The next morning, all contestants were treated to breakfast at the grand five-star restaurant within the coliseum.
One by one, the teams that had advanced to the next round lined up, received their meal tokens, and entered.
It was a luxurious buffet-style hall, where every dish gleamed under chandeliers and every scent spoke of wealth.
Contestants could choose whatever they desired, a paradise of flavors laid out before them.
For those who had never stepped foot in such a lavish place.
Kyran, Soren, and Mira the sight was nothing short of overwhelming.
They were country folk, raised far from the glamour of the Empire's capital.
Now, seeing the elegant dishes, the shimmering desserts, and the way even the servers moved with grace, their eyes widened like children in a dream.
The three of them moved from counter to counter, piling their plates high with food, laughing as if they'd forgotten where they were.
Lyra and Aria could only sigh, torn between amusement and embarrassment, especially as curious gazes began to drift toward their table.
After Kyran and Soren filled their plates and sat down, they dug in with blissful excitement.
However, Mira remained at the dessert bar, eyes sparkling as she admired the endless rows of cakes, pastries, and chocolates.
"Look at her," Lyra said, chuckling softly: "You'd think she just discovered treasure."
"Like she's never seen sweets before." Aria replied, elegantly slicing her steak, every gesture radiating noble grace.
Soren scratched his head with a sheepish grin: "Haha… well, can't blame her. We're country folks, after all this is the first time we're in a place this fancy."
Kyran nodded: "Nothing wrong with that. As long as she's happy, that's what matters."
Everyone turned to watch Mira.
She was standing in front of the dessert display, eyes wide and shining, completely mesmerized like a child lost in a candy kingdom.
And then, the atmosphere in the restaurant changed.
The team of Damian Von Rozen entered.
A wave of aura rolled through the room arrogant, regal, and suffocating.
All eyes turned toward them.
Damian walked as if he owned the world, every step measured, his presence commanding attention.
Instead of taking food himself, he merely flicked his wrist.
One of his teammates, a timid girl named Lisha, likely the weakest of the group, hurried forward to serve him.
The sight alone made Kyran's team bristle with irritation: "That guy… what a jerk."
Soren muttered through clenched teeth.
"Let it go," Kyran replied calmly, though his eyes followed Damian's every move: "It's none of our business."
But then, an unexpected sight made them freeze in disbelief.
Mira… was talking to Everen Fredrick, the man they had all witnessed the day before in that terrifying battle.
She had been humming to herself, delighted with her food, struggling to balance her plate as she reached for a glass of juice.
The plate towered dangerously high in her hands, one wrong move and it would all come crashing down.
"Allow me," a soft voice said from behind her.
Startled, Mira turned and froze. Standing there was Everen Fredrick himself.
"For you, miss!" he said quietly, handing her a freshly poured glass.
"Th-thank you…" Mira stammered, then smiled nervously: "Ah, you must be older than me… so, thank you, sir! I—I watched your match yesterday! You were… amazing!"
Everen smiled a dazzling, unreadable smile that made the air itself tighten.
"Thank you. And your Illusion Mist technique was quite… interesting as well."
Mira blinked, startled: "Ahaha, it's nothing special! I—uh—I should get back to my team!"
She tried to hurry off, fumbling with her plate, but before she could protest, Everen stepped forward and smoothly took it from her hands.
"Let me carry it for you…" he said, tone calm, almost too natural and before she could refuse, he walked ahead of her, carrying the plate all the way to her table.
Kyran's team froze.
The same Everen Fredrick, whose sheer presence could make hearts pound and air freeze, was now politely serving Mira's breakfast?
"I'm only helping one of your teammates," he said evenly, placing the plate down: "Now, I'll take my leave."
And just like that, he turned away, his steps silent, his aura lingering like heavy smoke in the air.
Kyran's expression darkened.
Soren's palms were slick with sweat.
Lyra sat stiff, dizzy from the pressure, and Aria… clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
"Wh… what was that pressure…" Soren rasped.
"That guy is… terrifyingly strong," Kyran murmured: "We'll need to stay cautious."
Lyra tried to speak, but Aria quickly pressed a trembling hand over her mouth: "Don't… don't talk about him," Aria whispered, voice shaking: "If we even mention his name too much… something might happen."
The four of them exchanged uneasy glances, fear flickering in their eyes.
Across the hall, Everen sat calmly at his table, eating as if none of this had ever happened, the picture of composure.
Meanwhile, Mira skipped back happily, oblivious to the tension hanging over her team: "Wow! He's such a gentleman, isn't he? He helped me without saying a single harsh word! So polite!"
No one spoke.
Their silence said everything, a sharp contrast to Mira's innocence.
"Is… something wrong?" Mira asked, tilting her head: "You all look kinda gloomy. Did I take too long?"
Her eyes shimmered with tears, and panic spread across the table as everyone waved their hands.
Lyra chuckled, hastily reassuring her before the girl could cry.
When Mira finally relaxed, she smiled sheepishly: "I guess I'm just too weak to notice anything. You guys all looked tense, but I didn't feel a thing! Haha…"
The others sighed in unison.
Mira was only a four-star mage, of course she couldn't sense the crushing aura they'd all felt.
After breakfast, the organizers announced the next training phase.
Contestants were free to choose between the Hunting Grounds, the Forest, or the Training Field.
Aria, still pale and shaken after her encounter with Everen, decided to stay behind at the open field to practice her spells. Lyra stayed with her.
"Are you okay?" Lyra asked softly.
Aria forced a faint smile. "I'll be fine. Thanks."
Kyran, however, ventured into the Hunting Grounds, a swampy, dangerous area crawling with monsters.
Mud sucked at his boots, the air thick with the stench of beasts. But he didn't hesitate.
"I have to make it… into the top twelve. No matter what it takes," he muttered, clenching his fists.
Meanwhile, Soren and Mira chose the forest to train together.
"Mira, you saw how strong they are," Soren said, eyes blazing: "We've got to take down the toughest monsters here if we want a chance."
"I know! I'll do my best!" Mira said brightly, raising her staff with determination.
But even the so-called low-tier monsters were overwhelming: "What the— these are supposed to be low-level?!" Soren yelled, slashing wildly.
"Let's rest a bit," Mira panted, sweat dripping down her temples: "Or I'm gonna pass out."
Just as they caught their breath, a violent surge of energy erupted from behind them.
Both were hurled backward, crashing into trees.
"Wha—who…?" Soren groaned, wincing in pain.
A mocking voice echoed through the clearing.
"Well, well… so these are the bottom-ranked rookies, huh?"
From the shadows emerged a young man with flaming red hair, dressed in gleaming knight's armor that screamed arrogance.
"Allow me to introduce myself. Meverdet Likhail, second son of Count Likhail. Don't take it personally. I simply felt like testing my power… nothing more."
"What did you just say?!" Soren roared, face flushed with rage.
But Meverdet only smirked.
Back in the Hunting Grounds, Kyran was still fighting. He had slain several mid-tier beasts, his body covered in mud and sweat, yet he refused to fall.
Then, the earth trembled. From the swamp, a White Serpent, a level-four monster, rose up, its scales glistening like silver lightning.
"Damn it…" Kyran muttered, tightening his grip on his sword.
"This one's dangerous but if I can take it down, I'll prove myself!"
He leapt forward—
But before his blade could strike, a deafening crash split the sky.
A torrent of black lightning ripped through the air, obliterating everything in its path.
In a single instant, the White Serpent was reduced to ashes. The swamp steamed. Silence fell.
Kyran froze, heart pounding wildly. When he looked up, he saw a lone figure stepping out of the smoke.
Everen Fredrick.
"Hmm…" Everen's voice was low, almost amused: "My apologies."
He glanced at Kyran, a faint smile curving his lips.
"Seems I accidentally stole your prey."
A faint smile curved his lips, a smile so cold and unnerving that the very air around him seemed to freeze in place.