The Climate Arena did not quiet down after the Grade 3 beast fell.
If anything, it grew louder.
Some students cheered in relief, others collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. A few stared at their hands, shocked by how weak they had felt. Healers rushed in, light magic washing over bruises and burns.
Sashira 100 stood calmly at the edge of the platform, coat fluttering as the winds of several climates brushed past her at once.
"End the exercise," she said.
The remaining beasts dissolved into mana and sank into the ground.
Daizen Kurogane wiped sweat from his brow, breathing steadily. Several classmates stared at him with a mix of awe and envy.
"That guy…"
"He crushed a Grade 3…"
"So that's top-tier talent…"
Daizen noticed the looks but said nothing. His eyes drifted—briefly—toward the back.
Toward Hiko Shinoegami.
Hiko stood where he had been the entire time. Hands in his pockets. Expression calm. Not a scratch on him, because he had never joined the fight.
Someone finally snapped.
"HEY!"
A boy pointed at Hiko. "Why didn't you fight?! Everyone else almost died!"
Murmurs followed.
"Yeah, that's unfair."
"Isn't he supposed to participate?"
"Typical… hiding."
Hiko tilted his head slightly. "We weren't ordered to fight," he said quietly.
The boy clenched his fists. "That's not the point!"
Before it could escalate—
"That's enough."
Sashira's voice cut through everything.
The wind died. Snow stopped falling. Even the heat from the desert zone dulled.
She walked forward, heels clicking against the platform, eyes scanning the class.
"Participation is noted," she said evenly. "But so is observation."
Her gaze landed on Hiko.
"And some of you," she added, "were being observed far more closely than you realize."
The class stiffened.
Hirukami Tashiro clicked his tongue from the side. "Tch. Still think they're weak."
Sashira ignored him.
"Next," she said, "individual evaluations."
Groans spread.
"Again?"
"My mana's gone…"
"I can't fight anymore…"
Sashira raised a hand.
"Only one student."
The murmurs stopped.
Her finger pointed.
"Hiko Shinoegami."
Every head snapped toward him.
"What?"
"Finally…"
"Isn't he the Devil's Mark guy?"
Hiko blinked once.
"…Alright."
He stepped forward.
The moment he crossed the invisible boundary of the arena floor, the environment shifted.
The forest zone surged outward, trees twisting, roots crawling like living veins. Mana thickened, heavy and damp.
A beast emerged silently.
Long body. Shadow-colored fur. Eyes like pale moons.
"Grade 3," someone whispered. "No—wait… that's a fast-type…"
Sashira watched closely.
"Begin."
The beast vanished.
Gasps.
"It disappeared!"
Hiko didn't move.
He closed his eyes.
The Devil's Mark beneath his collar pulsed faintly.
Left. High speed. Low killing intent.
The beast reappeared mid-lunge.
Hiko stepped aside—barely.
The claws missed by a hair.
"What—?!"
"He dodged that?!"
Hiko's hand rose.
No chant.
No flourish.
Just raw, compressed magic.
He struck once.
The air cracked.
The beast slammed into the ground, body folding unnaturally as the shockwave crushed it into the dirt.
Silence.
"…Huh?"
The forest zone stilled, as if holding its breath.
The beast dissolved instantly.
Grade 3—neutralized in one hit.
Someone dropped to their knees.
"That was… it?"
"No spell?"
"No buildup?"
Daizen's eyes narrowed.
Hirukami's smile vanished.
Sashira's lips curved upward—not in amusement, but confirmation.
As I thought.
Hiko lowered his hand and looked around.
"…Am I done?"
No one answered.
Sashira cleared her throat.
"Yes," she said. "You're done."
The arena noise slowly returned—wind, leaves, distant storms—but the class remained frozen.
Whispers exploded only after Hiko walked back.
"That was insane…"
"He didn't even try…"
"So that's why he didn't fight earlier…"
Hirukami finally spoke, voice sharp.
"…That wasn't normal."
Sashira turned toward him. "Of course it wasn't."
She faced the class.
"Listen carefully," she said. "What you just saw was control. Not power."
Her eyes flicked to Hiko again.
"Which is why," she continued, "I requested this evaluation."
The class stiffened.
"Requested?"
Sashira nodded. "Hiko Shinoegami was flagged the moment he entered the academy."
Gasps.
"The Devil's Mark," someone whispered.
Hiko's fingers curled slightly.
Sashira spoke calmly, without judgment.
"The Devil's Mark is often associated with calamity. Unstable mana. Short lives."
She paused.
"But Hiko's mana is… silent."
She walked closer to him.
"No leakage. No instability. No emotional spikes."
Her eyes met his.
"Which means one thing."
Hiko looked back evenly.
"You learned restraint," she said, "before you learned power."
The class listened breathlessly.
"I don't care about prophecies," Sashira continued. "I care about disasters."
She smiled faintly.
"And you," she said, "are someone who can walk through them."
Hirukami scoffed, though his tone lacked confidence. "So what? You think he's special?"
Sashira didn't look at him.
"I know he is."
Hiko finally spoke.
"…Is that all?"
Sashira chuckled softly. "For today."
She straightened.
"Rest. Recover. Tomorrow, your training continues."
The Climate Arena began resetting, environments folding back into equilibrium.
As the class prepared to leave, Daizen approached Hiko.
"…That punch," Daizen said quietly. "You weren't serious, were you?"
Hiko thought for a moment.
"…No."
Daizen exhaled, half-smiling. "Figures."
From afar, Sashira watched Hiko walk toward the exit.
Devil's Mark…
Or something far worse.
The disasters had not begun yet.
But when they did—
Hiko Shinoegami would not be running from them.