Silence wrapped the arena like an invisible fog.
The Combat Class students groaned softly where they lay sprawled across the fractured stage, some clutching bruised ribs, others rolling onto their sides with ragged gasps. Their weapons were scattered like fallen twigs under dawn light. The faint scent of burned mana and ozone drifted on the breeze.
Athena walked forward across the observation balcony, her black uniform coat swaying around her calves. Her violet eyes scanned the battlefield below with unreadable calm. She flicked her wrist, pulling up her tablet as numbers, names, and damage reports flickered across the blue projection. She tapped once to save the match record to Class Zero's private files before dismissing the screen.
Beside her, William stood pale and silent, his knuckles white around the railing.
