The underground tunnels were already vibrating with noise long before the next fighter appeared, and students leaned over the railings of the upper levels with anticipation while others pushed for better views from below, eyes fixed on the glowing display board suspended above the arena floor. The board shifted constantly, with names rolling across it in streaks of light like a spinning lottery machine, feeding the suspense with every second that passed.The crowd had not settled since RW’s previous victory, and word had already started to spread through the academy like wildfire the moment it became clear the masked fighter was entering the arena again. Everywhere in the stands, people whispered theories and argued over what they thought they knew. Some claimed RW was a reckless idiot who was trying to push his luck by taking the next fight, while others swore there was more to him than anyone understood. A few had even begun speaking his name with the kind of excitement usually r

“That is what Odessa, the council hehhad's sister, claimed,” the commander replied. At the mention of the name, Nikolaia’s gaze slid across the platform toward the student section reserved for academy representatives. His eyes found Olisa, then moved beyond her as though expecting to spot the twin sister responsible for interfering with his plans. “Odessa,” he repeated, the name edged with disdain. “The council listened to a student?” The commander folded his arms. “Not just any student. Odessa is one of the academy’s oldest legacies. She knows how much this institution means to the people who built it. She made it very clear she does not want to see the academy handed over to new management.” Nikolaia snorted. “That explains her resistance. It does not explain why anyone with sense would take her seriously.” “She wasn’t emotional when she said it,” the commander replied. “She was certain, and that’s why the council hesitated.” Nikolaia stared at him for a long moment, then lean

His answer came in as another attack, and Darwin's fist slammed into Ryan's crossed forearms with enough force to send a jolt of pain through both of Ryan's hands. The impact muffled across the arena, and Ryan's boots scraped against the ground as he staggered backward.A wave of cheers erupted from the spectators."There it is!" A voice yelled, raising both hands across the arena."That's the Darwin we know!" Another voice followed, and the crowd immediately started a loud chant.“Darwin! Darwin!”Ryan clenched his teeth, feeling the pain spreading through his forearms. At this moment every successful block against Darwin's strength felt as though the bones in his hands were developing fractures and his muscles trembled involuntarily. Still, he refused to let the agony show on his face.Across from him, Darwin lowered his stance, his cold gaze never leaving Ryan. "You came into this academy," he said, his voice slicing through the short distance. "And yet you've broken so many rules

“You weren't expecting that, were you?” Ryan's calm voice sliced through the silence hanging between them, dragging Darwin from the maze of thoughts consuming him. For a second, neither of them moved, and the enormous arena, which had trembled moments ago with anticipation, now seemed trapped in stillness, with thousands of spectators watching from every direction, expecting fists to fly at any second. Instead, the two strongest fighters simply stood facing each other, separated by only a few steps and unanswered questions. Darwin stared at Ryan as if he were the definition of uncertainty, and everything he had believed over the past few weeks was beginning to crack. His suspicion surrounding Ryan's arrival had shattered, and none of it aligned with what he had just witnessed. Ryan had thrown himself into danger not for glory, not for power, but to protect the academy itself, and that realization weighed heavily on Darwin's chest. Ryan slowly unclenched the fist he hadn't realized

Twenty-four hours had passed since the competition ended, yet the academy had not returned to its usual rhythm. Every corridor echoed with the same conversations.Ryan slipped out of his room, his footsteps blending with the voices of students gathered in clusters in a dorm room, their whispers rising and falling. It was as if each retelling grew more dramatic than the last, each witness insisting they had seen something others missed."I swear Darwin almost broke his arm,” Ryan overheard a voice shriek through a closed door as he passed by."No, RW him back,” force him back, another voice said defensively.Ryan could tell his identity still hadn't been revealed, and only a few officials knew it was him. For now, the lack of attention was a good thing."Did you see the pressure coming off them?" a female voice whispered. "I heard the council intervened before the match could truly finish.""They still haven't announced the champion, and I can't stand confidently saying they're hiding