The air in the locker room instantly grew thick, as if charged with static electricity ready to explode. The four other students—Drake, Ace, Kelvin, and Mason—who had been pretending to be busy with their preparations, now froze in place. They stared in our direction, their eyes darting back and forth between me standing calmly and Maximus, still on one knee cradling his twisted hand.

No one dared to move. No one dared to speak. Least of all, to intervene. They were like spectators trapped in a lion's den, watching two apex predators of the academy's food chain.

A low growl rumbled from Maximus's throat, like a wounded animal.

"You bastard...!" he snarled softly.

Then, something happened. The aura around him shifted, becoming denser, more dangerous. His power surged several-fold, his Awakener Rank A energy now erupting wildly. The air in the room felt heavier.

Before I could react further, he moved. He lunged, shoving me with incredible force. I was thrown backward, slamming into the locker room wall with a loud, echoing crash. But thanks to my high Vitality and reflexes, I landed on both feet, crouching on the floor, with no significant injury other than being slightly dazed.

As I looked up, something even stranger happened. Maximus's right hand—the hand whose bones I had just crushed—was changing.

From within his uniform glove came the sound of bones shifting, crackling. His fingers, which had been bent and swollen, moved on their own, returning to their original shape. Within seconds, the hand looked completely normal again, as if nothing had ever happened. He opened and closed his fist, testing it, then stared at me with eyes now filled with cold rage and... newfound confidence.

Yeah. A regeneration skill. One of his cards.

We stared at each other. The air between us seemed to vibrate. Drake, Ace, and the others unconsciously took a few steps back, giving us space. A serious fight could break out at any moment.

But right at the peak of that tension, the locker room door swung open with a creak.

"Time to head out, kids! The arena awaits!" Instructor Violet's loud voice echoed in.

She stopped at the threshold, her purple eyes immediately sweeping the room. She saw my position still crouched near the wall, Maximus standing with a threatening aura, and the four other students with pale faces. In an instant, she read the situation.

Her enthusiastic expression faded slightly, replaced by a sharper, more serious glint in her eyes.

"Seems there's been... quite an intense warm-up here," she said, her voice low. She stepped inside, her sexy, muscular form filling the space between me and Maximus.

"But save it for later. The tournament is about to start. All your energy, all your anger, all your desire to destroy each other—save it for the opponents out there."

She looked at each of us in turn, her gaze like a knife. "You two sort out your issues after the tournament is over. Out there, you are one team. The face of Nine Stars Academy. Understood?"

Maximus took a deep breath, and the dangerous aura around him slowly subsided, though his eyes still blazed. I stood up slowly, straightening my slightly rumpled uniform.

Violet nodded, satisfied that at least there wouldn't be immediate bloodshed. "Good. Now, out. And show everyone why we are the best."

She turned and led the way out. We followed, one by one, leaving the locker room still thick with residual tension.

The battle was postponed, but it was far from over.

The corridor we walked through felt long and winding, its plain concrete walls leading directly to the heart of the commotion. The distant sound of the crowd grew steadily louder, shifting from a far-off rumble to a roaring echo. I walked among the nine other representatives, our steps synchronized, led by Instructor Violet marching firmly ahead.

From the corner of my eye, I caught a subtle movement. Yukie, walking a few steps ahead of me, glanced briefly in my direction. Her pale white eyes met mine for just a fraction of a second before she looked away again, as if I were no more than a shadow on the wall.

The corridor finally opened up, and we arrived at the edge of the field.

And the sight... was breathtaking.

I immediately looked around, absorbing everything.

We were inside the Aegis Grand Colosseum—an architectural monster located in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Hunter Association's magnificent office tower. Its scale was truly unimaginable; the vast, central green synthetic turf field was surrounded by high defensive walls, and beyond them, towering spectator stands rose towards the sky.

The seats were full. Completely full. A sea of humanity, a riot of colors from various clothes and uniforms, filled every available bench.

The Colosseum was said to hold three hundred thousand souls, and today, it was at capacity. Their voices were an unceasing wave—a low roar of conversation, enthusiastic shouts, applause—creating a constant rumble in the air.

This wasn't an ordinary crowd. As I knew, tickets for this event were exorbitantly expensive—only established hunters, guild officials, wealthy nobles, or prominent families could afford them.

They weren't just spectators; they were observers, talent scouts, future investors. Ordinary people could only watch from screens at home. Here, in this sea, were the people who held the reins of power.

And the Colosseum itself... was magnificent. In the center of the field, a spectacular dance performance was underway. Dozens of dancers in holographic light costumes moved in sync, creating intricate, glowing patterns in the air, accompanied by epic music booming through the massive sound system. Spotlights roamed, sweeping over the crowd and the stage, adding to the spectacle.

My eyes immediately searched for someone. And I found her easily, due to her most privileged seating—in the main stand, right at the front, level with the field.

Delilah Socheron. My stepmother. The Star Witch.

She sat with the seven other members of the Guardian Council, in the most honored seats. She looked extraordinary.

Her blonde hair, usually splayed across the bed, was now styled in a high updo with small, glittering jewels. She wore an elegant, sky-blue full-length gown, yet its fitted cut revealed her voluptuous, alluring curves. Her gaze was calm, graceful, full of authority. The Goddess worshiped by everyone.

Who would have thought that the woman now being gazed upon with admiration and reverence by hundreds of thousands of pairs of eyes was my personal milking cow, whom I plundered and milked without mercy every day, who moaned and begged for more beneath me?

As I looked at her, she seemed to sense it. Her golden eyes turned, finding my direction among the line of students. And she smiled. A small, warm smile, full of a mother's pride. But I knew the other meaning behind it. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and I could imagine what she was thinking. I returned her smile with a thin smile of my own, and that made her blush deeper, her eyes sparkling before she gracefully turned her face away.

Then, my gaze shifted to the woman on her left. Charlotte Haverty. The Sacred Healer. Her innocent, friendly face, the aura of purity radiating from her, made her look like an angel descended to earth. She was revered and adored for her kindness and healing power.

No one knew that just hours ago, this holy woman was naked on my lap in a car, riding my cock while driving with wild moans, with semen dripping between her thighs. And came multiple times while being watched by a stranger through the window, with the same red, humiliated face she wore now.

Charlotte caught my gaze. Her face immediately flushed crimson from her neck to her ears. She quickly looked away, pretending to be deeply engrossed in the performance. So sweet.

We were then guided to sit in the area specially reserved for Nine Stars Academy representatives. The provided chairs were comfortable, with a direct view of the field. I sat down, leaned back, and watched as the performance reached its climax.

About twenty minutes later, the performance ended with a thunderous roar of applause. The spotlights then focused on a single point in the center of the arena.

Descending from above on a glowing circular hoverboard was an announcer. He was a middle-aged man with neatly styled silver hair, wearing an elaborate silver formal suit. His figure was projected large on the four giant screens hanging at each corner of the arena.

"Good morning, Gatehaven!" he shouted, his deep, charismatic voice loud and clear through the incredible sound system, filling every corner of the giant colosseum.

"And welcome to the most prestigious, most anticipated event that brings together the brightest stars of our next generation of Hunters! The Annual Inter-Academy Tournament!" A wave of applause and cheers erupted.

He hovered lower, turning slowly, sweeping his gaze across the entire audience. "Look! Look at the blazing spirit in your eyes! Look at the hopes resting on the shoulders of the talented youths about to compete in this arena today!"

He raised his hand towards the main stand. "Especially, allow us to offer our highest respect to the protectors of our city, the pillars of humanity's strength! The esteemed Guardian Council! Thank you for your presence and support!"

The cheers peaked, especially as the camera focused on Delilah and the other smiling council members.

"Every year," he continued, his voice growing more reflective, "we gather here not just for a show. Not just for entertainment. We gather to witness the future! On the sands of this arena, amidst the clash of power and strategy, we see the potential heroes who will stand at the frontlines, protecting us from the threats beyond the Gates, from the lurking darkness! They are our greatest investment, our greatest hope!"

He paused for a moment, letting his words resonate.

"And today, we will once again see which academy has nurtured those finest seeds to perfection! Will the mighty defending champion, Nine Stars Academy, with its tradition of excellence and its extraordinary students, retain its throne for yet another year?"

Cheers from the Nine Stars supporters rumbled through the stands.

"Or..." he continued, with a challenging tone, "will we see a surprise from other equally formidable academies? Arclight Academy, with its iron discipline and impenetrable group tactics? Guardian of The Earth Academy—or GOTE—with its elemental specialists capable of transforming the battlefield in an instant? Or perhaps... Drakefield Academy, with its tough students relying on exceptional physical strength and endurance, or maybe from other Academies we never expected, ready to shatter all predictions?"

He hovered even higher, his hoverboard spinning rapidly.

"There's only one way to find out! And so, without further ado..."

The lights throughout the colosseum dimmed, leaving only a bright spotlight on the center of the arena and the announcer's face on the giant screens.

"The first match is..."

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