The arena was overflowing. Thousands of voices crashed together beneath the massive dome while students from both academies filled the stands with tension thick enough to suffocate. Today wasn't training anymore. Today was pride, reputation, and strength placed directly against each other.
At the center of the battlefield, Darius stepped forward calmly while the giant screen behind him lit up with names.
"The academy exchange will proceed under official combat rules."
The arena quieted immediately.
"Victory is achieved through surrender, knockout, or inability to continue. Lethal attacks are forbidden." A pause. "…But injuries are expected."
Several students swallowed nervously.
The scarred instructor from the opposing academy, Hale, stepped forward next, arms folded behind his back. "The solo battles continue until one academy secures four victories."
Murmurs exploded instantly.
"So the group battle might not even happen?"
"If they get four wins first, it's over…"
Hale nodded once. "Correct."
That changed the atmosphere instantly. Pressure spread through the arena like invisible weight. Every match mattered now.
Darius turned toward the screen.
"The captain match will begin first."
The names appeared immediately.
Ren Qin vs Lucien Graves
The crowd erupted.
"They're starting with the captains?!"
"No holding back from the beginning…"
Rex grinned wildly from the stands. "…Now THIS is entertainment."
Kai remained silent, but his eyes stayed locked on the silver-haired boy walking calmly into the battlefield.
Lucien Graves.
Captain of the opposing academy.
Sharp blue eyes. Controlled breathing. Every movement carried quiet confidence.
Across from him, Ren Qin rolled his shoulders lazily while faint crimson flames flickered around his fingers.
"…Damn," Ren muttered dramatically. "Everyone gathered here just to watch me shine."
Kai immediately sighed. "…I already feel bad for the other academy."
Several nearby students laughed while Aeris closed her eyes briefly like she regretted knowing him.
Lucien stopped a few meters away from Ren, expression unreadable.
"You speak too much."
Ren grinned instantly.
"And you look like smiling physically hurts you."
A few students nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Lucien didn't react.
That somehow made him feel even colder.
Darius raised his hand.
"Begin."
Lucien vanished.
BOOM.
The ground shattered beneath his feet.
Ren barely reacted before Lucien's fist slammed hard into his ribs. The impact echoed through the arena as Ren was launched backward violently across the battlefield.
Gasps erupted instantly.
Fast.
Far too fast.
Lucien appeared again before Ren fully recovered. A brutal kick smashed into Ren's side, sending him crashing hard into the arena wall.
Stone cracked loudly. Dust exploded outward.
Blood slid from the corner of Ren's mouth.
The arena quieted slightly.
Lucien walked forward calmly. No wasted movement. No emotion.
"You're weaker than expected."
Ren coughed once before grinning through the pain.
"…Damn. At least insult me after dinner."
A few nervous laughs spread through the crowd.
Lucien's gaze remained cold.
Then dark aura erupted behind him.
A gigantic phantom serpent slowly formed above the battlefield, its glowing blue eyes staring down at Ren while poisonous energy spread across the cracked arena floor.
Several students instinctively leaned backward.
"…Bloodline manifestation…"
"That pressure is insane…"
Even Kai's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lucien lifted one hand calmly.
"You should surrender."
Ren wiped blood from his chin slowly.
"…Nah."
Lucien disappeared again.
This time his punch slammed directly into Ren's stomach. The poisonous aura surged into Ren's body instantly.
Ren's eyes widened slightly.
Pain spread through him immediately like fire moving beneath his skin.
His movements slowed. Only slightly.
But Lucien noticed.
"There it is."
BOOM.
Another strike slammed into Ren's jaw. Then another into his chest. Then a knee into his stomach hard enough to force blood from his mouth again.
The brutality of the attacks made several students tense visibly.
Ren crashed hard against the ground, coughing violently now while dark stains spread across his uniform.
Aeris' fingers slowly tightened around the railing.
Her face remained cold, but her breathing had changed.
Kai noticed immediately.
Lucien stopped directly in front of Ren. The serpent aura twisted around him like a predator waiting to strike again.
"You're finished."
Then he grabbed Ren by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
Whispers spread quickly through the crowd.
"He can't keep fighting…"
"That poison's destroying him…"
Darius' expression darkened slightly.
"…Ren."
His voice echoed heavily across the battlefield.
"…Withdraw."
Silence followed.
Ren looked down briefly, blood dripping from his chin onto Lucien's wrist.
Then his eyes shifted toward the stands.
Toward Aeris.
For the first time since the battle started, her expression had cracked slightly.
Worry.
Real worry.
Something inside Ren surged violently.
Lucien slammed him into the ground again.
BOOOOM.
The arena cracked apart beneath them.
"You should stay down," Lucien said coldly.
Then Ren laughed weakly.
Lucien frowned slightly.
"…What's funny?"
Crimson flames exploded upward.
Violent dragon aura surged behind Ren as faint crimson scales spread slowly across parts of his arm.
The pressure inside the arena changed instantly.
Several students stood up unconsciously.
"…Dragon bloodline…"
Ren slowly rose despite his trembling body. Blood ran down his arm. His breathing sounded rough. Painful.
But his grin returned anyway.
"…Can't lose yet."
Lucien's eyes sharpened slightly.
Ren lifted his head slowly.
"…I still have dinner plans."
BOOM.
He vanished.
This time Lucien's eyes widened slightly.
Fast.
Too fast.
Ren's flaming fist smashed directly into Lucien's ribs with explosive force. The impact blasted Lucien backward across the battlefield.
The crowd erupted instantly.
Dragon flames and serpent poison collided repeatedly as both fighters crossed the arena at explosive speed.
Lucien's poisonous strikes tore into Ren's shoulder while Ren answered with brutal flaming punches that forced Lucien backward for the first time.
Shockwaves spread through the battlefield with every collision.
Kai's fingers curled tighter watching the fight.
Beside him, Aeris unconsciously stepped closer toward the arena.
Lucien roared suddenly as serpent aura exploded outward violently. The massive serpent phantom lunged directly toward Ren.
Ren answered immediately.
Dragon aura spiraled around his body while flames condensed violently around his fist.
Then both attacked head-on.
BOOOOOOOOM.
The explosion shook the entire arena.
Smoke swallowed everything.
Then Lucien burst through first.
Blood stained his uniform now. One arm hanging lower. Injured badly.
Yet he still attacked.
His fist shot toward Ren's throat—
But Ren stepped into the attack instead.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the poison.
His fist clenched tightly.
Dragon aura coiled violently around his body.
Then he punched.
The impact exploded across the battlefield.
Lucien's eyes widened fully for the first time as Ren's fist slammed directly into his chest.
BOOOOOOOM.
The shockwave blasted Lucien across the arena before he crashed violently through the wall.
Silence.
Then the medics rushed forward immediately.
"Lucien Graves is unable to continue!"
The arena exploded into chaos.
Ren remained standing for one second longer. Barely.
Blood dripped slowly from his fingertips onto the shattered stone.
Then his body swayed weakly.
His eyes found Aeris in the crowd.
A faint grin appeared.
"…Looks like…"
He coughed painfully.
"…I might miss dinner after all."
Aeris' chest tightened instantly.
Ren laughed weakly again.
"…Sorry."
His voice cracked slightly now.
"…That was kinda pathetic…"
Something in Aeris' expression softened completely.
She rushed onto the battlefield immediately while Kai followed right behind her.
Ren's legs finally gave out, but Aeris caught him before he hit the ground.
Her hands trembled slightly holding him.
"…You idiot."
Her voice sounded softer now. Real.
Ren looked up weakly.
Even now he smiled faintly.
"…You worried again…"
Aeris stared at him silently for a long moment.
Then quietly—
"…Don't say things like that."
Ren blinked slowly.
A faint warmth appeared in his tired eyes.
Then Aeris leaned down suddenly and kissed him briefly.
The entire arena froze.
Kai's eyes widened instantly.
Rex nearly screamed.
Even Darius looked caught off guard.
Aeris pulled back slowly, face faintly warm before forcing her cold composure together again.
"…Don't lose next time either."
Ren stared blankly for two whole seconds.
Then his face exploded red.
"…WAIT THAT ACTUALLY WORKED—"
He fainted instantly in her arms.
And this time—
Aeris held him tighter.
Chapter 40 is going to be epic so let vote more for the chapter and I will also mass release if you can take me into the rankings