The stands were packed.
Thousands of students filled every seat and walkway around the Lemurian Combat Arena, some leaning against the stone railings, others sitting in tight clusters, whispering excitedly about the matches to come. This was the Lemurian Hunter Academy Tournament. For many, it would be their first real taste of combat against opponents of similar strength. For others, it was simply a stage to prove what they already believed about themselves.
Aaron and Rei found seats in the lower spectator section with a clear view of the arena floor. The arena itself was massive, at least two hundred meters across, its circular walls reinforced with steel and embedded with faintly glowing runic arrays. Those formations existed for one purpose: to keep the fighting contained so no stray ability turned the audience into casualties.
Rei leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, staring down at the empty arena floor.
"…Brother Aaron."
"Yes?"
Rei rubbed his face with both hands. "This place suddenly feels very serious."
Aaron gave a small smile. "That's because people are about to start hitting each other soon."
Rei groaned. "Please don't say it so calmly."
Then a loud metallic bell rang out across the arena.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The crowd gradually quieted. At the center of the arena floor, a tall figure stepped onto the circular combat platform with his hands behind his back. Instructor Glenn. Even from a distance, the quiet authority in his posture was enough to settle the remaining noise without a word. When the arena finally fell silent, he began.
"Students. Welcome to the Annual Lemurian Hunter Academy Combat Tournament."
A wave of cheers rolled through the stands. Glenn waited for it to fade before continuing, his voice carrying the unhurried weight of someone who never needed to raise it to be heard.
"This tournament exists for one reason. To determine the strongest awakened fighters among this year's students." He raised one hand slightly. "But strength alone is not enough. A true hunter must possess combat awareness, adaptability, and courage."
The students listened without interrupting. Glenn's tone shifted slightly, becoming harder at the edges.
"Many of you will eventually leave this academy. You will step beyond the city walls. You will face monsters that do not hesitate. You will fight battles where hesitation means death."
The arena was unusually still. Everyone understood what was underneath those words.
"This tournament will prepare you for that reality." He gestured toward the arena floor. "The rules are simple. First: combat ends when one participant is unable to continue. Second: killing blows are strictly forbidden. Any attempt to intentionally kill an opponent results in immediate disqualification and disciplinary action." He raised a third finger. "Third: once a participant surrenders, the match ends immediately."
He paused, then continued in a slightly louder voice.
"Matches will take place one at a time. Victory advances you. Defeat eliminates you." He lowered his hand. "The qualification battles will now begin."
Excitement surged through the stands. The large display screens mounted above the stadium lit up simultaneously, names scrolling across them in long rolling lines. Students immediately craned their necks searching for their own.
Rei leaned forward with visible anxiety. "Where's mine… where's mine…"
Aaron looked up calmly. His name hadn't appeared yet. Then the first match locked into place on the screen.
**Match 1 — Luna Sane vs Kazuma Yagami**
The crowd reacted at once.
"Luna?"
"The Frostblade user!"
"She's fighting first?"
Rei slapped his knee. "Brother Aaron! Look!" Aaron had already seen it.
One of the side gates along the arena floor slowly opened. A slender figure walked out into the light, silver-blue hair catching the sun, a long frost spear resting in her hand with practiced ease. Luna moved to the center of the arena at a steady, unhurried pace, and the crowd leaned forward almost as one.
"She's beautiful…"
"And terrifying."
"Her blade techniques are insane."
Her expression remained completely calm throughout. Moments later, the opposite gate opened and a tall boy entered carrying a heavy axe across his shoulder. Kazuma, D-Rank Berserker. He glanced across at Luna and scratched the back of his head with a somewhat resigned expression.
"…Looks like I'm unlucky. I didn't expect to fight the Frostblade user in the first round."
Luna looked at him quietly. "Are you surrendering?"
Kazuma blinked. "…That direct?"
She didn't answer. The arbiter instructor stepped between them, his voice cutting across the arena.
"Both participants. Prepare."
The stands went tense. Even Rei stopped talking. The arbiter raised his hand, held it for one breath, then dropped it.
"Begin!"
Kazuma roared and drove forward immediately, his heavy axe swinging down with surprising force and speed. But Luna was already moving, her body shifting sideways like water redirecting around a stone. The axe slammed into the arena floor with a crack that echoed through the lower stands. Before Kazuma could pull it back, a cold flash of silver-blue cut through the air. The blade hilt struck his wrist cleanly. The axe spun away across the stone. Then the blade tip came to rest directly at his throat.
The arena froze. The match had lasted less than three seconds.
Kazuma stared at the blade with wide eyes. "…That was fast."
Luna withdrew the blade without a word. The arbiter raised his hand.
"Winner. Luna Sane."
The crowd erupted. Rei shot to his feet immediately.
"Beautiful!"
Then he sat back down and cleared his throat. "…I mean her technique."
Aaron smiled slightly. On the arena floor below, Luna was already walking toward the exit. But just before she passed through the gate, she glanced up toward the spectator section. Her eyes met Aaron's briefly, carrying nothing readable in them. Then she was gone.
Above the arena, the display screens shifted to the next match.
**Rei Lang Vs....**