After carefully studying the earlier battles, Ray felt no need to expose Lily at all.

Their opponents came from a small town's intermediate academy, hardly worth revealing Class Zero's strongest trump card. In Alfred's words, their only goal was the championship. Ray had fully absorbed that philosophy. Regardless of who stood in front of them, their objective would never change.

And to achieve that objective, strategy mattered.

Lily was unquestionably their strongest combatant. Letting her sit out the early rounds was the smartest move. Saving strength now meant dominance later.

As for Violette, while her combat power during the day was limited, her awareness and timing were exceptional. When the moment came, she knew exactly where to strike.

Raziel Phoenix called her a bright, adorable girl.

In reality, she was a sly little tactician.

Violette herself hadn't expected to fight in the first round. When she heard the others had already won their individual matches, envy twisted in her chest. Still, she knew her limitations. A one-on-one fight in daylight would have been a mistake.

Yet now, Ray had placed her on the field.

Her eyes sparkled.

*

Their opponents soon arrived.

Three teenagers, all around fourteen or fifteen years old, stepped onto the stage from Seafare Academy.

The moment they saw Ray's group, their faces lit up.

Young. Too young.

In an instant, relief and excitement washed over them. Seafare Academy wasn't strong, and all their resources had been poured into this team. They'd already resigned themselves to being underdogs in a forest of monsters.

But now?

They'd run into children.

A gift from fate.

Aren't these kids barely eleven or twelve? The age gap alone should crush them.

The referee walked onto the stage. "You have thirty seconds to prepare. The countdown will begin at five seconds. You may not deliberately cripple your opponent. You must immediately cease combat if I order it."

His tone was flat, mechanical.

The tallest of the three smiled. "I'm Edmund. These are Katherine and Lambert. You're from West Ocean Academy, right?"

Ray smiled shyly, posture humble. "Yes. Seniors, we're first graders from West Ocean Academy. Please give us some guidance."

Raziel Phoenix almost exploded.

Only the quick hand signals flashed behind Ray's back stopped him. Understanding dawned, and Raziel Phoenix lowered his head, biting back laughter.

Violette stared at Ray with disbelief.

Since when did our captain become this shameless?

"Five… four… three… two… one… begin!"

Class Zero's first official team battle had begun.

Ray moved instantly.

Like his individual match, he didn't bother summoning his martial soul. At his level, that extra moment mattered. Every action was calculated for efficiency.

He stomped forward.

Boom!

The arena floor cracked under his foot. Raziel Phoenix followed a heartbeat later, slipping into motion like a shadow. The two advanced in perfect sync, Ray in front, Raziel Phoenix hidden behind him.

Violette raised her ice staff. Pale light gathered, and a single soul ring appeared beneath her feet.

The Seafare Academy trio froze.

No soul rings. No martial souls.

And a one-ringed support in the back?

What were these kids doing?

Instinctively, all three released their martial souls.

Twin yellow rings rose beneath each of them.

Then—

A flash of purple.

Blue vine tendrils erupted from the ground, surging forward like living whips.

The Seafare trio didn't even have time to react.

Before a single soul skill could activate, the vines coiled around their bodies, binding arms, legs, and torsos in an instant. Struggles were useless.

"Stop resisting!" Raziel Phoenix darted in, tapping each of them sharply on the head with his Light Dragon Dagger.

Violette stood calmly at the rear, staff raised, never needing to act.

"Stop!"

The referee's shout rang out, disbelief barely contained.

The match was over.

A single two-ringed soul master and two one-ringed soul masters had utterly crushed three two-ringed soul masters.

And it had ended in a blink.

Edmund, Katherine, and Lambert stood there stunned, their minds blank.

They hadn't even used a soul skill.

Combat experience.

That realization flashed through Ray's thoughts.

He'd sensed it during the individual matches, and now he felt it again. Compared to Class Zero, these opponents were painfully inexperienced.

It wasn't that other academies lacked combat training. They simply couldn't compare.

Class Zero's training bordered on cruelty. Endless battles in the Spirit Ascension Platform. Alfred's merciless guidance. Constant pressure, constant danger.

Alfred came from Central Academy.

And his methods showed it.

Stepping off the stage, Violette laughed. "Captain, I never knew you were this two-faced!"

She wasn't wrong.

Before the match even started, Ray had deliberately painted himself as an innocent, harmless child. The moment the signal sounded, that mask shattered. He struck without mercy, leaving no time for resistance.

Devious.

Effective.

Throughout the entire battle, Ray had used only one soul skill.

His thousand-year soul skill.

Ray chuckled softly. "If we can save energy and hide our strength a bit longer, why wouldn't we? Our goal is the championship."

"Aren't you afraid someone might overhear that?"

An icy voice sliced through the air.

The trio turned.

Scarlet and Jacob stood nearby, watching them closely.

Jacob greeted Ray awkwardly, caught between the two sides. Scarlet, on the other hand, glared at Ray so fiercely it felt like her eyes alone could set him ablaze.

Ray didn't even spare her a glance, treating her like empty air. "Let's go."

Raziel Phoenix leaned in and whispered, "Why do I feel like there's some deep blood feud between you two?"

Ray shrugged. "No way. We're just acquaintances."

At that moment, Lily walked over. Unlike Ray, she didn't bother being polite. She stared straight at Scarlet, her gaze icy and sharp enough to cut. "Just wait and see."

Scarlet snorted disdainfully. "We've registered too. I'd like to see exactly what you've got."

Registered too?

Ray froze. "You signed up as well? Aren't you from Central Academy? Can Central Academy even participate in a public tournament like this?"

Scarlet lifted her chin proudly. "We'll temporarily register under another academy. No one will object. Raymond, you'd better hope you're eliminated before running into me. Otherwise…" She clenched her fist and shook it at him, eyes flashing with malice.

The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.

Ray felt a chill crawl up his spine. Central Academy. That name alone carried weight. Everyone had witnessed their exhibition match. Even if the details were unclear, their strength wasn't. If he truly provoked such an opponent, he'd be dragging his teammates into unnecessary danger.

He opened his mouth to explain, but Lily stopped him.

"That's enough. Captain, let's go." She grabbed Ray's arm and pulled him away, giving him no chance to say another word.

***

On the way back to the hotel, Ray explained everything that had led to Scarlet's hostility.

Violette listened with sparkling eyes. "Captain, you're amazing. They're from Central Academy, and you still ran off on them! Not bending to power, not swayed by status. You're my role model!"

Raziel Phoenix's mouth twitched. "That's not 'not bending to power'. He just hates spending money."

Ray shot him a glance. "Exactly."

Raziel Phoenix instantly shut up.

Lily nodded seriously. "That's how he really is."

Raziel Phoenix staggered. "Lily! Can you be any more biased? Is everything he does right in your eyes?"

"Of course," Lily replied calmly, as if stating an obvious fact.

Raziel Phoenix felt something explode inside him. "Then what, you plan to marry him in the future? Thinking that far ahead already?"

Lily froze.

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