The arena did not quiet down after the first event.
If anything, it became louder.
The results remained suspended above the battlefield while the contestants returned to their academy sections.
Asgard had taken first.
Elementro second.
Valhalla third.
For some academies, the ranking was already becoming a source of celebration.
For others...
It was a warning.
Noah sat on the edge of the Valhalla platform.
His hands were resting between his knees.
He wasn’t listening to the cheering.
He was listening to something else.
His heartbeat.
Slow.
Steady.
Normal.
At least...
It sounded normal.
He looked at his palm.
Nothing.
No flames.
No maroon glow.
No strange voice.
Yet he couldn’t forget what happened.
That moment when his body moved before his mind could.
That voice.
That killing intent.
And the name that had come from his own mouth.
Dead Zone.
Noah clenched his hand.
"I need answers."
Laura approached quietly.
She stopped beside him.
"You’ve been staring at your hand for five minutes."
Noah looked up.
"You were counting?"
"Maybe."
He smiled faintly.
"That’s creepy."
Laura sat beside him.
"You’re avoiding the question."
Noah looked toward the arena.
"I’m trying to understand what happened."
"The thing with your eyes?"
Noah nodded.
Laura became quiet.
She didn’t immediately answer.
Noah noticed.
"You know something."
Laura looked at him.
"I know enough to know that you shouldn’t force it."
"That’s not an answer."
"I know."
Noah studied her.
"Then what is it?"
Laura looked away.
"I can’t tell you yet."
There was no teasing in her voice.
No playful smile.
Just sincerity.
Noah’s expression softened.
"Okay."
Laura looked back at him.
"You believe me?"
"I don’t have to understand everything right now."
She stared at him for a moment.
Then smiled.
"Good."
A loud voice suddenly interrupted them.
"NOAH!"
Eric came running across the platform.
Noah looked over.
"What?"
Eric stopped in front of them, breathing heavily.
"You."
He pointed dramatically.
"Nearly gave me a heart attack."
Noah blinked.
"Why?"
"Because your eyes went all creepy!"
Laura immediately looked away.
Noah frowned.
"Creepy?"
"Yeah!"
Eric lowered his voice.
"For a second, you looked like you were about to murder somebody."
Noah said nothing.
Eric’s expression softened.
"You alright?"
Noah nodded.
"Yeah."
Eric stared at him.
Then smiled.
"Good."
He slapped Noah’s shoulder.
"Because we’re third place."
Noah laughed.
"That’s what you’re worried about?"
"Of course."
Eric pointed toward the scoreboard.
"Third place means we’re officially better than most of these guys."
Damien approached from behind.
"That is technically true."
Eric looked pleased.
"See?"
Damien continued:
"But we’re still behind Asgard and Elementro."
Eric’s smile disappeared.
"Why did you have to ruin it?"
Across the arena...
Reinham Edga stood before the Elementro delegation.
His fists were clenched.
His breathing was heavy.
But he was smiling.
"We took second."
Flora crossed her arms.
"Second isn’t first."
Reinham looked toward the Asgard section.
Jordan was celebrating with his teammates.
The crowd surrounding him was enormous.
Reinham’s expression hardened.
"Then we’ll take first next time."
John laughed.
"That’s more like you."
Daniela remained quiet.
Her attention wasn’t on Asgard.
It was on Valhalla.
More specifically...
Noah.
She had seen it.
That brief change.
That strange maroon color.
That moment when his power became something else.
She hadn’t understood it.
But she wanted to.
Flora noticed.
"You’re doing it again."
Daniela glanced at her.
"Doing what?"
"Watching Noah."
Daniela smiled.
"He’s interesting."
John groaned.
"You’re going to say that every time, aren’t you?"
"Probably."
Reinham looked toward Noah.
"Is he really that interesting?"
Daniela nodded.
"His power doesn’t behave normally."
Reinham frowned.
"Then I’ll test it myself."
Daniela looked at him.
"Don’t underestimate him."
Reinham smiled.
"I don’t."
His eyes sharpened.
"That’s why I want to fight him."
Meanwhile...
Asgard’s section was overflowing with celebration.
Jordan sat comfortably in the center.
A group of younger Asgard students gathered around him.
"That was incredible!"
"Your lightning was insane!"
"Did you see how fast you moved?"
Jordan smiled.
"Of course."
Christina sat several seats away.
Her expression remained gloomy.
"You nearly lost the lead."
Jordan’s smile disappeared.
"Nearly."
Adrian looked toward the scoreboard.
"Elementro is close."
Hastral remained silent.
Jordan leaned back.
"Let them try."
He glanced toward Valhalla.
His eyes stopped on Noah.
His smile returned.
"And especially him."
Christina followed his gaze.
"Noah Blackwood?"
Jordan laughed.
"Who else?"
Jordan stood.
He adjusted the collar of his uniform.
"I’m going to introduce myself properly."
Adrian sighed.
"Don’t."
Jordan ignored him.
He walked across the arena.
Noah noticed him approaching.
Eric immediately whispered:
"Here we go."
Jordan stopped several meters away.
He looked at Noah.
Then Laura.
Then back at Noah.
"So."
His smile was polished.
Almost regal.
"You must be Noah Blackwood."
Noah stood.
"Yeah."
Jordan extended his hand.
"I’m Jordan Nethem."
Noah looked at the hand.
Then shook it.
"Nice to meet you."
Jordan’s smile remained.
But his eyes didn’t.
"I’ve heard about you."
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"Good things?"
Jordan laughed.
A smooth, arrogant royal laugh.
"No."
Eric quietly muttered:
"I already hate this guy."
Jordan stepped closer.
"You’re an interesting one."
Noah said nothing.
Jordan’s eyes narrowed.
"Fifth-ranked academy."
He looked toward Valhalla’s banner.
"An unknown prospect."
Then back to Noah.
"And yet you managed third."
Noah shrugged.
"We ran."
Jordan laughed again.
"You think this is funny?"
"No."
"Good."
Jordan’s voice lowered.
"Because the first event doesn’t mean anything."
Noah’s expression remained calm.
Jordan leaned slightly closer.
"You won’t survive the later events."
A pause.
Then that royal smile returned.
"Especially against Asgard."
Noah stared at him.
"Okay."
Jordan blinked.
"...Okay?"
"Yeah."
Noah sat back down.
"See you in the next event."
Jordan stood there for a moment.
His eyebrow twitched.
Eric covered his mouth.
Laura looked away to hide a smile.
Jordan turned.
"You’re going to regret that."
He walked away.
As he returned to the Asgard section...
Christina looked at him.
"You lost."
Jordan frowned.
"I didn’t fight him."
"Exactly."
He stared at her.
She looked away.
"Annoying."
Night began settling over Hildgard.
The first event was officially over.
But the city didn’t sleep.
The Crimson Moon slowly appeared above the arena.
The Blue Moon followed.
Then the Scarlet-Violet Starlight Moon.
Three enormous lights hanging over the city.
Noah looked upward.
For some reason...
His chest felt warm.
He couldn’t explain why.
Deep beneath the arena...
Three ancient symbols remained dormant.
Dragon.
Serpent.
Bear.
Nothing moved.
Nothing spoke.
Yet a faint pulse traveled through the stone.
Once.
Then disappeared.
Noah suddenly turned toward the ground.
His expression changed.
Laura noticed.
"What is it?"
Noah stared at the arena floor.
"I don’t know."
His hand began to glow.
Not orange.
Not red.
Something darker.
Only for a heartbeat.
Then it vanished.
Noah whispered:
"...Something is underneath us."
Laura’s eyes narrowed.
And for the first time that night...
She looked genuinely worried.