After the first confrontation—one that left most of Class Alpha in stunned awe of Kai Morgenstern—a heavy anticipation settled over the training grounds.
All eyes turned toward Professor Phoenix, waiting for her to announce the next pair. She did not disappoint. Her icy voice soon cut through the silence.
"The next match… Serena Valerian versus Isabella de Luna."
A ripple of hushed whispers spread among the students. This was another promising clash. Serena Valerian, with her calm beauty and commanding presence… and Isabella "Izzy" de Luna, with her captivating looks and confidence that sometimes bordered on arrogance.
Orderly strength versus deceptive chaos, I thought, watching the two girls step into the center of the arena.
Serena, with her focus and discipline, against Izzy, with her cunning and her ability to turn reality into a puppet stage. This will be a battle of wills as much as skill.
Serena stood poised in the arena, her long silver hair falling smoothly over her shoulders. Her amber eyes were sharp and focused, carefully studying Izzy. She didn't assume an aggressive stance; instead, she stood firm, feet slightly apart, arms relaxed at her sides. Yet there was a hidden tension in her posture—like a coiled spring ready to snap.
Isabella de Luna, on the other hand, stood with effortless grace and confidence, a playful smile curling on her lips. Her jet-black hair swayed lightly in the breeze, and her emerald eyes shimmered with mischief. She looked as though she were about to play an entertaining game, not engage in a potentially dangerous duel.
"A match between two of the most beautiful and talented girls in class," a student near me whispered.
"I bet this will be more of a show than a fight."
Don't be naive, I thought, shaking my head internally.
Beauty can be deceiving. Both of them possess skills that can be deadly under the right circumstances.
"Begin!" Professor Phoenix's voice rang out.
Neither of them attacked immediately. They simply watched each other, like two cats preparing to pounce.
Then, without warning, Izzy moved.
She didn't charge forward—instead, she took a graceful sidestep.
"Whoosh!"
At that very moment, it seemed as though three additional copies of her appeared around Serena, each taking a different offensive stance. There was no flash, no sound—just a sudden, unbelievable manifestation.
I observed carefully. The ability to create complex visual and auditory illusions. The question is… are they merely static images, or can she move and interact with them?
Serena didn't panic.
She closed her eyes for the briefest moment, then reopened them—her focus sharper than before. Slowly, she raised her hands in front of her as a thin aura of energy began to form around them. It wasn't golden like Ethan's—it carried a faint sky-blue hue, dancing like frozen water or gentle wind.
[Spirit Storm Blade]
Rank: A
Description:
A versatile skill that allows the user to sense and manipulate surrounding spiritual energy, merging it with physical combat while granting it basic elemental properties (currently: wind, ice). It also enhances perception of surrounding auras.
A skill capable of shaping spiritual energy into elemental forms—here, it resembled the essence of wind or ice.
"Are you planning to fight with your eyes closed, dear?" one of Izzy's copies teased, her voice dripping with mockery as the others began slowly circling Serena.
[Shimmering Illusion Weaver]
Rank: A-
Description:
A skill that manipulates mana to create complex, realistic sensory illusions targeting primarily the opponent's visual and auditory perception. Designed for misdirection, confusion, and tactical advantage.
She's trying to overwhelm her senses and pressure her mentally, I thought.
The illusions aren't just visual—they're auditory too. That makes it far more dangerous.
But Serena didn't respond.
Instead, as more blue energy gathered around her hands, she exhaled calmly—then suddenly opened her palms.
"Fwoosh!"
A wave of cold wind burst outward—not strong enough to deal damage, but enough to make Izzy's illusions flicker slightly, like unstable images.
"Oh, a chilly touch. Refreshing," the nearest illusion remarked, though there was a hint of surprise in her tone.
Serena wasn't relying on sight alone.
Her skill granted enhanced aura perception. She could sense subtle disturbances in mana flow caused by Izzy's illusions—or even "see" Izzy's true energy signature hidden among them.
As for Izzy… I recalled the details of her skill from the novel as I watched the scene unfold.
These weren't mere static illusions or simple tricks. She could grant some of them temporary "presence"—allowing limited physical interaction. A classic tactic: bait the opponent into wasting attacks on false targets while the active illusion strikes.
I already knew how this fight would end from what I'd read—but even with my hazy memory, seeing it unfold in reality was surreal.
It felt like watching a movie whose ending you already knew… yet still enjoying the performances and direction.
Suddenly, one of Izzy's copies lunged at Serena from the side, fist aimed at her face. At the same time, another moved from behind, trying to grab her legs.
Serena reacted with astonishing agility. She ducked under the incoming punch while pivoting on her heel—her leg, now wrapped in blue energy, sweeping in a fast spinning kick toward the rear attacker.
"Whoosh!"
Her kick passed straight through it. Just an illusion… bait.
As expected, I thought.
Izzy uses multiple illusions as decoys to force mistakes or expose defenses.
But Serena didn't lose focus.
Mid-spin, with impressive reflexes, she redirected her movement—driving a blue-energy-coated punch straight toward the frontal Izzy, who was still advancing.
This time, it connected.
"Bam!"
"Ow!"
A muffled cry escaped as the front Izzy staggered back, her playful smile vanishing, replaced by shock and pain.
"Fwoosh!"
At the same moment, the other illusions vanished entirely.
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
Izzy couldn't maintain all illusions as solid simultaneously—it would consume too much mana. Instead, she selected one at a time to act as the "active" vessel.
And Serena, thanks to her enhanced energy perception, hadn't necessarily identified the real Izzy—but she had sensed the concentration of mana and true intent within the active illusion and struck it effectively.
This is a battle of perception as much as illusion.
Now that Izzy's trick had been exposed, the fight grew more direct—and more cautious.
Izzy, realizing Serena wasn't easily fooled, began moving faster, creating new illusions constantly. She shifted tactics.
"Shhh!"
One moment, five copies surrounded Serena—the next, four vanished, replaced by a towering giant version looming in the distance. She was distorting perception—distance, size, number.
Serena, however, remained composed. She didn't rush blindly. Instead, she fired small bursts of blue energy—now leaning more toward ice than wind, leaving faint frost trails in the air.
"Bam! Bam! Bam!"
She used them to test illusions or create a cold field around herself, making it harder for Izzy to approach undetected.
"This… feels more like a dance than a fight," Leo von Falkenhayn murmured, watching intently, his eyes analyzing every movement.
At one point, Izzy created an illusion of Serena herself behind the real one, preparing to strike—a clever attempt to force hesitation.
But Serena didn't turn.
"Fwoooooosh!!!"
Instead, she unleashed a sharp wave of icy energy across the ground, freezing part of the arena floor. The reflected light briefly revealed a faint, misplaced shadow—Izzy's true position, hidden among the illusions.
"Found you," Serena said calmly, dashing toward it, her fists coated in sharp ice.
Izzy was caught off guard and was forced to drop her illusions to defend.
"Boom!"
Their fists collided, a dull sound echoing as cold energy met a hastily formed defensive barrier.
Now, it became a direct melee fight.
Serena struck with precise, fast punches and kicks, each blow enhanced with freezing energy that added weight and biting cold.
"Boom!"
"Bam—thud!"
Izzy, though not a top-tier physical fighter, moved with surprising agility—dodging, weaving, and countering when possible, still using minor visual tricks to disrupt Serena's focus.
The fight was remarkably even.
Serena's raw power and discipline matched Izzy's adaptability and deception.
Both were sweating now, breathing heavily. It was clear the duel was draining their mana and focus—especially since their overall ranks didn't allow prolonged use of high-tier skills.
This is the real challenge, I thought.
Not just power—but focus, mana management, and decision-making under pressure.
Then—
"Fwoosh!"
In what felt like a turning point, Izzy deceived Serena with a perfectly timed illusion of a wall appearing in front of her.
Serena hesitated for just a moment.
That moment was enough.
"Bam!!"
Izzy drove her elbow into Serena's side.
"Ah!"
Serena staggered back, clutching her ribs.
Izzy smiled briefly. "Huff… looks like the storm… has calmed—huff…"
But Serena didn't lose focus.
"Not yet."
"Bam!!"
Instead of attacking directly, she slammed her ice-coated foot into the ground.
"Fwaaaash!"
A wave of sharp frost spread across the arena floor—not aimed at Izzy, but at the terrain itself, creating a slick, unstable surface.
Izzy lost her footing for a split second.
This time, Serena seized the opportunity.
She rushed forward, dodged a wild strike, grabbed Izzy's arm, and forcefully—but skillfully—pushed her toward the edge of the arena.
Izzy tried to recover, but between the icy surface and Serena's momentum—it was too late. Her foot crossed the boundary line.
"The match… is over!" Professor Phoenix , her voice cutting through the tension. "Winner: Serena Valerian."
Serena exhaled in relief, the ice around her hands slowly fading, her face flushed with exertion.
Izzy stood outside the arena, catching her breath—but a small smile lingered on her lips, carrying a hint of frustration.
"That was a good fight, Valerian," she said, extending her hand.
"Your illusions weren't bad either."
Serena shook her hand, a rare, genuine smile appearing on her face.
"And you too, de Luna… you were a truly difficult opponent."
Well, well, I thought in surprise.
The intense clash had forged a sense of mutual respect between two completely different personalities.
This… was the beginning of their friendship.
A bond that would last throughout the story.
As they walked away together, quietly chatting and even laughing, the atmosphere in the arena shifted. It was no longer just a place of evaluation and combat… but perhaps somewhere bonds could form.
Maybe not every ending in this academy has to be tragic or cynical…
I glanced at Professor Phoenix, who continued writing her notes coldly, as if she hadn't noticed the rare "human" moment.
"The next match," she announced, and the tension returned instantly, "will be Drake Mallory versus Leonard von Falkenhayn."
Oh, this should be interesting, I thought, quickly discarding thoughts of hope and friendship.
The serpent versus the fortress… cunning against strategy. I can't wait to see how this ends.