Professor "Mei" looked at the rest of her students who hadn't yet participated in the matches — "Kira," "Eva," "Selena," "Edison," "Scar," "Zenitha," and "Hela" — then said in a clear voice that everyone could hear:
"We will take a short break before returning to the matches."
After that, she shifted her gaze toward "Aris," who was still standing quietly in the middle of the arena, covered in the dust drifting from the previous battles.
She spoke to him with a tone that carried a mix of concern and seriousness:
"Aris, you should rest and eat something to regain your energy."
At that moment, the voices of the students who were watching the live broadcast rose in the background, mixed with restrained excitement and astonishment:
"I need to get some snacks!"
"Damn it, I have a class soon!"
"Calm down, there are no classes now, get your food and watch quietly!"
Their voices overlapped like a beehive brimming with life, and the murmurs echoed through the hall like small waves striking the wall of silence.
As for "Aris," who was preparing to step down from the training arena, he suddenly felt a strange tremor emerging from the depths of his soul. His spiritual sea boiled like a volcano awakening from its slumber, and a violent surge of energy exploded within him, making his entire body shiver.
"What... is happening?" he muttered in a low, uneven voice as his breathing grew heavier, as if the air around him had become heavier than lead.
Without hesitation, he drove his sword into the ground of the arena with such force that a sharp metallic echo rang out, then sat down in a lotus position, closing his eyes slowly, letting his breaths harmonize with the pulse of the mana around him. His lips began to move softly as he chanted the mantra of the Creation Meditation Technique, allowing a transparent energy to flow from his body and swirl the air around him like a calm vortex.
Professor "Mei," who had begun descending from the stands, stopped abruptly when she heard the sound of the sword piercing the ground. She turned quickly, her eyes widening when she saw "Aris" sitting in the middle of the arena, surrounded by a thick aura of energy shimmering like glowing mist.
"Is he... about to break through to Two-Star Knight rank?!" she said in astonishment, placing her hand on her chest as her breath caught between fear and awe.
The students exchanged quick glances, and as soon as they heard Professor "Mei's" words, everyone realized the gravity of what was happening.
"Kai" and "Kira" looked at each other, seriousness flashing in their eyes. In an instant, they moved swiftly, stepping past Professor "Mei" with firm strides, drawing their swords simultaneously, the metallic sound slicing through the air.
Professor "Mei" shouted, trying to stop them:
"What are you doing?! You mustn't get close! You might disrupt Aris's breakthrough!"
But both of them turned to her with faint smiles that didn't reach their eyes — smiles cold enough to freeze the air.
"What we're doing is..."
"Protecting him. And if anyone crosses this line..."
"We'll cut them down immediately."
They said it together, their voices identical — like one mind in two bodies. Their tone carried a sharp warning that made the air around them heavy with tension.
They stood before "Aris" like shadow guardians, their swords reflecting the light of the arena, their faces showing nothing but focus and loyalty.
In the back, silence fell among the students. Even those who had felt resentment toward "Aris" after he humiliated them didn't dare to approach. Their eyes followed the scene with fear and jealousy; some clenched their fists in silent frustration, while others swallowed hard, overwhelmed by the majesty of what they were witnessing.
As for those watching the live broadcast, they were struck with shock. Witnessing a classmate breaking through the barrier of One-Star Knight was something beyond the dreams of most of them — especially in the second year. Excitement filled the comments and muted cries, as if the entire academy was holding its breath, waiting for the moment when "Aris" would ascend to become a Two-Star Knight.
---
When he closed his eyes, he merged with the world until his presence vanished completely — no shadow, not even the sound of his breath. The mana around him rushed toward him as though drawn into a black hole, but strangely, it didn't resist; instead, it surged toward him with overwhelming eagerness, as if longing for him with hidden desire.
The training hall glimmered with shifting colors, dancing across the arena like small tongues of flame celebrating his existence. The air filled with a shimmering glow and a gentle heat that wrapped around the space, and with every breath he took, the mana transformed into pure chaotic energy, coursing through his body like a stream of liquid fire running through his veins, producing a faint hiss like hot iron meeting water.
His body continued to absorb, nourish, and evolve; every cell within him seemed to dance in ecstasy at the power it received.
In his spiritual sea, "Aris" floated with his spiritual body above dark waves of mana, watching the "Phoenix Egg" that hovered near the ever-shifting world of chaos — a world that seemed to breathe, for with each inhale it absorbed mana and turned it into pure chaotic energy, from which a faint light like the gleam of ashes rose.
But what caught his attention was a small crack forming on the shell of the Phoenix Egg.
He whispered with a faint smile:
"It seems it's starting to crack open..."
He reached out his hand and pulled the Phoenix Egg closer, gazing at it intently as his spirit pulsed with warmth and excitement. He felt a gentle heat radiating from the egg, touching his soul — carrying joy and eagerness.
"It seems you still want to come out quickly, don't you?"
"Aris" smiled as he spoke, and at that moment, the egg trembled lightly, emitting a soft sound — like the heartbeat of life within silence.
He gently pushed it back to float once more in his spiritual sea before his form gradually shifted, becoming a towering, majestic giant.
"Then... I suppose I should start focusing."
His voice echoed through the surrounding void, deep like thunder, as he extended his hand toward the world of chaos and began drawing the element of darkness from its core.
In the outer world, all the mana lights dimmed at once — as if bowing before his might — while dark mana surged toward him with frenzied devotion.
Within his spiritual sea, he extended his other hand, beginning to form a dark core that grew slowly and ominously. Unlike when he formed the world of chaos, this time he didn't rely solely on instinct; the dark energy was obedient, smooth — submitting to him as if it had been born from his will.
The dark energy spun violently around itself, yet was soon pulled toward the core, as though swallowed by a black hole. Around it formed a ring of thick black mist that rotated slowly, releasing a faint trickling sound — as if the space itself was groaning.
"Aris" felt that this new world possessed immense suction power, accompanied by an ancient scent of destruction — like the smell of burned ash after a long war.
He smiled faintly, his voice carrying both awe and serenity:
"This will be... the World of Darkness."
Outside, a dark aura rose around "Aris," blanketing the area with a suffocating chill so intense that everyone's breath condensed in the air.
Darkness spread around him like a living being seeking to devour everything nearby.
"Aris" opened his eyes — violet, shimmering with a deep, dark gleam like an endless abyss.
He stood up slowly, the motion producing a faint sound of friction between energy and air, then looked at "Kira" and "Kai," who stood before him, their bodies tense yet their eyes steady — guarding him from any external threat.
He spoke in a calm voice, like a breeze passing through a midnight graveyard:
"Thank you both."
Kai and Kira smiled at the same time, warm steam rising from around them amid the cold air, then said together:
"It's nothing."
A faint smile appeared on "Aris's" face, blending with the darkness surrounding him, before he turned his gaze to the rest of those in the arena.
"Shall we continue from where we left off?"
His voice was like a beast roaring from the depths of the abyss as his dark aura rose higher, swirling around him like a vortex devouring the light — while a terrifying smile spread across his face.