NOVPUBThe field grew silent as two students walked confidently to the center. One was a tall boy with short, spiky black hair, his hands glowing faintly with mana. On the other side stood a girl with long pink hair tied up in a high ponytail. The crowd whispered in excitement, recognizing them both.
Alexa leaned toward Seojun, whispering quietly, "That's one of your students, right?"
Seojun nodded. "Yeah, Min Yoora."
Professor Park, who stood beside them, turned his head with a smile. "If you don't know, Professor Jihoon, Min Yoora is the daughter of Min Yoonji, the Top 4 Ranker," he said with a bit of admiration in his voice.
Seojun nodded again. "Yes, the Twilight Sorceress."
Professor Park chuckled and added, "Though, she's quite different from her mother. Ms. Yoonji is an A-rank, powerful and known for her mastery over dark flames. Meanwhile, Yoora here…well, she's currently at E-rank."
Seojun's eyes followed Yoora as she stood firmly, facing her opponent with determination. "Rank doesn't always determine potential," Seojun replied calmly.
Professor Park raised an eyebrow, clearly interested in Seojun's perspective, but he said nothing more as the students in the audience grew louder.
In the middle of the field, Professor Ha raised her wand. "Begin!" she announced, her voice echoing across the arena.
Instantly, Yoora's mana flared to life, dark purple chains manifesting around her body, swirling and cracking with energy. They shimmered with a metallic gleam, snaking around her arms and extending outward like living extensions. Her opponent, the boy with spiky hair, smirked confidently. His hands glowed bright blue, and suddenly, a pair of ethereal blades appeared in his grip, sharp and humming with mana.
The crowd murmured in excitement, some whispering about the rarity of chain-type manifestations. "Hmp She's just using her mother's influence," one student whispered.
Yoora didn't wait. With a flick of her wrist, the chains shot forward, whipping through the air with incredible speed. Her opponent reacted instantly, crossing his blades in front of him to block the attack. The chains wrapped around the glowing swords, sparking on impact, and the two students locked in a tense struggle for control.
The boy grinned, his mana flaring as he pushed back, slicing through the chains with a swift motion. They shattered into shards of purple light, but Yoora wasn't done. More chains burst from her fingertips, spiraling around her and striking again with even greater force.
Yoora's chains lashed out, snapping through the air with crackling energy. Her opponent stepped back, deflecting the incoming attacks with swift, precise movements. His swords gleamed with each swing, cutting through the air as if weightless.
Yoora gritted her teeth, her hands moving fluidly as more chains erupted from the ground, circling around the boy like snakes. He smirked, sidestepping and slashing through one of the chains with ease. "
Yoora's eyes flared with irritation. She flicked her wrist, and the chains coiled tighter, forcing the boy to block and deflect repeatedly. The metallic clang of energy against energy rang out across the training field, drawing murmurs from the crowd.
But then, as they closed the distance, their weapons clashing in a flurry of sparks, the boy leaned in just enough for his voice to reach her ears. His lips moved subtly, but Yoora's expression shifted instantly. Her eyes narrowed, and her mana flared brighter, more chaotic.
Professor Park leaned over slightly. "Did he say something to her?" he asked, curiosity flickering in his eyes.
Seojun nodded slowly. "Seems like it."
Yoora's movements grew faster, almost reckless. Her chains lashed out with ferocity, cracking against the boy's blades and sending vibrations up his arms.
He stumbled back, surprise flickering across his face. "Whoa, calm down!" he shouted, but Yoora wasn't listening.
With a shout, she raised both hands, her mana swirling around her like a storm. Chains burst from the ground, wrapping around the boy's legs, arms, and even his blades, pinning him in place. His eyes went wide, struggling against the restraints. "H-Hey! Wait!"
Yoora didn't stop. Her chains tightened, forcing him to drop his blades. He fell to his knees, panting and glaring up at her. Yoora stepped forward, eyes blazing. She raised her hand one last time, but before she could strike, Professor Ha's voice boomed through the arena.
"Enough! The winner—Min Yoora!"
Yoora's eyes snapped back to reality, her mana flickering and disappearing. She took a deep breath, sweat beading on her forehead as she released her grip. The boy collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily but unharmed.
Without waiting for applause or even a reaction, Yoora turned sharply, her expression hardened into a deep frown. Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides as she walked back toward the crowd. She didn't even look back at her opponent, who was still catching his breath.
Seojun watched her carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly. Alexa crossed her arms. "Well, that was...intense," she commented.
Professor Park scratched his head. "I wonder what he said to make her go off like that," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Seojun didn't answer, his gaze fixed on Yoora as she disappeared into the crowd.
Professor Ha clapped her hands, her voice clear across the training field. "Next will be—" She stopped as a staff member quickly came near her and whispered something. Her eyes opened wide for a moment. Then she smiled and said, "Change of plan! Up next is the C-rank battle!"
Excited murmurs ran through the crowd as two students walked to the middle of the field.
The first was a tall boy with long brown hair tied in a high ponytail that swung as he walked. His sharp face and calm look made many girls blush and whisper.
"Wow! That's Bae Namsu!""So cool!""His hair is so nice!""I wish he would look my way!"
Bae Namsu carried a long, smooth staff with no sharp ends. It was simple but looked strong and easy to use.
His opponent, on the other hand, was a shorter boy with blond hair, dressed in vibrant red gear that stood out even from a distance. He carried two short swords, their edges gleaming under the sunlight. His grin was wide and confident, his eyes practically dancing with excitement. He swung his swords a few times, making flashy arcs in the air before pointing one at him.
"Hope you're ready," the blond boy smirked, twirling his swords with ease. "I've been waiting for this match all week.
Professor Ha raised her hand, and a glowing barrier formed around the field. "Remember the rules: no lethal strikes, and the match ends when one of you yields or is unable to continue. Are you both ready?"
The blond boy twirled his swords again, flashing a cocky grin. "More than ready."
Bae Namsu nodded, loosening his grip on the staff a little.
"Begin!" Professor Ha said, lowering her hand.
The blond boy rushed forward, swinging his swords quickly. Bae Namsu stood still, watching carefully. His staff started to move in slow circles, ready to strike.
Alexa smiled and said, "Oh, it's the fight between the top 1 and top 2. They look so eager."
Professor Park nodded. "Yes, these two are the highest rankers this year. Everyone expects a great battle."
Seojun started to turn and leave.
Alexa called out, "Oh, you're not going to watch?"
Seojun was about to answer, "Yeah..."
But his system suddenly spoke, [Host, that guy Namsu is one of Nayoung brother.]
Seojun stopped and turned back around. He looked carefully at Namsu getting ready.
