[Academy — Central Arena]
(The entire Academy was in an uproar.
The stands were packed, cheers echoed everywhere, and the excitement was palpable.
Today was the grand inter-class tournament.)
---
Announcer (voice amplified across the stadium):
— "Welcome to the annual Slayer Tournament!
The best classes will face off to prove their supremacy!
Let the show begin!"
(Thunderous applause erupted.
The energy in the air was almost electric.)
---
[Stands — Milim and Douriel watching]
Milim (arms crossed, annoyed):
— Tch… Still no sign of Diopha…
If he misses his match, I'll kill him myself.
---
Douriel (serious, eyes locked on the arena):
— He won't miss this.
I trust him…
But even I admit this is taking too long.
---
(Around them, other students whispered, some already mocking the absence of the famous "Artemis.")
---
[The matches begin]
---
Announcer:
— "First match: Milim Stigner versus Raval Yren from Class S!"
---
(Milim calmly stepped into the arena.
Raval, a tall blond guy, grinned arrogantly.)
---
Raval (sneering):
— A girl? This'll be over quick.
---
(But before he could move,
Milim flicked her fingers and unleashed a focused lightning barrage — "Rapid Thunder Chant" —
blasting him out of the ring in one strike.)
---
Announcer (stunned):
— "Victory by technical knockout: Milim Stigner!
Time: 7 seconds!"
---
(The crowd exploded in cheers.
But Milim, expressionless, already turned back toward the stands.)
---
Milim (dryly):
— Pathetic.
---
[Next match — Douriel Kinés]
---
Announcer:
— "Douriel Kinés versus Felkan Mord from Class SS!"
---
(Douriel stepped in, adjusting his gloves.
His opponent, Felkan, an earth magic specialist, slammed the ground and raised jagged stone spikes.)
---
Felkan (grinning cruelly):
— Come on, bookworm… Let's see if you can handle real terrain.
---
(But Douriel, calm as ever, clasped his palms and fired a concentrated light beam:
"Solar Piercing Ray."
The blast pierced the spikes and hit Felkan square in the chest — match over.)
---
Announcer:
— "Victory: Douriel Kinés!
Time: 11 seconds!"
---
(Students started whispering that this year's fighters… weren't normal.)
---
[Special Class matches]
---
(The remaining members of the Special Class — all 11 in total — stepped up one by one.
Their opponents? Students from Class S and SS…
But every single time, it was the same story:)
---
Match starts → the opponent charges in, confident…
A flash movement from the Special Class student…
Match over before the crowd even understands what happened.
---
Student (whispering in the stands, nervous):
— What is this Special Class…?
They're all… monsters…
---
(The atmosphere grew heavy.
But one name kept floating in every murmur:)
---
Student 2 (uneasy):
— But… Diopha Hitari…
He's still missing…
Wasn't he supposed to be… the strongest of them?
---
---
[Instructor's Room — Tense discussion]
President (pounding the table):
— Diopha Hitari, number 99… still absent.
If he doesn't show before his match…
He'll be disqualified, even if he's ranked "Special."
---
Head Instructor (coldly):
— Prodigy or not, rules are rules.
---
---
[Major announcement]
---
Announcer:
— "Next and final match of the day:
Number 99, Diopha Hitari, versus Galdron Tekar of Class SS!
Spectators are advised to stay — this promises to be a spectacular showdown!"
---
(But a heavy silence fell over the arena.)
---
Student 3 (grinning mockingly):
— Diopha? He's not even here.
Ran away, that so-called 'Artemis'…
---
---
Announcer (more serious, voice echoing):
— "Combatant Diopha Hitari has failed to respond…
He will be disqualified in 30 seconds.
Final warning."
---
Milim (standing abruptly, teeth clenched):
— Tch…
No, he'll come… He has to come…
---
Douriel (dark look, softly):
— I can feel it…
He's here, somewhere…
---
---[Countdown — Tension maxes out]
Announcer:
— "10… 9… 8…"
---
(The crowd tensed.
Some already laughed, expecting a forfeit.)
---
Announcer:
— "3… 2…"
---
---
[Suddenly — A freezing gust swept through the arena]
(An overwhelming presence fell upon the stadium.
The air grew heavy.
Even the strongest students instinctively held their breath.)
---
??? (deep, calm voice):
— "I'm here."
---
[Appearance — Diopha enters the arena]
---
(Every eye snapped toward the entrance…
and what they saw
froze them in place.)
---
Student 4 (paling):
— That's… him…?
But…
He's become…
---
(Diopha walked in slowly, his heavy steps echoing in dead silence.)
→ He now stood at 1.95 meters,
→ His body was taller, more athletic, and solid.
→ His black hair was streaked with white strands, hinting at a supernatural transformation.
→ His half-lidded eyes glowed faintly cold beneath his fringe.
→ An oppressive, freezing aura clung to him, even without releasing any mana.
One glance… and the air grew suffocating.)
---
Milim (whispering, shaken):
— He…
That's not the same…
He's… changed…
---
Douriel (clenching his fists, breath caught):
— Damn…
He's become… a monster…
---
(In the stands, murmurs turned into full-blown panic.
Some students even stepped back, instinctively sensing the gap in level.)
---
Announcer (hesitant, voice trembling):
— "U-Uh… Diopha Hitari is… officially present…
The match may begin."
---
(Diopha stopped at the center of the arena, facing his opponent:
Galdron Tekar, a hulking powerhouse from Class SS,
who, despite his size,
gulped nervously under the invisible pressure.)
---
Diopha (calm, deep voice):
— Sorry I'm late…
Got a little… sidetracked improving myself.
---
(Dead silence.
Everyone could tell this was no longer the same Diopha from before.
Something far more dangerous… now stood before them.)
---
[End of Chapter]