The afternoon sun cast long shadows over the courtyard as the duels continued.
After the early matches ended — mostly new cultivators showing clumsy bursts of energy — a noticeable shift settled over the arena.
The air grew heavier.
Sharper.
The real talents were stepping forward now.
A boy from Class A, Kaelen, climbed onto the platform.
He stood quietly, his expression blank.
When the match started, Kaelen moved like a striking viper — one blur of motion, one palm strike, and his opponent was on the ground before anyone could react.
The crowd fell into a stunned hush.
"That was... fast," Derrin whispered beside Arin, his usual grin replaced by wide-eyed amazement.
Arin nodded slightly, his gaze sharpening.
Next came Yula from Class B.
She looked fragile — almost too thin, too small.
But when she moved, it was with terrifying precision.
Her opponent rushed toward her recklessly — and never even got close.
With a simple turn of her wrist, a ripple of spiritual force pushed the attacker back, ending the match instantly.
Another murmur swept through the watching students.
The gap between ordinary and extraordinary was becoming clear.
High above, on a raised balcony, the principal watched silently.
He was a tall figure, robed in dark blue, silver-streaked hair tied neatly behind him.
Beside him stood several elders, their expressions serious.
One of the elders, Maren, leaned slightly toward the principal.
"A few stand out already," he said under his breath.
The principal's eyes never left the arena.
"We expected that," he answered calmly.
"But this is only the beginning."
His gaze swept across the students — sharp, weighing, measuring.
"Most of these will reach their limit soon," the principal continued softly.
"But a few... a few might be worth pulling into the Special Class."
Maren nodded thoughtfully.
"And the ones already ahead?"
"They'll reveal themselves soon enough," the principal said.
His tone was light, but his eyes were cold and sharp — as if seeing far beyond what stood before him.
Another roar from the crowd.
Down below, a boy from Class C, someone hardly noticed before, defeated a Class B student in a brutal, efficient match.
Arin, standing with Sera and Derrin at the edge of the courtyard, watched it happen with quiet focus.
More and more, hidden talents were stepping out from the shadows.
"Looks like we're not the only ones improving," Sera said softly, arms crossed.
Arin gave a small nod.
Derrin, munching on a snack again, added with a grin, "Yeah, but don't worry. We have the secret weapon — me."
Both Arin and Sera gave him unimpressed looks.
Derrin laughed.
But inside, Arin felt it too — a steady, growing hum of competition.
Not jealousy.
Not fear.
Just the sharp realization that the real journey had only just begun.