Boos rained down on Tommy like stones.

"Shameless bastard!"

"Commoner trash!"

"Disgusting way to win!"

But Tommy just stood there in the center of the arena, hands on his hips, chest heaving, a broad, infuriating grin plastered across his face.

Sweat dripped down his bald head, glinting in the light, and he looked… proud.

He even turned and waved at them.

Behind him, several cadets rushed toward Rhea. One of them threw a long coat around her trembling body, wrapping it tight.

The moment the fabric touched her skin, she broke.

She collapsed into the arms of a tall male cadet, burying her face into his shoulder, bawling loudly.

Her sobs were raw, humiliating, and messy.

"I—I can't believe he did that to me—!" she choked.

The cadets around her shot Tommy murderous looks.

The one leading them stepped forward.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, with neatly slicked-back ash-blond hair and sharp noble features. His tunic was trimmed in red thread, the mark of an A–rank Soulbound warrior.

A thin scar cut across one eyebrow, and his eyes were cold, and contemptuous.

"A shameless commoner," he spat. "That's what you are."

He pointed straight at Tommy.

"How dare you do something so vile to a noble woman? Do you have no dignity? No honor at all? You should be on your knees begging for forgiveness right now."

Tommy tilted his head, grin widening.

"…Dignity?" he echoed.

Then he shrugged.

"Sorry, man. I kind of left my dignity back home with my empty stomach and ragged clothes. You know—poor people problems."

He snickered.

The noble's face darkened. "You—!"

Tommy gestured lazily toward the arena floor.

"She agreed to the match. Its not like there was nothing for her to gain if she won. As a senior, you should not be a sore loser."

His grin sharpened waving a hand dismissively.

"My advice... Next time, tell her to fight in a winter jacket."

That did it.

"Get him." The senior cadet ordered.

Three cadets stepped forward at once, soul energy flaring around their bodies in hot, hostile auras.

Tommy's grin faltered. He immediately raised both hands and started backing away.

"Whoa, whoa—easy there, kind seniors," he said quickly.

"Let's not get emotional. I won fair and square. The method doesn't matter. I mean those are the academy rules, right?"

But they kept advancing.

Tommy's mind spun hard. 'Shit.' He cursed in his mind. 'I should have left trash talking for Soren.'

But he needed to act tough.

Sponsors loved bravado. He just hadn't expected it to go this far.

"Tou... Touch me," Tommy added, voice tightening, "and you'll be proving you're sore losers."

The air grew heavy. And subconsciously, he looked towards the Instructors in the audience.

'Attacking a fellow student outside a Gauntlet match should be an offense. Why are they not moving?'

Tommy thought to himself. Something did not feel right.

'Damn nobles.' He cursed.

Then—

BOOM.

The ground shook.

A massive impact cratered the stone floor between Tommy and the advancing cadets. Dust exploded outward in a ring.

Everyone staggered.

All eyes snapped to the center of the arena.

A huge muscular figure stood there, boots sunk deep into the fractured stone.

Steam hissed faintly from her silver helmet.

The cadets' gazes slowly traveled upward…

Past her huge frame, to her chest and broad shoulders.

Up to the smooth, silver helmet reflecting the arena lights.

Cynthia.

She straightened to her full height, then turned, placing herself squarely in front of Tommy—backing him protectively.

The cadets froze.

Fear rippled through the advancing three.

One of them swallowed hard… then he noticed the white tunic.

His eyes widened. A bit of courage swelled in his heart.

He gave a shallow chuckle. "Its... its just a clown,"

And then another echoed his thoughts.

The cadet leading them pointed at Cynthia with a shaking finger.

"How dare you try to intimidate your seniors? You're just a clown! Move aside!"

Cynthia didn't move.

Steam curled from the vents of her helmet as she exhaled slowly.

The silence was suffocating.

Then—

THUD.

Another figure landed beside her.

Soren.

He stepped in casually, dusting off his sleeve.

Then he reached out and patted Cynthia's huge arm.

His voice was calm. Unhurried. Flat.

"Break the hand of the first person that takes a step."

The entire arena went dead silent.

Pencil looked to his side and then the arena ground. "When... How did he?"

Bloodshine also leaped over the rails to join Soren.

Pencil attempted it, but quickly shook his head, and rushed for the stairs.

Meanwhile, all eyes had been drawn to Soren.

"Soren!?" Tommy asked—more to himself.

"You know, you should leave the shit talking to me." Soren remarked.

"Soren!" Tommy leaped, embracing him.

Soren smiled, also happy to see him.

"I thought you were going to spend the rest of your life in jail." Tommy lamented. "I already plans to visit you, but then I heard you were coming back and—"

CRACK.

Everyone froze.

Then a SCREAM.

Soren and Tommy turned at the same time.

Cynthia was holding a senior cadet by a broken arm, bone jutting wrong beneath torn fabric as he screamed.

"Heeee Mooooveeed." She muttered.

The other cadets could not help but take a step back. Scared.

However, even with the cadet screaming and struggling, Cynthia did not let go.

Soren smiled at her. "Good girl. Now I owe you two dinners." He gestured with two thumbs up.

"How dare you?" The leading cadet bellowed red soul energy manifesting around him.

Soren stepped forward, his soul energy similarly manifesting around him.

Bloodshine also stepped forward.

The pressure mounting more than ever before.

And then—

"STOP THIS MADNESS!"

Everyone turned.

It was an Instructor in the audience.

The first thing Soren noticed was that he had brows so long, they looked like the wings of an eagle.

"All of you, report to the disciplinary committee immediately."

However, at the same time, another scream drew everyone's attention

"She is dead!"

Someone shrieked, pointing toward Rhea.

(Author's note: A warm Thank you to all that blessed this book with Golden tickets. As promised. I'll release ten extra chapters for the month. To make it easier on my mental health, I'll increase daily upload from 2 to 3 chapters. Until we make 10 extra. Thank you.)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.