Elian ran across the training field and, from a distance, watched Kai and Caelan fighting. Or rather, one of them was actually trying to fight. Caelan tried to use Water Dome to defend himself, but Kai easily cut through the barrier.
'How did this commoner become so strong?'
Caelan immediately retreated, brought his two hands together, and launched a water blade at his opponent. Kai simply cut through the attack and advanced toward him, making Caelan decide to run away. Fleeing from the one he called a commoner in his mind.
Elian watched the fight without expression.
'And to think that guy used to keep talking about having a higher Rank.'
Everyone was there because Enrico had given each of them some personal advice and asked them to train in practice so they could see the results. Even so, Elian thought it was quite unfair to put two Circle Zero students against someone who had already reached the First Circle.
'I never thought I'd fall behind him... my pride is hurt.'
He continued running, increasing his pace. Since absorbing Azure's core, his speed had increased slightly, and with Enrico's advice, he felt that he had improved even more.
'My magic is still at Circle Zero, but it's already at 90%. I'm close to evolving.'
Further ahead, Elian saw Liam on top of a piece of wood, doing push-ups using only his fingertips.
'It's incredible how he lost his arm and still keeps training. If that had happened to me...'
Elian shook his head, pushing that thought away. He couldn't keep thinking about it. He needed to keep running, especially because the battle for the Rankings would take place that day. The competition would happen in the afternoon, so everyone had decided to train for thirty minutes and then rest before the fights began.
"Everyone, you should rest."
Sílvia appeared carrying a basket of fruit and looked around, searching for someone.
Elian immediately realized who she was looking for and explained:
"Enrico, Serenya, and Valença arrived yesterday, Sunday night, so they should be sleeping. I'm not going to lie, it seemed strange seeing the three of them leave together. Since when are Enrico and Serenya friends with that girl?"
Sílvia looked at him in surprise and placed a hand on her chin. In truth, she was looking for Enrico to ask for some more advice. Ever since she had been sent to Class B, he had been sending letters with guidance on how to train her magic better, and it had worked.
'Thanks to him, I'm handling Class B well...'
The constant pressure from the other Class B students was heavy, but thanks to Enrico's advice, Sílvia had improved so much that she had reached Rank 78.
'Well... for now, I'll wait... I'd better try to calm his heart. It must be hurting.'
Suddenly, Sílvia placed a hand on Elian's shoulder and gently squeezed it. Her eyes became teary as she remembered what Tolen had previously whispered to her about the two of them.
"I understand that you're jealous, and I know it will be difficult, but don't give up."
In Sílvia's mind, Tolen's words about Enrico going out with Serenya and Valença were about jealousy.
Elian became quite confused and, in a way, even frightened by what she seemed to be thinking.
"What are you talking about?"
Sílvia blushed and brought her hands to her cheeks, imagining something that made Elian even more worried.
"Seriously, tell me."
Before the conversation could continue, Serenya arrived from one side and Valença appeared from the other. Both looked tired. The previous night, Enrico had started talking about each of their training routines and, apparently, neither of them had managed to rest properly.
Valença rubbed her eyes and sat down on the floor.
"Great, now that genius is coming to give me advice wha— I mean, not that I'm complaining, since it helps me."
Valença scratched the back of her neck while letting out a sigh. Deep down, she felt that accepting advice from the person she considered her rival could end up diminishing her own achievements. Because of that, she had already decided that, as soon as she had the opportunity, she would do the same for Enrico and return the favor. She looked at the other students talking in a relatively friendly manner and suddenly stopped.
'Wait... aren't Kai and I being too friendly with the people who bothered both of us in the past?'
She looked at Kai, who was training with a smile and talking normally with the others. Well, in truth, only Kai was really being friendly. Valença still maintained some caution toward the four, mainly because of everything that had happened in the past. Even so, while she thought about Kai's stupidity and how strange it was that he had simply forgiven those people, the hours passed quickly.
When she realized it, it was already late and everyone was in the arena. The place was completely surrounded by students and teachers, who were waiting for the Ranking competition to begin.
Serenya remained standing straight when she noticed her mother sitting in the reserved area, watching everything attentively. Elian and Caelan noticed her discomfort and exchanged worried glances, but Serenya began pretending that she was fine while discreetly looking around.
"Hasn't Enrico arrived yet?"
Everyone began looking for him, but Enrico was nowhere to be found. Shortly afterward, the teachers approached with serious expressions. Sir Drenholm was the first to speak:
"Very well, students. I hope you're ready. After all the effort this month, I am confident that you will be able to advance to a higher class."
Borem, standing right behind him, nodded. Virelle was also watching the students. She treated them with much less coldness than she had at the beginning of the year, but there was one person in particular who constantly received her attention: Enrico. The students had already noticed this.
'He must be planning something. I'm excited.'
Virelle then turned around and walked toward the Class B teachers. The three looked at her as she approached.
"Hello. I would like to request a duel with Mr. Sairus for the position of Class B teacher."
The three teachers were impressed. Sairus, on the other hand, immediately began looking at her as an enemy. He had fought hard to obtain that position, and now a teacher who had arrived at the academy that same year wanted to simply take it from him?
"Very well, I accept, but I'll warn you: if you're only trying to improve your image, you lose—"
"What are you talking about? I'm moving up because my students are moving up, and I want to continue teaching them."
Virelle answered without hesitation. Especially one of them. She needed to continue observing Enrico to discover whether he could really surpass the other two students she had begun to take an interest in.
The three teachers were incredulous at her audacity, but before they could respond, the director appeared through the entrance accompanied by another elderly man.
"Wait... Mr. Hao normally doesn't appear at Class B battles or below. Classes S and A are only fighting tomorrow, so what is he doing here?"
"Isn't that Mr. Damian, the strongest illusion mage?"
The conversations quickly spread throughout the arena. When Hao stood up, however, everyone fell silent. He looked around, searching for something, but did not find Enrico among the students. He then sat back down beside Damian, observing the arena with curiosity.
"Continue. I'm only interested in today's fights because I'm bored over there."
The teachers nodded and resumed the preparations, giving the students a few more minutes to arrive before the official start of the battles.
Damian watched the arena from above, still waiting to see that boy again. After a few seconds, however, he noticed some familiar figures among the spectators.
"Some Class A students are here as well. They must be observing those who could become a threat to them."
Hao nodded, agreeing with the analysis. Shortly afterward, a knock on the door caught everyone's attention. Enrico entered the arena while calmly stretching.
'Finally...'
Damian immediately turned his eyes toward him and, having already seen him a few days earlier, noticed something that surprised him.
"How interesting... This boy was at around 70% when we met... How did he reach the First Circle in just one week?"
That awakened Hao's interest even more. He watched Enrico carefully and tried to sense any demonic energy coming from him, but found nothing beyond the normal mana of a human.
'Just as Angela said... nothing.'
Enrico walked over to the Class C students and began talking to them normally. Meanwhile, the teachers finished the final preparations, and Sairus stepped forward to announce the beginning of the competitions.
"Very well. The students may now begin challenging each other."
Enrico immediately raised his hand.
"Can I be the first?"
Sairus looked at him, while Virelle simply nodded, pleased to see him taking the initiative.
"Of course, student. Who are you going to challenge for the Rank?"
Enrico pointed at someone.
The entire arena fell silent.
To everyone's surprise and disbelief, he had not pointed at any Class B student.
His finger was directed toward one of the Class A students.
Rank 31.
Lan.
The strongest student from that class present there and someone who, in the original story, would become one of the protagonist's main rivals after being defeated by him. Later, he would also be responsible for helping him in the battle against an evil God.
Lan himself seemed surprised before veins began appearing on his face.
"What do you think you're doing, Enrico?"
Enrico smiled slightly.
"What happened? Aren't you going to accept the fight, old friend?"
Lan clenched his fists. To the original Enrico, he wasn't just a rival. He was also an old acquaintance and one of the people who, besides his own family, contributed to the development of his strong sense of inferiority.
Enrico raised his hand, gesturing for Lan to come to him.
"Come on. I've been wanting to talk to you for a long time."