The arena fell into absolute silence the moment the referee's flag dropped.
No cheering.
No chanting.
Only tension—thick enough to weigh on the skin.
Leon stood alone on his side of the uneven battlefield, daggers held low, eyes calm. The rough terrain, jagged stones, and narrow ridges carved across the arena cast sharp shadows beneath the sun.
Across from him:
A Level 11 shield bearer—broad-shouldered, steady stance, shield almost as tall as he was.
A Level 13 archer—lean, focused, fingers twitching near the bowstring.
A Level 15 wind mage—robes fluttering unnaturally, mana gathering around his palms like invisible blades.
Three opponents.
Three different combat styles.
Three different ranges.
All aiming for one Level 2.
Damian, revived with a bucket of water, screamed from the sidelines, "LEON—RUN! RUNNNNN!!"
Leon didn't run.
He stepped forward.
The shield bearer snorted. "Cocky kid."
The archer raised his bow. "I'll take the first shot."
The wind mage smirked. "Try not to kill him."
The arrow released before the words even faded.
Fast. Sharp. Directed at Leon's heart.
Leon shifted one step to the left.
The arrow buried itself in the ground behind him.
The archer blinked. "…Did he just dodge that casually?"
The wind mage growled, raising both hands. "Don't underestimate him!"
Wind gathered violently around his fingers—compressed air swirling into razor edges.
Then—
"Wind Blades!"
Five blades of sharpened air sliced toward Leon.
Damian shrieked, "LEONNN!!"
Leon exhaled.
Mana Blade.
A single crescent of mana burst from his dagger—colliding with the first wind blade.
The two attacks canceled out in a burst of energy.
Leon ducked under the second, sidestepped the third, then leapt over the fourth.
The fifth grazed his sleeve, shredding fabric but missing skin.
The upper-years stiffened.
The shield bearer frowned. "Something's off."
The archer nocked another arrow. "He's dodging like he knows where we're aiming."
Damian shouted from the spectators, "THAT'S CALLED LUCK, YOU FOOLS!"
Leon didn't hear him.
He was already moving.
The shield bearer charged first—a human boulder. His boots thundered against the arena floor, sending dust flying. He slammed his shield forward with the force of a battering ram.
If that hit Leon directly, he'd be crushed.
He didn't let it hit.
Leon slipped to the side, his footwork tight and controlled.
The shield smashed into the stone ridge behind him, cracking it.
The shield bearer growled and spun, trying to bash Leon again.
Leon stepped in.
He struck twice—left dagger to the ribs, right dagger to the back of the knee.
Clink.
Only minor damage. The armor absorbed most of it.
But that wasn't the point.
The shield bearer stumbled, forced to adjust his stance. For a brief heartbeat, his guard was open.
Leon slashed upward—
Mana Blade.
The blue crescent slammed into the edge of the shield, pushing the upper-year back several steps.
The crowd gasped.
"Impossible…"
"That much force?"
"At Level 2?"
The wind mage's face twisted. "Annoying brat! Stay still!"
He unleashed a swirling vortex that wrapped around Leon like a miniature tornado.
Damian screamed, "NOOOO!!"
Leon braced his stance, lowering his center of gravity. The wind whipped around him, stinging his skin, but he wasn't lifted.
Luck pulsed.
The vortex weakened for a fraction of a second—just enough.
Leon burst out of it and sprinted down the uneven rock path.
The archer cursed. "Dammit—he's fast!"
The upper-years regrouped.
Shield bearer in front.
Archer behind him.
Wind mage on the right.
A perfect formation.
Leon stopped running.
He assessed them quickly.
If he approached head-on, the shield would block him.
If he tried to flank, the wind mage would shred him.
If he went back, he'd be pinned by arrows.
They were coordinated.
Experienced.
Talented.
And still—
Leon didn't hesitate.
He advanced.
In a burst of speed that made the audience jolt, Leon dashed straight toward the shield bearer.
The shield dropped to intercept.
"Got you—!" the shield bearer grinned.
But Leon wasn't aiming for him.
At the last second—
Leon pivoted.
Luck bent the timing.
The shield bearer's stance opened just enough.
Leon dashed past him—
straight toward the archer.
The archer's eyes widened. "No—!"
Mana Blade.
Leon's dagger shimmered blue—
—and the archer barely dodged, rolling across the ground. The mana crescent singed the edge of his uniform.
Leon didn't chase.
He leapt backward instantly—
just as a Wind Blade exploded where his leg would have been.
The mage yelled in frustration, "Stop moving!"
"MAKE HIM STOP!" the archer screamed.
"I'M TRYING!"
The shield bearer charged again.
Leon rolled aside—
just in time for the shield bearer to smash the mage instead.
The mage screamed, tumbling.
The arena roared with laughter.
Leon stood, daggers spinning in his hands, expression calm.
This wasn't equal combat.
This wasn't fair.
But fairness had never mattered.
One down temporarily.
Two standing.
Leon breathing steadily.
The shield bearer growled. "You slippery rat—"
Leon moved.
He rushed forward, ducked under a horizontal shield swing, then drove both daggers into the shield bearer's leg armor seam—
Direct hit.
The shield bearer roared and fell to one knee.
Leon spun behind him—
Mana Blade.
The blue arc slammed into the shield bearer's back, throwing him forward.
The referee raised a hand.
"Shield bearer—OUT!"
One down.
The crowd erupted.
Damian sobbed dramatically, "LEON YOU BEAUTIFUL MONSTER!"
The archer paled. "H-He's insane…"
The wind mage snarled, climbing to his feet. "Enough! I'll end this!"
He thrust both arms forward—
"Wind Burst!!"
A huge wave of compressed air blasted toward Leon.
Leon planted his feet—
and his Luck pulse synchronized with his mana flow.
He slashed upward—
Mana Blade.
The two attacks collided with a booming shockwave.
Dust exploded. Stone cracked.
When the smoke cleared—
Leon was already gone.
"Where—?!" the mage gasped.
A whisper behind him.
"Here."
Leon appeared at his flank—daggers raised.
The mage tried to whirl around—
Too late.
Mana Blade.
The crescent of blue mana hit him full force, sending him rolling across the arena floor and knocking him unconscious.
The referee's hand shot up.
"Wind mage—OUT!"
The archer trembled violently.
He aimed an arrow. "S-Stay back!"
Leon didn't.
He advanced calmly.
The archer loosed the arrow—
Leon sidestepped it cleanly.
Another—
Leon ducked.
Another—
Leon slapped it aside with the flat of his dagger.
The archer's voice cracked. "Why won't you die?!"
Leon didn't answer.
He reached the archer in three silent steps.
He placed the dagger against the archer's throat.
The referee raised both hands.
"Archer—OUT!"
The arena went wild.
The three upper-years lay defeated.
And Leon—
Level 2—
stood alone in the center.
The Royal Envoy leaned forward, eyes narrowed in interest.
Aaron Vale clenched his teeth, expression dark.
The hidden watcher paused somewhere unseen.
Damian sobbed into his shirt. "LEON!! YOU DID IT!! YOU DID IT AND YOU DIDN'T DIE!!"
Leon lowered his daggers.
His eyes were calm.
His heartbeat steady.
His body ready for whatever came next.
And next—
would be much worse.