By the time the sun reached its peak over the academy, the news had already spread to every corner of campus.
The S-Class Dormitory attack.
Assassins.
Explosions.
And the fact that Alexander Chase and Isabella von Kessler had fought them off alone. Naturally, that meant only one thing for the students of the academy.
Everyone wanted to see them fight.
The Grand Combat Arena
The academy's central arena was massive, large enough to host inter-academy tournaments and military demonstrations.
Today, every seat in the towering stands was filled with spectators who didn't want to miss this fight between the new S-Class students. Thousands of students leaned forward eagerly.
Holographic screens hovered in the air above the arena floor so even those in the back rows could see clearly.
Whispers filled the stadium like buzzing electricity.
"That's the guy who destroyed Titan-9."
"And she shattered Titan-10 in twelve seconds."
"Did they really defeat assassins last night?"
"Are they human?"
These were the questions that were being murmured among them.
At the highest observation balcony, faculty members watched calmly.
Standing at the center of them was Director Valis.
Beside her stood the instructor for the class, a tall woman with short black hair and a hardened soldier's posture.
Professor Kael.
Former battlefield commander.
Her arms were crossed as she stared down at the arena.
"Two S-Class students," she muttered.
Valis nodded.
"The strongest intake we've had in twenty years." She said.
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"And you're letting them fight on the first day."
Valis smiled faintly.
"Would you rather they destroy another hallway?"
Arena Floor
The steel gates opened.
Alexander stepped onto the arena floor first. His black combat uniform moved lightly in the wind as he walked toward the center. Thousands of eyes locked onto him. Yet he looked completely relaxed.
Hands in his pockets.
Golden eyes scanning the massive stadium.
"Wow," he muttered to himself.
"Didn't realize we'd have an audience."
Then the opposite gate opened.
A cold gust of air swept across the arena.
Isabella stepped out.
Her crimson dragon-silk suit shimmered under the sunlight while faint frost spread across the ground beneath her boots. Her silver ponytail moved gently in the wind.
The stadium erupted.
Cheers.
Gasps.
Excited shouting.
She ignored all of it.
Her violet eyes focused only on Alexander.
When she reached the center of the arena, she stopped ten meters away from him. They stood there silently for a moment.
Then Alexander smiled.
"So this is our first class." Rhetorically, he asked.
Isabella tilted her head.
"I was wondering how long it would take."
Above them, Professor Kael activated the arena system.
Energy barriers rose around the combat field, forming a glowing dome that sealed the fighters inside.
Her sweet yet powerful voice boomed through the stadium speakers.
"Welcome to S-Class Combat Evaluation."
The crowd went silent instantly.
Kael continued.
"These two students achieved the highest entrance scores in academy history."
She gestured toward Alexander and Isabella.
"Today, you will witness their capabilities."
The students leaned forward in their seats.
Kael's eyes hardened.
"This is not a friendly spar."
A ripple of excitement swept the arena.
"Combatants may use any technique within academy safety limits."
Her hand lifted.
"Victory is determined by knockout… surrender… or inability to continue."
Alexander glanced at Isabella.
"Well."
He rolled his shoulders.
"This should settle our little rivalry."
Isabella smirked.
"You're assuming you can keep up."
The countdown appeared on the holographic screens.
3
Wind rushed across the arena floor.
Frost spread under Isabella's feet.
Golden energy flickered faintly around Alexander's fists.
2
The entire stadium held its breath.
Even the instructors leaned forward.
1
Kael's voice rang out.
"BEGIN."
The ground shattered.
Both of them moved at the same instant.
Alexander lunged forward like a lightning strike.
Isabella vanished in a swirl of frost.
They collided in the center of the arena—
BOOOOM.
A shockwave exploded outward, sending dust and ice crystals spiraling into the air. The crowd erupted.
Students jumped to their feet.
Through the swirling debris, Alexander's fist clashed against a shield of condensed ice surrounding Isabella's arm.
The impact cracked the arena floor.
Alexander grinned.
"Nice defense."
Isabella's eyes glowed.
"Nice speed."
She twisted her wrist.
A spear of ice shot toward Alexander's chest.
He leaned sideways just enough for it to miss him by centimeters.
The spear slammed into the arena wall and exploded into frozen shards.
Alexander countered instantly.
A spinning kick tore through the air toward Isabella's side.
She blocked with a crystalline shield.
The impact shattered the shield, but she had already jumped backward, gliding across the arena floor.
The crowd roared.
"They're too fast!"
"I can barely see them!"
Isabella raised both hands.
Cold energy surged outward.
The temperature across the entire arena dropped sharply.
A swirling storm of snow formed above her.
"Let's see how you handle this."
She slammed her palm downward.
Hundreds of razor-sharp ice blades rained toward Alexander like a frozen meteor shower.
Gasps erupted in the crowd.
Alexander didn't move.
At the last moment, he vanished.
The blades struck the ground and exploded in icy bursts.
Students shouted in confusion.
"Where did he go?!"
Behind Isabella, a voice spoke casually.
"Right here."
Her eyes widened.
Alexander's fist came crashing down from above.
She spun instantly.
Their attacks collided again.
CRAAACK.
The shockwave shattered every remaining ice blade in the arena.
Up in the observation balcony, Professor Kael whistled quietly.
"Impressive."
Director Valis watched silently.
Below them, Alexander landed lightly on the arena floor.
Across from him, Isabella brushed frost from her sleeve.
Both of them were smiling now.
Not arrogantly.
Excited.
Alexander rolled his neck.
"Okay."
He pointed at her.
"Now it's getting fun."
Isabella's violet eyes gleamed.
"Finally."
The storm around her intensified.
The ground beneath Alexander's feet began to crack from the pressure of his power. And the entire academy realized something at the same time.
This wasn't a simple class match.
It was a clash between two future monsters.
And they had only just begun.