The morning sky at Ididtera Academy was clear, but the wind blowing from the north felt like the calm before a storm. From the second-floor window, Hermiot—or rather, Arkan—watched the crowd flocking to the central courtyard. The atmosphere was boisterous, filled with cheers and laughter mixed with the buzzing noise of camera drones hovering above the students heads.
Bobh was already at the door, waving his hand.
"Come on, Herm! If we're late, you won't get a good spot to watch the duel!" he shouted.
Arkan could only nod. His heart was in turmoil: part of him wanted to know what kind of fight he was about to witness, while another part was gripped by anxiety because he didn't really understand who he was here. And what kind of person Hermiot was. Jeff walked ahead at a leisurely pace, while Arkan followed behind, occasionally glancing at the emblem on his chest—an emblem that felt warm beneath his uniform.
As soon as they arrived at the central courtyard, Arkan was stunned. The vast field was surrounded by a transparent blue energy barrier, reflecting the morning sunlight. The bleachers were filled with students from various levels. In the middle of the field stood two holographic circles layered with glowing symbols. He swallowed hard; this was clearly no ordinary 'sports' arena.
Bobh patted him on the shoulder.
"The inter-level battles this season are always crazy. You're lucky to see it firsthand, with the Masters themselves judging. You know what that means? Lots of students are trying to get their attention so they can earn a good reputation."
Arkan responded with only a short grunt, his eyes sweeping toward the podium. Four figures stood there: three men and one woman, wearing dark robes with gold trim on the sleeves—the Masters. Even from a distance, their aura seemed to weigh down the surrounding air.
A girl stepped into the arena, her black hair tied up high, her sharp eyes piercing anyone who looked at her. Her haughty face and charismatic appearance contrasted with her elegant figure. Cheers immediately erupted from the audience. Bobh whistled in admiration.
"That's her! Filaleca, heir to the pure bloodline. Level A. Not comparable to level B like us, haha. Look at the way she stands, even the ground seems reluctant to disturb her."
Arkan stared at the girl for a long time. There was something strange—whether it was her authority or because behind that cold gaze he felt as if Filaleca was aware of something about him.
A boy opponent entered the arena from the opposite side, carrying a short double-bladed spear. The two students bowed briefly to each other, then the Master standing on the podium raised his hand. The light on the protective fence thickened, signaling that the fight was about to begin.
Suddenly, the emblem on Arkan's chest vibrated slightly, as if responding to something in the arena. He looked at Jeff nervously.
"Our uniforms... why are they vibrating?" he whispered.
Jeff didn't turn his head, only saying flatly, "It's core resonance. If you're a Hermiot, you shouldn't feel it so clearly."
Those words made Arkan choke. Did Jeff suspect something?
The sound of metal clanging echoed. Filaleca attacked first, her movements so fast that Arkan's eyes could barely follow her. The silver stick she had been holding was spun deftly to ward off the attack, then Filaleca teleported behind her opponent and attacked an unexpected point. Her opponent, the boy, was shocked and momentarily confused, resulting in a fatal mistake as Filaleca attacked even more ferociously, her silver stick spinning here and there. Blue light pulsed from the symbols in the arena, accompanying every slash of her opponent's spear, which she easily avoided with light jumps. The audience cheered wildly, camera drones spinning rapidly to record every second.
Arkan's jaw nearly dropped. It was unbelievable.
Arkan was mesmerized. In his heart, he felt like he was watching a combination of advanced science and ancient martial arts. But that excitement was quickly replaced by a chill down his spine when he realized something: the glowing holographic circle beneath the arena had a pattern nearly identical to the diagram of the plasma reactor he had created in his home world. It was as if this technology was connected to the experiment that had consumed him the night before.
His heartbeat quickened.
"It can't be..." he muttered softly.
The fight continued until her opponent, thrown out of the circle, the body crashing into the protective fence. Cheers erupted, while Filaleca stood tall without even a hint of a victory smile.
Bobh turned to Arkan.
"Look at your face. You look like you just saw a ghost."
Arkan forced a smile. "I'm just... impressed."
But before he could calm his mind, one of the Masters on the podium stood up and called out in a deep voice that echoed through the loudspeakers.
"Hermiot, step into the arena. The next fight awaits."
Arkan froze in place. The crowd's cheers immediately grew louder, some chanting Hermiot's name repeatedly. He looked at Jeff and Bobh with a pale face.
"M-me?"
Jeff just nodded briefly, emotionless.
"Yes. You. Don't embarrass yourself."
Bobh patted his shoulder, grinning.
"Take it easy, Herm. Everyone is waiting for your move."
Arkan stood up, his legs feeling heavy. He didn't even know how to fight in this world. But Filaleca's gaze from across the arena, waiting for her opponent, made him realize he had no choice.
With slow steps, he descended into the arena. Amidst the roar of the crowd, all he could hear was his own heartbeat and the faint hum of the glowing symbols beneath his feet—a pattern that felt both familiar and terrifying.
He stopped right in the middle of the circle, staring at the podium where the Masters stood. In an instant, the world he knew seemed to collapse, replaced by light, echoes, and the stares of hundreds of people who were waiting—waiting for him to do something that even he himself did not know.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Arkan truly realized: he no longer had anywhere to hide.