The next morning~
The crowd had thinned considerably—hundreds had entered the forest, but only about a hundred returned with FOR Ore without needing an instructor's help.
Silva stood among them with June and Julie. Julie scanned the arena, her excitement barely hidden, clearly hoping for a combat assessment.
Silva found that unsettling, while June saw nothing unusual about it. After all, Julie was supposedly a delicate and peaceful girl—though she said that with enough sarcasm to make Silva question if she even knew what those words meant.
Before they could continue talking, the principal stepped onto the platform overlooking the arena, and the applicants instantly fell silent.
He congratulated them on passing the first examination, but explained that finding FOR Ore had only tested their judgment, courage, and resourcefulness. The second test would be simpler—fighting.
Suddenly, the gates surrounding the arena slammed shut with a loud boom, making several children jump. Silva glanced at the gates. Were they locking them in? The principal then announced the second examination: a battle royale.
The arena erupted in noise as he explained the rules—everyone would fight at the same time, alliances were allowed, as were training weapons and any abilities.
The goal was simple: remain standing. Surrendering, passing out, leaving the arena, or being unable to continue meant elimination. Instructors would only step in when necessary, and anyone who deliberately tried to seriously injure another participant would be disqualified immediately.
The last rule made several overly eager children rethink their plans. Silva glanced at Julie, who was stretching—fiercely.
June adjusted her sleeves at her side. Silva recalled how the twins had acted so helpless in the forest, though he still hadn't seen what they were truly capable of. Today, it seemed, he was about to find out. The principal announced they had ten minutes to prepare, and almost instantly, groups began forming across the arena.
Noble children gathered around familiar faces. Friends formed alliances. Weaker applicants desperately searched for stronger partners.
Julie simply walked over to Silva and declared that the three of them were staying together.
Silva glanced around. Most alliances had four or five members, but they only had three. Julie didn't seem bothered, though June quickly cautioned her sister that she was starting to sound suspicious again.
Julie backtracked, insisting instead that three helpless children had to look out for one another.
Silva stared at her.
June sighed.
Somehow, Julie had made herself sound even more suspicious.
Still, Silva agreed. The three would fight together.
That's when Marcus showed up, bringing the same three boys from the forest. From the look on his face, it was clear that yesterday's humiliation had been eating at him all night. Marcus insisted that yesterday didn't count, but Silva wasn't buying it. Marcus argued his companions had just been caught off guard.
Silva looked toward the three boys.
All three suddenly discovered fascinating things on the ground.
Marcus promised things would be different this time before marching away.
Julie watched him leave.
"Can I hit him?"
"No."
"Why?"
"The examination hasn't started."
Julie thought about that.
"So after it starts?"
Silva hesitated.
"...Technically."
The smile that appeared on Julie's face immediately made Silva regret teaching her about technicalities.
Across the arena stood another applicant.
David.
Unlike most of the children, he hadn't joined an alliance.
Several applicants had approached him.
He rejected all of them.
Prince David had supposedly been training since he could walk. More importantly, there was something different about the way he carried himself. While others studied their opponents, David's eyes were on the instructors—calm, focused, patient.
Cornelius had trained Silva well, enough for him to recognize the blend of raw talent and hard work—and he saw it in David. David was dangerous. Then Silva's gaze drifted to an even stranger sight: a small hooded figure standing alone by the arena wall. The green cloak concealed nearly everything about the mysterious newcomer. When Silva asked the twins if they knew who it was, they both shook their heads, clueless.
That concerned him more than it probably should have.
For a moment, Silva could have sworn the hooded stranger was staring directly at him.
Why does everyone keep staring at me like I'm some unique specimen?
First Nero.
Now this person.
Silva decided to steer clear of strange people from now on.
From the observation platform, the principal scanned the remaining applicants. Only thirty-two academy spots were left. His gaze swept over several promising candidates—Marcus, David, Silva, the twins. Then he noticed the hooded child. The registration papers listed her only as Nella. No family. No place of origin. Stranger still, she'd apparently signed herself up. The principal's eyes narrowed.
Nella hadn't moved since entering the arena.
There was no fear in her posture.
No excitement.
Nothing.
Something about her bothered him.
"Keep an eye on her."
One of the instructors nodded.
The ten minutes quickly disappeared.
Applicants spread across the arena.
Silva stood between June and Julie.
Marcus and his companions watched them from the opposite side.
David remained alone.
Nella remained beneath the shadow of the arena wall.
June leaned toward Julie and quietly reminded her of something important: they weren't supposed to draw attention to themselves. Julie argued they had looked perfectly normal yesterday. June pointed out that she'd really wanted to throw Marcus into a tree. Julie countered that she hadn't actually gone through with it.
Apparently, restraint deserved recognition.
Silva slowly looked toward them.
"What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing."
They answered simultaneously.
Silva's suspicion increased dramatically.
Before he could question them—
BOOM!
A massive drum echoed across the arena.
Every applicant became silent.
The principal raised his hand.
"You may begin this battle royale!"
His hand dropped.
For half a second, nobody moved.
Then chaos erupted.
The children charged forward, training weapons clashing in a chaotic blur. Carefully crafted alliances crumbled within seconds as teammates accidentally turned on each other. One boy sprinted toward the largest group in the arena, only to rethink his plan halfway there, spin around, and dash the other way. Another swung his wooden sword with such gusto that it flew from his grip, nearly taking out someone twenty feet away.
The instructors were already questioning their life choices. Silva crouched low, gripping his staff firmly. June's crimson eyes narrowed with focus. Marcus surged ahead alongside his companions.
David finally moved.
Nella slowly raised her head beneath her hood.
And Julie—
Julie smiled.
"Now..."
She cracked her knuckles.
"...can I hit Marcus?"
Silva was busy watching three applicants approaching them.
"Just don't kill him."
That was all the permission Julie needed.
She vanished.
Silva blinked.
"...Wait."
A moment later, a horrified scream rang out from the far side of the arena.
"How is she so fast?!"
Silva turned slowly toward June, who had buried her face in both hands. She had warned her.
Marcus had exactly enough time to realize he had made a mistake.
Unfortunately, he did not have enough time to do anything about it.
Julie crossed the arena before most applicants even noticed she had moved.
Marcus was charging toward Silva with his three companions when, suddenly, Julie appeared right in front of him. He almost collided with her, stumbling back in surprise. She gave him a sweet smile. "Hello," she said. Marcus froze.
Then Julie slapped him.
SMACK!
The sound echoed across the arena.
Marcus spun sideways and crashed into the dirt.
Silence fell. Not over the whole arena—nearly a hundred kids were still whacking each other with wooden weapons—but everyone close enough to see what happened froze. One of Marcus's friends eased his sword down. Another just stared at Julie. The third glanced at Marcus, lying face-down in the dirt.
Julie stared at her hand.
"...Oops."
From across the arena, June closed her eyes.
So much for not attracting attention.
Silva froze in place.
"Did she just…"
June let out a sigh. "Yes."
"With one slap?"
"Yes."
Silva glanced at her. "Is he alive?"
June thought for a moment. "Probably."
That was not as comforting as Silva had hoped.
Marcus groaned and pushed himself upright.
His cheek was bright red.
His pride was considerably worse.
"You..."
Julie tilted her head.
"Me?"
Marcus stared at her in disbelief.
Yesterday, she had hidden behind Silva and pretended to be frightened.
Now she stood before him with her hands behind her back, smiling as though she hadn't just introduced his face to the ground.
Marcus's humiliation quickly turned to anger.
"You faked it yesterday!"
Julie gasped.
"Faked it?"
"You weren't scared!"
"I was terrified," Julie said sarcastically. Terrified I wouldn't be able to hold back and take you out in one hit.
Marcus pointed at himself.
"How dare you mock me... I'm Marcus, at the primary Aura Manifestation stage!"
Julie paused.
"Oh."
She looked him up and down. "You're far too weak."
A nearby applicant snorted.
Marcus's face became even redder.
His companions wisely took several steps away.
Julie smiled.
"You really shouldn't underestimate people just because you think you're better than them."
Marcus tightened his fists.
"I'm going to make you regret that!"
He charged.
Julie sighed.
He was slow—painfully slow.
She could see every movement, every shift of his shoulders, every change in his balance, every opening.
For someone raised among demons and trained by her master, the demoness Lady Scarlet, watching Marcus attack was like watching a toddler struggle to stand and take their first steps.
Still, June's warning lingered in her mind.
Don't attract attention. Even if that's what she thought, her actions proved otherwise.
Julie tried hard to restrain herself.
Very hard.
Marcus swung, and Julie leaned back, his fist missing her nose by inches. She sidestepped as he attacked again. Miss. Again. Miss. His frustration mounted while her boredom grew. Finally, she let out a yawn.
Marcus froze. "Did you just yawn?!"
"No."
"You obviously did!"
"Maybe I'm just tired."
"We're in the middle of a FIGHT!"
"I wouldn't call this a fight''
Marcus looked genuinely offended.
Across the arena, Silva nearly got hit because he was too distracted watching.
A boy swung a wooden sword at his head.
Silva ducked. "Right."
He swept the attacker's legs with his staff, sending him tumbling into the dirt.
"I have my own problems."
June stood at his side as three applicants approached her with caution.
Silva adjusted his staff. "I'll help," he offered.
June smiled softly. "It's alright."
Silva hesitated. Something in that smile brought Julie to mind—and that unsettled him.
Marcus finally cornered Julie near the edge of the arena—or so he thought. His three companions closed in around her. Julie glanced from face to face. Four against one. Just like yesterday.
Marcus grinned. "Not so confident now, are you?"
Julie blinked, then burst out laughing.
Marcus's grin faded. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing." She dabbed at the corner of her eye. "It's just…" Her gaze swept over the four boys surrounding her, and for the briefest moment, her crimson eyes shifted..
A thin golden glow appeared around her pupils.
Marcus froze. Something shifted behind Julie. For just an instant, he caught sight of it—a nearly transparent shape, shimmering with a crimson aura. Three massive tails fanned out behind it, the shadowy form of a crimson fox looming over her.
In the Demon Fox Clan, each tail marked the stage a fox had achieved, with one tail for every level of growth, culminating in the legendary nine tails.
Then it vanished, and Marcus stumbled back.
"What was that…"
Julie froze.
Oops.
June's head snapped toward her sister.
"Julie!"
The golden light faded from Julie's eyes as she smiled awkwardly.
"You didn't see anything."
Marcus pointed with accusation.
"There was a giant fox right behind you!"
Julie glanced over her shoulder.
"Where?"
Marcus stared as she looked left, then right.
"I don't see anything."
"You know exactly what I mean!"
Julie just shrugged.
"Maybe you hit your head too hard."
"You're the one who hit my head!"
"Oh."
She smiled.
"If I hit you again you might recover,want to try?"
One of Marcus's companions edged backward, having caught sight of the fox as well. He figured keeping quiet was the smartest move.
Up in the stands, the principal leaned forward, his expression shifting. "Did you see that?" he asked.
The instructor beside him gave a brief nod. "For a moment."
"An Aura manifestation?"
"I don't think so."
That was concerning.
Kids this age shouldn't have the skill to make something so unique. Yet the Crimson Fox had appeared, fleetingly, like Julie had accidentally let something slip free.
The instructor glanced at the registration papers. "Julie."
"I know her name." The principal's eye twitched. "I meant her family." Another look, then a frown. "Nothing notable listed." The principal's gaze shifted to June, the quieter twin, who stood still, facing three applicants without a single movement.
None of them seemed eager to approach her.
The principal crossed his arms slowly. "Keep an eye on both twins." His list of suspicious children was growing inconveniently long.
Marcus lunged again, but Julie dodged. He spun around, only for her to vanish from sight. Marcus froze.
"Behind you," Julie's voice came. He whirled—nothing. "Other side." He turned again, and there she was, standing exactly where she'd been all along.
Marcus's three companions stared at her in disbelief.
Someone whispered, "How is she doing that?"
Julie just smiled. A faint crimson mist curled around her feet. Fox demons were born with a knack for illusion and trickery. What Marcus didn't realize was that Julie wasn't just moving fast anymore—she was messing with his senses. Subtle distortions, nothing strong enough for the instructors to catch right away, but just enough to make him unsure if she was three feet away… or ten.
Marcus lunged at the wrong Julie, his fist punching through her as the image burst into crimson mist. His eyes went wide. "What?!" The real Julie materialized behind him, raising her hand. Marcus's face drained of color. "Wait—" SMACK!
Marcus hit the ground again, and this time he stayed down. Julie glanced at him, then at her hand, and finally at June, who was staring right at her. Quickly, Julie hid her hand behind her back. June's look said it all—they were supposed to avoid attention. Julie offered an innocent smile, but June didn't stop staring.
Julie silently mouthed, "He annoyed me." June rubbed her forehead, while Marcus's companions seemed to have learned from their leader's mistakes.All three dropped their training weapons.
"We surrender."
Julie blinked in surprise.
"Already?"
"Yes."
"Absolutely."
"Right away."
An instructor gestured them toward the eliminated section. Julie's face fell.
"Aww."
The three boys picked up their pace.
Meanwhile, Silva had his own problems.
He knocked one opponent aside with the end of his staff, pivoted around another, and blocked a wooden sword aimed at his shoulder.
His movements were controlled and efficient.
He thrust the opposite end into an applicant's stomach, knocking the wind from him.
Another boy attacked from behind.
Silva turned and swept his legs.
The applicant landed flat on his back.
Silva stepped away.
Three opponents down.
Not bad. He glanced at June, who still hadn't moved. Three applicants circled her. One let out a nervous laugh.
"She's just standing there."
Another tightened his grip on his wooden sword.
"Then attack." "You attack." "Why me?" "Because you suggested it!" June silently watched them bicker until one finally mustered the courage to charge. She sighed.
A tiny black flame appeared above her fingertip, making Silva's eyes widen. It was smaller than a candle's, yet every instinct in his body warned that touching it would be a terrible idea. June flicked her finger, and the flame dissolved into smoke, enchanting everyone who inhaled it. The charging boy froze, his expression shifting to one of utter captivation.
June smiled shyly. "Surrender for me?"
The boy dropped his sword. "I surrender." His two companions quickly followed. "We surrender too!" "Thank you," June said.
Silva stared.
June turned toward him.
"You weren't charmed… of course you wouldn't be," she thought. Her charm wasn't going to work on him.
Silva pointed at the kids who had surrendered.
"What was that?" he asked, a dawning realization creeping in.
The twins had never actually needed his help in the forest—not once.
Slowly, he turned to Julie, who was hauling an unconscious Marcus toward the elimination line by the ankle.
Silva just stared.
"Julie."
She paused.
"What?"
"Why are you dragging him?"
Julie glanced down at Marcus.
"He was in the way."
"There are instructors."
Julie looked over at the nearest instructor.
The instructor looked at her.
Then at Marcus.
Then back at her.
He seemed to decide it wasn't his problem anymore.
Julie kept hauling Marcus along, while Silva glanced toward June, who offered an apologetic smile. Silva let out a sigh. Just yesterday, he'd charged into a clearing thinking he was saving two defenseless girls. Today, one had knocked the principal's son out cold—twice. The other had Charmed three applicants into giving up without a fight. And somehow, Silva was pretty sure they were still holding back. High above the arena, the principal seemed to have reached the same conclusion, his eyes shifting between June, Julie, and finally, Silva.
His gaze finally landed on the hooded girl lingering quietly at the battlefield's edge. Nella hadn't fought anyone—at least not yet—but somehow every applicant who drifted too close veered away without realizing it. The principal frowned. The battle royale had barely started, and already more than a few kids were proving far stranger than their files implied. Down below, Julie reached Silva and June, brushing off her hands with satisfaction. "Done." Silva's eyes flicked to Marcus's unconscious body lying several meters away. "You slapped the principal's son unconscious." Julie gave a casual shrug. "He'll wake up." Silva glanced toward the observation platform, where the principal's gaze was locked on them. "…His father is watching." Julie slowly looked up, meeting the principal's eyes—and froze. A heavy silence settled over the field.
Then Julie quietly moved behind June.
June looked at her.
"What happened to the fearless fox?"
Julie peeked over her sister's shoulder.
"I have suddenly discovered caution."
Silva chuckled, earning a frown from Julie.
"It's not funny."
"It is," he replied.
As the chaos of battle swirled around them, Silva finally grasped the lesson Marcus had learned the hard way—never underestimate a fox.