The first matches for the day have ended.

And there were different reactions from the representatives.

The demon prince narrowed his eyes.

The Elven representatives tilted their heads, they were intrigued.

And high above the arena—

Envoy Ardyn Veylith, he closed his eyes for a brief moment.

"So it has begun."

Kyria Veylith was watching Adam intently, her tail was flicked once behind her chair.

"He isn't letting it leak," she murmured. "But it's still there."

Back on the ground, Class S was in cheers.

Drake was pumping his fist. "See that, humans didn't loose a single match!"

Grace smirked. "What a great way to start a tournament."

Selena was exhaling a sigh in relief.

Eve gave off a smirk.

And across the arena, Jake was clenching his fists until his blood ran from his palms.

Akira Caelthorn's smile was widening slightly. "That was interesting."

Damian also nodded. "True, Adam's adaptation is faster than anticipated."

Below The Arena.

Deep within the halls of the Academy, there were mana tremors that were rippling through the ancient door.

The seal was pulsing once more.

Again.

The Apostle Lord Nythrax was no longer there and gave authority to High Priest Corvex.

He opened his eyes. "The first cracks are forming."

A cultist went towards him and kneeled. "The tournament is amplifying the mana output beyond expectations."

Corvex had a smile on his lips. "Good, good."

The ancient presence that was beneath the seal was stirring.

And fat above, those who were unaware—

The tournament continued without much difficulty.

The echoes of the humans victory hasn't yet faded even when the arena's sigils shifted.

Mana light was rippling across the sky it was like a living thing, it rearranged myself into new pairings.

The Tournament didn't allow the spectators or even the participants themselves to dwell in the awe for long.

This wasn't a spectacle, this was ground where you must prove yourself.

On the elevated human platform, Professor Veyra was watching with her arms crossed, her crimson eyes were sharp beneath that composed exterior.

"Adam really has improved these past four months," she murmured.

Bodies her stood Arlen Khael, now an S-rank, Veyra's right hand and Vice-Guildmaster. Her yellow hair was fluttering in the mana-charged wind as scoffed lightly.

"He didn't even give him a chance to react," Arlen said.."That demon was a solid A-rank. Most of the students would've needed everything they had. But considering he was already A-rank since four months ago. This should be expected."

Veyra's gaze never left the arena though. "That's why they'll think he's dangerous—to the others and probably to himself."

***

The sigils flare once more.

MATCH FOUR

Charles Akuma (A-rank, Wind & Lightning)

vs

Elarion Sylvaen (A-rank Elf, Wind)

***

Charles then stepped forward to the arena, his long black hair was tied loosely behind him katana was resting at his side and his expression was calm, unreadable.

Elarion, tall and lithe, she scoffed softly. "A lowly human with wind dares face against an elf?"

Charles didn't answer, he didn't need to.

The barrier sealed.

"BEGIN"

The arena was instantly filled with cutting gusts as Elarion was the one who moved first,.her wind magic was refined and elegant, it was slicing arcs through the air with minimal effort.

Charles just exhaled slowly.

Lightning was flickering across his katana.

He knew that he shouldn't contest with the wind head-on.

What he did instead was, he slid.

Each step he took rode the air currents, he was redirecting the force rather than just resisting it.

When Elarion's spell was surging, Charles was already in range.

Just one step.

One single draw.

Was all it took.

Just a single flash of lightning cut across the space that was between them.

Elarion stood there frozen, her eyes wide.

The barrier itself flared as the young elf collapsed, unconscious, lightning was dispersing harmlessly at the last second.

"WINNER — CHARLES AKUMA"

Murmurs spread through the crowd quickly, especially among the nobles.

"A commoner doing that...?"

"Such precise footwork—"

"He rode the wind itself."

Adam was watching quickly and nodded just once.

"He is efficient. There's no wasted motion.' he thought. 'Someone must've taught him."

The demons did not remain silent for too long

Their next representive, has descend down like a falling star.

---

MATCH FOUR

Mary (B-rank Peak, Earth)

vs

Rexus Gorefang (B-rank Demon, Bone)

---

Mary went to the field, her delicate frame was radiating physical pressure. Her hands slammed together once as earth fragments crawled across fleshm

Raxus was laughing, bone spiked were protruding from his arms. "Delicate human meat."

This fight would be brutal.

"BEGIN!"

Bone was clashing against reinforced stone skin. Earth was layered over Mary's armor as she was enduring hit after hit, she was refusing to fall.

Every strike from Mary didn't carry any finesse, only crushing force and raw power.

When Raxus overextended his reach, Amy saw an opening. She seized his arm, as earryh was spreading instantly.

"Break already!"

She roared as the arena when she slammed the demon into the ground, stone was erupting upward like a coffin.

The barrier flared.

"VICTORY — MARY"

And for the very first time, the demons were quiet.

Jake von Bazel was standing completely rigid at the edge of the arena, he was watching human after human earn victory.

Something has to break, he didn't want it to be him.

His fingers were trembling.

His pride was screaming.

And when the sigils changed again, his name appeared.

---

MATCH SIX

Jake von Bazel (A-rank, Wind)

vs

Vireth Kaal (A-rank Demon, Ash & Smoke)

---

Jake stepped forward to the arena without waiting.

Vireth was smirking as ash drifted around his form.

"BEGIN"

Jake began his attack immediately.

Wind was roaring.

His blade was striking even faster than before, it was sharper but also desperate.

Vireth was laughing, he dissolved into smoke and reformed behind him.

Jake barely blocked the attack in time.

Ash was burning his lungs and his swings were growing wilder.

"Focus dammit!" Someone shouted at him, but Jake couldn't hear it.

He had to win.

His pride depended on it.

Vireth then started condensing his ash into a piercing lance, Jake was overcommitted.

The impact struck him with so much force that it sent him crashing into the barrier.

Hard.

The runes flashed red.

"DEFEAT — JAKE VON BAZEL"

There was complete silence.

Jake slid down the barrier, his teeth were clenched, his eyes were burning with humiliation.

If he fought calmly he could've won.

Adam looked away at him in disappointment.

'I thought when he got into Class S, he'd stop fighting like that.' He thought. 'He's not going to last long in the real world.'

As the matches were continuing, something else began to change.

The mana density within the arena was rising—slowly, subtly.

It was too subtly for the students to notice.

But not or the ancient seals.

And deep within Silford Academy, the old runes flickered faintly.

The sealed beast breath stirred again.

Far above the tournament was pressing, victories, defeats, prides were being shattered and reforged in the same measure.

And among all of them—

Adam was calm and centered.

He was unaware that each battle, that each surge in power, was bringing the world one step closer to the awakening.

The awakening of something, that should never rise again.

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