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The academy gates towered like a declaration of power.
Massive white stone pillars stretched toward the sky, engraved with the names of legendary huntersâS-rank heroes, dungeon conquerors, and god-killers of old.
Students gathered in clusters, their uniforms crisp, their expressions proud.
And thenâ
There was Alex.
Walking alone.
Whispers followed him like a shadow.
"That's him⊠the F-rank." "The one who dressed like an elite but awakened trash." "What a jokeâŠ"
Alex ignored them.
His expression remained calm, unreadable.
But behind his eyesâ
Everything was different.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Every flicker of mana around himâŠ
---
[God's Eye â Passive Activation]
---
The world unfolded.
Mana currents flowed like rivers.
Heartbeats echoed.
Intent became visible.
A group of students aheadâhostile.
Two on the leftânervous.
One behind himâwatching closely.
Pathetic.
They thought they were observing him.
They had no ideaâ
He was already reading them.
---
"Move."
A shoulder slammed into him.
Alex didn't budge.
The boy who bumped him staggered back slightly, surprised.
He was tall. Muscular. Confident.
A silver insignia gleamed on his chest.
"Watch where you're going, trash," the boy sneered.
Alex looked at him.
---
[Analysis Complete]
Strength: B-Rank
Speed: C+
Weakness: Right knee (old injury)
Outcome: Victory (100%)
---
"âŠYou should fix your stance," Alex said calmly. "Your right leg is unstable."
Silence.
Then laughter exploded around them.
"Did the F-rank just give advice?!" "Is he serious?!" "He's insane!"
The boy's face darkened.
"You think this is funny?"
Mana flared around him.
"Let's see how confident you are in the arena."
---
âïž Training Grounds â Duel Platform
A crowd gathered quickly.
Nothing spread faster than humiliation.
And everyone wanted to see the F-rank get crushed.
Alex stepped onto the platform.
Unarmed.
Unbothered.
Across from him, the B-rank student drew his blade.
"Last chance," he said coldly. "Kneel, and I won't break anything."
Alex said nothing.
---
A voice echoed across the arena.
"Begin."
---
The B-rank lunged forward.
Fast.
Too fast for normal students.
His blade cut through the air, aimed straight for Alex's neck.
Gasps erupted.
"This is overâ!"
---
But Alex moved.
Not fastâ
Efficient.
He tilted his head slightly.
The blade missed by centimeters.
---
[God's Eye Active]
---
Second strike.
Downward slash.
Alex stepped inside the attack.
Too close.
The B-rank's eyes widened.
Impossibleâ
---
A sharp movementâ
Alex struck his opponent's knee.
Exactly where the weakness was.
---
CRACK.
---
The boy collapsed instantly.
A scream tore through the arena.
Before he could reactâ
Alex's dagger was at his throat.
---
Silence.
Absolute silence.
---
"âŠYield," Alex said calmly.
---
"IâI YIELD!"
---
The arena exploded.
"What just happened?!" "He didn't even use mana!" "He beat a B-rank?!"
Shock. Confusion. Disbelief.
And thenâ
A slow clap echoed.
Elegant.
Measured.
Cold.
---
All eyes turned.
And the crowd parted.
---
She walked forward like the world belonged to her.
Silver-white hair flowed like liquid light.
Eyes like frozen stars.
Every step carried quiet authority.
The air itself seemed to bend around her.
---
Iris Valen.
---
Even without the systemâ
Alex could tell.
She was different.
---
[God's Eye Attempting AnalysisâŠ]
[ERROR]
[Insufficient Authority]
---
For the first timeâ
Alex's expression shifted.
âŠInteresting.
---
Iris stepped onto the platform.
Her gaze fell on the defeated student brieflyâ
Then moved to Alex.
Sharp.
Piercing.
Unforgiving.
---
"So," she said, her voice calm but cutting,
"this is the 'F-rank' everyone is talking about."
---
The crowd held its breath.
---
"You rely on tricks and cheap shots," she continued.
"Targeting injuries. Avoiding direct combat."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Disgraceful."
---
Murmurs of agreement spread.
"Yeah⊠she's rightâŠ" "That wasn't a real fightâŠ"
---
Alex said nothing.
---
Iris stepped closer.
Now they stood only a few feet apart.
The pressure around her intensified.
---
"Fight me."
---
Gasps.
"She's serious?!" "An S-rank vs an F-rank?!" "This is insane!"
---
Alex met her gaze.
For a momentâ
The world felt still.
---
Thenâ
He spoke.
---
"âŠYou're strong."
---
A pause.
Unexpected.
---
"But you talk too much."
---
The crowd froze.
Someone dropped something.
Clang.
---
Iris's eyes sharpened.
Not angerâ
Interest.
---
"Then prove me wrong," she said.
Mana exploded around her.
The ground cracked beneath her feet.
Starlight flickered faintly in her eyes.
---
[Danger Level: Extreme]
---
Alex exhaled slowly.
His hand moved to his blade.
---
For the first timeâ
He felt it.
---
Excitement.
---
"Fine."
---
The air trembled.
Power gathered.
Two monstersâ
About to collide.
---
And no one there realizedâ
---
This wasn't a duel.
---
It was the beginning of something far more dangerous.