Within the virtual field, two bloodied figures faced each other.
Their bodies were completely battered and torn yet neither had fallen.
Although it was just a simulation, the blood looked too real and the pain even more.
Their breathing was ragged.
Alden looked at Zephyr.
He was strong. Too strong.
They had fought for just over five minutes. But in that small time, they had nearly exchanged thousands of strikes.
He clenched his teeth.
I need to end this quickly.
His [Limit Breaker] only had thirty seconds left until it was over.
The draconic boy stood tall in front of him. But he wasn't completely spared from the damage. His black scales were cracked and one of his arms was missing.
And still, he grinned like a madman.
Alden's lips twitched.
But he didn't say that out loud. Instead, he prepared.
He knew Zephyr couldn't last long either.
The next attack was going to be the deciding moment.
Zephyr's gaze sharpened. He knew that as well.
They vanished and reappeared in the center of the field.
Alden's katana shot forward, swirling with chaotic shadow mana.
He had poured every last ounce of strength he had in that attack.
Zephyr's body glowed with calm golden, pulsing with raw power as his arm pulled back, his fist aiming for Alden's head.
A blinding light erupted as their final attacks collided mid-air.
A massive shockwave spread out.
The earth cracked and a deep crater split the battlefield.
For a few long seconds—nothing was visible except blinding light.
Then, the dust began to clear.
As a figure came into view. He stood at the center, his katana lowered.
The blade of the katana rested at the throat of a boy kneeling in front of him.
"You lost," Alden said.
His voice was quiet but it echoed through the quiet field.
Zephyr didn't argue. He looked up at Alden.
Not much injuries, huh?
Even the attack which had all his strength and energy had only managed to take an arm.
Then he looked down at himself.
Or… what was left of himself.
Half his body was gone. He felt immense pain… but the excitement he felt was even more.
Finally a worthy rival.
He exhaled with a grin. "Damn… you really are a monster."
Alden's blade fell down.
One clean strike and blood erupted out of Zephyr's neck. His body dissolved into golden particles—vanishing from the simulation.
Silence returned again.
Now, only Alden remained. His body was covered in blood. His one arm was missing.
A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"That was a good fight," he muttered before his body vanished as well.
A few seconds ago, outside the simulation, the crowd was still silent. No one dared to even breathe too loud..
The duel before them had shattered everyone's expectations.
Two first-year students fighting on a level most second-years couldn't even dream of.
They forgot all their earlier bets. Now, all that mattered was witnessing the battle to its end.
A voice finally broke the silence.
Soft but firm. A statement of fact.
All the heads turned toward the speaker, who disturbed the silence.
Still, no one dared to protest.
Because the one who spoke was none other than the Student Council President—Rodrick Draven.
His expression was unreadable.
When the hell did that rat grow so strong?
He narrowed his eyes at the screen. At the boy standing tall with a katana in hand. He had always looked down on Alden. This соntеnt is hоstеd аt М|V|LЕ^МРYR.
Even when Alden had stopped the prince's attack during the duel yesterday, Rodrick had dismissed it as a fluke. Nothing more.
Alden was matching—and possibly surpassing—Zephyr Drageon, the once-in-a-millennium prodigy.
Rodrick's jaw tightened.
He'd have to reevaluate everything.
Just then, the screen turned white and a loud sound echoed in the hall.
Even after the screen returned to normal, all they could see was dust.
Then— the dust began to fade.
Everyone leaned forward, eager to see who won.
A single figure stood within the crater.
The voice was quiet but it echoed within the whole VR hall.
A moment later, Zephyr's body dissolved into golden particles.
Rodrick saw the scene wide eyed. He couldn't pull his gaze away.
Especially from Alden's crimson eyes.
Cold. Sharp. Dead calm.
He looked like a reaper who'd done his job.
Rodrick swallowed hard.
For the first time in years, a shiver ran down his spine.
It wasn't the sword that scared him. It was the boy holding it.
Those crimson eyes—emotionless, piercing—like they could cut through soul and bone alike.
That's not the same Alden I knew.
Rodrick clenched his fists behind his back.
He's become something else entirely.
And somehow… that was only the beginning.
Seles stood at the far end of the observation hall, her arms folded causally.
Her lips twitched slightly then curled upward into a slow, knowing smile.
So, you've decided to show your real power.
She had already suspected Alden was more than what he showed outside. After all, he eliminated her subordinates without breaking a sweat.
But there was still some doubt.
Maybe it wasn't him. Maybe the principal had sent some hidden bodyguards to save his disciple.
But now as she saw him standing on the screen—with a katana in hand and that expressionless face.
She felt the chill crawling up her spine.
So that's who you are, Alden.
But she wasn't afraid.
If anything, the coldness only made things more… interesting.
'The higher you climb,' she thought, brushing her blonde hair behind her ear, 'the more satisfying it'll be to break you.'
She exhaled softly, her eyes glinting coldly.
With those final words, she walked out. She had other matters to deal with.
This chapter marks the end of the duel. Hope you enjoyed the clash between two rising monsters. One walks away victorious—but not unscarred.
The academy will never look at Alden the same again.
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