The academy was louder than usual.
From the early hours of the morning, students had begun gathering around the central combat arenas.
Unlike the first stage of the rankings, today's evaluations would not involve simulations or magical constructs.
Today, students would fight each other.
The atmosphere naturally became more intense.
Rows of spectator seats surrounding the largest arena were already filled with students from every year.
Some came to support friends.
Some came to observe future rivals.
Others simply came because they wanted to witness the strongest students of Class S.
Professor Tal stood in the center of the arena.
Behind him floated a massive magical board displaying the current rankings.
The rankings had undergone slight changes after the academy finalized the previous day's evaluations.
The names displayed at the top immediately drew attention.
Rank 1 — Zynar
Rank 2 — Aldric Solvane
Rank 3 — Caelum Voss
The remaining rankings followed beneath them.
Many students couldn't help but glance repeatedly toward the top three names.
Particularly the third.
Caelum Voss.
The common-born genius who had risen through talent alone.
Or at least that was what most students believed.
Meanwhile, Caelum himself remained silent.
His gaze briefly moved toward the name occupying first place.
Zynar.
The anomaly.
The variable that had never existed in his previous life.
Even now, merely looking at that name left him with countless unanswered questions.
Before he could continue thinking, Professor Tal's voice echoed across the arena.
"The second stage will now begin."
The conversations immediately quieted.
Tal folded his arms.
"This stage will evaluate direct combat capability."
"Students will participate in one-on-one matches."
"Victory is important."
"However, performance will also affect evaluation scores."
"Students may surrender at any time."
"Killing intent is prohibited."
"Academy barriers will remain active throughout every match."
The students nodded.
None of this was unexpected.
Still, hearing the rules formally announced made the competition feel much more real.
Tal continued.
"The matchups have already been selected."
The giant board behind him shifted.
Names began appearing.
Match One.
Finn Ashford vs Rowan Hale.
The moment the names appeared, Finn immediately stood.
A grin spread across his face.
"I can win this."
Beside him, Crest sighed.
"You haven't even fought yet."
"Trust me."
"I don't."
Finn ignored him completely and headed toward the arena.
The crowd laughed quietly.
Even some professors looked amused.
The arena barrier activated.
Blue light surrounded the battlefield.
Rowan stepped forward calmly.
Unlike Finn's energetic personality, Rowan possessed a much more disciplined demeanor.
His sword remained steady.
His stance was flawless.
The referee raised a hand.
"Begin."
The moment the match started, Rowan moved.
His sword shot forward like a spear.
Fast.
Direct.
Finn barely managed to block.
Clang!
Steel collided.
The impact echoed throughout the arena.
Several students raised their eyebrows.
The battle immediately became more intense than expected.
Rowan's technical skill was excellent.
Every swing carried precision.
Every movement remained controlled.
Finn, meanwhile, fought entirely differently.
His swordsmanship lacked refinement.
It lacked elegance.
But it possessed something difficult to replicate.
Instinct.
Again and again Rowan attempted to control the pace.
Again and again Finn broke it.
The audience quickly became invested.
Neither student gained a decisive advantage.
For several minutes the battle continued.
Rowan struck.
Finn defended.
Finn counterattacked.
Rowan retreated.
The momentum shifted repeatedly.
Eventually Rowan found an opening.
His sword descended toward Finn's shoulder.
Several students believed the match was over.
Then Finn moved.
Not through technique.
Not through calculation.
Pure instinct.
He twisted his body at the last possible moment.
The blade narrowly missed.
His own sword followed immediately.
Clang!
Rowan's weapon was knocked aside.
A second strike followed.
The academy barrier flashed.
The referee raised his hand.
"Winner. Finn Ashford."
Cheers erupted from several sections of the audience.
Finn immediately raised both arms.
"I knew it!"
"You nearly lost," Crest muttered.
"History remembers winners."
"It also remembers fools."
"Then I'm both."
Even Tal looked slightly amused.
The second match began shortly afterward.
Crest Dunmore versus Adrian Locke.
Unlike Finn's battle, this match attracted less attention initially.
Many students viewed Crest as more of a scholar than a combatant.
Unfortunately for Adrian, Crest had spent years studying strategy.
The battle started cautiously.
Neither participant rushed forward.
Several students grew confused.
Then they realized what Crest was doing.
Every step.
Every movement.
Every adjustment.
He was gathering information.
Analyzing.
Observing.
Three minutes later, he had already mapped Adrian's habits.
The moment Adrian committed to a heavy strike, Crest moved.
Not faster.
Not stronger.
Simply smarter.
He stepped into a blind angle.
His sword touched Adrian's chest.
The barrier activated.
The match ended.
Silence briefly filled the arena.
Then murmurs spread.
"That was quick."
"He figured him out."
"Was he analyzing him the entire time?"
Crest simply adjusted his glasses before leaving the arena.
Finn immediately greeted him.
"That was terrifying."
"Thank you."
"I wasn't complimenting you."
The third match immediately attracted attention.
Lyra Vale.
Versus.
Isolde Vayne.
The moment their names appeared, excitement spread through the audience.
Both were among the strongest magic users in Class S.
Many students had wanted to see this matchup.
The two young women entered opposite sides of the arena.
Neither looked nervous.
The barrier activated.
Mana gathered.
The battle began.
Magic circles appeared almost instantly.
Lyra moved first.
Several elegant spells formed around her.
Mana threads connected them together.
The result resembled artwork.
Beautiful.
Precise.
Powerful.
Streams of compressed magical energy rushed forward.
Isolde responded immediately.
Her style differed completely.
No elegance.
No wasted motion.
Every spell existed solely to achieve maximum efficiency.
Ice spears materialized.
The projectiles collided.
The arena shook.
The crowd erupted.
Unlike the previous matches, this battle possessed overwhelming visual impact.
Magic filled the battlefield.
Explosions echoed repeatedly.
Students watched with fascination.
Several professors nodded approvingly.
Both girls displayed extraordinary control.
Neither possessed an obvious advantage.
The duel continued for nearly fifteen minutes.
Gradually, however, Lyra began gaining momentum.
Her layered spell structures became increasingly difficult to break.
Isolde adapted repeatedly.
Yet eventually one attack slipped through.
A mana construct struck her defensive barrier.
The barrier shattered.
The referee immediately ended the match.
"Winner. Lyra Vale."
The audience applauded.
Both participants had performed exceptionally well.
Even Isolde accepted the result calmly.
The two exchanged respectful nods before leaving the arena.
The fourth match drew even greater attention.
Dorian Velkros.
Versus.
Seraphine.
The moment their names appeared, the atmosphere shifted noticeably.
Both ranked among the strongest students in Class S.
Many expected this battle to be one of the highlights of the day.
The two entered the arena.
Dorian remained calm as always.
Seraphine looked equally composed.
The barrier activated.
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin."
Fire erupted.
The battlefield transformed instantly.
Several students gasped.
Seraphine's flames surged across the arena.
The heat alone could be felt from the audience seats.
A massive fireball raced toward Dorian.
The young noble immediately responded.
Wind gathered.
A compressed current shot forward.
The collision produced a powerful explosion.
Fire and wind scattered throughout the arena.
The battle escalated rapidly.
Seraphine specialized in overwhelming offensive pressure.
Dorian specialized in precision.
Again and again their elements collided.
The audience watched in amazement.
Fire dragons.
Wind blades.
Explosive bursts.
Compressed air currents.
The battlefield became increasingly chaotic.
Yet amidst that chaos, Dorian remained calm.
Every spell carried purpose.
Every movement carried efficiency.
Gradually, that difference became noticeable.
Seraphine's attacks remained powerful.
But Dorian controlled the flow of the battle.
A wind blade slipped through her defenses.
Then another.
Then a third.
The momentum shifted.
Realizing the situation, Seraphine launched her strongest attack.
Flames exploded outward.
The arena trembled.
Many students leaned forward.
Then Dorian raised his hand.
Multiple wind currents converged simultaneously.
The flames split apart.
The attack collapsed.
A moment later, a compressed wind blade stopped inches from Seraphine's throat.
The referee intervened immediately.
"Winner. Dorian Velkros."
Applause spread throughout the arena.
Even Seraphine smiled slightly.
"You've improved."
Dorian nodded.
"So have you."
The two left the battlefield.
The audience continued discussing the duel long afterward.
But eventually—
the board shifted once more.
A new matchup appeared.
The conversations immediately stopped.
Many students straightened.
Others leaned forward.
Even professors became more attentive.
The names displayed on the board were enough to explain why.
Zynar.
Caelum Voss.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Because everyone understood.
This was no ordinary match.
Rank One.
Versus.
Rank Three.
On one side stood the mysterious student whose existence seemed to defy understanding.
On the other stood the academy's greatest common-born genius.
Caelum slowly stood from his seat.
His gaze remained fixed on the arena.
Finally.
An opportunity.
Meanwhile, Zynar calmly rose from his seat as though nothing unusual had happened.
No excitement.
No anticipation.
No concern.
He simply walked toward the battlefield.
The crowd watched in complete silence.
Because regardless of who won—
everyone knew they were about to witness something extraordinary.
As the two students stepped into the arena and the barrier began activating around them—
the entire academy held its breath.
[End if Chapter 50]