Even beneath the archway, the whispers reached the line of waiting students.

Eran's eyes flicked up from the shadowed edge, catching a faint glimpse of movement above the glare. The crowd's tone told him enough. His mind pieced it together.

So… the crystalline-haired boy from earlier… he's here again. Watching.

His gaze sharpened faintly.

'Then I was right. He's not just another noble. That's high-blood presence.' He thought.

Girzar straightened again, his tone lowering but carrying with power as he turned once more to the arena.

"One final match," he said, each word deliberate.

The crowd leaned in as he unfurled his scroll, mana flickering faintly along its edges. His fingers traced the runes, and the script glowed, releasing a faint hum through the arena's crest above.

He exhaled softly... then announced:

"Next match… Miyu Valerane versus Eran Vale."

The entire crowd stilled.

Gasps. Disbelief.

"M-Miyu...?"

"The first potential noble in class—against him!"

"Wait—Eran Vale… isn't that the same commoner that signed under the disciplinary record?"

The obsidian crest above shimmered, two names burning bright in gold and red.

A tension deeper than before gripped the stage.... curiosity, excitement, and something darker, like the promise of a storm yet to break.

Above the crest, the two names glowed vividly against the high dome:

Miyu Valerane and Eran Vale.

A wave of murmurs rippled almost instantly.

"She hasn't been in the archway all this while…"

"Where was she?"

"Wait has she been sitting among the high seats?"

"I didn't see her even once since the duels began…"

The whispering spread faster than fire licking through dry grass.

Eran walked forward from the shadowed archway, his steps slow and unhurried, the very picture of calm silence. His expression unreadable.. cold, almost detached—as though the weight of the roaring crowd didn't reach him at all.

For a few long breaths, the arena was filled only with the echo of his boots against stone.

Then...

A faint hum passed through the high seats. Heads turned instantly, voices rose again.

And there she was.

Miyu Valerane.

Her figure emerged gracefully from beneath the towering hall, the faint shimmer of her mana trailing like soft light around her. Even from afar, her presence radiated an untouchable elegance.. a proud noble's poise.

"L-look it's her… Miyu!"

"Wait, she came from up there?"

"She's been with the high-seated nobles all this time?"

"Gods… no wonder she's a first potential, her mana feels like it breathes royalty."

The cheers grew louder, deafening even, as she made her way toward the arena's heart.

Eran's gaze lifted slightly, just enough for his eyes to follow her movements. A faint smirk touched the corner of his lips... barely visible, hidden beneath his calm demeanor. No one noticed. Their entire attention was on her, the queen they'd been waiting for.

Inside, his thoughts murmured with quiet irony, Of course. The queen herself. What else could they be expecting?

He let his eyes lower again, unbothered. The warmth that stirred quietly in his chest wasn't fear, nor anticipation... just a quiet, contained amusement.

As Miyu drew closer, the air around her shimmered faintly. Her robe brushed along the floor, catching the arena's light as she passed by him. Her scent—sweet, refined, layered with mana-rich perfume.. drifted softly across him, like pride itself wore fragrance.

And then came the laughter.

It started in small bursts.. snickers from the sides of the arena, then swelled into full-blown mockery.

"Ha! He's done for!"

"Send him back to the gutters where he belongs!"

"Even the gods can't save a commoner now!"

Pointing fingers, wheezing laughter, even some nobles beneath the archways bent forward holding their stomachs, tears glinting in their eyes.

"Pft—look at him standing there! Does he really think he can last five seconds against her?"

"Forget five... four... three!"

The mockery rolled over the arena like thunder, feeding itself.

But Eran didn't move.

Not a single twitch. Not a shift in his stance.

He simply stood.. head slightly tilted, expression still calm, eyes faintly dimmed as if lost in thought.

To him, their laughter was already dust.

And above, the crest still glowed bright.. two names locked, waiting.

As the cheers thundered through the arena, Miyu's eyes shifted ever so slightly toward Eran.

For a heartbeat, silence threaded between them.. thin, charged, and wordless.

A quiet understanding passed through that gaze, one only they seemed to recognize.

To the crowd, however, it looked entirely different.

"Ha! You see that stare?" someone whispered, barely holding back laughter.

"Of course she's looking at her prey."

"Yeah… like a queen ready to strip a rat bare with her hands. Forget mana, she'll tear him apart!"

"Pft… she's already decided how he'll fall."

The murmurs swelled again, each one twisting her stare into cruelty, each voice feeding off the illusion that she was about to crush him.

But Miyu's expression told a different story.

A faint, knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips.. graceful, controlled, almost mischievous.

Then, Professor Girzar raised his hand sharply.

The arena fell still, the air tight with expectation.

His voice carried deep and calm across the stage.

"Up until now," he began, "each duel has shown not just skill, but willpower, the pride and boundaries of every participant. This next match… marks the final stage."

He turned slightly, his gaze sweeping across the sea of faces before returning to the combatants.

"Each performance will be evaluated by the judges. In a week's time, or sooner, the disciplinary committee will summon those whose names are recorded for review. You will stand by your results. Either rise to your worth..."

His tone dropped, cutting sharper.

"...or remain where you are. For the commoners, this duel is your grace. Your chance to prove you belong within these walls."

He paused, tapping his staff once against the polished floor, the sound echoing through every corner of the arena.

"Beyond that," he added, "there is nothing."

The obsidian crest above responded to his words, shimmering brighter in solemn acknowledgment.

Then the enforcer stepped forward, raising his hand into the air.

"Step forward."

Both Miyu and Eran moved.. slow, and deliberate, almost regal.

Their steps fell in sync, like a king and queen walking toward judgment beneath the eyes of the realm.

"Damn… look at her steps," someone whispered breathlessly.

"Aww she's perfect…" another sighed.

On the opposite side, laughter cracked through the crowd.

"Hahaha, look at him! He's stiff already forgot how to walk!"

"Wouldn't be me up there, bro. Not against her."

"Shit, that commoner's a corpse already."

Their words mixed with cheers, mockery, and admiration, an entire sea of emotion rising to watch them face each other.

When they reached the center, both bowed their heads slightly toward the judges' table.

Eran's eyes caught first on Selene.. calm, poised, exactly as he remembered her. Then, his gaze shifted to Nyssa seated beside her.

He paused, a faint spark of recognition lighting within him.

A quiet smirk ghosted across his lips.

Selene had told him a week ago she was serving under the jurisdiction members, overseeing the duels—but Nyssa?

Her presence here was unexpected. A Grade C noble, high-ranking, and rarely seen beyond her circle of elite influence, especially not among the Grade D evaluations.

Interesting, Eran thought, lowering his gaze again for a heartbeat.

So even she had a role in this. He thought.

Without words further..

"Begin!"

The enforcer's voice sliced through the air like a blade, echoing across the arena.

For a heartbeat, Miyu hesitated, confusion flickering across her features. How was she supposed to begin this duel when all eyes were watching her? Every noble, every whisperer in the stands waited to see her crush the commoner beneath her boots. They weren't expecting a fight. They were expecting a show.

Eran stood motionless, unreadable, while she gathered herself. Then her gaze shifted.. just slightly to her arm. The faint mark where she'd removed the Nexus Core Evelis had gave them glimmered faintly.

Her fingers brushed the spot, as if remembering something. Then, her eyes lifted to Eran again.

And she smiled.

It was subtle, a secret meant only for him... a silent reassurance that they had to play along.

Eran understood instantly. His lips curved faintly as he let his shoulders slump, his body language shifting into that of a beaten man. He made a show of struggling to resonate mana, his palms trembling as if the energy refused to answer him.

Miyu caught on quickly, her grin turning playful... teasing, almost. No one else could read it. She clenched her fist, violet light flaring to life around her as her mana circuit ignited behind Eran's back, spiraling like a storm given shape.

The crowd gasped.

"She brought it out!" someone shouted, and a roar of cheers followed.

Violet energy shimmered through the air, reflecting off Eran's still form. For a moment, he looked over his shoulder, eyes narrowing as the circuit's glow crawled across his body.

Then...

A pulse erupted.

The shockwave hit him like thunder, sending him sprawling across the stage as laughter and whispers broke through the crowd's restraint.

"First hit and he's already down!" someone jeered.

"Ha! The commoner didn't even see it coming!" another voice shouted.

"This is getting interesting," someone else added, tone dripping with amusement.

The arena crackled with noise, half mockery, and half awe.

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