The arena fell silent.
All eyes were on us.
Kael stood confidently, a faint green aura swirling around his body. Wind gathered at his feet, lifting small dust particles into the air.
"Wind-type talent," someone whispered.
"A-rank… this won't be fair."
I exhaled slowly.
Fairness had never existed for me.
"Start!" the instructor shouted.
Kael moved instantly.
A blade of compressed wind slashed toward me.
I twisted my body, barely dodging it.
The ground behind me split apart.
"So fast," I thought.
Before I could regain balance, Kael was already in front of me.
His fist came flying.
I blocked.
The impact sent me sliding backward.
Pain shot through my arms.
[High-Level Opponent Detected.]
[Growth Rate Increased.]
The system's words were calm.
My heart wasn't.
Kael smiled.
"Is that all?"
He attacked again—relentless, precise.
Each strike was backed by wind.
I was pushed back step by step.
But with every hit—
[Strength +0.1]
[Agility +0.1]
My body adapted.
My movements sharpened.
The pain dulled.
I ducked under a kick and slammed my shoulder into Kael's chest.
He staggered—just for a second.
The crowd gasped.
"What?!"
"He pushed Kael back!"
Kael's smile vanished.
"Enough," Kael muttered.
The wind around him surged violently.
"Let's end this."
A massive blade of wind formed above his arm.
The pressure alone made my skin prickle.
I clenched my fists.
"This is the wall," I thought.
Then—
The blue screen exploded into view.
[Hidden Skill Activated.]
Skill: Limit Break
Effect: Temporarily removes physical restraints.
Duration: 30 seconds.
My heartbeat thundered.
"No limits… even temporarily?"
I stepped forward.
Kael released his attack.
The wind blade crashed into me.
Pain ripped through my body—
But I didn't stop.
I ran through it.
The crowd screamed.
In an instant, I was in front of him.
I punched.
The air shattered.
Kael's eyes widened.
The blow landed squarely on his chest.
BOOM.
He flew backward and slammed into the arena wall, collapsing to the ground.
Silence.
Utter silence.
The system's voice echoed softly.
[Limit Break Ended.]
I dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
Every muscle screamed.
But I was standing.
The instructor stepped forward, eyes sharp with disbelief.
"Winner…" he said slowly.
"…Arin."
The crystal screens updated.
Arin — Rank: 9
The academy erupted.
As I stood up, Kael stared at me from the ground.
Fear.
Confusion.
And something else.
Respect.
I met his gaze once.
"This is only the beginning," I said quietly.
Inside me, the Endless Growth System pulsed.
And I knew—
I had crossed the first true line.
💥 End of Chapter 9 💥