A flash of light pierced the darkness, and Leon Valerius found himself standing on the vast expanse of the Virtual Reality battlefield—a seemingly endless plain covered in lush green grass swaying gently in the artificial breeze.
[ All Mana and Stamina have been restored.]
Leon clenched his fists, feeling the familiar surge of power coursing through his body. He let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders as the tension from the previous battles faded away. The battlefield was empty.
Just as he expected, two more figures materialized in shimmering light nearby. The first was a tall, well-built young man with golden fur and piercing amber eyes—Rael Thunderfang, the Beastkin Prince of the Tiger Tribe. Next to him stood a silver-haired girl, wolf ears twitching slightly, her blue eyes scanning the area with calm precision—Lyria Starfang, the heiress of the Wolf Tribe.
Rael grinned upon spotting Leon and strode toward him.
"Leon," he greeted, his voice carrying the usual confidence. "Figured you'd be here first."
Leon nodded in acknowledgment before shifting his gaze to the silent girl beside Rael.
"This is Lyria," Rael introduced her. "My fiancée."
Leon arched an eyebrow but said nothing, offering her a simple nod of respect. Lyria returned the gesture without a word, her expression unreadable.
"So," Leon said, arms crossed, "how did your previous matches go?"
Rael scowled, running a hand through his golden hair. "First match? A disaster. Lyria and I ran into Alistair."
Leon's expression darkened. "And?"
"We got eliminated." Rael's fists clenched at the memory. "It wasn't even a fight. He toyed with us, like we were nothing. I've never felt so frustrated in my life."
Leon exhaled sharply, unsurprised. "Tch. That bastard..."
Lyria, usually silent, spoke for the first time. "He's dangerous. Different from the rest of us."
Rael nodded. "After that humiliation, I barely scraped by in my second match against Kieran Azurios. Slippery bastard almost had me, but I pulled through. Third match was just some random students, nothing worth mentioning."
Leon smirked. "Sounds like you had a rough time."
"And you?" Rael asked.
"Fought alongside Evelyn against Dain. Won, obviously," Leon said casually. "Other than that, no real challenges."
Their conversation was interrupted as another figure appeared in the distance. Blonde hair, soft blue eyes, and an aura of warmth—Serena Vale, the Commoner Saintess. She spotted Leon and approached, smiling brightly.
"Leon!" Serena greeted warmly.
Rael gave her a curious look before speaking. "Wait a second. How did you make it to this round? You're a healer."
Serena chuckled, undeterred. "I healed my team and made sure none of them fell. As long as I kept them standing, I stayed in the match. And… I didn't run into any elite students."
Rael scoffed. "So basically, you got lucky."
Serena pouted. "It's called strategy!"
Before the conversation could continue, more students began appearing around them. At a distance, three more figures materialized—Evelyn Aurelius, Morganna Draven, and Elaine Vaelthorne.
Evelyn immediately began scanning the field, taking stock of her teammates. Morganna, her dark robes swaying, observed her surroundings with an eerie smile. But she noticed that Elaine seemed off.
Morganna, perceptive as always, narrowed her violet eyes. "Elaine. Something's wrong."
Elaine hesitated before sighing. "I just had… an unpleasant match."
Morganna smirked. "Did someone dare to humiliate you? Should I curse them?"
Elaine shook her head. "No need."
One by one, more figures appeared—Kieran Azurios, Cassandra Everwyn, and Dain Drakonis.
Dain stretched, his body radiating heat. "Finally. Time for some real fights."
A little further away, another set of figures emerged. Silver hair, crimson eyes, a regal aura of menace—Lunara and Veylen Nightshade, the Royal Vampire Twins.
Veylen noticed something strange. Lunara, usually composed, was scanning the battlefield, her crimson eyes filled with a dark intensity. Unconsciously, a faint killing intent seeped from her presence.
"Lunara," Veylen murmured, watching her closely. "What's wrong?"
She didn't answer.
Veylen exhaled, shaking his head. Who is she looking for?
Finally, the last figure appeared in a shimmer of light—Sylara Ilthariel, the High Elven Princess.
She stepped forward gracefully, her golden eyes taking in the assembled team. She was the final member to arrive.
As everyone began assessing their allies, Evelyn called for attention.
"Listen up!" Her commanding voice silenced the group. "We need to be careful."
Leon frowned. "Careful? Look around, Evelyn. We have the strongest first-years on one team. There's nothing to worry about."
Sylara's voice cut through his confidence. "That's precisely the problem, Valerius."
Leon turned to her, irritation flickering in his gaze. "What do you mean?"
Sylara crossed her arms. "The Academy stated that matches would be fair. If we are all on the same team, then our opponents are going to be just as strong, if not more."
Evelyn nodded. "Exactly. We can't afford to be arrogant."
Leon scowled but didn't argue further.
Suddenly, a shimmering light appeared at the far end of the battlefield. Across the plain, the opposing team began to materialize.
The main cast stood firm, their eyes locked on the opposing team as they began to materialize one by one, their forms shimmering into existence.
Leon Valerius stood at the forefront, arms crossed, his piercing blue eyes scanning each new arrival. Rael Thunderfang and Lyria Starfang flanked him, their beastkin instincts on high alert. Evelyn Aurelius, Morganna Draven, and Elaine Vaelthorne stood a short distance away, their postures rigid as they assessed their soon-to-be foes.
One by one, their opponents took shape.
The first few arrivals were strong but not overwhelming—students ranking around E to E+ in combat ability. Among them were warriors, mages, and assassins, each an elite in their own right. Their stances and auras suggested competence, but none of them seemed capable of standing against the monstrous strength of the main cast.
Leon exhaled through his nose. "Tch. This is disappointing."
Rael smirked, his tail flicking behind him. "Yeah. I was expecting a challenge, but these guys? They won't last long."
Serena Vale, ever the gentle soul, frowned. "We shouldn't underestimate them. Even if they aren't the strongest, they might have strategies to compensate."
Kieran Azurios chuckled. "Maybe. But honestly, if these are the best they've got, this match is already won."
Evelyn, however, remained silent. She knew the Academy would not place them in an unbalanced match. Something was missing. Someone was missing.
Then, it happened.
A new figure materialized—a young man with long black hair and piercing purple eyes. His presence was quiet, yet suffocating. He didn't move, yet the moment he appeared, a deep and unsettling instinct spread among the main cast.
This one was different.
Unlike the others, his mere existence radiated power. It wasn't in an overwhelming display of mana or a grand entrance—it was in his silence. The way he stood, completely unshaken, exuding perfect control.
Leon's smirk faded. He narrowed his eyes. "…Who the hell is that?"
No one answered. None of them recognized him.
Not Rael. Not Kieran. Not Cassandra.
Yet they all felt the same thing—he was dangerous.
For the first time, even Lunara Nightshade reacted.
Her usual playfully cruel demeanor disappeared. Her crimson eyes darkened, and a thin layer of killing intent leaked from her. Veylen Nightshade, her twin, noticed instantly.
"Lunara," he murmured, "what's wrong?"
She didn't answer. Her gaze was locked on the new arrival. Unblinking.
And on side.
Elaine Vaelthorne stiffened.
Her hand tightened around her sword hilt, her usually calm posture betraying a flash of tension.
Morganna, ever perceptive, noticed immediately. "Elaine," she murmured. "You know him."
Elaine hesitated. Then she spoke.
"I fought him," she said, her voice lower than usual. "In my second match. It wasn't even a battle."
Leon turned to her, brows furrowing. "What do you mean?"
Elaine exhaled sharply, trying to control the lingering unease in her voice. "He's… way too strong. And fast. Faster than anyone I've ever fought."
That admission made even Dain Drakonis pause. Elaine was not weak. She was an elite swordswoman, second only to Leon in raw martial skill. If she was shaken, this was no ordinary opponent.
Rael's grin disappeared. Lyria's wolf ears flattened slightly, sensing the weight in Elaine's words.
Then, the final figure appeared.
The one they all knew was coming.
A tall, lean figure materialized in a shimmer of light. His black hair gleamed under the artificial sun. His black eyes flickered with unreadable depth. He carried himself with effortless grace, his posture relaxed—yet suffocatingly imposing.
Alistair.
No one spoke. No one reacted with surprise. They had all expected this.
And yet… seeing him there, standing across from them, knowing what he was capable of, still sent a silent ripple through the main cast.
To Be Continued...