The teachers and students were watching intently now, every eye locked on the unfolding scene.

There was no doubt about it anymore, they could all see it clearly.

Beatrix was somehow controlling blood.

The blood that stained her clothes. The blood that dripped from her nose. And now, more blood was swirling into the air, drawn forth by sheer force of her energy, coiling and dancing around her hand.

Beatrix said that she and the Bloody Woman are now one, Raze thought, narrowing his eyes. But Beatrix's own personality… her own power… must've triumphed in that battle. Still, it was foolish of me to think it had been completely erased. Of course, part of her had to change. It couldn't have been as simple as gaining new powers and staying the same person. And now… she's been pushed too far.

Both Liam and Safa shot Raze concerned glances, eyes full of questions.

Does this mean our cover is blown? The thought weighed heavy in all their minds. After all, what Beatrix was using now wasn't magic, that was clear to everyone watching.

"I've never seen that before!" Chiba exclaimed, her voice sharp with surprise. "So you were hiding something after all. Well then, let's see how you handle this!"

In both hands, Chiba gathered her water magic, preparing to create the ultimate defense.

At that moment, Beatrix pulled her arm back, blood swirling tighter around her fist. Clenching it hard, she thrust it forward with devastating force.

Blood fused with a powerful surge of Qi, spiraling through the air with terrifying speed, straight toward Chiba.

She barely had time to react. Her eyes widened as the wave of blood surged toward her,

, and then, in the next instant, a massive lightning strike descended from above.

It struck the ground in front of Chiba with a deafening roar, searing heat washing over her in an instant.

She felt a static shock ripple through her entire body, her breath catching in her throat. Fear flooded her senses.

When the blinding light faded, she blinked through the haze and saw,

"Raze? What are you doing here?" Chiba gasped.

Turning her head, she saw the destruction clearly now: a shallow crater nearly two meters deep. The floor had been obliterated.

And there, standing at its edge, was Raze, his arm outstretched, palm still glowing faintly from the lightning strike.

"Did… did he block the attack?" one student whispered in disbelief.

"I think he did. He must have."

"But did you see the damage that thing did?" another said. "If that had hit Chiba, she would've been sent straight to another dimension!"

"Yeah… but then what about Raze? How was he able to block it?"

"And why didn't the teachers intervene?" another student added. "Are they going to get Raze in trouble now for interfering?"

The teachers stood frozen, still processing what had just happened.

Truth be told, when they first saw Beatrix display this strange ability, they'd made a deliberate choice not to interfere.

They'd wanted to see what this unique power could do. With Chiba's formidable defenses, surely she would be safe, right?

That was their reasoning.

But only Raze knew the truth.

He knew full well, if that attack had landed, Chiba wouldn't have walked away from it. Not alive.

It was a powerful Qi-blood attack, an art he'd only ever seen the Bloody Woman herself use.

No shield, no defense Chiba had could have withstood it.

That was why he'd had no choice but to step in.

"The match is over." Luke's voice rang out firmly. "Raze, Beatrix, please come to the front. We need to speak with you. We'll take a short break before starting the next matches."

Students whispered excitedly among themselves, eager to hear what would happen next.

Inside the room where the teachers gathered, Wilton spoke first.

"Raze, why did you intervene?"

"I know Beatrix from outside the academy," Raze explained calmly. "I also know the full extent of her power. I knew exactly what that attack would have done. I just didn't expect her to reveal her unique affinity here in front of everyone… but the fight must've pushed her too far."

"Unique affinity?" Redrick echoed, intrigued. "So that's what it is… I've never heard of anyone with a blood affinity."

Raze nodded.

"We'd planned to reveal it before the Magical Exchange," he admitted. "But Beatrix wanted to prove herself on her own merits, not just rely on her unique trait."

He looked them all in the eye.

"I apologize for intervening. But I couldn't let Chiba get hurt."

The teachers exchanged glances, then nodded.

"It was our mistake," one of them admitted. "We were too eager, too curious about this new affinity, and failed to intervene in time. For that, Raze, we owe you. Both of you may return to your seats."

Beatrix followed Raze out quietly, her heart still racing.

What would I have done if that girl had gotten hurt? she thought. What would I have done if they found out I used Qi?

She had no excuse, no explanation. But thankfully, Raze did.

As they walked, she could only manage a single word.

"I'm sorry," Beatrix whispered. "I… I don't know what came over me."

"Don't worry," Raze replied with a small smile. "It happens. And if there's anyone here who understands… it's me."

He glanced at her knowingly.

"After all, I was the last owner of the Bloody Woman. Besides, you did well. I have no doubt they'll bring you along to the Magical Exchange. Just… be careful with those blood powers, especially if you're not fully in control yet."

When they rejoined the others, the atmosphere was electric.

Excited voices buzzed all around them.

Not one of them had even noticed when Raze had left his seat, let alone how fast he'd moved to intervene.

Now, the top students were full of questions about the mysterious blood affinity and what it could really do.

"I guess it's a draw, then," Chiba said with a playful grin. "Since the fight was stopped before we could finish."

"Right," Beatrix replied, smiling back.

And with that, the announcer's voice echoed across the arena once more.

"Now calling forward, Dame and Piba."

A ripple of anticipation ran through the crowd.

Everyone knew exactly what this next match meant.

It was time to witness the strength of the number one ranked student.

****

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