The moment the name left his mouth, the twin-sword student went entirely stiff, causing the mocking smile on his face to completely vanish.

His pupils shrank as if someone had poured cold water down his spine.

“Y-you’re… Gray Vireux?” he repeated, his voice suddenly turning a little hoarse.

The black smoke curling from Gray’s body did not grow stronger upon noticing the sudden… reaction coming from the boy in front of him.

It simply lingered, pressing down on the space between them, as if the guy tried to attack him, he could one-shot him directly.

“Gulp…!”

The twin-sword student swallowed audibly, and suddenly, both of his swords slipped from his hands.

Clatter…

They hit the stone ground and slid a short distance before stopping. He did not even look at them.

“I didn’t know,” he uttered quickly, raising both hands.

“I swear I didn’t know he was your friend!”

Gray did not move and continued staring at him.

The student took a step back, then another, until his heel hit the edge of the courtyard stone.

“I swear on my cultivation,” he stated, speaking much faster now. “On my future. On my path. I wouldn’t have touched him if I knew.”

He glanced at Ronan for half a second, then looked back at Gray, panic clear on his face.

“He tried to flirt with the girlfriend of one of my juniors. I thought he was trying to cause trouble, and so, I reacted without thinking. That’s my fault. Entirely my fault.”

But noticing Gray’s almost blank reaction, the twin-sword student clenched his fists, then suddenly dropped to one knee.

“I apologize,” he said, bowing his head low.

“Truly. I crossed a line.”

His voice shook.

“I swear I will never raise a blade against any of your friends again! If I break this vow, may my cultivation rot and my swords shatter in my hands.”

A sharp breath ran through the crowd as a mana signature suddenly popped above the speaker’s head.

That was not an empty promise at all!

‘…It seems that I’m pretty respected here. I only thought that it was the girl… and maybe Drake was a special case; however, it truly seems that it isn’t.’

Slowly, the mana signature above the guy’s head flickered once, then sank into his body like a brand being sealed.

Gray watched it happen without changing his expression.

“…Good.”

He waved his hand once, dismissing the man like an insect.

“Get out of my sight.”

The student did not hesitate at all.

He bowed one last time, then turned and hurried away, dragging his swords with him, while keeping a respectful posture.

Only then did Gray turn toward Ronan.

He crouched and grabbed Ronan by the collar, pulling him upright with one arm as if he weighed nothing.

Ronan groaned.

“Ugh… bro… You didn’t have to be so scary about it…”

Gray looked at him for a moment before kicking him.

Thud.

Ronan landed flat on his ass, yelping in pain, hands scrambling behind him.

“OW! What the hell was that for?!”

“For being an idiot,” Gray said coldly.

Ronan winced and rubbed his back, face twisting.

“He started it.”

“You escalated it.”

Ronan opened his mouth, closed it, then sighed.

“…Okay, fine. But listen,” he said quickly, pointing weakly toward where the twin-sword guy had been.

“That guy was hovering around her all smug like he owned the place. I mean, did you see her? She was beautiful. Like, unfairly beautiful.”

Gray stared at him.

“And?”

“And he didn’t deserve to stand next to her,” Ronan continued, growing animated despite the pain.

“I was doing the world a favor. Someone had to humble him.”

“You are not someone,” Gray replied.

“Ouch,” Ronan muttered.

“That hurt more than the kick.”

“This is not Gloria,” Gray coldly stated. “People here bite back. You pick a fight, you finish it, or you die. There is no middle.”

Ronan swallowed, finally catching the tone.

“…Yeah. Got it.”

Then, after a second.

“…Still, though, she smiled at me.”

Gray kicked him again.

Thud.

“STOP KICKING ME!”

Of course, Gray couldn’t say anything about it as he had fucked Selene when she had a boyfriend… however, he still decided to reprimand Ronan, even saying that Ronan was obviously the wrong one.

The reason for this?

Just improve a little bit of his image for now, since he really needed to integrate into this academy, so that no one would be suspicious of him when someone dies.

Of course, killing was allowed… but Gray decided not to do it openly, because, like the Vice President had mentioned… most of the students just wanted to get stronger.

And because of that, killing someone here, even if it was allowed… was probably going to be a huge mistake.

“Where did the others go anyway?” Gray asked, glancing around the courtyard.

“The others…?” Ronan repeated, scratching his head, his eyebrows knitting together as he tried to recall.

He stood there for a moment, then suddenly snapped his fingers.

“Oh, right! They went to the academy colosseum,” he said, energy rushing back into his voice.

“Apparently, there are a lot of high-ranked students fighting today. Like real fights, not training sparring. Second and third years.”

“Was it Lyra who suggested it?”

“Ah!” Ronan’s eyes widened.

“…How do you always know?” he asked, half impressed, half offended.

“Why wouldn’t I know my girlfriend?” Gray gave a small shrug.

“Hah… figures,” Ronan muttered, then grinned. “She got all excited and dragged everyone along. Said watching real fights was ‘educational’.”

Gray shook his head and turned toward the main hall exit.

“Let’s go, then.”

They passed through the wide stone hallways of the academy, their footsteps echoing against tall pillars engraved with old combat records and names of past champions.

Groups of students hurried past them in the opposite direction, all talking at once.

“Did you see the matchup board?”

“They say one of the third years already touched the King Realm threshold.”

“No way, that’s impossible—”

“You hear that? These people are insane! It’s impossible for a third-year to reach the King Realm!” Ronan leaned closer to Gray.

Gray simply rolled his eyes at his words.

They stepped outside, sunlight washing over the stone path that stretched ahead, and instantly felt that the air was different.

Here… mana flowed openly instead of being restrained, as if the academy itself allowed power to breathe.

In the distance, the colosseum rose like a massive crown of black stone.

Its outer walls were carved with reinforced runes, and the roar of the crowd leaked through even from this far away.

“Phew…” Ronan let out a low whistle.

“That thing is huge. Gloria’s arena looks like a toy compared to this.”

“Indeed,” Gray nodded lightly.

As they followed the path, the crowd thickened. Students lined the walkway, some already placing bets, others arguing loudly about who would win.

“I heard the spear guy already broke someone’s ribs earlier.”

“That was last week, idiot.”

Gray noticed how casually they spoke about injuries.

‘My evaluation of them being battle maniacs was correct.’

They reached the entrance, wide gates standing open as mana barriers shimmered overhead.

The sound hit them full force the moment they stepped inside.

“CUT HIM OFF!”

“LEFT, LEFT!”

Steel shrieked as blades collided, sparks bursting across the arena floor.

THOOOM!

A heavy sound followed as someone was slammed into the ground, the impact rolling through the stands like a dull wave.

“Whoa… what the hell…” Ronan froze at the entrance, his eyes going wide as his lips parted slightly.

“Move. You are blocking the view.”

They stepped further inside, the noise swallowing them whole.

“AGAIN!”

“DON’T BACK OFF!”

“FINISH IT!”

A sword rang out sharply.

CLANG!

Another weapon followed, lower and heavier, grinding against the first as mana crackled between them.

“Did you see that exchange?!”

“He countered mid-swing!”

“That footwork is insane!”

“This is… way louder than Gloria’s arena.” Ronan swallowed HARD.

Gray nodded at his words, as it was indeed true.

They found seats halfway up the stands. The stone beneath them vibrated faintly with each heavy blow below.

As Gray sat, his gaze dropped to the arena floor.

Two students were locked in close combat.

One wielded a curved blade, breathing steady, shoulders relaxed. The other held a thick staff, its surface glowing faintly as it deflected strike after strike.

CRACK!

The staff hit the ground.

WHOOSH!

The blade followed, barely missing a neck.

The crowd erupted.

“THAT WAS CLOSE!””He almost lost his head!”

“KEEP PRESSURING HIM!”

Ronan leaned forward without realizing it.

“They are not holding back at all…”

“That is something obvious, no? This isn’t a fight until one of them dies.”

Below, the curved blade slid in low.

SLASH!

Blood sprayed lightly, instantly sealed by a barrier rune as the injured fighter staggered back.

A bell rang.

“WINNER!”

The defeated student bowed stiffly, breathing hard, then limped away.

And just at that moment, another pair stepped in immediately without even taking a minute of rest or anything like that.

[Gray! That crimson-haired guy has divinity!]

Suddenly, Jasmine’s voice rang out, and instantly, Gray’s eyes narrowed in complete interest as he stared at the red-haired guy in the arena.

A faint golden flame erupted from his sword, causing Gray’s lips to curl up instantly.

‘…Agni’s Fire, huh?’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep