The sound of clashing steel echoed in the courtyard, fading into the past as the final duel concluded. Garet stood at the edge of the arena, his chest heaving from the exertion, his spear still gripped tightly in hand. The dust settled, and the crowd, still buzzing with excitement from the earlier matches, began to disperse, their voices lowering into murmurs of discussion. Some spoke of the fierce battles they had witnessed, while others commented on the impressive victories that had reshaped the Academy's ranking.
A few students lingered, catching their breath, wiping sweat from their brows. They were the ones who had fought their way through the ranks, those who had entered the tournament to secure a place on the leaderboard. Among them, a few commoners stood out, their faces displaying a mixture of pride and disbelief.
Garet's performance, however, had been the one that had caught the attention of many. Despite being a commoner, his defeat of a noble-ranked opponent in mere minutes had been nothing short of spectacular. It wasn't just his skill with the spear, but his tenacity and adaptability that had set him apart. The crowd had never expected a commoner to ascend so quickly through the ranks, and now, his position on the leaderboard would be solidified.
Garet felt no particular joy in the victory. It was an acknowledgment of his potential, nothing more. The true test was still ahead of him, and he knew it. He glanced over at the higher-ranked students, particularly those in the Big 8. They were the ones he would need to surpass to prove his worth, and none of them would be easy to defeat. Sebastian Raizen, with his easy arrogance and seemingly unmatched skill, was still at the top, and Garet felt that the true challenge lay in toppling him. Not just for the rank, but for the satisfaction of proving himself to the world.
A voice broke his thoughts.
"You did well, Garet," said Luna Blossomveil, stepping beside him. Her silver hair glinted in the sunlight, her violet eyes scanning the arena with a mixture of pride and contemplation.
"Thanks," Garet replied, wiping his brow with a cloth he'd pulled from his pocket. "But I'm not satisfied yet. This was just a start. I need to get higher. There's no point in being ranked if I can't show what I'm truly capable of."
Luna gave him a measured look. "A commoner's ambition, huh? It's admirable, but don't think it'll be easy. The ones above you won't give up their spots without a fight."
"I didn't expect them to," Garet said, his voice steady. "But I won't back down either. I've been fighting all my life to get where I am. This is no different."
Luna studied him for a moment longer before nodding. "I understand. Just don't let your hunger for success blind you to the challenges ahead. The higher you climb, the harder the falls can be."
"I'll take that risk," he said, turning away from the arena. "I've already come this far. There's no going back."
---
The days following the duels were filled with mixed reactions. For many, the outcome was expected. The top 8 had remained largely unchanged, with only a few reshuffling in the lower ranks. Garet's ascension to 12th place had made waves, but the highest-ranked commoner in the Academy was still seen as an anomaly. Whispers of his next moves began circulating, as some speculated about his potential challenges ahead.
But the spotlight was not solely on Garet. The others who had participated in the duels had their own stories to tell. Jovhan Raizen, in particular, had made an impression with his Phoenix Heart technique, which had sent shockwaves through the Academy. His style was fierce and precise, and it was clear that the Raizen family was a force to be reckoned with. Yet, there was something about his demeanor that left others wondering—Jovhan was not just strong, but calculating. His eyes held a glimmer of something more, something that suggested he was playing a long game.
Sebastian Raizen, as usual, had remained aloof from the spectacle. His effortless victories had drawn little attention—he was already at the top, and his position was unchallenged. Still, there was something about him that kept students at arm's length. His relaxed demeanor hid a sharpness that only those close to him truly understood. He was, after all, a genius with a hunger for more than just rank. His ambitions went far beyond the confines of the Academy, and many suspected that his ultimate goal was something no one could yet comprehend.
But for now, the Academy had settled into a new normal. The duels had been a catalyst for change, but the underlying tensions between the factions—the nobles, the commoners, and the enigmatic few who stood outside of both—remained.
---
A week had passed since the duels, and the students had returned to their daily routines. The atmosphere in the Academy had shifted subtly, as the students who had ascended or fallen had begun to settle into their new roles. The Top 20 had been finalized, with several commoners making their mark. For Garet, however, the work had only just begun. The real battle now was for respect—not just from his peers, but from the very system that had sought to limit him.
He had made it to the top ranks, but the climb to the true summit was not going to be easy. The weight of expectation was beginning to feel heavier, and the promise of greater challenges loomed on the horizon.
In the coming days, Garet would face new trials—some that would test him physically, mentally, and morally. The duels had been a warm-up, a glimpse of what was to come. But in the shadows, forces both within and outside the Academy were stirring. The tensions between the factions—noble and commoner, elite and outsider—were building, and Garet was about to find himself in the middle of it all.
But he was ready. Or, at least, he would be.
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