"Yuta Caseral, from the Elite Class, will face Gia Guilford, from the Legend Class, in a sparring match."
Bao Xinyi's tone remained calm as she glanced toward Yuta and Gia, who were both heading toward the arena located in the center of the training base.
The murmurs, however, did not subside—if anything, they grew even louder.
"So, Yuta is the one chosen from the Elite Class to take on Gia Guilford! This is going to be an epic battle!"
"Yuta will likely win; he's clearly the stronger of the two."
"Have you forgotten that Gia is one of the top ten talents on the Central Continent right now? She's ranked fourth among the most exceptional prodigies—following Beatrice, Zihan Yi Yu of the Serenity Pearl Sect, Tien Shinhan of the Frederick-Renlick Clan, and Beatrice Azwasen! She definitely stands a chance at winning—or at least forcing a draw."
"But Yuta hasn't even shown his full capabilities yet; he's only been using sword skills and techniques. Then again, the same could be said for Gia—she hasn't unleashed any of her aura or *qi* abilities, which is true for most students from the great noble houses."
"Yuta Caseral, beat Gia Guilford and show them the true power of the Elite Class!"
The murmurs and cheers of the students filled the entire space. Students from various year levels had gathered, all eager to witness a clash between the two strongest individuals in the first year—and, arguably, the most formidable students in the entire academy. Among those present were the student council presidents: Ting Ling-yi, Yuxiao Yi, and Zixuan Yu from the second year; Melanie Hentari, Kinsley Tawaren, and Forrest Silbranak from the third year; and Yi Fan, Ziming Tao, and Frederick Renlick from the fourth year.
Their expressions were a blend of composure, indifference, arrogance, admiration, and a certain kind of interest—the sort of interest one would rather not encounter, as it masked a deep-seated hostility.
Yet, none of them spoke a word; they simply kept their eyes fixed on Yuta and Jia, who stood in the center of the combat arena.
"This is to be a friendly match. The use of finishing moves, lethal abilities, or any action that might inflict serious injury upon one's opponent is strictly prohibited."
Kaitowa's tone remained calm as he recited the rules of the friendly match to Yuta and Jia. Both combatants appeared remarkably composed—a fact that left the onlookers puzzled, as something felt distinctly off. To those watching, Yuta and Jia seemed nearly identical in every respect, save for the fact that they supposedly belonged to different families.
"We meet again, Jia Guilford."
Yuta's voice was steady as he looked toward Jia, who had already assumed her combat stance.
"We meet again, Yuta Caseral."
Jia's voice was equally calm, her grip tightening around the hilt of her sword. Their expressions were as cold as frost—a stark contrast to the shocked faces of the surrounding students.
"What? They know each other?"
"Gia Guilford has a connection to Yuta Casiral? What the hell is going on?"
"Still, Yuta is a handsome young man—the kind every girl dreams of—and the same goes for Gia; she's one of the five most beautiful girls in the academy."
The arena buzzed with whispers that reached both Gia and Yuta, yet neither paid any heed. After all, it is human nature to chatter without taking action—much like the old saying: "A long tongue and short arms." If talk alone could achieve anything, dogs would be the most accomplished creatures of all.
"Ready... Begin!"
Bao Xin-yi's tone remained calm as she signaled the start of the duel between Yuta Casiral, the star of the Elite Class, and Gia Guilford, the star of the Legendary Class.
The moment Professor Bao Xin-yi uttered the word "Begin," both Yuta and Gia retreated twenty-three paces, then moved in opposite directions, maintaining a safe distance to avoid any sudden, dangerous strikes.
Gia stepped five paces to the right and enveloped her body in an aura, forming an unbreakable shield. A violet-hued energy radiated around her as she fixed her gaze on Yuta, who had moved six paces to the left.
"What are you planning, Yuta Casiral?" She spoke to herself in a calm tone, then channeled an aura into her sword—a manifestation of energy magic that glowed a brilliant, pure white.
She lunged toward Yuta at great speed, but he dodged with ease and countered with a strike aimed at her waist, forcing her to collide with his attack.
Jia fixed her gaze upon Yuta, who returned the look.
"A direct assault won't work. I'd end up wounded, and the resulting blood loss would cost me the fight."
Jia's internal monologue remained composed. As an elite, she possessed the ability to construct a mental simulation—a space where she could rehearse the battle before it actually unfolded, allowing her to preemptively avoid danger. However, such a mental realm required a steady, grounded mind; otherwise, one might simply "will" a victory into existence, rendering the simulation meaningless.
Lowering her sword slightly, Jia unleashed a volley of wind blades toward Yuta, who stood just twenty-three paces away.
The crescent-shaped blades sliced smoothly through the air, emitting a faint, hissing sound.
Yuta's expression remained unperturbed. He parried the assault by countering with an attack of the same element.
Five violent gusts of wind surged toward Jia. As the two attacks collided, powerful shockwaves rippled outward, forcing the spectators to step back three paces.
"Wow! Not even five minutes into the match, and they're already showing their true colors. Magnificent!"
The voice belonged to Yuxiao Yi, a second-year student; his tone was calm, possessing a certain alluring and charming quality. Nevertheless, there was a flicker of faint mischief in her eyes.
She cast her gaze toward Ting Lingyi and Zixuan Yu—her rivals among the second-year students.
Although Melanie Hentari, Kinsley Tawaren, and Forest Selbranack from the third year—along with Ye Fan, Ziming Tao, and Frederick Renlick from the fourth year—posed more formidable challenges due to their superior talent, experience, strength, and daunting intellect, the latter three were in their final year at the academy, with only a few months left before their departure.Thus, the competition would remain among Ting Lingyi, Zixuan Yu, Melanie Hantari, Kinsley Tawaran, and Forest Silbranak.
However, Yuxiao Yi sensed something peculiar; her intuition told her that Yuta was more dangerous than any of them. This had drawn her to watch his fight, though she hadn't expected to encounter her own rivals there as well.
"What are you thinking about, Yuxiao Yi? It seems Yuta Caseral has caught your interest, too."
Ting Lingyi's tone was calm as he glanced toward Yuxiao Yi from the corner of his eye. He didn't bother waiting for a response, however, as he was certain she wouldn't answer.
Elsewhere, Yuta advanced toward Jia, launching an attack that forced her to retreat thirty paces. Yet, she remained completely unscathed, having parried the strike with her sword. Bolstered by the infusion of *qi*, aura, and enhancement and protective magic, her defense was formidable.
Even so, she could feel an immense power surging within her—like a fire burning in a hearth—and it showed no signs of waning.
"My power is rising rapidly. I'm on the verge of breaking through to the Sacred Sovereign rank. Something is wrong here."
Jia mused to herself before launching an orb of energy at Yuta, which he deflected with ease.
Jia's expression remained unchanged; she had anticipated this. After all, Yuta was no ordinary opponent—he was, in every sense, one of the rising elite. A split second later, a deep sigh escaped Jia's lips. She closed her eyes, and her power began to fade, bit by bit, until it vanished entirely.
Only a select few could still sense her energy: the heads of the Student Council, Kaito—the instructor for the Elite Class—Bao Xin-yi, the instructor for the Legend Class, and Yuta's companions.
They alone could perceive the power surging and intensifying within her mana core, her three gates, and her Dantian root core.
They turned their gaze toward Yuta, watching closely to see what he would do next, wondering if he might take advantage of Jia's vulnerability. When a *Kono* user breaks through to a new rank, they become exceptionally weak—reduced to the level of an ordinary human—for several minutes. It is a hallmark of the transition between ranks.
Yet, Yuta did not move. He remained perfectly still, watching Jia with a calm expression and a faint smile.
"It seems the transition is going well, even if the volume is below average."
Yuta's inner thoughts were filled with a sense of satisfaction.
A few minutes passed, and then two gusts of wind erupted, carrying with them Jia's pale-violet aura. Nearby rocks were lifted into the air, only to disintegrate into nothingness.
Her eyes glowed with a soft, violet light, and strands of her black hair danced in the air.
A murmur rippled through the students—a mixture of astonishment, shock, and admiration. "She has reached the pinnacle of the 'Ruler' tier and is already beginning her ascent toward the 'Transcendence' level—and she's only fifteen! Gia Guilford is a truly terrifying talent!"
"It seems she is destined to rank among the most gifted students, joining the ranks of the Student Council members: second-years Ting Ling-yi, Yuxiao Yi, and Zixuan Yu—all at the 'Novice Ruler' rank; third-years Melanie Huntari, Kinsley Tawaren, and Forest Silbranack—who have attained the 'Junior Expert Ruler' rank; and fourth-years Ye Fan, Ziming Tao, and Frederick Renlick—who have reached the 'High Ruler' rank."
The members of the Student Council were the most exceptionally gifted students, serving as the very core of the academy. Each one was the elite among the elite, granted exclusive access to secret texts, private training halls, and specialized training elixirs.
While the academy occasionally extended such privileges to other students, the Student Council members were a class apart.
"Will she actually defeat Yuta Caseral? Gia is currently far superior in terms of rank—and the gap between these ranks is as vast as the distance between the earth and the sky!"
"This fight has taken a dangerous turn. We are witnessing a clash between the brightest rising talents. How will it all end?"
"Yuta... Yuta... I don't know you, yet I know exactly who you are. It might sound strange, but mark my words: I will win."
Gia's tone was calm, brimming with both confidence and determination, before she vanished from the spot—without waiting for Yuta's reply. Yet, the cold smile remained fixed on Yuta's face. He parried Jiya's assault with ease, murmuring in a voice barely above a whisper:
"Remember who you are. Sometimes, hearts resonate and grow alike—what humans might call 'soulmates' or 'kindred spirits.' But what if the connection runs deeper than mere birth or love?"
Yuta's tone remained calm as he deflected Jiya's attack. Bewildered, she retreated fifteen paces.
"He is incredibly strong—and that's despite me holding the rank of Sacred Sovereign!"
Jiya's voice betrayed a mix of astonishment, surprise, and confusion; meanwhile, her own power began to surge dramatically.
Yuta let out a deep sigh, and a dark, violet-hued aura began to emanate from his body.
Closing his eyes, he exhaled an ethereal mist, his gaze fixed upon Jiya.
Yuta's voice was calm and cold as he looked toward Jiya. A silver, ethereal thread emerged from his violet eyes, drifting toward her with a deliberate, slow-motion grace—until it seemed as though the entire world had ground to a halt.
As Yuta moved toward Jiya, he sensed a formidable power radiating from her, and a faint smile graced his lips.
The world around her began to fracture, as if shattering into pieces, before suddenly freezing and snapping back to its original state.
Yet, Jiya's appearance had changed. Her hair had turned a deep, blackened violet, and behind her back appeared a colossal disc bearing the image of a beautiful woman—her face veiled in black, her hands clasped as if in prayer.
The expressions on everyone's faces shifted into a mixture of shock, bewilderment, and anxiety. By invoking the blessing of a mysterious entity, Jia's power level had surged well beyond the rank of Master Sovereign.
"What in the name of the Creator of Hell is happening? It seems the battle has reached its climax! Jia's strength is now on par with that of a Sacred Sovereign-rank fighter!"
"Yuta is in grave danger! Jia's power has become monstrous. How could he possibly win?"
"He's going to lose. No matter how gifted one might be, one's standing and rank remain the decisive factors. Even the student council presidents would face defeat or a draw if they were to fight members of the families who have received that 'blessing.'"
"It seems the beast has bared its fangs. It looks like things are heading toward a conclusion quite rapidly. Only about thirty minutes have passed, haven't they, Frederick?"
Ye Fan—a fourth-year student and vice-president of the student council—spoke in a calm tone, his gaze fixed on Frederick. Frederick's expression was a blend of composure, admiration, and keen interest in both Jia Guilford and Yuta Kasiral.
"You're right, Ye Fan. The battle appears to have reached its climax; it will likely end in either a draw or a defeat for Jia Guilford. Ultimately, it rests with Ms. Bao Xin-Yi."
Frederick's voice remained steady as he looked toward Kaito Ishikawa and Bao Xin-Yi.
As the two instructors watched the arena, Bao Xin-Yi's features sharpened like the edge of a blade—she clearly intended to intervene and stop the fight. However, Kaito held her back.
"Ms. Bao Xin-Yi, please, hold on. Nothing will happen to Yuta; I know my student well."
Kaito Ishikawa's calm tone caused Bao Xin-Yi, who had been on the verge of objecting, to fall silent.
Kaito Ishikawa's expression was filled with absolute confidence that Yuta would remain unharmed.
"You had better be right about that—we certainly don't want to lose another student after all these years." Bao Xinyi's tone was calm, carrying a hint of mockery.
A faint smile appeared on Kaito Ishikawa's face as he glanced at Bao Xinyi, then shifted his gaze back toward the arena.
In the combat arena, Jia launched a powerful assault at Yuta, but he dodged it, moving with great speed to the left before firing off energy spheres at varying velocities.
Boom... boom... boom!
Boom... boom... boom!
Explosions erupted in the sky as Jia neutralized Yuta's attacks, then surged toward him—to which Yuta responded with a faint smile.
Yuta drew the "Existence-Severing Sword" and unleashed a formidable strike toward Jia, who felt her very life hanging in the balance.
Ultimately, Yuta—and his blade—surpassed the rulers of this fantasy realm, the "Higher Rulers." It was only logical that Jia would lose, even with her exceptional talent; Yuta simply possessed power that exceeded the Higher Rulers of this world.
Jia gritted her teeth, staring at Yuta, whose hair had turned a pale white and whose eyes had shifted to a deep red upon wielding the sword.
"It seems you're quite capable of undergoing such a transformation, Yuta Caseral—but defeating me will be no easy task."
Jia's voice remained calm as she watched him, then she swung her own blade several times, sending forth crescent-shaped arcs of pale violet energy.
Boom... boom! Following a series of explosions, Yuta emerged unscathed, protected by the aura shield enveloping his body. He then unleashed a powerful assault in the form of fireballs.
The fireballs hurtled toward Gia in a chaotic, erratic pattern.
"So, he's begun his own offensive."
Gia's tone remained calm as she effortlessly dodged and deflected the fireballs. Yet, something felt off.
Her power was surging—far beyond what it had been just an hour ago—and it filled her with unease. An unknown power is more dangerous than any unknown enemy; even if it appears beneficial, nothing in this world comes without a price. This rapid, unnatural increase in her strength was the perfect example.
Yuta pressed his attack, giving Gia no chance to regain her footing.
A flicker of surprise crossed Gia's face, though she managed to parry his strike—albeit with great difficulty.
"It seems you're capable of anticipating and countering my attacks. You truly are gifted, Gia."
Yuta's voice was level; it carried no genuine praise, serving merely as an objective observation. Gia, however, had no interest in his compliments.
She imbued her sword with both fire and aura, triggering a massive explosion that shook the entire training facility.
Amidst the dust that engulfed the combat arena, two distinct auras emerged: one cold and composed, the other sharp yet luminous.
"In a world built upon a curse, destruction is its inevitable fate." The origin of existence and non-existence—life is like a green leaf that withers, dries up, crumbles, and vanishes entirely from existence. The great outcast, the creator of this world—this entire fictional realm, which is no larger than the Marvel or DC universes, a mere tiny speck.
Yuta continued:
"It seems the author and creator has gone a bit too far today. Today I am his pen; tomorrow, perhaps not. Yet, I shall remain standing, with a will of flint and a resolve of steel. Nothing is impossible. I will achieve my goals, even if the price is my very self. I am the master of the Sovereign's Path, the Great Creator—Yuta."
Yuta's tone was calm as he looked toward Gia, who returned his gaze with a composed expression.
As for the spectators, they heard nothing—even though Yuta had cast no sound-dampening spell. His voice simply did not reach them, as if existence itself dared not convey what he had said.
Before either Yuta or Gia could make another move, the calm voice of their instructor, Bao Xin Yi, rang out, declaring the end of the bout.
"The training match between Yuta Caseral and Gia Guilford ends in a mutual loss. Gia employed a unique blessing specific to her family, while Yuta unleashed a lethal technique of his own—both actions violate the rules of this friendly match."
Bao Xin Yi's tone remained steady, though she looked at Yuta and Gia with an expression that blended admiration with indignation. Yuta and Jia stepped down from the arena, ignoring the chatter of the students who had watched the fight—dismissing them as nothing more than annoying flies.
"No! Why did the fight have to end? It was so much fun! And it lasted an hour and a half—it was truly epic!"
"Yuta Caseral is absolutely terrifying. Even with Jia receiving a blessing from a mysterious entity, he was still her equal in strength!"
"It looks like Yuta and Jia will become the student council presidents next year, taking over from Ye Fan, Ziming Tao, and Frederick Renlick—since this is their final year. Then again, if the current ones were to stay, a fierce war would surely break out!"
"Yuta is just too dangerous! Besides, next year we're all being sent back to our second year; we'll have to repeat three years of schooling all over again."Ziming Tao's tone was calm, a forest-green glow emanating from his eyes as he watched Yuta descend from the arena.
"It seems he had a hand in sending us back to our second year. Director Soliver is determined to get rid of us by any means necessary—he certainly isn't going to extend our stay by another three years. Besides, I heard that three students from the elite class were expelled for tampering with the arena records. Curiously enough, they were in Yuta Caseral's class. So, my intuition was right; he's involved. And that can only mean one thing: we are up against an incredibly dangerous monster."
Frederick's voice was laced with suspicion and caution regarding Yuta, even as he turned to leave the training base.
"Yuta... Yuta... Yuta..."
Jia repeated the name several times, each time with a different inflection—shifting from frost-like coldness to calm, and then to warmth.
Though she held not a shred of love for Yuta, she felt a strange sense of familiarity toward him—a compelling urge to remain by his side, the reason for which remained a mystery to her.
It was an intense impulse, yet she could not even define what it was; she was, after all, far removed from anything resembling human emotion or rational desire.
Still, she was certain of one thing: time would reveal everything.