The applause had ended.
But the unease—
Had not.
"…Something is wrong."
Christy didn't lower her voice this time.
Luxe kept walking.
"…You felt it too."
Christy stopped.
"…Don't answer with that," she said. "I'm not asking for confirmation—I'm asking for explanation."
Luxe glanced at her briefly.
"…The mana flow in the arena isn't stabilizing," he said. "Even after the match ended."
Christy frowned.
"…That could just be residual energy," she replied. "There were a lot of high-output exchanges."
Lumi stepped forward quietly.
"…No," she said. "Residual mana disperses gradually. This isn't dispersing—it's circulating."
Christy turned to her.
"…Circulating?" she repeated. "As in… maintaining itself?"
"…Yes," Lumi replied. "Which means something is sustaining it."
Christy's expression hardened.
"…That's not possible without an external source," she said. "No student here should be capable of maintaining dispersed mana across an entire arena."
"…Kyuu…"
Sylvia's body tensed again.
Christy immediately looked at her.
"…There," she said. "Again. That reaction isn't random."
Luxe nodded slightly.
"…It's getting stronger."
Christy crossed her arms.
"…Then we're not dealing with a single anomaly," she said. "We're dealing with something active."
Luxe's gaze shifted toward the arena entrance.
"…Something alive."
Christy narrowed her eyes.
"…You're not surprised," she said. "Why?"
Luxe didn't answer immediately.
"…Because this isn't the first time I've seen something like this."
Christy froze for a second.
"…That answer raises more questions than it solves," she said.
"…Then focus on what matters," Luxe replied calmly. "It's here now."
From above—
Kael watched the arena.
"…You're noticing faster than expected," he murmured.
A student stood behind him—
Still.
Too still.
"…The vessel is destabilizing…" the student whispered.
Kael didn't turn.
"…Then stabilize it," he said.
"…The pressure from that one… it's interfering…"
Kael smiled faintly.
"…Good," he said. "That means he's worth observing."
"…We risk exposure…"
Kael's tone didn't change.
"…Then adapt," he said. "Or be replaced."
The student trembled.
"…Understood…"
Kael finally glanced sideways.
"…Don't fail again."
The student quickly left.
Kael looked back down at the arena.
"…Show me how far you can go, Luxe."
"…Division One, next match."
Professor Halven's voice echoed.
"…Luxe Valcrest versus Darius Blackthorn."
The arena reacted—
But not with excitement.
With hesitation.
Christy's eyes narrowed.
"…That's the one Sylvia reacted to earlier," she said.
Lumi nodded.
"…His mana pattern is unstable," she added. "It fluctuates between controlled and distorted."
Christy looked at Luxe.
"…This isn't a normal opponent," she said. "This is confirmation."
Luxe stepped forward.
"…Then I'll confirm it."
Sylvia leaned forward.
"…Kyuu…"
"…Stay close," Luxe said softly.
Darius stood in the arena.
Head lowered.
Not moving.
Christy frowned.
"…Why isn't he taking a stance?" she asked. "Even inexperienced fighters prepare before engagement."
Lumi's voice followed.
"…He's not preparing," she said. "He's suppressing."
Christy blinked.
"…Suppressing what?"
"…Something inside him," Lumi replied.
Luxe stepped closer.
"…You're not in control, are you?"
Darius slowly raised his head.
His eyes—
Flickered.
"…Control is irrelevant," he said.
Christy's voice dropped instantly.
"…That's not his voice."
Darius's body trembled—
Then—
His mana erupted outward.
But it wasn't mana.
It was twisted.
Distorted.
"…That's corruption," Lumi said sharply. "External influence confirmed."
Sylvia growled loudly.
"…KYUU…!"
Christy stepped forward instinctively.
"…That's a demon," she said. "There's no other explanation."
Darius smiled—
But it was inhuman.
"…Finally…" he whispered. "…something worth breaking."
He moved—
Faster than before.
Christy's eyes widened.
"…That's not physically possible," she said. "His body shouldn't withstand that level of output."
Luxe reacted instantly.
"Volt Acceleration."
CRACK—!!
The clash echoed.
"…You're different," Darius said. "You don't break."
"…You're not supposed to exist here," Luxe replied.
Darius attacked again—
Wild.
Chaotic.
Christy spoke quickly.
"…His movements are unpredictable, but inefficient," she said. "He's sacrificing structure for raw force."
"…Which makes him easier to read," Luxe replied.
Christy frowned.
"…Easier?" she said. "Unpredictability should make him harder to track."
"…Only if there's no pattern," Luxe said. "Chaos still repeats itself."
Christy went silent for a moment.
"…You're analyzing him mid-fight," she said.
"…That's the only way to win," Luxe replied.
"Thunder Step."
He vanished—
Reappeared—
"Chain Lightning."
The attack landed—
But—
Darius didn't fall.
Lumi spoke sharply.
"…He's ignoring damage thresholds," she said. "That confirms external reinforcement."
Sylvia leaned forward aggressively.
"…KYUU…!"
Christy looked at Luxe.
"…She's reacting stronger," she said. "That means the corruption is intensifying."
Luxe nodded.
"…Then I end it now."
Lightning gathered—
Azure.
But unstable.
Christy stepped forward slightly.
"…Be careful," she said. "You don't have full control over that yet."
Luxe's voice remained calm.
"…I don't need full control."
Christy frowned.
"…That's reckless."
"…No," Luxe replied. "It's calculated."
Darius lunged—
Screaming.
"…BREAK—!"
Luxe stepped forward—
Calm.
Christy whispered—
"…That energy… it's reacting to the corruption itself."
The lightning struck—
Darius screamed.
"…NO—!"
The dark energy—
Cracked.
"…It's breaking," Lumi said. "The external source is destabilizing."
Luxe moved—
Fast.
A precise strike—
CRACK—!!
Darius collapsed.
Silence.
Then—
Chaos.
"…What was that?!"
"…That wasn't human!"
"…Was that a demon?!"
Christy rushed forward.
"…He's alive," she said. "But the corruption is gone."
Lumi nodded.
"…Confirmed. External influence completely removed."
Christy turned to Luxe.
"…This changes everything," she said. "This isn't a tournament anymore.This is infiltration."
Luxe looked up toward the stands.
Kael stood there—
Smiling.
"…So you can see it now," he whispered.
Sylvia growled softly.
"…Kyuu…"
Christy followed his gaze.
"…You saw something?"
Luxe didn't answer immediately.
"…We're not dealing with individuals," he said. "We're dealing with something organized."
Christy's expression darkened.
"…Then this was a test," she said. "Not for us… but for them."
Christy took a slow breath.
"…Luxe," she said. "From this point forward… we're not just fighting opponents."
Luxe nodded.
"…I know."
"…And this is only the beginning."