The academy’s Grand Combat Arena was packed.
More than three thousand first-year students filled the spectator stands while instructors observed from the VIP platform above.
A giant crystal screen floated in the air, displaying the tournament bracket.
The rules were simple.
Win three matches to qualify for the Elite Class.
Lose twice…
…and your chance disappeared.
Students whispered excitedly as the first matches began.
“That guy has an A-Rank Flame Talent!”
“Look!
An Earth Mage!”
“I heard someone awakened an SS-Rank Beast Contract!”
Magic exploded across the arena.
Swords clashed.
Cheers echoed throughout the stadium.
Kael quietly watched every fight.
“Most of them rely too much on their abilities…”
In his previous life, this tournament had seemed impressive.
Now…
It looked like children playing with toys.
“Match Number 27!”
The announcer’s voice echoed across the arena.
“Kael Ardyn versus Victor Graves!”
The audience immediately began murmuring.
Victor stepped confidently onto the arena.
Standing nearly two meters tall, he carried a massive battle axe over one shoulder.
His muscles bulged beneath his academy uniform.
The crystal displayed his information.
Victor Graves
Talent: B-Rank Berserker
Mana Level: High
Several students sighed.
“The Sword Summoner is finished.”
“Poor guy.”
“Victor hasn’t lost a sparring match all year.”
Kael slowly walked into the arena.
Unlike everyone else, he carried only an ordinary practice sword.
No legendary aura.
No flashy entrance.
No confidence that spectators could see.
Victor laughed loudly.
“So you’re my opponent?”
Kael nodded.
“Looks that way.”
Victor planted his axe into the ground.
“I’ll give you one chance.”
“Surrender.”
“I don’t like bullying weaklings.”
The audience applauded Victor’s generosity.
Kael simply smiled.
“Thanks.”
Victor grinned.
“So you surrender?”
“No.”
“I appreciate the offer.”
“…but I still need to win.”
The referee raised his hand.
“Begin!”
BOOM!!
Victor instantly activated Berserker Mode.
Red mana erupted around him.
The arena floor cracked beneath his feet as he charged forward with terrifying speed.
Students gasped.
“He’s ending it immediately!”
The giant axe descended.
Kael didn’t move.
At the last possible second…
…he took one step sideways.
The axe slammed into empty ground.
Victor’s eyes widened.
“What—?”
Kael gently tapped the side of Victor’s practice axe with his wooden sword.
Clang.
Nothing flashy happened.
Victor froze.
Tiny cracks spread across his weapon.
Then…
CRACK!
The reinforced academy weapon shattered into hundreds of pieces.
Silence.
Victor stared at the broken handle still in his hands.
“What…”
The entire arena became deathly quiet.
Even the instructors stood up.
Practice weapons were enchanted to withstand tremendous force.
Breaking one with another practice sword…
…was nearly impossible.
Kael lowered his blade.
“Your balance was off.”
Victor blinked.
“My…
balance?”
“You rely too much on strength.”
“If that had been a real battlefield…”
Kael looked directly into his eyes.
“…you would already be dead.”
Victor unconsciously stepped backward.
For the first time in years…
He felt fear.
Not because Kael looked powerful.
But because his calm gaze carried the weight of countless battles.
It was the gaze of someone who had survived hell itself.
High above the arena…
The Headmaster narrowed his eyes.
“He didn’t use mana.”
One professor swallowed nervously.
“Perhaps it was luck?”
“No.”
The old man slowly shook his head.
“That…”
“…was perfect swordsmanship.”
Inside the Infinite Sword Archive…
Astra giggled.
“Master…
you held back too much.”
“I know.”
“You didn’t even summon me.”
“If I had…”
Kael looked at the shattered weapon.
“…the arena would no longer exist.”
Astra remained silent.
She couldn’t argue with that.
The referee finally regained his composure.
“V-Victor Graves has been disarmed!”
“The winner…”
“…Kael Ardyn!”
The stadium erupted into disbelief.
“HE WON?!”
“How?”
“He didn’t even use a skill!”
“Was that really just technique?”
Among the crowd…
Lyra Valen watched Kael with narrowed eyes.
“That movement…”
Her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
A fragment of memory flashed before her eyes.
A battlefield.
A crimson sky.
A lone swordsman standing against an endless army.
Before she could grasp the image…
It vanished.
Lyra placed a hand on her chest.
“Why…”
“…does watching him make my heart ache?”
Far away…
Hidden beneath the academy…
A sealed black sword resting inside the Infinite Sword Archive slowly opened one crimson eye.
A cold voice echoed through the endless void.
“The Master has begun changing fate…”
“Perhaps…
it is finally time for me to awaken.”
To Be Continued…