The atmosphere inside Combat Hall X thickened with tension. Ryan, being the center of attention, stood at the edge of the hall with the note still in his hand while the bulky boy stood opposite him like a wall. Neither of them was ready to back down, and for a few seconds, the entire class paused, leaning forward with interest. Smiles painted some of their lips as they waited for the new boy to be humiliated. One boy near the back reached into his pocket and pulled out a roll of crumpled bills. "A hundred bucks the new kid gets his ass kicked,” the boy muttered loudly.A laugh erupted from somewhere else.“Two hundred on that,” another student responded immediately, like he’d been waiting for the invitation.That was all it took, and the room suddenly came alive as hands dipped into their pockets and students shoved bills into the air. Some were already arguing about odds.“The new kid must be strong to think he belongs here,” a voice chimed in. “Put me down for fifty!”“Make it on

He could see it in Oppo’s eyes, the anger turning to something darker. He has the look of a bloodthirsty animal ready to draw blood. Oppo clenched his teeth, daggering his eyes at Ryan. He dived forward again, and his fists came down like hammers; each punch carried pressure enough to break bones. With every strike Ryan's veins flooded with adrenaline, and his body moved before his mind could even form thoughts. He stepped backward quickly, retreating with tight footwork, barely keeping his balance on the padded floor. Oppo’s first punch missed, followed by the second, and the third nearly clipped Ryan’s cheek, so close that Ryan felt the breeze of it past his skin. At this time, silence lingered through the crowd, and their eyes widened. A few students murmured because Oppos was a Tier Two student. He was supposed to be brutal and crush someone like Ryan in seconds, but his opponent kept slipping away. Oppo, hearing the whispers of other students, made his forehead wrinkle and v

The multi-trillion-dollar company stood tall across the city landscape like a glass-and-steel that stretched into the sky with arrogant confidence, dominating the skyline as if the city had been designed around it. The morning sun reflected off it, making it gleam like a blade, and from afar, it looked untouchable. Outside the main entrance, the driveway crawled with luxury vehicles ranging from black sedans with tinted windows and armored SUVs to sleek sports cars that purred like predators. The valets in similar uniforms moved their feet, taking keys with polite bows from men who looked like they had never struggled a day in their lives. Some stepped out with tailored suits and polished shoes, moving their feet, as if even their breathing had been trained to carry authority as they spoke into Bluetooth earpieces. Inside the building, the lobby shone, reflecting light from the crystal chandeliers hanging above. A massive Archer Corporation emblem was embedded into the wall behi

The question hung in the air, and for the first time since Elizabeth Wright had walked into the Archer Corporation boardroom, her composure cracked. Her throat tightened as the name that had been echoing in her mind since the elevator ride returned again like a wound being pressed. Even though she had never been close to him and had spent most of her life imagining him as an inconvenience, hearing his name spoken so casually in this room made something inside her twist. The board wasn't saying his name like he was important to them, but rather they were treating it like he was a problem. Elizabeth wanted to speak, but nothing came out. Nikolai leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as though he owned the air in the room. “I’m sure everyone in this room has heard of the incident involving Ryan Wright." His gaze swept across the board members with calculated ease. “The incident was tragic, but Archer Corporation cannot wait; it needs a leader,” he added with his voice alm

The academy dorm hallway felt different now; it wasn’t just due to the quietness or the dull ache crawling through Ryan’s bones. It was the heavy whisper now settling among the students lingering about. 'I'm sure the students have a group chat for gossip,’ Ryan muttered to himself.Eyes followed him like they knew something, and he couldn't tell if it was him going against a Tier Two student or the news about the ex-tier student approaching him.Ryan, ignoring all the attention, walked with his shoulders stiff, and his uniform clinging to his body with sweat that had dried into discomfort. “Is that the new kid?” Whispers overlap with curiosity."Don't tell me he has access to a Tier Two, but also even when he's carrying a Tier Four badge?!”“This is insane!” Another voice muttered. “I thought the academy only granted him access to training with Tier two, so why is he here?”“He’s not even a legacy! Why are they giving him special treatment?!” A voice scoffed.Ryan kept his face blan