Ravenna slowly adjusted her grip on the practice sword.
The arena had gone completely silent now.
No one was laughing anymore.
No one whispered.
Because every upperclassman present could see it clearly—
Alex Thorn wasn't surviving through luck.
He was adapting in real time.
Adoff paced anxiously near the arena wall, claws scraping lightly against the stone floor.
I really hate this academy.
Alex wiped a small line of blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Could've warned me the teachers here fight like murderers."
Ravenna's expression didn't change.
"If that injured you, then you're weaker than I thought."
"…That sounded personal."
Boom.
She moved again.
Alex's pupils narrowed instantly.
This time he reacted earlier.
Clang!
Their blades collided mid-step instead of at the last second.
The impact still blasted cracks across the battlefield, but Alex managed to hold his ground slightly longer this time.
Ravenna noticed immediately.
So did everyone else.
