"Participant Aries, lost by knockout!"

A hush fell over the audience as the first student from Runebound Academy collapsed in the arena.

They had lost their first round.

And soon after…

"Participant Brendon, lost by surrender!"

The stands that had once echoed with cheers and waving banners now stood silent.

The energy—the excitement—had drained away.

In its place was shock. Disbelief.

Those who supported Blackthorn Academy, however, were bursting with joy. Their voices shook the coliseum.

"GO! GO! BLACKTHORNS! YOU CAN DO IT, BLACKTHORNS!"

Ariana stared at the battlefield, stunned. Two straight losses? She hadn't expected that.

"It seems you didn't give them enough time to prepare again," one of the rival Headmasters commented with a smirk. The other two chuckled quietly.

Ariana narrowed her eyes. "You're right, I didn't. But have we lost yet? No. So I'd suggest you don't embarrass yourself too early."

The white-haired man leaned back and snickered. "This isn't some fantasy tale. A comeback from here would take a miracle."

Ariana rolled her eyes but said nothing more.

Still… in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but think—

This might be it.

They might not make it to the next stage.

---

Inside the preparation room, the atmosphere was heavy.

Aries sat in a corner, getting her injuries treated by a staff member—though she clearly didn't want the attention.

Brendon's shoulders were hunched, his eyes fixed on the floor.

He had underestimated his opponent… and paid the price. Pinned down, outmaneuvered—he had no choice but to surrender.

Adrian stood silently on the small balcony, overlooking the tournament field.

Then the commentator's voice echoed through the speakers:

"The next round will begin in ten minutes! Staaaaaaay tuned!"

Adrian exhaled and stepped back inside.

The remaining students looked at him—except Brendon, who didn't lift his head.

"Sir… I-I…"

"It's alright, Aries," Adrian interrupted gently. "I saw your match. Your opponent was strong—experienced in one-on-one combat. You fought well."

Aries clenched her fists. She knew how to fight—but her opponent knew how to win.

He had used the terrain cleverly and blinded her mid-battle. Without sight, a soldier loses the fight in seconds.

Despite his kind words, guilt weighed heavy on her shoulders.

Adrian gave her a small nod, then turned to the others.

"So… Altia? Ready to go—?"

"Professor," Allen stood up, interrupting. "We've already lost two rounds. Shouldn't we play it safe and send Senior Elana first?"

Adrian chuckled. "Why are you panicking, Allen? Trust your teammate."

He turned toward Altia. "Are you ready for this round?"

The bespectacled girl stood up, hesitating. "B-But Sir… Allen's right. Senior Elana is the safer choice…"

Adrian sighed, gently shaking his head. "Why don't you all get it? Two losses don't mean I've lost faith in you. I still believe in your skills. But the real question is—why are you doubting yourselves?"

He walked over and placed a firm hand on Brendon's shoulder.

"Just because he lost doesn't mean he didn't earn his place here. He trained hard, just like all of you. And during his match, he gave everything. That's all I've ever asked for."

"More than your opponent, you are tormenting yourself. You are making yourself feel weak with the hesitation. And I didn't expect this from my students."

Silence hung in the room… until Elana stood up, arms folded.

"Stop acting like losers."

Somehow, those blunt words hit harder than anything Adrian had said.

Altia took a deep breath and stepped forward, gripping her spear.

"I'm going in."

Not long after, a member of the tournament staff arrived to collect the name of the next contestant.

Without a second of hesitation, Altia stepped forward.

"Altia. I'll go."

Minutes later, the announcer's voice echoed across the stadium.

"From Runebound Academy, please welcome—Altia!"

A wave of cheers followed, though nowhere near as loud as before.

"And from Blackthorn Academy, please welcome—Tyler!"

From the opposite end of the arena stepped out a tall, broad-shouldered teen. His dark green hair was tied loosely behind his back, and at his side hung a heavy mace that gleamed under the sunlight. The weight of it alone sent a clear message—this would be a power match.

Altia's heart thumped against her chest.

He looked strong—dangerously strong.

And worse, this match was a turning point.

If I lose… we're out.

Their chances. Their hopes. Their pride.

All of it rested on her shoulders.

Her legs felt heavy. Her grip on the spear tighter than usual. She could feel the nerves crawling under her skin.

But now wasn't the time to be scared.

Altia shook the fear away and stepped onto the battlefield.

I'll deal with my nerves later.

Right now, she had one focus—victory.

Tyler took one look at Altia and smirked.

"You're really unlucky, huh?" he said, cracking his neck. "Out of everyone… you got paired with me."

Altia didn't respond. She simply unsheathed her spear and lowered into a ready stance.

Her silence made Tyler chuckle.

"Cute," he muttered, pulling the mace from his back and resting it on his shoulder like it weighed nothing.

The referee stepped between them, raising a hand.

"The rules are simple," he began, his voice firm. "If you can't move or feel your life is in danger, you may surrender. If you lose consciousness, you will be declared defeated. Lethal attacks are strictly forbidden. Anyone caught attempting to deliver a life-threatening blow will be immediately disqualified."

"Understood?"

Both fighters gave a nod.

The referee stepped back.

The crowd held its breath.

In the commentator's box, the announcer leaned toward the mic with a wide grin.

"It's a critical moment for Runebound! Another loss, and their dreams of advancing may vanish into smoke. The pressure on young Altia is immense. Will she rise to the occasion… or be crushed under the weight of it all? Let's find out!"

The arena buzzed.

The tension in the air was thick.

Altia tightened her grip on the spear, eyes locked on Tyler.

No more doubts.

No more fear.

Only the fight ahead.

The referee stepped back before asking, "Participants, ready?!"

Tyler gave a growling nod, holding his mace with both hands.

The referee turned towards Altia.

The girl took a deep breath before nodding,

"Yes, I am ready."

°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.