All the class members were present in the training arena, but they weren't wearing their academy uniforms — instead, they wore special training suits: full black bodysuits that clung tightly to their skin, emphasizing the young men's muscles and the women's curves. The material was crafted from special resources known for their durability and flexibility during training.
Each held their own weapon; both Kai and Kira wielded swords — the hilts of their blades were adorned with a small flame at the end — while Neji, the elf boy with blond hair and emerald-green eyes, carried a horned bow made from the wood of an ancient tree.
Scar rested an axe on his shoulder, its blade engraved with the head of a lion. A dwarf held a long-handled hammer, and three twins carried a pair of daggers each.
Meanwhile, the sorceress Selena held a long wooden staff engraved with magical runes, a spellbook in her other hand. Zenithia grasped a spherical gem for spell casting. Anya stood silently with nothing in her hands, but a small green orb bounced left and right on her shoulder — it was a mid-tier wind spirit — while Addison, the boy with sharp eyes, carried a magic book.
Finally, a girl with sky-blue hair, Ariel, held both a staff and a book, and both Loki and Hela, who were close-combat witches, wore gauntlets made from dragon hair.
In front of them stood Professor Mei.
"Where's Ares?"
She spoke as her gaze swept across them all.
"Maybe he ran away, afraid his ass would get kicked," Neji said with arrogant mockery.
"I'll slice you to pieces, you bastard," Kai growled, pointing his sword at Neji, who looked at everyone with disdain.
"Ah, right on time; I'm not late, am I?"
It was Ares, emerging from the tunnel of the training hall, wearing the academy's standard training uniform.
A faint smile rested on his lips, a small vertical scar at its edge only enhancing his striking appearance.
Behind him walked someone else — it was Bain.
"No, you're right on time," Mei replied with a gentle smile, though the others' smiles were anything but kind, except for Kai and Kira.
Ares glanced at them, each holding their equipment.
"Guys, are you going to war or something?"
No one understood the question, but they all shook their heads.
"Then… to a party?"
They shook their heads again.
"Strange. Then why are you carrying magic gear?"
"For battle," Kai answered honestly.
"Guys, this is just a friendly duel, and you're bringing all that gear just for me? I truly appreciate it."
"I'm going to kill him."
"I'll crush his arrogance."
Everyone was seething with anger, ready to strike.
"Hmm, Ares, where's your weapon?" Mei asked.
"I don't have one. I'm not rich like the nobles."
"Ah, do you want me to request a sword for you from the academy?"
Ares shook his head and walked straight to the weapon rack. He picked up the most worn-out sword and examined its blade.
"This one's fine. I think it'll do."
"Are you mocking us, Ares, or what?" Scar barked.
"Yes, I thought you were arrogant, but you're insane," Addison said coldly.
"No, I'm not mocking you — it's just the truth. Honestly, it doesn't matter what I hold. The outcome will be the same: you'll lose."
"Ares, are you sure? Tell me, don't be shy," Mei tried to ease the tension.
"I'm sure. The weapon's form or type doesn't matter. As long as it follows my will, it'll be enough."
Mei was stunned by Ares's words. Even though she wasn't a knight, she'd met many — and she knew the most important thing for a weapon was the wielder's will.
In a dark corner, a pair of eyes gleamed faintly.
"Well, and who's that?" she asked, pointing at Bain, who still stood motionless like a statue.
"Oh, that's my friend. He came today to livestream this match. You should know, everyone will be watching."
Everyone froze when they heard that Ares was going to broadcast their fight to the entire academy.
Ares walked to the center of the arena and turned toward them, nodding to Bain.
Immediately, Bain activated the livestream function — notifications flooded every student's and teacher's watches, even the headmaster himself joined to watch the show.
The viewer count hit five thousand in the first few seconds. Bain grinned stupidly, imagining turning those numbers into points.
Some might wonder: what if someone watches with friends? Well, when you buy food with your money and your friend wants to eat it too, but he didn't pay — even though you know he can — would you share it? Naturally not.
"Professor Mei, shall we begin? We have an audience waiting for combat and excitement."
Even Mei was stunned, barely regaining her senses after hearing Ares's voice.
"Alright, as everyone knows, the reason for these matches: my class believed I'm unfit to be the class president, so they proposed this series of duels. If I win, I'll take all their credits; if I lose, I'll become the servant of whoever defeats me. And now, you'll witness for the first time a new method of choosing a class leader."
He raised his hands wide open, as if embracing the entire world, his voice booming across the arena like thunder — filled with madness, grandeur, and arrogance.
Across the academy, excitement and anticipation spread like wildfire, especially after hearing Ares's words, which ignited everyone's blood.
Mei, watching him with calm eyes, felt a shiver crawl down her spine as she listened. She finally realized — too late — what he had planned from the very beginning.
She muttered softly to herself, barely audible:
"From the start... this was his goal. To make everyone agree to fight him, and now, through the livestream, they can't back down. Is this confidence... or insanity?"
Her thoughts mirrored what most of the academy's key figures felt — a blend of awe, admiration, and fear.
Ares lifted his head slightly, a calm smile curling his lips. Then, in a voice soft yet sharp as a blade, he said:
"Now... let's start from the first."
He looked at everyone, his eyes glowing with a mysterious black gleam, daring anyone to step forward.
One of the triplets, named Sin, took a step forward, his strides steady though his fingers trembled slightly.
He spoke in a haughty tone, brimming with arrogance:
"Ares, now you'll see what it means to challenge those above you!"
Ares chuckled lightly, his mocking tone cutting through the air like a dagger through pride:
"Really? I'd like to see that for myself."
――――――――――――――――――――
[The King's Eye :]
Name: Sin
Title: Word Manipulator (Can entangle anyone in conversation and make them a puppet in dialogue)
Profession: Assassin
Rank: One Star
Attribute: Shadow
Talent: S (Moves within shadows with no presence)
Rage: 60
――――――――――――――――――――
Mei stepped between them, raising her hand to halt the rising tension. Her voice was firm but carried a note of concern:
"This is just a spar, so no severe injuries are allowed. If either of you breaks this rule, I'll step in myself — and the offender will be punished."
Both nodded. Mei raised her hand again, and the world seemed to fall silent.
Her hand dropped — the battle began.
Sin bent forward slightly, then dashed with astonishing speed, leaving behind a violet trail like a spark in the night. The air tore with his movement, his footsteps vanishing into echoes.
He grinned maniacally and shouted:
"Ares! You'll pay for your arrogance!"
He aimed his shining dagger straight at Ares's face — who didn't move an inch.
His eyes were fixed, emotionless, fearless, without even the will to defend.
Everyone thought this was the end — that Ares had frozen in terror.
But suddenly, his body dissolved, leaving behind only a fading image shattered by the wind.
Time seemed to freeze — everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.
Then a voice came from behind Sin:
"Too slow..."
The sound slithered into his ear like an echo from another world, making Sin's hair stand on end.
In panic, he instantly activated his skill:
"Shadow Leap!"
His body vanished, reappearing at another corner of the arena, cold sweat dripping down his temple.
He tried to mask his trembling voice with arrogance:
"Ares… I admit I underestimated you, but you can't match a true shadow user!"
Ares's laughter rumbled deeply, like it came from the depths of an abyss:
"Hahaha… you speak as if you're special. A mere shadow user before the Lord of Darkness?"
A thick, dark aura began to rise from his body — twisting smoke filled with the scent of ash and burning — like the gates of hell opening.
The air grew heavier; even Mei, the headmaster, and Ayla felt their breathing change from shock.
Ares whispered, his voice a harbinger of calamity:
"Let me show you… what true darkness is."
In an instant, his body merged with the shadows, and his presence vanished completely.
Silence fell.
Fear spread.
Sin's eyes darted around frantically; his breath quickened, sweat dripping onto the ground.
"Where is he?!"
Suddenly, from his shadow, a dark shape stretched like a serpent — a black hand burst out, grabbing his head with crushing force.
Before he could react, his body slammed into the ground with immense power.
BOOM!
The arena shook violently; dust exploded upward, and the sound of cracking bones echoed across the field.
The dust rose so high it nearly covered the judges' platform; students held their breath, eyes wide in disbelief.
When the dust finally cleared...
Sin lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious, blood trickling from his mouth.
Ares stood over him firmly, his foot pressing down on his head, his eyes glowing with deep purple darkness — like gateways to the abyss itself.
He lifted his head toward the audience, his voice roaring like a beast from hell:
"Who's next?!"
His voice shook the very air, reverberating in their chests — even some students felt a cold shiver crawl down their necks, as if facing not a human… but a monster.
_____
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