The afternoon sun bathed the village in warmth, the air alive with laughter. A little girl darted through narrow streets, her smile as bright as the day itself. She ran hand in hand with her friends, their voices carrying joy through the town like birdsong. For a moment, it seemed as though peace would last forever.
Then the world split apart.
A roar thundered from the village gate, a detonation so violent it tore the air itself. The shockwave struck like an invisible hammer, flinging the girl from her feet. Pain blossomed, and then there was only black.
When her senses crept back, it was to a nightmare. Shapes moved in the haze, blurred at first, then cruelly sharp. Strangers towered over fallen villagers, clubs and blades rising and falling in merciless rhythm. Among the broken forms, a familiar voice screamed, "Fumiko, run!!" Her heart sank as she realized her family was among those being beaten.
A shadow loomed. Rough fingers seized her by the hair, jerking her upright. She saw nothing but the sneer above her before her body was hurled into the writhing crowd. Her skull struck hard earth. Darkness swallowed her once more.
The next time she opened her eyes, there was no sun, no sky—only suffocating dimness. Iron bars hemmed her in, her wrists bound fast by cold shackles. The cage rocked with the sway of a ship, every motion groaning with heavy wood.
A heavy cloth draped over the prison, drowning it in shadows. Only a single tear in the fabric let in a sliver of light. Crawling close, she pressed her face to the gap.
Beyond lay a boundless sea, stretching to every horizon. And there, painted across the vessel's hull in bold, unyielding letters, was a single word: Kyofu.
That name etched itself into her memory like fire.
Time shifted. The same word, Kyofu, now emblazoned on the side of an airship that hovered above the arena. From the waiting room window, Fumiko stared at it in silence, her eyes clouded with thoughts she dared not speak.
Raga and the other losing teams entered the participants' box, where they gained a clear view of the second arena. From above, the arena revealed three distinct seating sections—one for the general audience, one for participants, and one reserved for the VIPs.
In the VIP section, a lone figure sat on a chair. His face remained hidden, but his presence was unmistakable. It was Mawang.
Meanwhile, in the hallway leading to the arena grounds, the four winning teams stood before the massive closed doors, waiting for the next stage to begin.
"The next stage is gonna be one-on-one," Kenta said quietly.
Gyoda grinned, excitement sparking in his eyes. "I'm really excited! I wonder which one of us gets to fight him." His gaze slid toward Goro.
"Obviously not an idiot like you," Karna shot back.
Gyoda immediately grabbed Karna by the collar, but before the quarrel could escalate, the massive doors creaked open. A flood of bright light poured in, and the teams stepped into the second arena. Before them stood Hatake, waiting with a stern expression.
Karna's attention, however, drifted to the stands, scanning the girls in the audience. The cheers of the crowd thundered through the arena, but none of them were for his team. Placards waved with harsh words scrawled across them—Twilight is scum! and Be gone, Twilight and team!
"Why are we getting all this hate?" Karna muttered.
"Shut up. You're the reason we're getting this hate," Gyoda snapped. But despite his sharp words, his expression faltered. He looked away, clearly unsettled by the hostility directed at Karna.
Hatake raised his voice, commanding everyone's attention. "Congratulations on making it to the second stage. From here on, you're on your own. It's a one-on-one fight. You may use any kind of magic and magic items. Victory is achieved when your opponent either admits defeat or dies. If there is any interference from an outsider, the participant benefiting from it will be immediately eliminated. Since there are too many winners, this stage will take two days. Today's matchups are already displayed on the board. The first fight begins in an hour. Until then, you may wait in your respective waiting rooms."
The board lit up with the names:
Gyoda vs Bagi
Kenta vs Adheera
Reiko vs Han
Fumiko vs Henry
Karna vs Goro
George vs Khara
Albert vs Uma
Karna and Goro's eyes locked, and both smirked.
"Finally," Karna said. "I get to fight him."
The winners returned to their respective waiting rooms.
As Karna's team walked down the hallway, they found Pikari standing in their path. One by one they passed him, but when Fumiko came last, she froze for a moment. At the sight of Pikari, her face stiffened, her eyes downcast. Without saying a word, she lowered her head and hurried into the waiting room with the others.
Once they were gone, Pikari turned and made his way back to Adheera and his team's waiting room. His expression was calm as always, his face carrying that familiar air of friendliness. As he twirled his mustache, he spoke evenly.
"Seems our mole couldn't dig up much. You've lost your window. Let's hope something comes out during the one-on-one fight."
An hour later, an announcement rang out—the first match would be Kenta versus Adheera.
Inside Karna's waiting room, Karna leaned back and asked, "Are you gonna fight him for real?"
Kenta smiled faintly. "No. I'll just test his strength and then admit defeat. Taking the D-class wizard test was never our goal in the first place."
Fumiko, shocked, stared at him. "What? What do you mean?"
Reiko folded her arms. "You'll see."
At the same time, in Adheera's waiting room, Bagi looked at him with a serious expression. "Be careful. He's strong."
Adheera smirked. "I guess it's time for me to go all out then."
Soon after, Kenta and Adheera stepped into the arena, with Hatake standing between them as the referee.
From the stands, Eto, Tenko, and others watched closely. But the moment Kenta entered, the audience erupted into jeers.
"Boo!! Teaming up with the Twilight is disgusting!"
"You lowlifes shouldn't even be here!"
"Scums like Twilight should be dead!"
"Filthy Twilight trash! Get out of here!"
The arena shook with hatred. Kenta, however, stood unmoved, his expression calm. Karna and Reiko, watching from the waiting room, showed no reaction either. Gyoda, on the other hand, trembled with fury. His fists clenched, his jaw tight, as he barely held back his anger.
Hatake raised his hand. "You know the rules. I will not interfere. The fight ends only if one admits defeat or is unable to continue. Your match begins now." He stepped back.
Adheera smirked. "You must be strong if Bagi acknowledges you. Mind if I go all out?"
Kenta's voice was calm. "Not at all. That's exactly what I want."
"Fine by me."
They charged at each other. Adheera's arm glowed as he reinforced it with magic.
"He just reinforced his arm!" Tenko exclaimed from the stands. "These guys aren't half bad."
Adheera's punch roared through the air, but Kenta blocked it barehanded. The impact sent out a small shockwave.
"That was a magic-enforced punch!" Tenko's eyes widened. "How did he block it without magic? Is he… nullifying it? No… he just blocked it with bare hands."
George, reclining in the waiting room and sipping his tea, remarked with a measured smile, "Now this… this is precisely the spectacle I anticipated. They are competent, though not without flaw. Such displays provide a modicum of amusement."
Charles, eyes still on his book, spoke in his usual clipped tone, "Pray, inform me when that particular specimen called Goro engages in combat. He possesses a curious talent worthy of observation. I shall not risk distraction by literary pursuits at such a moment."
Back in the arena, Adheera staggered back, stunned. "You've been hiding your strength all along… but why?"
Kenta's eyes sharpened. "I have my reasons. Just like you have yours for taking this test. Winning was never your intention, was it? You were here to spy on us."
Adheera froze. "What—?! Bastard! How did you know?"
Kenta answered simply. "It was never our intention either."
The words left everyone silent. Adheera's team stiffened. Hatake's brows furrowed. Fumiko stared in shock. Even Pikari, though calm, took note with quiet surprise.
Albert's lips curved into a faint, precise smile, his tone measured and calm. "A plot twist, I presume.". George, Henry and Edward shared a subtle look of interest, his composure unshaken, while Charles, still half-buried in his book, peered over the pages, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
In the shadows of the VIP box, Mawang's lips curled into a faint smile.
Adheera snarled. "You'll regret stepping into the ring with me." He conjured a torrent of water and sent it surging forward.
Kenta dashed ahead, creating a floating shield in midair. Stepping on it, he vaulted over the wave. A water bullet shot toward him, but Kenta twisted his body midair like a corkscrew, slipping past it before landing smoothly by Adheera's side.
Adheera swung a magic-reinforced fist. Kenta caught his arm, yanked him forward, and drove his knee hard into his stomach. Adheera crumpled to his knees, gasping.
Bagi's eyes narrowed. "This guy…"
Adheera quickly formed a water sphere and launched it at Kenta. Kenta countered with a water bullet, causing water to splash everywhere.
Tenko, watching from the box, was amazed. "These guys are on a whole other level!! They are on par with D-rank wizards."
In an instant, Kenta manipulated the scattered droplets, shooting them toward Adheera from all directions.
Bagi's voice sharpened. "He can't dodge them all."
Seeing no way to evade, Adheera squeezed his eyes shut.
"Adheera!" his teammates cried out.
His breath trembled, waiting for the impact. But nothing came. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
The droplets hovered around him, suspended in the air. Then, gently, they fell harmlessly to the ground.
Kenta's voice was steady. "I give up."
Adheera staggered back, shocked. "What? Why?"
"Winning this test was never our goal. There's no reason for me to keep fighting."
"Fight me, you coward!" Adheera roared, his temper snapping. He conjured a massive water needle and hurled it with all his strength.
But before it struck, Hatake blurred forward and shattered the spell with a single strike.
"The fight is over," he declared coldly. "Adheera wins."
The arena fell into stunned silence.
"Why did he give up?" Tenko muttered. "This doesn't make any sense…"
Confusion spread through the crowd, mingling with their disappointment.
The crowd's hateful chants rained down, a foul torrent of sound. "Why would he do that?" "As expected from the Twilight's teammate. Boo!!" "This tournament isn't for your kind!"
Kenta, completely unfazed, walked back to the waiting room, a picture of calm dismissal. Behind him, Adheera stood alone in the center of the arena, his body rigid with fury, the air around him still hot with his frustration.
Edward exclaimed, "Ah, what a remarkable exhibition our Twilight's associate has deigned to perform. Observe the management of those scattered droplets—each movement so exquisitely measured, so preternaturally precise. One does not encounter such artistry in the uninitiated, no; this is the handiwork of one thoroughly seasoned in the… practicalities of combat. Most illuminating, and dare I say, rather stimulating to the intellect."
Back in the waiting room, Kenta took his seat. "How was he?" Karna asked, a hint of genuine curiosity in his voice. "He was strong," Kenta replied, his gaze distant. "But not as strong as the other guy."
In the arena, Adheera's shoulders slumped in defeat. He stared at the ground for a long moment before turning and walking away, his every step heavy with rage.
Hatake stepped forward, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. "The next fight is between Bagi and Gyoda!"
A cheer erupted from the audience, a fresh wave of excitement filling the air. In the waiting room, Gyoda was practically vibrating with energy.
"Yes!!" he shouted, pumping his fist. "I get to fight the strongest one! I'm so ready!"
With a confident smirk, he strode out of the waiting room and into the arena forgetting his staff.
Bagi and Gyoda stepped into the arena.
The cheers died in a ragged cough of sound. A new chant began, a familiar, venomous roar. "Boo! Another one of Twilight's lackeys!" "Disgusting! Twilight's team is nothing but trash!" "You should have never been allowed in!"
Gyoda's fists clenched, his jaw tightening. The jeers rang in his ears like a swarm of angry wasps, but he forced himself to stay composed.
Hatake's hand dropped. "Begin!"
Bagi smirked, a cruel twist of his lips. "I was really looking forward to fighting the other guy. Oh well. Sorry in advance if I end up killing you."
"Right back at you," Gyoda shot back.
"You must be pretty confident in your skills to be this cocky," Bagi taunted.
"Of course," Gyoda grinned, his voice dripping with false cheer. "Let's get this started, shall we?"
Bagi's hand moved. Multiple magical orbs shot forward, but Gyoda was already moving, dodging them with a quick, sideways blur. Bagi closed the distance, throwing a punch straight at his face. Gyoda blocked it with his palm and countered with a kick, but Bagi nimbly stepped back.
Fireballs appeared in Bagi's hands, hurling toward Gyoda one after another. Gyoda effortlessly weaved through them, dancing left and right, his speed a flash of motion.
Bagi's eyes narrowed. "This guy… He's fast. He's dodging everything."
Gyoda's grin widened, the feral energy in him building. "I'm sorry, but this is where it ends for you. I want to test out the enhancer I obtained, and you'll be the perfect test subject."
He reached behind his back, his hand grasping at nothing.
"Oh no! I forgot my staff!"
From the waiting room, Karna leaned out the door and shouted, "Oi! Idiot-san, you forgot your weapon! And since the match has already started, I can't give it to you. That'd be considered interference!"
"Ahh! Never mind!" Gyoda yelled back, his shoulders slumping for a split second before he recovered. "I'll just fight barehanded!"
Karna smirked. "You didn't even react when I called you an idiot. Does that mean you finally acknowledge that you are one?"
"Oi, Karna!" Gyoda snapped, genuinely irritated. "You want me to beat you up?!"
Bagi interrupted their squabble, a slow, malicious grin spreading across his face.
"Gyoda, was it?" he began, his voice low and dangerous. "Why would you let a weakling like Twilight be part of your team? He's worthless—nothing but scum clinging to the strong to survive. Just looking at him, he disgusts me. I bet he only joined you because he knows you're stronger than him."
The crowd erupted even louder after what Bagi said, their jeers now a unified, roaring crescendo of hatred. "Yeah, you tell him!" "Twilight is worthless!" "He's just a parasite clinging to real fighters!" "People like him don't belong here!" "Kick him out already!" "Disgusting lowlife!" "Go back where you came from, Twilight scum!"
Gyoda stood perfectly still, his head lowered, his hair falling over his eyes.
From the audience, Tenko tensed as he looked at the massive fireball Bagi was conjuring, a sphere of swirling flame in his hands.
"Oi, that attack is bad news," he muttered.
Bagi hurled the fireball forward, its heat washing over the arena.
"You should've chosen your friends more wisely," he sneered.
Gyoda didn't move an inch. He stood firm, rooted to the spot, and took the attack head-on. A massive explosion erupted, a deafening crack of sound followed by a shockwave that rippled through the arena, making the stands tremble. Smoke engulfed the battlefield.
Tenko's eyes went wide. "He took it head-on?! Is he crazy?!"
The crowd gasped in disbelief. "Did he just stand there?" "I think he's dead..."
As the smoke gradually cleared, a figure remained standing.
Gyoda emerged from the haze, his body marked with small burns and scratches, his clothes slightly charred. But his posture was unwavering, his feet planted firmly in the scorched earth.
"Bagi, was it?" Gyoda's voice was low and steady. "How can you call someone scum when you know nothing about them?"
Bagi's smirk faded completely, replaced by a look of genuine confusion. "Huh?"
Gyoda slowly lifted his head, his eyes burning with an intense, furious light. He turned toward the crowd, his gaze sharp and unwavering.
"Everyone of you calling him worthless, a good-for-nothing, scum! Who gave you the right to judge him?!"
The crowd quieted, their harsh chants replaced by a stunned silence.
"You don't know what he went through. What we've been through together." Gyoda's voice was a low growl, a challenge to the entire arena. "All of you! Why do you hate him? Has he caused you any pain? Is he responsible for your misfortunes? He is kinder than you can ever be in your whole life. And he is a better person than you all are. He doesn't deserve the hate."
His voice was steady, but beneath it simmered an undeniable fury. For a brief moment, the arena fell silent, the weight of his words hanging thick in the air.
Then—a raw, wild energy flared to life. Flames erupted along Gyoda's arm, flickering wildly, reflecting the rage in his eyes. His gaze sharpened, and his voice turned cold, a chilling promise.
"So if any of you dare say another word about him… I swear, that'll be the last thing you say."