The academy no longer felt like a place of learning.
It felt like a battlefield—
Just one that hadn't started yet.
"…The ranking board has been updated across all divisions, and your position as first among first-years is now officially recognized without dispute," Christy said quietly. "However, what concerns me is not the ranking itself, but the pressure that is building around it."
Luxe walked forward calmly, ignoring the weight of countless gazes following him.
"…Recognition creates expectation," he replied. "And expectation creates pressure. That's unavoidable."
The small dragon on his shoulder shifted slightly, her tiny claws tightening just enough to be felt.
"…Kyuu."
Christy glanced at her, and for a brief moment, the tension in her expression softened.
"…We should still address something important," she said. "Even if we don't reveal it publicly, we cannot keep referring to her without a name between us."
Luxe paused slightly.
"…That's true," he said. "A designation is necessary."
Christy tilted her head.
"…Then what will you call her?" she asked. "Given how she awakened in response to you, I assume the choice matters more than usual."
A brief silence followed.
The dragon looked at Luxe.
"…Kyuu?"
Luxe spoke quietly, just loud enough for Christy to hear.
"…Sylvia."
A small pause.
Christy blinked softly.
"…It suits her," she said softly. "But we shouldn't reveal it yet. The less others know about her, the better."
Then—
"…Kyuu!"
She puffed her chest proudly, clearly reacting to the sound, even if she didn't fully understand the meaning yet.
Christy smiled faintly.
"…She clearly approves," she said. "Which means the name has already been accepted."
Luxe nodded.
"…Agreed."
As they approached the central arena—
The atmosphere shifted.
Not curiosity.
Not surprise.
Expectation.
"…That's Luxe."
"…Rank 1."
"…The one who defeated Leonhardt."
"…And that dragon…"
Christy's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…They are not questioning anymore—they are observing," she said. "Which means the next step will not be curiosity, but action."
Luxe didn't stop.
"…Then someone will step forward."
Kael moved slightly closer, his voice calm but deliberate.
"…Of course they will," he said. "Because no one accepts a new peak without trying to climb it themselves—or tear it down."
Lumi's voice slipped through the shadows.
"…Multiple high-level mana signatures are concentrated inside the arena, and their positions suggest anticipation rather than coincidence," she said. "This has been arranged."
Christy exhaled slowly.
"…Then this is a stage," she said. "And we've already been placed at the center of it."
The arena fell silent the moment Luxe entered.
At the center—
Leonhardt stood.
Not broken.
Not defeated.
But—
Focused.
His gaze locked onto Luxe.
"…You came," he said calmly. "That alone tells me you haven't changed after taking the top position."
Luxe met his eyes.
"…You're the one who called."
A ripple spread through the crowd.
Leonhardt stepped forward slowly.
"…I lost," he said. "And I have no intention of denying that outcome."
The silence deepened.
Christy narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Acknowledging defeat removes emotional instability from his side, which makes this confrontation far more controlled," she murmured. "That makes him more dangerous, not less."
Leonhardt continued.
"…But a single result does not define absolute strength," he said. "Especially when the conditions surrounding that result were… unusual."
His gaze shifted briefly—
Toward the dragon.
"…So I want to confirm something," he said. "Was that victory yours… or was it influenced by something else?"
The air tightened.
Christy stepped forward slightly.
"…You are not challenging his position, but rather the legitimacy of his strength," she said. "That is a calculated attempt to reshape perception rather than reclaim status directly."
Leonhardt nodded.
"…Exactly," he said. "If strength cannot be reproduced consistently, then it cannot be considered absolute."
Kael chuckled softly.
"…So this is about proving that the king deserves the throne he already took," he said. "That's a much more dangerous type of challenge."
Leonhardt stepped closer.
"…A duel," he said. "Not for rank—but for truth."
Christy turned toward Luxe, her voice steady but firm.
"…You are not fully recovered from the previous battle, and your body still shows signs of strain from exceeding your limits," she said. "Accepting this duel now introduces unnecessary risk."
Luxe remained calm.
"…If I refuse, doubt spreads," he said. "And doubt doesn't stay contained—it grows."
Christy hesitated.
"…Then delay it," she said. "There is no reason to fight now when waiting improves your condition."
A brief silence.
Then—
"…No."
Her breath caught slightly.
"…If I'm going to fight, I'll fight now," he continued. "Before anything changes."
Christy looked at him—
Then nodded slowly.
"…Then I won't stay behind this time," she said. "If this turns into something more, I will act."
The dragon suddenly jumped down.
"…KYUU!"
She landed between Luxe and Leonhardt—
Then puffed her chest.
The crowd froze.
"…Is that creature… stepping forward on its own?" someone whispered.
Leonhardt raised an eyebrow.
"…So it reacts independently," he said. "That makes it more than just a summoned entity."
The dragon glared.
"…KYUU!"
A faint spark of lightning flickered.
Christy smiled faintly.
"…She clearly doesn't like being analyzed," she said softly.
Kael stepped forward slightly.
"…If you refuse now, people will assume your previous victory depended on external factors rather than your own strength," he said casually. "And once that belief spreads, it becomes reality regardless of truth."
Christy's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…That is not neutral," she said. "You are intentionally shaping the outcome by applying pressure."
Kael smiled faintly.
"…I'm just pointing out what everyone here is already thinking," he said. "What he does with that is his choice."
For a brief moment—
The shadows around Kael flickered unnaturally.
A faint red-black energy pulsed beneath his skin—
Gone instantly.
Lumi noticed.
"…His mana is not stable," she thought. "It is adapting… changing based on external conditions."
Leonhardt stepped forward one last time.
"…This is not about reclaiming rank," he said. "This is about confirming whether your strength is truly yours."
Silence.
Christy stood beside Luxe.
The dragon climbed back onto his shoulder.
"…Kyuu."
Kael watched.
Smiling.
Luxe exhaled slowly.
Then—
"…Fine."
"…I'll prove it again."
The arena—
Erupted.
Leonhardt smiled faintly.
"…Good," he said. "Then this time, we'll see the truth clearly."
Kael whispered softly—
"…Now it begins."
The dragon chirped—
"…KYUU!"
And the academy realized—
This was no longer about rankings.
This was about dominance.