Laughter Beneath the Arena Sky
"Pfft..."
The sound cut through the arena like sothing fragile finally breaking.
When the referee’s voice rolled over the field, Shera rocked sideways - then coughed up thick red fluid. A pause followed, heavy with dust and silence.
Ti hung, just then. Stillness took hold.
"Master!"
Breath quickened among the followers as they lunged ahead, fabric whipping in sudden motion. He was slipping, knees buckling, yet bodies reached - grabbing, bracing - just in ti. Fingers shook, unable to stay still. A face drained of color nearby. Soone tripped mid-step, almost letting go, fear tightening every move.
A shiver ran down Shera’s spine, his skin turning cold and gray. From his temples, thick veins pushed outward, straining beneath the surface. His teeth locked together, pressure building until sothing felt ready to snap. Sha hung heavy in the air, pressing closer than breath itself.
And then—
It spread.
Like a ripple through still water, whispers began to rise across the arena.
"Haha... I don’t know why, but I suddenly feel especially relieved."
A young male student leaned back lazily, arms behind his head, grinning without restraint.
Beside him, another boy snorted. "Relieved? Bro, I feel like I just watched a legend fall apart in real ti."
"Martial Uncle Leon is too ruthless!" soone added from the back, barely holding in laughter. "Look at Guardian Elder Shera... he fainted from anger."
A girl nearby covered her mouth, but her shoulders shook. "It’s not just ruthless... it’s beautifully done. That calm face while stabbing straight into soone’s pride... terrifying."
Another girl leaned closer, whispering with bright eyes, "Did you see him? The way he just sat there the whole ti... like everything was already decided?"
"Yeah..." the first girl sighed softly, her gaze drifting toward Leon’s figure. "That kind of man... quiet, composed... and then suddenly—boom. You’re finished before you even realize it."
A boy clicked his tongue. "You girls are scary. One mont you’re watching the fight, next mont you’re picking favorites."
She shot back instantly, "Oh please. You were staring too."
"I was analyzing," he said, straightening up with fake dignity.
"Analyzing his face?" she smirked.
"...Shut up."
Laughter spread again.
Not far away, a few younger disciples huddled together, whispering excitedly.
"Bro... I swear, if I could follow soone like that, I’d train day and night."
"Sa. Forget resources, forget techniques. Just give a teacher like him and I’ll beco a monster."
A girl beside them crossed her arms but didn’t hide the faint flush on her cheeks. "You two are hopeless. But... I get it."
She glanced toward Leon again, quieter this ti.
"...He doesn’t even try to show off."
At the center seating area, Rex Vine watched everything unfold, his lips twitching slightly.
"Haha... I didn’t expect Senior to be this sly..."
He lowered his gaze, but the amusent didn’t fade.
Especially when he recalled Shera’s expression just monts ago—that mixture of rage, disbelief, and utter collapse.
That wasn’t just a loss, he thought. That was dismantling soone piece by piece.
His eyes shifted toward Leon again, deeper this ti.
Senior is... dangerous.
Not in the obvious way.
His sword was sharp—that much was known.
But this?
This quiet manipulation... this calm cruelty wrapped in polite words...
If he ever turns that against soone intentionally...
Rex let out a quiet breath.
...there’s no defense.
anwhile, within the Athyst Summit Division’s group—
Leon rose slowly from his seat.
His midnight robes shifted with the motion, the faint athyst embroidery catching the sunlight like distant stars.
"Headmaster," he said calmly, "my Athyst Summit Division’s matches have concluded. If there is nothing else, I will take my students back first."
Mike waved his hand, his aged face carrying a helpless smile. "Go, go... you’ve already stirred enough trouble for one day."
Leon gave a slight nod.
Before leaving, he offered a brief greeting to Mike and Cultivator Tobias.
Then—without lingering—he turned.
His students followed.
As they stepped away from the arena, the noise behind them slowly faded.
But the energy lingered.
Light. Free.
Satisfied.
Leon walked at the front, his pace unhurried. For once, even he felt it—
That quiet, undeniable sense of victory.
Three months of planning... and it collapsed in a single day.
He didn’t need to look back to know how Shera felt.
Serves you right.
Behind him—
"Master..." Rias’s voice ca, soft but clearly amused. "Guardian Elder Shera... he won’t be angered to death, right?"
Her red eyes shimred with barely concealed mischief, her lips curving upward.
Leon didn’t stop walking.
"No," he replied calmly. "Your Guardian Elder is thick-skinned... and very resistant to wear."
There was a brief pause.
Then—
"Pfft—!"
Rias burst out laughing, covering her mouth, her shoulders shaking.
"Master... you’re too much..."
She leaned slightly forward as she laughed, her chest rising and falling under the red silk, the gold sash at her waist swaying with each step.
"Haha! Master, you didn’t see it clearly earlier," Harry jumped in, unable to hold back anymore. "Those Secret Sword Summit students—every single one of them looked like they’d swallowed five kilograms of—"
He stopped mid-sentence, glancing sideways.
"...sothing very unpleasant."
Rias snorted. "You already said it. Don’t act refined now."
"I am refined!" Harry protested.
Leon glanced at him briefly, a faint, unreadable look in his eyes.
This kid...
There was sothing oddly fitting about that shaless energy.
Useful, even.
"Vulgar."
Selena’s voice cut in—cold, clean, and sharp.
She walked slightly behind Leon, her silver-white hair swaying gently with each step. The fitted snow-white robe wrapped around her slender fra, the pale blue sash resting against her narrow waist.
Her posture was straight, composed.
Unshaken.
"What do you an by eating five kilograms of that?" she continued, her brows knitting slightly, genuinely displeased. "Who would even think like that?"
Harry scratched his head, grinning awkwardly. "I an... it’s just a way of saying—"
"You should speak properly," she cut him off.
"...Yes, Senior Sister."
Rias leaned closer to him and whispered, "Careful. She might freeze you next."
Harry gulped. "...Not funny."
Selena ignored them.
But the faintest curve touched her lips—so slight it was almost impossible to notice.
Leon slowed his steps.
Then he turned.
"All right."
His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried naturally.
"We only had two matches today. They’re finished."
He looked at each of them briefly—Rias, Selena, Harry.
"For the rest of today... you’re free."
A small pause.
"If you want to stay and watch the other divisions fight, do so."
"If you want to return to the Athyst Summit Division and rest, that’s fine too."
His tone softened just slightly.
"Just don’t cause trouble."
Rias straightened imdiately, placing a hand over her chest with exaggerated seriousness. "Yes, Teacher~ I’ll behave."
Selena gave a simple, respectful nod. "Understood, Teacher."
Harry followed, bowing quickly. "Got it, God Leon—I an, Senior."
Leon looked at them for a second longer.
Then—
"Go."
They bowed once more.
"Understood."
And just like that—
They scattered.
The sun hung high above the academy grounds, warm and steady.
And sowhere behind them—
The echoes of laughter still lingered.
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