Not long after the blood flowed into her body, Liyn slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was still blurry, but one figure stood out clearly—Leith, who was staring at her with a slightly worried expression, different from his usual blank look.
"How do you feel now, Liyn?" Leith asked softly, his tone sounding much warmer than before.
Liyn nodded slowly. 'I... feel better. Thank you, Senpai,' she said softly, though her expression remained somber.
Leith raised his left hand and gently helped Liyn sit up. The movement was gentle yet firm. Liyn remained silent, unable to speak. Her eyes fixed on the ground, her mind in turmoil. The defeat had not only shattered her body—her self-esteem had crumbled as well.
Myra suddenly ran over, kneeling beside Liyn.
"Liyn! Are you okay? Where does it hurt?" she asked anxiously, quickly checking her friend's body.
Leith stood up and returned to the front of the arena. His voice sounded firm, but it felt cold.
"Alright, everyone. What you just saw is a real example of what can happen when you're too weak."
Those words pierced Liyn like a dagger. She bowed her head even lower, biting her lips hard. Inside her heart, Liyn screamed.
"Stupid… I should have trained more!"
Thoughts from the past haunted her again—the time when she failed in science school, when all her hard work and sacrifices yielded nothing… until she had to move, starting over from scratch in an even harsher world. And now, she was the weakest among them.
Tears nearly fell, but she held them back with all her strength.
"Liyn, you can rest on the sidelines," Leith said emotionlessly. 'The other fights—continue.'
He then looked at Viola, his tone slightly changing, firmer than before.
"And for you, Viola. I remind you, Liyn is a new student. Next time, watch your limits."
But Viola only raised her chin, her gaze defiant.
"I refuse," she replied loudly. 'In the face of an enemy, everyone is equal. Whether they're new or seasoned, everyone must be prepared.'
"Because she's new, she must understand the outside world. How harsh it is to be a Syntara," she continued without hesitation, her tone sharp and piercing.
Myra immediately stood up and clenched her fists. Her face flushed red with suppressed emotion.
"You…!"
But before another fight broke out, Leith raised his hand and cut in with a calm yet forceful voice.
"Do you feel strong enough, Viola?" he asked, turning his back to her.
Viola looked up confidently. "I know I'm not stronger than you… but I can assure you of one thing—I'm far stronger than Liyn."
Leith fell silent for a moment, then turned slightly, enough to glance at Viola from the corner of his eye.
"Oh, I see… You're the daughter of the Hesra Clan, aren't you?"
Viola smiled thinly, full of pride. "I'm not just the daughter, sir. I am the heir to the Hesra Clan throne. Strength is non-negotiable for me. And defeating the weak is part of the path to the top."
The atmosphere grew silent. A tense aura filled the arena. All eyes were now on Leith… waiting to see what he would do next.
"Are you willing to fight me?" Leith asked seriously, his gaze piercing directly at Viola.
Viola smiled confidently. "Of course. This is an interesting opportunity."
Leith slowly began to unbutton his black jacket, removing it calmly and placing it on a bench near the arena. Now only a white shirt covered his muscular body. He began to stretch lightly, showing a relaxed yet vigilant attitude.
The atmosphere suddenly fell silent. All the students instinctively stepped back, creating space in the center of the arena. Their gazes remained fixed on the two figures now standing face to face—Viola with confidence, and Leith with deadly calm.
Liyn could only sit weakly at the edge of the arena, supported by Myra. The pain still tormented her body, but her attention was locked on Leith. In her eyes, the man looked like an unshakable wall.
The battle began without warning.
Viola charged first. She unleashed a quick punch toward Leith's chest, followed by a low kick connected with an acrobatic kick from above. Her movements were fast and powerful, characteristic of the Heira Clan heir.
But Leith didn't move. He merely shifted his body slightly, stepped lightly to the side, or ducked briefly. Every one of Viola's attacks missed—not a single one touched him.
Viola kept pressing forward. Her breathing quickened, but her ego refused to back down. She continued to attack, adding variety to her strikes: elbows, knees, spinning kicks, even combinations of her clan's techniques. But Leith remained like a shadow. None of them worked.
The students watched in silence, tense. Their faces were filled with shock and awe.
Viola finally began to slow down. Her breathing was labored. Her movements lost their strength and precision.
Leith remained standing in place, unscathed.
"Is that all?" he said flatly.
In an instant, Viola's body was flung backward and landed sprawled on the arena floor. The students jumped in surprise. Some even stood up from their seats.
"When did he change positions?" one student whispered, panicked.
"He was still in front just now, but now…" another muttered in disbelief, pointing behind Viola, where Leith now stood with his arms crossed and a cold expression on his face.
Liyn remained silent, her eyes wide. Leith was so perfect in the fight. And that made her feel—unworthy. Deep in her heart, shame and admiration collided.
Leith slowly walked forward, approaching the frozen crowd of students.
"Alright, I'll explain a bit about the technique I just used," she said, her voice calm but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"It's a technique I developed myself. I call it Illuvision—an illusion of movement that manipulates the opponent's vision. This technique works when the opponent starts to lose focus, when their mind is tired and their body is drained."
He paused for a moment, gazing at the students.
"During the fight just now, I didn't make a single attack. I only dodged. I let Viola think that all her efforts were in vain—and that weakened her mind. That's when the illusion began to work. She saw me still in front of her… even though I had already moved."
The students fell silent, staring at Viola, who was still lying on the ground, her face filled with defeat.
"Illuvision is a finishing technique without the need to fight. It's not the power I use—but control over the opponent's perception."
The atmosphere fell silent again. But this time it wasn't because of tension, but because of the respect echoing in the hearts of every student. Leith wasn't just strong—he was dangerous. Calculated. And far above them all.
But for Liyn, it was more than just a demonstration of strength.
It was a reminder… that she was still too small in this world.
"Alright, everyone, continue the fight!" Leith shouted, his voice echoing throughout the arena.
Meanwhile, Viola was taken to the infirmary, and Liyn sat quietly on the sidelines. Her gaze was fixed on the other students who were fighting—their movements were agile, their techniques impressive. Admiration and envy enveloped her in silence. Everyone looked great in her eyes… except herself.
Soon, the voice she had been waiting for since earlier sounded beside her.
"Liyn, are you okay?" Leith asked in a voice much softer than before.
Liyn was startled. Fear, shame, and nervousness mixed together instantly. For some reason, she felt so small in front of him.
"I feel better… thanks to Senpai. Thank you," Liyn replied softly, lowering her head, unable to meet Leith's gaze.
Without saying much, Leith sat down beside her. The atmosphere was quiet, but not awkward.
"What are you thinking about right now?" he asked softly.
Liyn turned her head slightly, her eyes looking at Leith in confusion, then lowered her head again.
"Are you upset about the loss earlier?" Leith asked again, this time in a tone almost like an older brother speaking to his younger sister.
Liyn didn't respond immediately.
Leith looked ahead and continued, "I once met someone like you. I don't mean to compare… but I think you might need to know that you're not alone."
Liyn listened in silence; for some reason, those words felt comforting.