The crowd roared.
CLANG!
Steel clashed against the shadow.
Brent launched forward the instant Kalcabran's countdown ended. He wasn't going to waste a second. His dual sabers spun with practiced speed as he went for an opening strike across Xian's torso.
But the prince had already moved—vanishing into smoke.
Brent skidded to a halt and twisted just in time to block a sweeping kick from behind. The impact sent him sliding across the ground.
Cheers erupted.
"Dang! He's got good reflexes! I didn't even see it coming!"
"Wow! I always enjoy watching his highness fight because his skills are so cool!"
"He also looks great too!"
The girls giggled.
Brent grinned as he steadied himself. So, he's fast. I knew he would be.
But this wasn't over.
With a yell, he launched in again, leading with a flurry of high-speed slashes. His blades danced, sharp and relentless—and this time, they connected.
Prince Xian blocked with a short dagger of condensed shadow. Brent's second saber grazed his side, slicing cleanly through the edge of his uniform.
Their classmates exclaimed from surprise to shock to excitement .
"Oh my gosh!"
"Woah woah woah"
"No!" a girl yelled
"He landed a hit!"
"No way!"
"Wait I think this rookie has a shot"
But Xian didn't react. No pain. No frustration. Just a calm step back, grey eyes cool and unreadable—calculating.
Brent exhaled sharply. I can keep up. I can fight him.
For the next few minutes, Brent pressed his advantage. His footwork was clean, his strikes unpredictable, forcing Xian to remain defensive. The prince dodged and deflected every attack effortlessly—but didn't counter.
On the sidelines, Deven was breathless. "Brent's leading the fight…"
Stendard frowned. "No. I think he's toying him."
Xian's expression never changed. Truthfully, he hadn't wanted this duel—he'd agreed without realizing, distracted in thought about refining his own techniques. But now that he was here, he respected the rules. And the kid.
So, he waited. He gave Brent space to fight. Space to look good.
Five minutes in.
Xian blinked slowly. Then let out a soft breath.
Enough.
The shadows around him stirred.
BOOM.
A sudden force exploded outward as Xian vanished.
Brent's eyes widened.
"Behind—!" someone shouted.
Brent ducked just in time, narrowly missing a slicing shadow blade above his neck.
"Stop interfering." someone yelled to the other.
CRACK!
A shadow tendril slammed into his ribs, sending him tumbling.
The arena gasped.
"Ohhhhhhh! This one of my favorite techniques of his highness,"
Xian reappeared midair, flipping with perfect balance, twin shadow daggers forming in his hands. His movements were different now—sharp, precise. Merciless.
Brent cursed and threw a weighted dagger.
Xian snatched it effortlessly mid-flight—and flung it back, faster than Brent could react.
Brent twisted aside, just barely dodging. A thin line of red appeared across his cheek.
The arena erupted.
"What was that?!"
"His Highness caught and threw that knife like it was nothing!" a girl squealed.
"It's a saber, not a knife," a boy corrected.
"Shut up!" the girl snapped.
"I knew it—His Highness was holding back the whole time," another girl cooed.
"He's sweet like that," her friend sighed dreamily.
"Prince Xian really knows how to play it cool—and precise!!"
Brent panted as he raised his sabers. He's going harder… but not all out. He's still not trying his best.
Anger surged.
"No," Brent hissed. "You're not walking away thinking I was weak."
He charged again—this time, with no finesse. No elegance. Just brute force.
Xian blocked the first blade, but Brent rammed into him with his shoulder, knocking the prince slightly off balance.
A sharp kick hit Xian's ribs. For the first time—he winced.
Brent didn't stop. One saber went low, the other feinted then came down hard from above.
Xian blocked both—but his defense wavered.
He's adapting.
Xian's eyes narrowed.
Shadows at his feet exploded upward, coiling like living serpents. Brent was yanked back mid-strike and slammed into the arena floor.
He grunted, coughing—but got up.
The shadows pulsed with dangerous energy. The air grew colder.
Prince Xian raised one hand—and from his own shadow, a creature began to rise.
Massive. Monstrous. Something between a wolf and a serpent, with glowing violet eyes and a jagged black body. It growled, low and deep, like thunder beneath the earth.
The arena fell silent.
"What is that…?"
"Is that—one of his shadow beasts?"
"I thought shadow users couldn't summon things like that without it exhausting their energy…"
Deven's eyes widened in panic. "This is bad."
Brent gritted his teeth. His chest burned. His arms ached. But still—he raised his blades.
"Come on then," he said hoarsely. "Let's see what a shadow monster bleeds like."
The creature lunged.
Brent jumped. Slashed. Spun.
His blades passed through shadow.
He landed and rolled, barely avoiding the beast's snapping jaws. Its tail whipped out—Brent ducked—but he could tell he wouldn't make it on time.
Time slowed down.
Brent saw the tail moving at pace faster than he was moving.
His gut told him if he doesn't dodge he'll get hurt really bad
I'm gonna get hit!
The arena exploded in light—an icy flash like a glacier shattering.
A roaring column of frost erupted at the arena's heart.The crowd screamed.
Xian's shadow beast shrieked, caught mid-lunge, then shattered into black smoke as the ice swallowed it whole.
Prince Xian recoiled, shielding his eyes from the piercing cold. A low grunt slipped past his lips—a rare crack in his composure.
That hurt… His jaw tightened as he steadied himself.
My shadow creature took a direct hit. But that surge… it wasn't from the boy. Xian's gaze sharpened, narrowing into suspicion.
Brent felt it too. The air had shifted—dense, suffocating, charged with something terrifying. Someone far beyond his level had entered the field. The pressure alone made his grip fail, and both swords clattered to the floor.
When the haze thinned—
"Back away!"
"What was that?!"
Xian turned sharply, his gaze locking onto the source of that overwhelming power.
A lone figure stood atop a tree branch, poised like a predator. Tall. Immaculate. He wore pristine black noble attire, fabric gleaming like moonlight—regal yet warlike. A crimson cape unfurled around his shoulders. Skin pale as ivory, hair just as bright, and gray-blue eyes locked onto Prince Xian with a predator's focus.
He grinned—crooked, confident. Dangerous.
Frost fog, curled around his fingers like caged birds at rest.
In an instant, the thrilling match was forgotten. Silence thickened the arena.
The man stepped down, boots striking softly against the arena floor.
Gasps rippled through the students.
"Who is he?"
"He destroyed His Highness's shadow beasts like they were nothing," one whispered, voice trembling.
"Could he be from the Zephyr clan? Or the White Bandits?" a girl screeched.
The air shifted immediately. Students stiffened, expressions hardening.
"No way. Why would they attack us here? They know full well we're Elyndor students," an upperclassman scoffed, though doubt flickered in his eyes.
"We are the best of the best," another growled, pride swelling as flames burst across his shoulders.
"How dare they underestimate us?!" a third shouted.
Abilities flared to life—water swirling, ice hardening, air crackling, fire roaring. They shifted into stances drilled into them from the first day, movements sharp, unified. Elyndor didn't admit the untalented. Even the weakest C-rank had honed precision, more than a match for most B-ranks. And here stood dozens of B and A ranks, sparks of deadly potential igniting across the courtyard.
"Wait." Ethos raised a hand, his voice cutting through the chaos. His gaze fixed on the stranger. "Be careful. His aura… it's intense."
He hesitated.I don't think he's an enemy.
The young man made no move toward them. He simply stood there, calm, his lips curved into a faint smile. His eyes never left Prince Xian.
The students bristled, energy rising higher.Is he after His Highness?
Ethos tapped into his inner sense, pupils dilating until the world turned black. All he saw were auras, burning like flames against the void. He searched the mysterious figure's essence—
And froze.
"I… I can't see it," Ethos whispered.
The others stirred nervously.
"I feel it too! Only the top ten students in our academy have such aura!" a high-ranking classmate muttered, his hands flaring with fire.
"No," Ethos snapped, his gaze locked on the figure. His chest tightened as recognition struck. "He's stronger."
Shock rippled through the group.
"He's an S-rank user," Kalcabran said fiercely.
"Is he gonna kill us?" a girl croaked, her hands trembling as she shaped a bucket of water between them.
Their voices broke into shrill panic.
"Shut up!" Ethos barked. His voice cracked like a whip, silencing them. "Have some respect for your superior—an alumni. You shame Elyndor by acting like frightened children. No wonder our school's rival is catching up."
The word struck them like ice water. Alumni.
The group fell quiet, all eyes drawn back to the figure.
"W-wait…" one whispered. "He looks… familiar."
"Gray hair… pale skin… blue eyes…" another murmured.
"Is he from Ice Peak?"
"Nievo?!"
There was gasps.
"No—Nievo's hair is black and white. His is gray like steel."
A gasp. "Look at his chest—the insignia!"
"The Sun Empire crest!"
Their breath caught as realization spread like fire through the group.
"An S-rank user… Yichen!"
For a heartbeat, silence. Then:
"Yichen—the prodigy ice user from the Sun Empire?!"
"It's him… It's really Yichen!"
The name dropped like a meteor.
Even those who'd only heard whispers of him felt their knees weaken.
All of them instinctively bowed to the figure before them.
The name Yichen carried weight in Elyndor's halls. Among prodigies and elites, he stood apart—one of only thirty across the Sun Empire ranked from S to Grandmaster. An alumnus of Elyndor, he was well-known, even to students who hadn't met him personally.
S-Ranks were rare across the continent. In the Sun Empire, there were fewer than thirty holders of the golden badge, marking both exceptional skill and their value to the empire. Most S-Ranks were seasoned veterans, but occasionally a young prodigy achieved it early. Yichen was one of those rare cases.
At twenty-six, he had earned S-Rank status, gaining attention not only for his skill but also for marrying one of the Sun Empire's most influential women. Many wondered how a commoner, known primarily for his elemental abilities, had risen to such prominence.
Xian's gaze narrowed.
"What could he possibly be doing here?"
The man's smirk deepened.
"My, my… I didn't mean to interrupt such a thrilling duel," he said, voice smooth and dangerously calm. "But I couldn't help myself. After all—this is clearly an illegal match unworthy of your time."
Xian didn't respond.
Brent stood frozen. Stunned.That's really him. Nievo, the prodigy ice user… in the flesh!
Yichen's eyes—blue and sharp as glacial steel—met Xian's. "As expected of Your Highness… you're a beast," he said with a smile.
"Ah, forgive my rudeness," Yichen said, bowing with deliberate grace. "I greet Your Royal Highness, Prince Xian of the Sun Empire."
Xian gave a polite nod. "Yichen. Your presence was unexpected."
"Indeed, Your Highness. I just happened to be around this area," Yichen replied lightly.
Brent blinked, still trying to process. "A-Are you… Nievo, the young S-Rank user of the Ice Peak Kingdom?"
Brent's heart raced with excitement.
I heard of him… the legendary prodigy from the Ice Peak Kingdom. His fame stretches across the continent. Some say he's already among the strongest alive.
Yichen's eyes flickered with irritation before settling back into icy calm. "Interesting…" he murmured, studying Brent as though dissecting him. His stare was frigid, cutting deep into Brent's bones.
That aura…It wasn't just power—it was pressure, suffocating and absolute. Brent felt like an insect crushed under a block of ice.
"For your information," Yichen said, his voice now carrying a razor's edge, "I am Yichen, S-Rank user of the Sun Empire. Do not ever make that mistake again."
Despite the fear clawing at his chest, Brent staggered forward, clinging to pride. "Why—why did you interrupt our duel?"
Yichen's smile thinned, colder than frostbite. "You should be thanking me," he said. "You were about to suffer a humiliating defeat at the hands of this beast right here." He inclined his head toward Xian.
His eyes narrowed with contempt. "Someone of your pitiful rank and status doesn't deserve to stand in the same ring—let alone duel—the prince of the strongest nation on this continent."
Laughter erupted among the students.
"That's what I was saying!"
"At least he entertained us."
"Dueling Prince Xian is an honor in itself. He should be grateful."
"Talented, maybe—but nowhere near His Highness's league."
Murmurs spread like wildfire.
Brent's fists clenched, shame and humiliation gnawing at him.
Yichen smirked, his gaze pressing down on Brent with icy finality.
Ice creeped on Brent's feet and mouth. Brent was startled and tried to scream.
"Mark my words and this applies to you lot," Yichen said louder, "Know your place because if this happens again I'll make sure to destroy your aura
Yichen jumped down from the tree and gave a shallow bow. "My apologies for interfering in your match, Your Highness. I see you're soft-hearted… accepting a duel with an amateur."
Xian simply stared at him. But there was a subtle upward curl at the corner of his lips.
Yichen turned to the surrounding students. "You lot return to your dorms. Now. if you snitch, I'll make sure you regret it." His voice darkening, immediately giving them shivers.
No one dared protest.
"So be good." He smiled. "Don't gossip and I promise it will be last thing you ever do."
Ethos bowed, "I'll make sure word doesn't spread,"
Yichen gave him a smile. "good,"
He raised his hand.
A column of Ice smoke shot skyward, bathing the arena in chilling cold.
The students immediately shivered from the intense cold.
As the chilling smoke cleared.
He was gone.
So was Xian.
Only Brent stood in the arena, his body shaking from the cold.
Silence.
The only sound was Brent's panting breath. He dropped to one knee, sabers trembling in his grip. His fingers twitched with strain, his mind racing.
Everyone finally broke their silence.
"That was really him—!"
"An S-Rank User was here?! Here?!"
"S-Rank users are on a completely different level!"
"Duh. There's a massive gap between A and S. That's why it's nearly impossible to reach S-Rank."
"My, he's got talent and the looks!"
"Terrifying… absolutely terrifying."
"I've never felt such overwhelming power in my life," Deven muttered, pale.
Stendard stood slack-jawed.
Kalcabran's mighty ice wall was gone without a trace. He stared in disbelief."S-Ranks really are on another level… You felt that too, right, Ethos?"
The murmurs died the moment Rank 8 Kalcabran spoke.
Ethos' black eyes narrowed, sharp as blades. "Not surprising. But still… it's impressive to feel that kind of power firsthand. Hard to believe he's only twenty-nine."
"What? He's twenty-nine?!" Kalcabran blurted, stunned. "What kind of training makes someone that powerful at such a young age?"
"Some are born destined. Others… not so fortunate." Ethos' gaze was chilling as it lingered on the spot where Yichen had stood before flicking to Kalcabran. "That's what you call—"
"—geniuses."
Ethos' voice dropped low, then rose, commanding."Everyone! Make sure news of this doesn't leave here. Not a whisper. As far as anyone is concerned…" His black eyes flashed with such force it made his peers flinch. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened today."
With a gesture, Ethos summoned a tidal wave beneath him. Kalcabran froze its crest into a platform of ice, and together they swept out of the arena.
The rest of the students began to murmur nervously, then quietly filed away. Fear of consequences sealed their lips.
Brent stayed behind, staring at the arena floor where Yichen once stood.
No proof. No trace. It was as if he had never been there.
Brent's chest tightened, disappointment burning into humiliation.One of the strongest men alive had looked him dead in the eye… and dismissed him as an amateur.
He had thought Prince Xian wasn't much stronger than him. After all, they were both Rank A. He thought he had a chance. But if the rumors of Xian being on the verge of S-Rank were true… then Brent had only glimpsed the difference.
But still… I'm not that weak.
His fists clenched.
Henry West didn't care about noble status—everyone knew that. So why? Why acknowledge the prince but not him?
His eyes flicked again to where the ice wall had stood. Nothing remained. No frost. No dew. Not even a whisper of cold.
That kind of control… summoning a storm of destruction yet leaving not a single mark behind.
As if nothing ever happened.
Brent's fists trembled.
S-Ranks really were on a different level.
--