"What the hell is that thingggggg!"
"Eeeeeeekkkkkkkkk!"
"Run for your lives!"
The chaos in front of Black Dragon House's castle echoed beyond the academy grounds. Everyone ran for their lives as Ray summoned the Ancient Orca, its size equal to a small island, into the arena. The massive blue body fell from the sky, its shadow blotting out the sun.
With just one thunderous crash as the killer whale hit the ground, the sophomore's beast opponent was flattened as if it were paper. Over a hundred students stood dumbstruck, speechless, when they saw Ray's legendary beast—so enormous it nearly broke through the gates and could have crushed hundreds to death.
"Damn it, Ray! You said I was making a flashy entrance, but you're the one going completely overboard!"
Aria, who had nearly bolted in fear, wiped the sweat from her pale forehead, let out a sigh, and gave Ray a sarcastic thumbs-up.
Ray only scratched his head awkwardly with a sheepish grin before recalling the Ancient Orca back into his bag. The crowd was still too stunned to react, their jaws hanging open, unable to believe the ridiculous cheat-like power Ray had just revealed. A moment later, it was clear: the first-year had won his initiation match.
"That kid's beast… it's on par with King Victor's."
"Pfft—hahaha! Serves that sophomore right! Thought he could bully a freshman, huh? Look at him getting crushed by one instead!"
"What's going to happen now?"
"He's too strong for a first-year. How the hell did he even capture an ancient beast?"
The Black Dragon students murmured until the uproar was silenced by a single raised hand. The bald man with one blind eye—the King himself—lifted his arm, and silence followed.
"Hey, you. Second-year. Why are you still standing there? You lost. Hand over your key."
His killing gaze made the sophomore tremble violently. He didn't even dare to look Victor in the eye. With shaking hands, he passed the room key to Ray.
"Oh, thank you, senior." Ray bowed slightly as he accepted it.
"Congratulations, Mister Celebrity. You're becoming famous by the day," Aria remarked, patting him on the shoulder before heading to the arena for her own turn.
"Crap! First that demon freshman, and now a Falerian? First-years this year are no joke."
"All right, who's going to sacrifice themselves?"
"Not me. I'll wait to crush the weaker ones later."
"You go! You were the one laughing so loud just now."
"No way! She's a Falerian. Who would dare fight her?"
The second-years pushed one another toward the stage, but none dared to face the white-haired girl. Aria stood with her arms crossed, waiting. Finally, Victor, clad in black dragonhide, glared down at them.
"Second-years! If none of you step up, that means you surrender! Hand over all your keys to the juniors and go sleep in the stables!"
"W–wait, Lord Victor—Your Majesty! We'll fight, we will!"
"You dare defy me, worthless dogs!? My word is law!" His glare crushed their spirit. All the second-years dropped to their knees, bowing until their foreheads hit the ground.
"Your Majesty, please grant us one more chance."
"Don't even think about it, you pathetic mutts." Victor sneered. Behind him, the fourth-years looked down on the kneeling second-years with disdain.
"Hey, Victor, how about this? Make them clean the castle for the whole term in exchange for another chance," suggested a dark-skinned, curly-haired woman—his right hand.
The king nodded. "Good. You may continue fighting the first-years, but as punishment for your cowardice, the second-years will clean the castle this term. Thank Myra that you're not already dead."
"Yes, Lord Victor!"
With that, he strode back to his golden pavilion, the fourth-years following. In Ray's eyes, he was the embodiment of overwhelming power, controlling everything effortlessly.
"My idol…" Ray whispered, wide-eyed.
"Hah?" Jason blinked.
"I want people to respect me like that someday. Well… maybe without the whole kneeling thing," Ray admitted.
"Didn't you just get famous yourself, you dumbass?" Jason shot him a glare.
"Pfft, part of that was because I couldn't even remember Professor Witzany's face. So embarrassing. But I want people to recognize me, really recognize me. If lots of people admire me, the parents who abandoned me will regret it." Ray laughed like a villain.
Jason sighed. His friend's attempt at a villainous grin wasn't nearly as cool as his own.
Suddenly, a pale, bespectacled boy with sunken eyes and a hunched back approached.
"Heh heh… Mister Ray, you're quite interesting. I watched your fight four days ago. I couldn't believe you possessed not one, but two legendary beasts. I acknowledge you."
Ray's eyes sparkled. He eagerly shook the newcomer's hand.
"Oh! You're Karua, the one who stood against the seniors, right? Thank you! Pleased to meet you! Ahaha, I'm not that great. Maybe just lucky. But I've trained hard, worked so much. Really, thank you!"
Jason groaned, annoyed at Ray's overly cheerful grin.
Karua replied in a chilling, flat tone, his black bangs covering his eyes, his lips curling into a wide smile.
"Heh heh… Mister Ray, I acknowledge you—as the enemy I most want to crush beneath my feet. You're the perfect stepping stone for me."
"…"
"…."
Ray froze, letting go immediately, his face stiff. He had celebrated too soon. Jason doubled over, laughing and slapping the grass. "You idiot!"
"Heh heh… Shall we kill each other today, Mister Ray?" Karua gripped his shoulders, whispering with a terrifyingly sweet smile at his ear.
Ray shuddered. "Aaaagh! Get away from me!" He pushed him off and scrambled behind Aria, who had just returned from her match.
She frowned at him in confusion, then calmly patted his head. "What's wrong with you?"
"That freak! He said he wants to kill me!" Ray clung to her shoulder, pointing frantically. Jason laughed until he cried.
Karua's smile stretched wider. "Heh heh… Mister Ray, how about a duel today? A duel…"
"I refuse! Absolutely not, Mister Karua!" Ray flailed his hands at him.
"Heh heh… You're funny. Very well, another time. Though I can hardly wait to crush you underfoot…" Karua pushed up his glasses and headed to the stage.
"What the hell is with that guy? Creepy as hell," Ray muttered.
"You're pathetic. Scared of just that?" Jason spat.
"He's not so bad," Aria added, crossing her arms.
"What?!" Ray gawked. "He's like some kind of murderer!"
"At least he declared himself openly as your enemy. That's better than being stabbed in the back," she reasoned.
Ray groaned. "What did I do to deserve this? He just wants to kill me for no reason!"
Aria sighed. "You care too much about others, Ray. Sometimes, trouble comes no matter what you do."
"What about you? What do you do then?" Ray asked.
"I don't consider it a problem." She tilted her head.
"Of course, that's so like you. Thanks, Aria." Ray gave her a thumbs-up.
While they talked, Karua obliterated the sophomore opponent in under five seconds—just like Ray had earlier. No one even saw what he did.
"Truly worthy of his top rank in the exams. Karua Karl is incredible."
"Damn it, I couldn't even follow! What the hell did that freak do!?"
"No one but Lord Victor could fight a monster like that."
"I'm done. No way I'm fighting these freshmen."
Karua accepted his key, then turned back to Ray and playfully stuck his tongue out, eyes glinting with madness.
"Mister Ray… I want to fight you so baaad."
Ray hid behind Jason and Aria. "Stay back! I have friends, you know!"
"You using me as a shield, you idiot?!" Jason smacked him while Ray ducked and dodged.
Aria stood her ground, glaring straight at Karua. "If you hurt my friend, you'll answer to me."
"Heh heh… No, not today. I still need to register for electives. Next time." Karua slipped away into the shadows.
The trio exhaled in relief. Jason quickly moved on, rolling up his sleeves.
"Ha ha! Watch closely, Ray, Aria. The great and cool Jason will now shine like a star! My father will be proud of me!"
Three seconds later, Jason lost.
But he bought the key with money, grinning smugly.
"See? That's how cool I am!"
"…Yeah, yeah. Super cool, Mister Shining Star," Ray deadpanned with a thumbs-up.
Aria tried to hold back her laugh, but when the two boys started bickering and wrestling on the grass, she doubled over in laughter.
After the matches ended, she reminded them, "All right, let's settle into our rooms and get to our first class."
They agreed and walked off together—unaware that in the shadows, Karua was licking his lips, grinning viciously.
"Heh heh… So this is how I'll get Phoenix's tears without becoming Black Dragon's King. All I need to do… is kill Ray. The phoenix will weep on its own."
He downed another cup of black coffee, preparing for class.