For several long seconds after the announcement, the entire coliseum remained frozen.
Then the silence broke.
The crowd erupted.
It was not just cheering anymore. It was a storm of sound. Thousands of voices shouted at once, people stood from their seats, nobles clapped, students whistled, and the entire arena trembled under the weight of the applause.
"XAVIER!"
"DAWNCREST!"
"MONSTER!"
Everyone looked stunned. Because what they had just witnessed was not simply a student match.
It had looked like the clash of two battlefield generals.
High above, the faculty balcony was filled with lively conversations.
Professor Halbrecht lowered himself back into his seat slowly, his eyes still fixed on the battlefield below.
The barrier he and the others had erected had completely shattered during the final collision, and yet even he did not seem upset.
Instead, there was a faint smile on his old face.
"That… was worth the effort," he said quietly.
