The bus bounced along the rough highway, tires crunching over gravel, sending a dull rumble through the entire cabin. Inside, the twenty-four students of Class 1-C were a mix of nerves, excitement, and anticipation. Conversations buzzed, whispers mingled with nervous laughter, and even the quietest students were visibly tense.
Rex Calder tapped his foot so rapidly it was almost a blur. "If Class 1-A is really as strong as people say… we're screwed," he muttered, eyes flicking to the window. "Absolutely, hopelessly screwed…"
Mira Lune, seated across from him, adjusted her gloves repeatedly. "Focus, Rex… it's only training," she said, trying to calm herself more than him. Her voice trembled slightly, betraying her own nervousness.
Selene Mora sat quietly, fingers weaving faint frost patterns in the air, small crystalline sparks dancing along her fingertips. She whispered prayers under her breath. "Please… let everyone be safe… let us survive…"
Dain Kroft's shadow writhed subtly beneath his seat. His aura radiated tension, though he said nothing. Every slight sound—the rumble of the bus, the chatter, the shifting of seats—made him flinch.
Yuna Kirei hummed quietly, her green healing mana forming gentle threads around her fingers, invisible to most but tangibly comforting. "We can do this… I believe in everyone…"
Bran Holt leaned back, cracking his knuckles with a nervous rhythm. "…I don't even know how strong they are. I hope we survive."
Goru, leaning against the window, exuded a calm, unreadable expression. "…Focus on your own fight. Don't get distracted," he said softly, though his tone carried weight.
Daizen, as usual, bounced in his seat. "Finally! A proper challenge! I've been waiting for this!" His grin was wide, even as he flexed his hands, ready to unleash his earth magic at the first opportunity.
Hiko Shinoegami sat quietly, staring out the window. The city lights reflected in his eyes, but his mind was elsewhere. The devil inside him stirred, unseen and unheard by anyone else.
"Hm… so many emotions," the devil purred inside his mind. "Fear… excitement… nervous anticipation… perfect. Today is going to be very, very fun."
Hiko's hands clenched tightly. "…Quiet. Not aloud," he reminded himself.
"Of course," the devil replied silk-smooth, amused. "Only you can hear me… but today… today you will taste a fragment of what I am."
---
The bus slowed as the massive gates of the Climate Arena opened. The towering gates hissed as they parted, revealing the arena sprawling below.
The arena was breathtaking. Artificial sunlight bathed the land in a golden glow, clouds above twisting and moving as if alive. Mana pulsed visibly through the air, reacting to the students' aura. Zones shifted dynamically: icy plains in one direction, molten lava platforms to another, floating rock islands hovering above, wind corridors whipping unpredictably across open areas. Pools of water shimmered unnaturally, waves rising and falling without wind. The arena itself seemed alive, watching, and measuring the students.
Class 1-A was already in formation, twenty-four students standing perfectly. Each exuded calm, controlled power.
Nakuma Burotami, the president, stepped forward. His aura glimmered faintly as a sword-shaped mana form hovered behind him. Calm, composed, he surveyed Class 1-C. "Welcome. Let this exercise sharpen your skills. Learn what you can… survive what you must."
Otamu Wellster waved cheerfully, candy-like constructs stretching between his fingers. "Hope you don't cry when we win."
Alyssa Kei giggled, her heart-shaped pupils twinkling. "Fun~! Don't be discouraged. Let's enjoy this!"
Akira Kei yawned lazily, brushing strands of hair from her face. "I hope this doesn't take long… I was in the middle of a good dream."
Then Holo Uto appeared. Silver hair framing his face, cyan eyes glowing faintly. Reality itself seemed to ripple slightly where he moved. His gaze locked onto Hiko and Goru. "…So you are the cursed flame and the dimensional slasher. I've been waiting."
Goru stiffened. "…Rivals already?"
Hiko felt the devil stir, smirking inside his mind. "…Finally, someone notices us."
Rougen stepped forward, arms crossed. "This will be a private 2v2 exchange. Friendly. No spectators. No permanent injuries. Focus. Grow."
Gold leaned silently against the railing, observing everything with a calm, calculating eye.
---
The students of Class 1-C filed off the bus, still buzzing. Conversations erupted.
Rina Solis whispered, "…They look… intimidating. We… we have to survive."
Toma Grell adjusted his barrier gauntlets. "…We've trained for this. We can handle it. Right?"
Elya Frostwind's hybrid aura shimmered faintly. "…We need to survive… that's all."
Hinata Kiyomi clutched her satchel tightly. "…Just… stay calm…"
Hiko's hand balled into a fist. The devil in his mind purred. "Nervous energy… delicious. Perfect conditions."
"…Not aloud," Hiko reminded himself. "…Only I control it."
The arena itself hummed with energy. Mana waves rippled visibly, responding to every student's aura, heightening the tension. Every heartbeat synced with the pulse of the Climate Arena.
---
### Round 1: Hiko & Daizen vs Kairon Flux & Luma Crest
Daizen didn't wait. He surged forward, earth erupting beneath his feet, launching jagged boulders at their opponents.
Kairon raised his arms, manipulating the arena's metal to form a massive shield. Daizen collided with it, creating a shockwave that sent smaller rocks ricocheting in every direction.
Luma Crest vanished and reappeared behind Daizen, speed amplified by her acceleration magic. Daizen barely rolled to absorb the impact.
Inside Hiko's mind, the devil whispered. "…Hm… I was going to let you awaken this tomorrow… but today will suffice. Just a taste."
"5% of my power. Enough to beat a Rank 0."
Hiko's cursed flames coiled around his arms, dense, spiraling. His movement was silent, precise, unseen by anyone else.
Strike one shattered Kairon's magnetic shield.
Strike two obliterated Luma's acceleration barrier.
Strike three sent both opponents flying against the reinforced arena walls. Silence fell.
Daizen blinked, mouth slightly agape. "…Did you just…?"
Rougen's jaw tensed, but outside the mind, he could not intervene. Gold remained impassive, calculating.
Holo Uto's cyan eyes gleamed. "…Interesting. Your true power… finally revealed."
Goru led, his Glorious Claws slicing dimensional cuts through the fog. Mae Lin cast illusions to distract the opponents.
Alyssa countered, cutting through the illusions precisely. Otamu's gummy constructs absorbed attacks, reshaping to trap them.
"Impressive," Alyssa said, smirking. "But predictable."
Goru accelerated, slicing three times simultaneously. Mae Lin landed a clean strike on Alyssa.
Otamu fired a gummy projectile, stretching unpredictably. Goru used the Claws to cut it into dimensional fragments.
The duo survived, battered but intact.
---
### Round 3: Selene & Lio vs Akira Kei & Holo Uto
Akira trapped Selene in a shared dreamscape, bending her perception. Lio's wind attacks collided with Holo's holographic clones, harmlessly passing through.
Selene whispered, "…Stay calm… adapt…"
They dodged, countered, barely surviving.
Holo's gaze flicked to Hiko occasionally. "…They are strong… but not invincible."
Daizen surged with earth magic, hurling boulders. Nakuma sliced effortlessly through, countering with precision.
Bran tried to enhance Daizen's attacks, but Nakuma's sword constructs fluidly absorbed them.
"…These guys… insane," Bran muttered.
---
### Class 1-C Internal Thoughts
Mira clutched her gloves. "We… we can't lose."
Dain shivered. "…We have to survive."
Yuna whispered quietly, "…You can do it. We can do it."
Rina muttered, "Insane…"
Hiko felt the devil stir. "…They fear, they respect, but they don't know your limits. Soon… soon they will see."
After the final duel, Class 1-C regrouped, bruised, exhausted.
Daizen approached Hiko. "…Sorry. I rushed. Could've coordinated better."
Hiko nodded faintly. "…It's fine. I needed that push."
Daizen bowed. "…Next time… we'll win together."
Nakuma spoke. "Valuable exercise. Your growth is impressive."
Otamu grinned. "Tougher than expected."
Alyssa giggled. "Friends?"
Akira yawned. "…Interesting group."
Holo Uto approached Hiko and Goru. "…I meant it. You are my rivals. I will watch closely."
Goru extended his hand. "…We'll surpass you."
Hiko shook it. "…We won't lose next time."
The devil chuckled silently inside Hiko's mind.