The next morning, Nox woke up on the cold floor of the training room.

  His body felt stiff and heavy, and for a moment he couldn’t tell whether the soreness came from the so-called meditation or from sleeping in such an awkward position.

  “Lina, wake up,” he said. His hands were tied together, so he had to push against her with his head.

  “I wanna sleep,” she answered lazily, pulling him toward her and locking his body between her legs.

  An unfamiliar feeling shot through Nox. He could hear her heartbeat vividly and felt as though he could even sense her emotions.

  Her grip was loose, but strangely unyielding, as if she had no intention of letting him escape anytime soon.

  “The match is starting in fifteen minutes,” he whispered.

  “What?” she shot up and looked around in confusion, her blonde hair completely messy.

  “It was a joke… but at least you’re uahhhhh- okay, I’m sorry,” he said, as she grabbed his throat.

  “Can you please free me from this?” Nox asked, pointing at a rope that held his limbs together.

  Only then did he realize how thoroughly she had prepared for this situation. It didn't seem to be just for her pleasure; golden mana flowed along the edge of the rope, soothing the pain.

  “If you beg properly, I’ll consider it,” Lina said with a smug smile.

  After an embarrassing moment for Nox, the two finally went to the cafeteria.

  “Did you two fall asleep in the training room again? Someone might get the wrong idea if they see you like that,” Beatrice said while crossing her arms.

  Regea just nodded, as if these kinds of conversations had already become normal for them.

  “I agree, my limbs hurt as hell,” Nox added.

  “Why would your limbs hurt?” Beatrice asked suspiciously.

  “Uhm… not important,” he replied, while Lina subtly smiled at him from the side.

  After breakfast, the four of them went to the central arena.

  It was even bigger than the one from yesterday, with enough seats to hold the entire school. The fighting area was built in a similar way, but with much larger terrain elements and a massive waterfall crashing down from above.

  The roar of the crowd rolled through the arena like distant thunder. Mist from the falling water clung to the air, making the battlefield feel cold, damp, and heavy.

  Hundreds of students from first to fourth years, sat on long benches, glaring down at the battlefield.

  After ten matches, it was finally Nox’s group’s turn to fight against a group from the second year’s Class B.

  As the match began, Nox could immediately see the difference in their tactics. The opponents spread out slowly and kept their distance.

  Every step they took was calculated, as if they had rehearsed this exact situation countless times before.

  “Lina, give me a buff!” he shouted.

  -You have received Light’s Blessing (+16% to all stats)

  The boost was stronger than last time thanks to his new rune.

  Power surged through his body all at once, almost making him lose his balance.

  Nox cast Icy field, and a curtain of jagged ice crawled over the floor, surrounding the closest enemies. Even the waterfall seemed to slow down at the sudden temperature drop.

  With a concentrated push, he lunged at an opponent, ramming him into the stone wall. He felt unstoppable thanks to his ice boost. The impact shook the arena, echoing across the stands, drawing audible gasps.

  Another enemy, aiming a ranged attack, was intercepted by a tightly formed fireball from Beatrice, forcing him backward into a cascade of splintering crystals.

  Meanwhile, the rest of the attackers turned toward Regea, destroying his golems one by one. He reacted quickly, summoning a larger golem, but one of the enemies lifted the stone, yanking him into the air.

  Suspended helplessly, Regea struggled to react. A precise Water Ball slammed into him mid-flight, and his body collided with the protective barrier, plummeting onto the floor.

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  Furious, Beatrice’s eyes blazed. She lifted both arms, feeling the energy coil around her. With a controlled breath, she summoned fire particles, letting them rotate with precise movements.

  The tornado struck the remaining opponents with a delayed, violent force, their armours beeping from the searing heat.

  The crowd roared in disbelief, witnessing the raw power of a main stigma being channelled with precision.

  “Wow… she eliminated them all in one strike? That’s insane!” the commentator shouted, voice shaking.

  Regea just stared at her with his mouth open, his eyes gleaming with admiration and… eroticism.

  “That’s… a new side of him,” Nox thought, turning around with a disbelieving grin.

  Afternoon came, and the tournament intensified. With nearly all first-years eliminated, the remaining matches were a gauntlet of giants. Screams, spells, and collisions echoed through the arena as the next fight was announced.

  “The next match is between the strongest group and the Bunnies,” the commentator announced. He seemed surprised that there were still two first year groups remaining.

  Nox’s focus narrowed instantly. His gaze locked on a single figure, Analus’s group. The black-haired boy on the opposite side radiated a cold, precise intent, his presence alone stirring tension.

  “This time, it’s gonna be different, you bastards!” Analus shouted, his voice cutting through the din.

  The fight began, both sides measuring, waiting for the other to make the first move.

  Beatrice hesitated, panic flashing in her eyes. “I… I don’t have any mana left from my Flame Tornado before,” she admitted.

  Before she could react further, a black arrow streaked through the air, piercing her chest. She flew across the arena, slamming into the protective barrier and collapsing.

  Analus’s lips curled. “Being distracted during a fight? How stupid.”

  Regea, enraged, summoned a massive sunflower from the ground. It twisted and crushed two enemies beneath its weight. Simultaneously, his golem slammed two more into the stone wall.

  “You’ll pay for that!” he roared, charging toward Analus. Another golem flanked him, ready to obliterate Analus.

  But before he could reach him, black flames enveloped Regea, cutting through his defences. He hit the ground hard, eliminated before he could react. The flames vanished instantly, conserving mana.

  “And now… to the one who dared play petty tricks with me.” Analus’s gaze shifted to Nox, who had spread a big ice field over the arena.

  Black arrows hummed like blades, slicing through the air. Nox weaved through them, enhanced by Lina’s buffs, dodging and countering with a series of ice spikes and shards.

  “I must admit… you’re strong for someone with a random stigma,” Analus gritted, his voice sharp. “But you lack variety.”

  Dark shields appeared around Nox, trapping him. A massive black fireball erupted from the centre of the arena, throwing shards and ice into the air.

  Smoke and heat distorted the scene. The crowd tensed as the smoke cleared.

  Nox remained, surrounded by giant ice crystals. The cold radiating from them made even the spectators shiver.

  Analus charged again, but Nox met him with a precise ice thrust, pushing him back. His sword moved in unity with Lina’s mana, turning him into an unstoppable force.

  “You can’t win against me. These armours won’t survive all this damage, so give up, or you’ll die,” Nox said, his voice was filled with certainty rather than threat.

  Analus froze for a fraction, then smiled cruelly.

  “You’re right… these armours can’t withstand a strong hit. But if I want to win…” he pointed at Lina.

  “I’ll just use your foolish ‘heroic’ side against you.”

  Time slowed. A black orb of condensed mana surged toward her. It wasn’t fast, but he knew that she couldn’t dodge.

  He turned around and dashed forward, standing between the missile and Lina. His arms extended like the first time he had taken that missile for her.

  Lina mustered him with serious eyes.

  “You shouldn’t be here. Go defeat him… I can survive,” she said. She had the same calm expression as always, but this time he could see right through her. For some reason, he could sense her trembling and uncertainty that weren’t there.

  “No, I can’t leave you,” Nox decided. The black orb was now a few metres before them.

  “I’m stronger than you think. He will just keep targeting me… even if you help me dodge this attack.”

  Nox enveloped her body in a protective ice coating, forming a fragile ice armour just in time. He dashed the side before the missile struck, exploding against the ice with a burst of light and shards.

  Rage and determination surged through him. Nox dashed toward Analus, who stumbled backwards with a shocked expression. He tried to restrict his strength to not accidently kill the man he despised the most right now.

  As his red sword touched Analus’s armour, he couldn’t hold back anymore. He slammed him into the wall, the arena shaking from the impact.

  “T- The match is over! Bring the medics!” the commentator stammered. Silence followed, heavy and stunned.

  Only Nox remained standing, his silver hair covering his eyes, watching silently as Lina and Analus were taken to the infirmary. He regretted treating him the same way he had treated Lina, but a part of him would’ve slammed him into the wall anyway.

  Early the next morning, Lina awoke in the infirmary. Her body ached, but she was alive. Beneath her bed, Nox had fallen asleep, dark circles marking his face from hours of vigilance.

  Under pain, she climbed onto the bed’s edge and watched him silently. Her gaze drifted off, his silver hair reflecting the infirmary’s dim lights.

  His eyes gradually opened, widening as he recognized Lina.

  “Don’t do that again. I was so worried,” he whispered, hugging her tightly, arms trembling slightly.

  “U- Uhm… yes,” she stammered. Her cheeks turned slightly red, but she quickly regained her composure before he recognized it.

  “Let’s get some fresh air.”

  As she tried to stand, her legs gave out. Nox caught her instinctively, carrying her to the infirmary balcony with practiced ease.

  “Be more careful!”

  “So that’s how you feel when you’re in my arms… it’s better when I carry you though,” she said softly.

  “Y- You care for me too, so it’s only fair,” he replied.

  An awkward silence settled over them. Neither dared speak first. Nox opened his mouth but closed it again, realizing he had never truly spoken to her, aside from teasing.

  “W- Would you like to go to a spa when this is over?” Lina finally asked.

  She turned her head away, her blonde hair gleaming in the white moonlight.

  “Sure… but first, you’ll have to recover. You shouldn’t participate in the tournament again,” Nox said, his arms tightened around her body, leaving no room for argument.

  “But I need t-”

  He placed a finger on her lips. His silver hair brushed her eyes, his calmness rubbing off on her.

  “This time, let me be the one who stays behind. Don’t worry. We’ll do our best.”