Ray felt no guilt whatsoever when it came to Scarlet.

From his perspective, his actions had been entirely reasonable. The argument about how much he had eaten was nothing more than a distraction. Logic didn't support her grievance at all.

She had looked down on him from the start. If that was the case, why should he foot her bill? From the beginning, they stood on parallel paths, two lines that were never meant to intersect.

*

The individual competition grounds were alive with noise and motion.

Since the junior division only allowed competitors with three soul rings at most, the arenas were relatively compact. Each circular platform measured roughly thirty meters in diameter.

Dozens of such arenas were arranged side by side, every one of them showcasing wildly different martial souls, soul skills, and fighting styles.

Flashes of light, elemental surges, weapon clashes, and bursts of soul power overlapped into a dazzling spectacle.

Ray watched with sharp, focused eyes.

Every contestant here was a potential enemy.

He only had one soul ring. That meant he couldn't afford even the slightest mistake. He had to learn everything he could, steal every advantage available.

Soon, the third heat was announced.

Ray glanced down at his number plate. Arena 16.

A translucent soul barrier rose around the circular stage, sealing it off from the spectators. Inside the barrier, the air felt heavier, charged with anticipation.

Ray stepped onto the platform.

Surprisingly, he felt no nervousness at all.

After the Spirit Ascension Platform, after countless real battles and Alfred's merciless training, this kind of competition felt… invigorating. His blood stirred with excitement.

How far can I really go?

His opponent entered soon after.

It was a boy even shorter than Ray, thin-framed and clearly younger. Although he tried to look composed, the anxiety in his eyes betrayed him completely.

A middle-aged referee stood between them.

"The rules are simple," the referee said calmly. "You may use any method to attack. I will intervene if necessary to ensure safety. Victory is decided when one side concedes. If neither side can or will concede, I will judge when one participant can no longer continue. You have thirty seconds to prepare. I will count down the last five seconds."

The moment the referee finished speaking, Ray's opponent summoned his soul rings.

Two yellow rings rose beneath his feet, glowing brightly.

Ray blinked.

We still have thirty seconds…

Releasing a martial soul consumed soul power. Was the kid trying to intimidate him?

The boy's martial soul manifested as a long silver staff with a black dragon coiling around its length.

The Coiling Dragon Staff.

A powerful martial soul.

Dragon?

Ray's heart skipped slightly, then steadied.

So what if it has "dragon" in the name?

The boy seemed to realize his mistake as well. His face flushed, and he hurriedly withdrew his martial soul, staring uneasily at Ray.

"Five… four… three… two… one… begin!"

The instant the final word fell, Ray stomped forward.

Boom!

The ground cracked as he exploded into motion, launching himself like a fired cannonball. He wasn't an agility-type soul master, yet in that instant, his speed was terrifying.

Thirty meters vanished in a blink.

The boy panicked.

He summoned his Coiling Dragon Staff again, but his soul rings didn't light up. No soul skills. No preparation.

He was already too late.

A cold snort echoed.

The boy's vision spun as a sudden wave of dizziness crashed into his mind. The golden-scaled fist rushing toward him filled his entire field of view, radiating an oppressive draconic pressure.

Fear crushed him.

His legs gave out, and he fell backward onto the arena floor.

Ray slapped the staff aside and placed his scaled hand gently on top of the boy's head. He didn't grab. He didn't activate the Golden Dragon Claw.

He simply stopped.

"Enough!"

The referee appeared in a flash, blocking Ray's hand and stepping between them. He could clearly sense that Ray hadn't used any real strength.

The referee turned sharply to the pale-faced boy on the ground.

"You lack combat experience," he said sternly. "How did you even think you were ready for this competition?"

"I—I thought my soul skills were strong…" the boy stammered. "I thought I could—"

"Strength means nothing if you can't use it," the referee snapped. "Did you even get a chance to activate your soul skills?"

The boy fell silent.

The result was clear.

Ray received his new number plate for the next round.

His first knockout match ended without him even needing to release his martial soul.

***

Confidence surged through him.

The opponent had been a two-ringed Soul Grandmaster, yet he hadn't even managed to fight back. In real combat, that boy would already be dead.

With the morning matches over and the team competition scheduled for the afternoon, Ray returned to the hotel.

Lily and Raziel Phoenix had already arrived. Violette hadn't left the hotel at all.

"How'd it go?" Ray asked.

"Won easily!" Raziel Phoenix declared smugly. "Didn't even break a sweat."

Lily nodded, her expression calm as ever.

Ray smiled. "Then we've all passed the first round. Congratulations."

"Our goal isn't just passing," Lily said quietly. "We're aiming for the championship."

Ray sighed. "Experience really matters. My opponent had two rings and strong soul skills, but he lost before using any of them. If this were a battlefield, he wouldn't have survived."

"The process doesn't matter," Lily replied. "Only the outcome does. Strength isn't just soul power or soul skills. Even a powerful soul master can die to a dagger if they're careless. Combat experience sharpens awareness."

Ray chuckled. "Let's just hope I don't end up fighting you next round."

Lily paused, then smiled faintly. She didn't want to face him either.

"So, boss," Raziel Phoenix asked, "what's the plan for this afternoon?"

"Fight like we always do," Ray replied. "Our first opponents won't be strong. We should get through the first round without trouble."

The others nodded.

Director Aaron led them toward the team competition grounds, since Alfred was occupied elsewhere.

"Ready?" Aaron asked with a gentle smile.

"We are," Ray answered.

Aaron nodded approvingly. "This tournament is also a test of Class Zero. If you achieve good results, the academy will invest more resources into you. Especially you, Ray. You've practically eaten through the academy's budget. So don't disappoint us."

Ray nodded firmly.

Teacher Alfred has been carrying this pressure for us…

Then the only answer is victory.

The three-versus-three arenas were much larger, fifty meters across, allowing more room for teamwork and maneuvering.

Their first opponents came from Seafare City, a smaller coastal town roughly on par with Ironspire City. Their academy wasn't strong, and the three-man format suggested they lacked depth.

After watching several matches, Ray's group reached the same conclusion.

They weren't facing serious competition.

"Boss," Raziel Phoenix yawned, "why are these matches making me sleepy?"

"Because we haven't seen anyone strong yet," Ray replied calmly. "But don't relax. We're only seeing part of the field."

He glanced at his teammates.

"Let's start planning our strategy."

As Ray observed match after match unfold, a clear plan gradually took shape in his mind.

Half an hour later, their turn arrived.

Ray stepped onto the arena first. Behind him came Raziel Phoenix… and Violette.

Lily was nowhere to be seen.

That omission was deliberate.

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