The simulation portal had been closed for several minutes.
And yet, the arena had not returned to its usual bustle.
Not because the fight had been impressive.
But because it had been… empty.
Stands — General Perception
— "That's it?"
A Class B student shrugged.
— "Honestly, the simulation seemed weak."
— "He didn't even break a sweat."
Others nodded in agreement.
— "Even Milim did better."
— "And Douriel, don't even get me started."
In the stands, the atmosphere quickly returned to normal.
Conversations drifted; attention wandered.
For the majority…
Nothing had happened.
Milim and Douriel
Milim furrowed her brow slightly.
— "Honestly…"
— "I didn't feel anything special."
Douriel nodded.
— "Same."
— "The simulation opponent seemed off."
They weren't mocking.
Just… honest.
The fight had generated no perceptible pressure. No mana waves. No rising sense of danger.
Nothing.
— "Not even worth serious training," Milim concluded.
And yet…
Diopha
Diopha had not looked away for a single second.
He was motionless. Silent.
His fingers had clenched without him realizing it.
— "…"
Something was wrong.
Not in what he had seen.
But in what he hadn't felt.
It was exactly the same unease as in the System Dungeon. The same feeling as facing his Alter Ego.
— A total absence of read.
Next to him, Keldis Yerger was just as silent.
He wasn't looking at the screens anymore.
He was looking at the floor.
— "Diopha."
His voice was low.
— "You understand, right?"
Diopha answered without looking at him.
— "Yes."
They were both mistaken.
Both of them.
But they were already much closer to the truth than the others.
Mini-Zenkai
Mini-Zenkai floated lazily above the backrest of the seat, staring at the screens as if this were some old replay he'd watched a hundred times.
— "Tch…"
He shook his head.
— They're completely blind.
Diopha clenched his jaw.
— "Explain."
Mini-Zenkai slowly turned his head toward him.
His expression was no longer amused.
— What you just saw…
— is a compression of reality.
Diopha frowned.
— "Compression?"
— Yes.
— The simulation didn't fail because the opponent was weak.
He paused.
— It failed because it couldn't exist in the presence of him.
Diopha's heart skipped a beat.
What Actually Happened
— The Special Class opponent didn't attack.
— It imposed its presence.
Mini-Zenkai snapped his fingers.
— Simulation parameters rely on laws.
— Resistance, adaptation, countermeasures.
— But this opponent…
— operates above those laws.
Diopha felt a cold shiver.
— "You mean…"
— Yes.
Mini-Zenkai smiled, without joy.
— It was stronger than your Alter Ego.
Silence fell abruptly in Diopha's mind.
— "…Impossible."
— Your Alter Ego was a version of you with +1% synchronization.
— But it was still bound by rules.
— The opponent you just saw…
— wasn't even playing on the same field.
Mini-Zenkai crossed his arms.
— It didn't use any visible hax or brute force.
— It simply existed at a level where the simulation…
He gestured vaguely.
— …couldn't contain it.
Keldis (Silent Thought)
Keldis slowly clenched his fist.
— I was wrong.
He had thought this opponent was "just" very strong.
But no.
— It wasn't a beast.
— It was a predator holding itself back.
Back to Reality
Around them, students were already talking about something else.
The next fight was about to begin.
Another portal opened.
— "Special Class — next member."
Diopha raised his eyes.
— "How many…"
Mini-Zenkai answered immediately.
— How many are like this?
He smiled.
— More than you think.
— And fewer than you hope.
Diopha took a deep breath.
For the first time in a long while…
He felt something new.
Not fear.
Not excitement.
But a silent urgency.
STATUS WINDOW — INTERNAL OBSERVATION
▶ Special Class Opponent (Previous Simulation)
Estimated True Level: Unmeasurable
Type of Danger: Supra-systemic
Comparison:
Diopha's Alter Ego
Academic Simulations
State: Extreme restraint
▶ Diopha Hitari
Mental State: High Alert
Provisional Conclusion:
"I am not ready yet."
▶ Mini-Zenkai
Role: Observer / Analyst
Internal Note:
"Finally, he's beginning to understand."
To be continued…