As Levi locked eyes with Raika, he felt a twist in his gut. That smirk—the same smug, knowing he'd seen earlier before Reinhart interfered, told him everything.
This wasn't about a sparring match. It was payback. Raika had found the perfect opportunity to lay his hands on Levi in front of everyone, and worse, do it without consequence.
Levi clenched his fists, his mind racing.
"Oh come on, we both know that's not fair, man," Kyle said, stepping forward, his arm stretching out protectively in front of Levi like a barrier.
Raika turned his head slightly, still keeping his gaze locked on Levi. "What are you talking about?" he said with a forced casual tone. "He said pick anyone. I picked. So what exactly are you yapping about?"
His voice was calm, but the way his eyes narrowed betrayed his facade.
"Cut it out, Raika," Violet snapped, moving to Kyle's side, her arms crossed, and her tone sharp. "We both know damn well what you're trying to do."
Raika opened his mouth again, likely to fire back but got interrupted.
"That's enough."
All eyes turned to Garron. He hadn't raised his voice to scold, his tone was too warm for that—but it still carried the weight of authority.
He took a few steps forward, arms folded behind his back, scanning their faces with mild curiosity.
Then, he tilted his head, squinting slightly at Kyle and Violet. "Hmm… You two…"
His hand moved to his chin, stroking thoughtfully. "It's vague, but I remember you. Saw you once… then I stopped seeing you for a while."
Violet straightened, caught off guard. "Y-yes, sir," she said, her voice softer than usual. Her hands nervously gripped each other at her waist.
Garron looked at her a moment longer, then turned to Kyle.
"You've grown a bit taller," he muttered, more to himself.
Kyle, as if suddenly realizing he was being studied, snapped to attention like a cartoon soldier. "Kyle, sir!" he declared, his voice comically sharp.
He followed it with an exaggerated salute that made a few of the students nearby stifle chuckles.
Garron blinked, clearly not expecting the energy. A corner of his mouth twitched in amusement.
"And this right here," Kyle said, pointing a thumb toward Violet with pride, "is my friend Violet!"
Violet gave a small nod, her cheeks lightly flushed.
Levi watched her and Kyle, still trying to piece together what Garron's words meant—and whether it would change the situation.
To him, what he just heard wasn't just a casual remark. It was breaking news.
"I saw you once… then suddenly..."
The words echoed in his head. He wasn't just making small talk, he remembered seeing Kyle and Violet.
From what his friends said earlier, he wasn't the kind of individual they'd see casually on the street, which meant he'd seen them somewhere significant.
Somewhere important enough for a man like Garron—someone said to be beyond reach—to recognize their faces.
Levi's breath slowed as the pieces clicked together. That kind of familiarity definitely didn't happen by chance.
There was only one conclusion, Garron saw them here. Which could only mean one thing. Kyle and Violet were once students at Rakuzan.
Levi turned to look at them, his brows raised in disbelief, eyes wide with the clear message. 'You two have a LOT of explaining to do.'
Violet caught the look and gave a nervou6 laugh. "T-trust me…" she said, rubbing the back of her neck with an awkward smile. "It's a pretty loooong story."
Before Levi could press her further, Garron's voice brought him back to the center of attention.
"And what about you, young man?"
Levi blinked, confused for a second until he realized Garron was pointing directly at him.
"M-me?" he asked, instinctively.
It was a dumb question, and he realized that the moment it left his mouth. Of course, he meant him.
Levi gave himself a quick shake. "Right. Yes. Of course me…"
Garron gave a faint smile, as though entertained by the nervous energy. "Yes… you. I've never seen your face before. What's your name? Full name..."
The room went quiet as all the students turned their attention fully onto Levi. He straightened, the moment heavier than he expected.
"Levi, sir," he said clearing his throat. "Levi Starfall."
There was a big of silence then Garron's eyes widened slightly, but it was the most expression not explosive expression he'd shown all day.
And then the whispers came.
"Did he say Starfall?"
"Isn't that Captain Zenon's last name?"
"It was all true…"
The room erupted into a wave of murmurs. There had been speculation, gossip slipping between students like contraband—about a boy who came into the academy alongside Captain Zenon. Despite seeing him with Zenon earlier, they still weren't convinced
And now, he had just confirmed the rumors himself.
Before Levi could process the weight of the whispers around him, something even more startling happened.
In an instant, Garron was suddenly right in front of him. No warning, footsteps, or even wind.
One moment he was almost halfway across the room, and the next, he was standing barely an inch from Levi's face.
Days ago, Levi would've thought it was teleportation. But after traveling with Zenon, seeing the impossible happen firsthand, he knew better. It was speed. Not the kind average humans could grasp, or even average bearers, for that matter.
Levi didn't flinch, but he froze.
Garron leaned in slightly, tilting his head to the left, then the right, as though trying to figure something out about Levi's face.
His eyes scanned with an odd curiosity, as if trying to match him to some image in his mind.
Then, without warning, Garron reached out and touched his cheeks, first turning Levi's head to one side, then the other, inspecting him like a relic from a museum.
Levi was too confused to react.
Suddenly, Garron threw his head back and roared with laughter.
"Well!" he bellowed, his voice booming through the room, "No one thought to inform me we had a new Starfall in our midst!"
He laughed again, deeply amused, his shoulders shaking. His voice carried the kind of wild joy that seemed too big for the space they were in.
Still chuckling, he stepped back and gave his trademark clap—loud and open-palmed, like a mini thunder
"Interesting…" he said, the grin remaining on his face.
"I don't know what your friends were arguing about earlier, but from what I heard, it sounded like you've got some kind of personal issue with Raika over there." He tilted his head slightly and jerked a thumb toward the other end of the room.
Levi followed the gesture.
Raika stood still, arms crossed. He wasn't just watching, he was waiting like a predator sizing up the best way to take down its prey.
"Leave it to Zenon's brother," Garron said, his tone light and teasing, "to pick a fight with a child from of one of the Pillars."
Levi didn't know what he was referring to, but he could guess it was something related to a significant level of power.
Garron turned and began walking back toward the ring, his voice raising slightly, now addressing everyone.
"This is a class," he called out. "A training ground. Not your backyard. All personal issues…" his gaze swept back toward both Raika and Levi, "have no place here."
He paused in his steps, then slowly turned back toward Levi.
"But…" his tone shifted, more casual now, "if you still don't feel comfortable, you can decline."
All eyes turned to Levi again.
Garron had adjusted his expression now, making it seem like he wasn't silently pressuring—despite his words—but giving Levi the freedom to choose.
Levi clenched his fists as he pondered the situation.
Everything in him wanted to walk away. To avoid the drama. To avoid the spectacle. To just survive the day without drawing more attention.
But then his mind went back to Kyle stepping in front of him, Violet speaking up.
How long was he going to keep being protected?
How long was he going to let others fight his battles while he stood behind them, helpless?
He hated it.
Kyle noticed the tension in Levi. He stepped in and placed a reassuring hand on Levi's shoulder.
"You don't have to—"
"I accept," Levi said, cutting him off. His voice was firm as if solidifying his resolve.
He looked up, eyes locked on Garron.
Kyle was startled and Violet's mouth parted slightly, caught off guard. They both didn't expect it.
Garron's lips curled into a wide smile.
"Good!" he said, clapping once. At this point, the whole class had recognized his claps as physical punctuations for his exclamations.
"Now remember—it's a sparring match. No critical injuries. Keep it clean."
That one line gave Levi a little comfort. He didn't know if Raika was all talk, or if he was hiding a dangerous level of skill. And Garron had mentioned something about Pillars and he still wasn't sure what they were.
Either way, it was good to know a leash had just been placed around his neck.
The circular platform in the center of the hall sank an inch, then began to rise again with Levi and Raika stepping onto it from opposite ends.
The air was filled with tension. The eyes of dozens of students locked onto the ring as if they were able to witness a fight deciding the fate of the world.
Garron raised his arm, then dropped it with a sharp motion.
"Begin!"
Raika cracked his neck and walked forward slowly, a smirk already fully formed on his face.
"So... Starfall," he said casually. "Hope you don't disappoint. Would be a real shame if you ended up being just a tagalong carrying that name."
Levi didn't answer. He recognized the taunt and ignored it. He just exhaled quietly, bracing himself.
Then, barely audible, he muttered, "System... heed my call."
And the System responded accordingly.
[Battle Mode Initiated]
[Passive Skill: Physical Enhancement - Active]
"Well this is new..." This was the first time Levi had gotten this notification. "It really has gotten more talkative"
The world around him became sharper.
He could see every shift in Raika's body, every inch of movement in his stance.
Raika charged first.
Their initial exchanges were quick. Jabs, and sidesteps. Sweeps and dodges. Thanks to the System, Levi's timing was amplified.
The crowd murmured as they traded blows. These weren't beginner movements. But while Raika was clearly more refined, Levi was inexperienced in battle against a human.
He simply held his ground by mimicking fighting moves he had seen on TV.
It was copied, but enough to surprise more than a few in the audience.
Then it happened. Raika suddenly leapt back, landing several feet away.
That grin returned, stretched wider this time.
"Nice warm-up Starfall." he said mockingly.
Before Levi could respond, he saw a yellow spark where Raika stood, and in the blink of an he was gone.
Levi barely had time to register it before his eyes caught him—a blur, now standing a few feet close to him. Charging with an outstretched arm curled into a fist.
[Warning]
[Special Attack Incoming]
[User does not possess enough strength to counter]
[User is advised to dodge]
It didn't have to tell him twice.
Levi grit his teeth as he moved backwards trying to dodge.
"What the hell...?"