The arena slowly emptied after the fight.
Students continued whispering as they walked away.
Everyone was talking about the same thing.
The new student who defeated Leon Varkas.
Ren Akatsuki walked quietly through the academy courtyard. The fight had already ended, but the attention it brought followed him everywhere.
Groups of students stopped their conversations when he passed by.
Some looked impressed.
Others looked cautious.
A few looked angry.
Leon had many supporters in the academy.
Near the arena entrance, Instructor Varis stood with Captain Kael and several other instructors.
Varis crossed his arms.
"That boy is dangerous."
One instructor nodded.
"He didn't even look serious during the fight."
Lyra spoke.
"The shadow energy appeared again."
Varis looked at Kael.
"You should explain everything."
Kael remained calm.
"I told you already. He awakened the power during a demon attack."
Varis thought for a moment.
"Shadow energy users are extremely rare."
Another instructor added quietly, "And historically… unstable."
Kael looked toward the courtyard where Ren had disappeared.
"He hasn't lost control."
"Yet," Varis replied.
Meanwhile, Ren was walking through a long stone hallway inside the academy's main building.
Several students moved aside to let him pass.
He eventually reached a large room filled with desks and shelves of documents.
Behind one of the desks sat an older man with round glasses.
The man looked up.
"New student?"
Ren nodded.
The man opened a large book.
"Name?"
"Ren Akatsuki."
The man wrote it down.
"You arrived with Captain Kael, correct?"
"Yes."
The man closed the book.
"Then we already received your temporary registration."
Ren looked around the room.
"What happens now?"
The man adjusted his glasses.
"You receive your student ranking."
Ren frowned slightly.
"Ranking?"
The man stood up and walked toward a large board on the wall.
Hundreds of names were written across it.
"Every student in the Demon Hunter Academy has a rank."
He pointed to the board.
"The ranks determine training access, missions, equipment, and status."
Ren studied the board carefully.
The names were divided into different sections.
The man continued explaining.
"The lowest level is Rank D. Most new students start there."
"Above that is Rank C."
"Then Rank B."
"Then Rank A."
Ren noticed the highest section at the top.
Only a few names were written there.
"What about that one?"
The man looked up.
"That is Rank S."
"Only the strongest students in the academy reach that level."
Ren asked calmly, "What rank was Leon?"
"Rank B."
Ren thought for a moment.
"I defeated him."
The man nodded.
"Yes."
He picked up another document.
"Which means your starting rank will not be normal."
Ren waited silently.
The man wrote something on a small metal badge.
Then he slid it across the desk.
Ren looked at it.
The letter engraved on the badge was clear.
Rank B.
The man spoke again.
"You are now officially a Rank B student."
Ren placed the badge in his pocket.
"Is that high?"
The man smiled slightly.
"For a new student, it's extremely high."
"Most people need years to reach that level."
Ren turned toward the door.
"Then I'll move higher."
The man chuckled quietly.
"Ambitious."
As Ren walked out of the room, he noticed a large group of students gathered near the central courtyard.
They were looking at something.
Ren walked closer.
In the middle of the courtyard stood a tall stone tower.
Several instructors and senior students were gathered around it.
One student spoke loudly.
"The academy is announcing the new mission list."
Another student added nervously.
"That means real demon hunts."
Ren listened carefully.
A large notice board was placed in front of the tower.
Several mission papers were pinned onto it.
Each one listed a demon sighting somewhere in the nearby regions.
A tall instructor stepped forward and spoke loudly.
"Students Rank C and above may participate in these missions."
Many students became excited.
Real combat missions meant rewards, reputation, and faster promotion.
Ren walked closer to the board.
He examined the mission details.
One mission caught his attention.
A demon had been sighted in a nearby mining town.
Several hunters had already been injured.
Difficulty rating: Rank B.
Ren stared at the paper.
Behind him, someone laughed.
"Well, look who's here."
Ren turned around.
Three students stood a few meters away.
Their expressions were not friendly.
The one in front spoke again.
"You humiliated Leon in front of everyone."
Ren said nothing.
The student cracked his knuckles.
"Leon is part of our group."
Another student added.
"So we're going to test you ourselves."
Several nearby students stepped back, sensing trouble.
Ren looked at the three of them calmly.
"Move."
The leader smiled.
"Or what?"
Before Ren could answer—
A loud bell suddenly rang across the academy.
The sound echoed through every building.
All students froze.
One of them whispered nervously.
"That's the emergency alarm."
Instructors immediately started shouting orders.
"Everyone return to your dormitories."
"Now."
Ren looked toward the academy gate.
Several guards were rushing toward the entrance.
The ground trembled slightly.
Kael appeared near the courtyard with a serious expression.
Lyra asked quickly.
"What happened?"
Kael looked toward the mountains.
"A large demon force has appeared near the academy."
The students around them went silent.
Someone whispered in fear.
"A demon attack… on the academy?"
Kael's voice was calm but serious.
"This is not a drill."
And in the distant mountains beyond the academy walls—
Dark shapes were moving through the forest.
Dozens of demons were approaching.
The academy was about to face its first major battle.