The arena remained lively even after Lin Yi’s match ended.
Students continued talking excitedly about the astonishing 0.81 second victory. Every corner of the stadium buzzed with speculation.
"Did you see that movent skill?"
"It looked like teleportation!"
"And he’s a Laborer class..."
"That makes no sense."
Even instructors on the observation platform were still discussing the match quietly.
Yet the tournant did not pause for anyone.
The elimination round continued.
The massive arena screen flickered as the next pair of nas appeared.
Another match began.
Two students rushed onto the battlefield and clashed imdiately. Weapons flashed, skills exploded across the arena floor, and the crowd roared with excitent.
The pace of the tournant was relentless.
Matches ca one after another.
So battles lasted several minutes.
Others ended in seconds.
Occasionally the audience burst into cheers when a particularly spectacular skill appeared. Other tis, groans echoed when a fight ended too quickly.
Ti passed quickly in the roaring stadium.
Gradually, the list of advancing students began to fill.
On the giant display board above the arena, glowing characters showed the results.
Qualified Students: 15
Eliminated Students: 15
Only one matche remained.
And at he edge of the arena seating area, Wang Hao sat beside Lin Yi, his hands clasped tightly together.
He looked unusually nervous.
Normally Wang Hao talked endlessly. His mouth rarely stopped moving.
But now he kept glancing at the display screen.
Every ti a new match appeared, his shoulders stiffened slightly.
"Brother Lin..."
He finally spoke quietly.
"Sothing feels wrong."
Lin Yi glanced at him calmly. "What’s wrong?"
"My match still hasn’t been called," Wang Hao said, as he rubbed his face nervously
Lin Yi didn’t imdiately answer.
He had noticed that as well.
The tournant followed a structured bracket. All participants had already fought.
Yet two nas had not appeared once.
Wang Hao.
And Tang Yue.
Lin Yi’s eyes slowly shifted toward the opposite side of the arena seating area, where Tang Yue sat among the elite combat class students. Her posture remained elegant and composed, long hair cascading over her shoulders while the silver armor of her combat gear caught the arena lights and reflected them.
She hadn’t fought yet.
Not once.
Lin Yi’s gaze lingered on the screen again, as a quiet realization ford in his mind.
He said nothing for several seconds.
Beside him, Wang Hao swallowed nervously.
"...Brother Lin?"
"Looks like your opponent hasn’t fought yet either," Lin Yi finally spoke.
Wang Hao blinked.
"...What?"
Lin Yi tilted his chin slightly toward the elite section.
Wang Hao followed his gaze. And the mont he saw Tang Yue sitting there, his face turned pale.
"...No way."
He turned back slowly.
"...No way, right?"
Lin Yi didn’t respond imdiately.
The tournant organizers often placed stronger contestants against weaker ones to maintain balance.
But occasionally...
Certain matchups beca inevitable.
Wang Hao laughed nervously.
"Haha... Brother Lin, you’re joking, right?"
Lin Yi sighed quietly, "Prepare yourself."
Wang Hao’s face froze.
"...Wait."
"...WAIT."
His voice rose slightly.
"You an—"
Before he could finish—
The giant screen above the arena flickered again, as the next match appeared.
For a mont the stadium was quiet.
Then soone shouted loudly.
"LOOK!"
The nas appeared clearly across the glowing board.
Tang Yue
VS
Wang Hao
The entire arena erupted.
"Oh ho!"
"This is interesting!"
"Isn’t that the guy who confessed to her earlier?"
"Hahaha I rember that!"
"Didn’t she reject him in public?"
"Poor guy..."
Students burst into laughter and whispers.
The story of Wang Hao’s earlier confession had already spread across the academy.
Now the sa two people were about to face each other in the elimination round.
It felt like fate was deliberately mocking him.
Wang Hao stared at the screen in horror.
"...It’s real."
He slowly turned toward Lin Yi, as his lips trembled slightly.
"Brother Lin."
"Yes?"
"I think I’m going to die."
Lin Yi raised an eyebrow.
"You’re exaggerating."
Wang Hao grabbed Lin Yi’s shoulder dramatically.
"Brother Lin!"
"That woman is A-Rank!"
"I’m only C-Rank!"
Lin Yi calmly peeled Wang Hao’s hand off his shoulder.
"Go fight."
"You say it so easily..." Wang Hao reacted, his face looking like he might cry a bit.
Then, the instructor’s voice echoed across the arena.
"Next match!"
"Participants, step onto the battlefield!"
Tang Yue rose gracefully from her seat, and the surrounding students imdiately made space for her. Her reputation within the academy was enormous. A true A-rank combat class, one of the strongest freshn in the entire academy. anwhile Wang Hao stood up slowly, his legs looking slightly stiff. Lin Yi glanced at him.
"Relax."
Wang Hao sighed. "How can I relax..." Then he muttered quietly, "...Brother Lin, if I die out there, rember ."
Lin Yi rolled his eyes. "Just go."
Wang Hao slowly walked toward the battlefield while the arena crowd watched eagerly. So students whispered loudly among themselves, as they noticed the other student who sat next to Wang Hao.
"That’s the guy who challenged her earlier."
"He said he would make her kneel."
"Hahaha bold words."
"Let’s see if his friend survives."
Tang Yue stepped onto the battlefield first and stood calmly in the center of the arena, her bow resting lightly in her hand. When Wang Hao finally stepped onto the opposite side, she looked at him with faint amusent.
"Scout class." Her voice carried across the battlefield clearly. "C-rank."
Wang Hao swallowed, and took a single step forward.
Tang Yue tilted her head slightly. "Looks like you still rember."
Wang Hao forced a weak laugh. "Hard to forget."
The instructor raised his arm. "Participants prepare."
Before the signal began, Tang Yue suddenly spoke again. "You know sothing interesting?"
Wang Hao blinked nervously. "...What?"
Tang Yue’s eyes shifted briefly toward the spectator seats—toward Lin Yi—before she looked back at Wang Hao. "Your friend, Lin Yi."
Wang Hao nodded cautiously. "What about him?"
Tang Yue’s lips curved slightly. "He said sothing rather interesting the other day." Her tone grew colder. "He said he would make kneel."
Wang Hao’s face stiffened.
Tang Yue continued calmly, "So I was thinking... if I crush his close friend in front of everyone, I wonder how he’ll react."
Wang Hao frowned. "You’re doing this on purpose?"
Tang Yue tilted her spear slightly. "He stood up for you. Now you’re standing here." Her gaze sharpened. "Isn’t that convenient?"
Wang Hao’s fists clenched slightly. "Using to provoke him?"
Tang Yue smiled faintly. "Exactly."
Wang Hao took a deep breath, then shook his head slowly. "...You’re really cruel."
Tang Yue’s expression didn’t change. "I want to see whether the man who talked so boldly can remain calm while watching his friend get crushed."
Then, the instructor’s voice suddenly rang out. "Begin!"
The mont the signal dropped, Wang Hao vanished. His Scout class movent skill activated instantly as wind burst beneath his feet and he dashed across the battlefield in a zigzag pattern. Speed was his greatest advantage; a scout’s job was mobility. Tang Yue didn’t move, her eyes calmly following his movents.
Wang Hao appeared behind her suddenly, his dagger slashing forward. "Take this!"
Tang Yue moved her bow slightly.
CLANG!
The dagger struck the bow tal fra and rebounded instantly. Wang Hao’s eyes widened. So fast.
Before he could react, Tang Yue fired an arrow towards his direction.
WHOOSH!
The arrow struck his shoulder like a falling hamr.
BOOM!
Wang Hao flew backward several ters and crashed against the arena floor. The crowd gasped.
"Too fast!"
"That’s A-rank strength!"
Wang Hao coughed painfully but forced himself back to his feet. He dashed again, his speed increasing as he circled around Tang Yue, searching for openings. But Tang Yue remained calm. She brought out a spear and moved like a silver dragon, every Wang’s strike blocked, every angle sealed. Wang Hao tried again and again, but the difference between them was overwhelming.
Finally, Tang Yue’s spear struck his chest.
CRACK!
Wang Hao collapsed onto the ground, the impact knocking the air from his lungs. He tried to stand again as Tang Yue walked forward slowly, her spear pointing at his throat.
"Enough." Her voice was cold.
Wang Hao struggled to breathe and coughed up a mouthful of blood, but Tang Yue wasn’t finished. She suddenly swung her spear again.
BOOM!
The strike slamd into Wang Hao’s ribs, causing a streak of blood to spill onto the ground. The crowd gasped loudly. Even the instructor frowned.
Tang Yue finally stepped back as the instructor raised his hand. "Match over!"
"Winner... Tang Yue!"
dics rushed onto the battlefield while Wang Hao lay on the ground, breathing painfully and coughing blood.
And from the spectator seats, Lin Yi stood slowly. His expression was completely different now. Gone was the calm composure, and his eyes had beco cold—extrely cold.
Across the battlefield, Tang Yue noticed. Their gazes t. For a brief mont neither of them spoke.
But Tang Yue smiled faintly. And Lin Yi... returned her gaze with a look that carried only one thing. A silent promise.
A death stare.
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