They swept past her without pause, cold and detached, as if she were no different from the scenery behind her.

Lara's face stiffened.

Bastard… he's still the same bastard.

Claire caught the subtle change in her sister's expression and inwardly sighed. She understood Lara far too well.

From childhood, Lara had been labeled a prodigy. Failing to enter Central Academy had dealt her a crushing blow, warping her temperament. Alfred's rejection had only poured salt into an already festering wound.

Big sister… You should know better, Claire thought silently. No matter what you do, it won't change anything. In his eyes, we were never on the same level.

But she dared not say such words aloud. With Lara's temper, that would only push her closer to madness.

Lara snapped, turning sharply. "Teach them a proper lesson."

"Yes, teacher."

A brief flash of light passed through the calm youth's eyes before his expression returned to its usual composure.

At that moment, Director Aaron stepped onto the stage. He nodded courteously toward both teachers before speaking in a deep voice.

"The Class Promotion Tournament was previously postponed due to the typhoon. Today marks the fourth match. First grade's class five will compete against first grade's class one."

His gaze shifted to Alfred.

"Teacher, how many participants will your class send today?"

Aaron's emotions were complicated.

He had originally hoped class five would be eliminated quickly, ending the rise of this troublesome dark horse. Class placement was his responsibility. If class five continued winning, it would reflect poorly on his earlier decisions.

At worst, it could even trigger an internal review of his class sorting… and of Alfred's teaching methods.

Yet Alfred's terrifying display of strength a few days ago had softened that pressure. Many directors now acknowledge Alfred's capability, even considering transferring him to the Advanced Academy.

And Aaron no longer dared offend him lightly.

"Our class will have—" Alfred began.

"Teacher, please wait."

A familiar voice rang out from behind class five.

Raziel Phoenix and Lily froze for a heartbeat before breaking into wide grins.

The crowd parted as a disheveled, exhausted figure hurried forward.

Ray.

His hair was messy, his face pale, and his breathing uneven. Any chance of looking impressive had long vanished.

"Where did you run off to? Why are you only showing up now?" Raziel Phoenix snapped.

Ray forced a strained smile. "Long story. Let's fight first. Teacher… I can still battle."

Alfred looked at him calmly, then nodded.

Turning back to Aaron, he said, "We'll send three participants."

Aaron nodded. "First grade's class one may also select three participants."

Lara lifted her chin. "Fine."

"Participants from both sides, step forward."

Lily leaned closer to Ray and whispered, "Are you really alright? Your condition feels… strange."

"I'm fine," Ray replied softly, a familiar confident smile returning to his lips.

Lily nodded. "Then let's win together."

Ray once again took the central position. Raziel Phoenix and Lily stood slightly behind him as the three walked onto the stage.

From the opposite side, class one's trio stepped forward as well.

"I'm Barbara," the calm youth in the center said evenly.

"Ares," Ares sneered. He stuck out his thumb, then slowly turned it downward in provocation.

"You—!" Raziel Phoenix bristled, about to charge, but Ray's hand clamped down on his shoulder.

Raziel Phoenix stiffened.

His strength… it increased again!

"Volt," the thin, gloomy boy introduced himself curtly.

Ray spoke calmly. "First grade, class five. Ray."

"Lily."

"Raziel Phoenix!" Raziel Phoenix's eyes burned as he stared at Ares.

Aaron scanned both teams. Even before the match began, the air already smelled of gunpowder.

"This is a school competition," he said sternly. "Only victory and defeat exist here. No deliberate harm is allowed. Violators will be severely punished."

"Understood!" All six answered in unison.

"Good. Step back."

Both teams retreated under Aaron's supervision.

"Begin!"

The arena exploded with cheers as the first grade's decisive battle officially began.

Almost simultaneously, Ares and Raziel Phoenix surged forward.

They had despised each other long before this match.

Two yellow soul rings rose beneath Ares's feet. A green light flashed, and a small turquoise snake appeared on his shoulder. It had translucent green wings and radiated sharp vitality.

Compared to Ray's tiny earth snake, Gold, this spirit soul was clearly far more aggressive.

Ares's body changed rapidly. His movements grew fluid, his skin taking on a faint green hue.

A hundred-year Green Shadow Snake spirit soul.

To obtain it and perfectly match his martial soul had cost an enormous price. But after the fusion, his cultivation surged, pushing him straight into the two-ring realm.

Though its growth would slow after rank twenty, it had given him an overwhelming early advantage.

As an Agility System Battle Soul Master, Ares flickered left and right while charging, creating afterimages. Though not as fast as Raziel Phoenix, his movements were eerily flexible.

Yet the thing that shocked him most—

Two yellow soul rings were rising beneath Raziel Phoenix's feet as well.

His pupils shrank.

Two rings…?

Ray immediately noticed the change in Raziel Phoenix's Light Dragon Dagger.

The blade had shrunk by a full circle, its radiance dimmer than before. Yet instead of weakening, it felt denser, more condensed. The patterns etched into the dagger were sharper and clearer, and an oppressive aura radiated from it, as if the weapon itself had awakened.

Two soul rings.

There was actually a two-ring Soul Grandmaster… in class five.

Aaron, who had just taken his place at the edge of the field, froze on the spot. His mouth fell open slightly, his expression blank with disbelief.

Class one, having three Soul Grandmasters, was shocking enough. But class five produces one as well?

That was unprecedented in the entire history of West Ocean Academy.

Aaron felt as if his face had been slapped hard.

Alfred… Alfred. You really never disappoint.

From the stands, class five erupted into cheers. The sight of two yellow soul rings beneath Raziel Phoenix's feet ignited their morale like a spark thrown into dry grass.

In a blur of light and shadow, Raziel Phoenix and Ares collided.

Raziel Phoenix's expression was grave as his speed surged once more. His body turned into a streak of golden light, spiraling in a sharp arc as he forced Ares backward.

Even before they exchanged blows, the pressure pouring off Raziel Phoenix made Ares feel as though invisible blades were carving into his skin.

What terrifying soul power!

I'm already at rank twenty-two. He just broke through… so how can his pressure still be this overwhelming?

Ares didn't know that Raziel Phoenix possessed twin martial souls. Even at the same cultivation rank, Raziel Phoenix's soul power far exceeded that of ordinary Soul Masters.

While the two clashed, the other four did not remain idle.

Ray did not immediately release his martial soul. Instead, he charged forward directly, his target unmistakable: Barbara, the commander of class one.

Lily's figure flickered and reappeared behind Ray like a shadow clinging to his back. Though Ray relied purely on brute strength and lacked Raziel Phoenix's explosive speed, he was still astonishingly fast. Lily moved as lightly as drifting mist, never separating from him.

Barbara stood still, his expression calm, as though Ray's charge meant nothing to him.

It was Volt who stepped forward instead.

Like his teammates, Volt also possessed two soul rings. His already thin body seemed to swell slightly, but it wasn't muscle that expanded—it was his skeleton. His frame stretched unnaturally as he raised both arms, black mist surging outward.

A darkness attribute martial soul?

Volt strode forward with long steps, arms extended. Two black flames burned in his eyes, radiating an eerie chill. His spirit soul did not appear, making his abilities all the more unsettling.

Ray's expression remained unchanged.

A white soul ring rose beneath his feet as he thrust his arms forward. From his collar, Gold slithered out, lifting its tiny head.

Among everyone present, only Alfred noticed something unusual—Gold's head was noticeably larger than before. Unfortunately, with most of its body hidden beneath Ray's clothes, he couldn't see clearly.

Earthen-yellow light spread across Ray's body, making him appear broader and sturdier. His speed slowed slightly, but the sense of weight and solidity increased dramatically.

A red sphere of light suddenly flew past Ray's shoulder.

A fireball.

It slammed into Volt's right hand with a sharp crack. Black radiance flared instantly, extinguishing the flames in the blink of an eye.

The next moment, Ray and Volt collided.

Bang!

A dull explosion echoed across the arena.

Ray's body trembled as he skidded to a halt. Volt, on the other hand, staggered backward three full steps.

Barbara's calm expression finally cracked.

He knew Volt's strength better than anyone. With a top-tier close-combat martial soul, Volt was an outstanding Assault System Soul Master. Even Barbara himself could not match him in raw physical power.

And yet—

A one-ring Soul Master with only a ten-year soul ring had just forced Volt back?

Impossible.

Volt was just as shaken. In that brief exchange, it felt as though his punch had slammed into an immovable mountain. The sheer strength contained in Ray's body was something he couldn't contend with at all.

Lily didn't follow up with another attack. She stayed close behind Ray, conserving her strength. One opponent still hadn't revealed his full hand.

When Ray's fist struck Volt, the strange unease in Lily's heart deepened once more.

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