But something else.
Interest.
"…So the rumors weren't completely wrong," he said quietly.
The air shifted again.
But this time—
Different.
More focused.
More serious.
"…My turn."
His presence sharpened.
Mana gathered.
Clean.
Controlled.
Stronger than before.
I felt it immediately.
The difference in level.
The gap.
Clear.
Obvious.
But I didn't move.
Didn't step back.
Didn't hesitate.
Because this time—
I was ready for that.
His attack came fast.
Direct.
No wasted motion.
A strike meant to end the exchange.
I reacted instantly.
Not by forcing power—
But by adjusting.
Shifting.
The flow around me responded.
Condensing at a single point—
Interception.
The moment the two forces met—
Impact.
Pressure.
Control.
I held it—
For a second—
Then redirected.
Just enough to deflect the path.
The attack shifted—
Missing its direct line.
Passing beside me.
Close.
Too close.
But not enough.
Silence.
Then—
The pressure disappeared.
Just like that.
The Class B student lowered his hand.
Watching me carefully.
No smile this time.
No mockery.
Just—
Focus.
"…Interesting," he said.
A pause.
"…Very interesting."
The tension in the field slowly eased.
Students started breathing again.
Moving again.
But the attention—
Didn't fade.
Because something had changed.
Not the rankings.
Not officially.
But perception.
He stepped back fully this time.
Turning slightly.
"…We'll leave it there," he said.
Not dismissal.
Not defeat.
Just—
Conclusion.
"…For now."
He walked away.
The others followed.
No more words.
No more pressure.
But the message was clear.
This wasn't over.
"…You clipped him," Kairo said quietly.
"…Barely."
"…That's not the point."
I didn't respond.
Because I already knew.
This wasn't a win.
Not even close.
But it wasn't nothing either.
And for now—
That was enough.
I exhaled slowly.
Letting the tension leave my body.
But even then—
That presence inside me remained.
Unmoved.
Unchanged.
Watching.
Waiting.
Like it had seen everything—
And wasn't impressed.