The hallway was still quiet.
Mason was out cold—Rank 40, folded like a chair on the floor.
Daniel leaned over him briefly, wiped a bit of blood off his lip, and stood up.
No cheers. No witnesses. Just the hum of the hallway light.
"One down," he muttered. "Thirty-nine more."
He turned to leave—
CLAP.
Once.
CLAP. CLAP.
Slow. Echoing.
From the end of the corridor, someone stepped out of the shadows.
A student. Clean uniform. Slouched posture.
Hair tied back in a lazy half-knot.
Rank 29 – Vex Callum.
Daniel paused.
Vex's eyes scanned Mason's unconscious body.
"You actually dropped him…" he muttered. "Didn't think anyone would start this early in the year."
"You gonna try something?" Daniel asked.
Vex shook his head, lips twitching.
"Nah. Not yet. Just figured I'd get a look at the idiot who made things interesting again."
Then he pointed to the corner camera—its red light blinking.
"This ain't the old days anymore. They're watching again. You stirred something up."
Daniel's brow lifted slightly.
"They?"
"The Top 10. Some of them are already moving. And if you think they're gonna sit still while someone like you climbs..."
He stepped back, hands up casually.
"Anyway. Just wanted to say hi."
He disappeared down the hall, whistling.
That night, in a private conference room under Sirris Academy…
Ten screens lit the dark.
On each: a different face.
One leaned forward, arms crossed—Rank 10 of VALHALLA.
"He really took Mason out like that?"
Another chuckled. Rank 7.
"Doesn't even show up on the internal fight records till today. It's like he didn't exist."
Rank 4 stared at the paused footage of Daniel's flying kick.
"That technique… looks to perfect for a complete noob."
Then the screen of Rank 1 lit up.
His voice calm. Emotionless.
"Find out who trained him. And make sure no one challenges him yet."
"We let this one grow for now."
Cut to black.