After a brutal clash, the Section 16 students fought desperately to hold their ground against the unyielding defenders. But relentless counterattacks forced them back, and, in a frenzy of survival, they began to turn on each other. Friends became adversaries in a heartbeat, alliances crumbling as they fought for any edge. In mere moments, ten students lay defeated on the ground—knocked out not by their opponents but by their own allies.

"OK, THE BATTLE IS OVER!" the announcer’s voice boomed across the arena, his tone cutting through the noise like a blade. "Twenty-five students from Section 16 have been eliminated."

A murmur of relief rippled through Section 15. Slowly, they lowered their guards, shoulders relaxing as they celebrated. Some even extended their hands in camaraderie to the few Section 16 survivors. But before the dust had fully settled, a furious voice tore through the silence.

"YOU GUYS ARE CHEATERS!" A student from Section 16, his face twisted with rage, charged forward in a reckless bid for revenge, his arm poised to strike a Section 15 student.

Before he could land his blow, the Vice President raised a hand. A dark root spell surged from his fingers, snaking through the air in a twisted, corrupted form. In a heartbeat, it struck the student, freezing him mid-charge. The student’s expression shifted from rage to shock, his mouth hanging open before his body twisted and began to wither, decaying into dark, burnt ash that drifted to the ground, unrecognizable.

"Oops," the Vice President said with a smirk, his voice dripping with casual cruelty. "Correction—twenty-six students have been eliminated."

Silence swallowed the arena. Everyone stood frozen, the weight of the Vice President’s merciless display sinking in, the brutality of the academy laid bare.

Kyren, feeling the shift in Hiro’s energy, placed a steady hand on his friend’s shoulder. "Hiro, come on. Let’s get out of here. This place… it’s too much right now."

Hiro followed, his steps slow and heavy, his face drained of color. His usually bright, playful eyes were wide and distant, staring at the ground as they left the arena behind.

As they walked in silence, Hiro finally broke, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Kyren… that student… they’re really gone, aren’t he? Just… like that?" His words faltered, disbelief and fear weighing on every syllable.

Kyren looked down, unsure how to answer. He felt the same dread gnawing at him, but he knew Hiro needed something—anything—that would keep him grounded. "Yeah, Hiro," he replied, keeping his voice as steady as he could. "They’re gone. That’s just… how things work here."

Hiro stopped abruptly, his gaze locked on his own hands. "What if that happens to us, Kyren?" His voice trembled, his usual confidence cracking. "What if we mess up? What if they just… decide we’re done?"

Kyren felt Hiro’s fear settle like a weight on his own chest. His pulse quickened as he felt the same doubts clawing at him, the same sinking feeling he had been fighting to ignore since he set foot in this place. But Hiro needed him to be strong. He tightened his grip on Hiro’s shoulder, forcing a reassuring smile. "Listen, Hiro. I know this place is brutal. And yeah, it’s terrifying. But we’re not like that student. We’re not reckless—we’re smart, and we’re looking out for each other. If we ever face defeat, we’ll do it with dignity, not like this." He tried to make his voice sound confident, as though he believed every word. "You trust me, right?"

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Hiro’s shoulders slumped, and he let out a shaky breath. "I… I don’t know, Kyren. I thought I was ready for this, but… I don’t feel as strong as I thought I was." He stared down, voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know if I can keep this up."

Kyren felt his own resolve waver, but he forced himself to stay strong. "Hiro, I feel it too," he admitted, his voice softening. "I’m scared too. But I meant it when I said we’re in this together. If one of us falls, the other will be there to pick him up. That’s how we’ll survive here. When one of us feels weak, the other will stay strong. Okay?"

A small, hesitant smile found its way to Hiro’s face, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "Yeah. I trust you, Kyren." He sighed, shoulders still tense. "Thanks. I needed that." He took a deep breath, trying to shake off the fear that still clung to him. "Maybe… maybe we should find something to do. I don’t think I can just sit around thinking about this all day."

"Good idea." Kyren nudged him, trying to keep the mood light. "How about we hunt down something for dinner? Besides, I’m not keen on hanging around watching that smug GA from Section 14 all day."

Back at their hut, the two friends settled in, a quiet but comforting silence hanging between them as they tried to unwind. The tension from the arena still lingered, gnawing at them despite their best efforts to ignore it. Just as they were starting to relax, a massive explosion echoed from the arena, shaking the ground beneath them and sending a shockwave that rattled the windows.

Kyren felt his pulse spike, the familiar fear returning in full force. He exchanged a tense look with Hiro, who was visibly shaken, his face pale with alarm. "What the hell was that?" Hiro whispered, his voice barely steady.

Kyren stood, trying to mask his own anxiety. "I… I don’t know. Maybe… maybe the elimination exam is reaching its climax. Should we go back and check it out?"

Hiro hesitated, glancing back at Kyren as if looking for reassurance. He swallowed hard, then nodded. "Yeah… maybe we should."

They made their way back to the arena, finding Zeeha just outside, her expression stricken. Her hands shook, and her face was drained of color, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and disbelief.

"That Aolomon…" she whispered, her voice barely audible, as if speaking too loudly would make the horror more real. "He’s… he’s a monster."

Kyren and Hiro exchanged anxious glances before Hiro stepped closer, his voice tinged with worry. "What happened?"

Zeeha’s voice trembled as she spoke. "He didn’t take immunity. He joined the elimination round… and he took down everyone. Even his own section. He’s… he’s the only one left standing."

The Vice President’s voice rang out from the arena, his tone filled with a twisted admiration. "Bravo, GA 10th," he called, clapping slowly, his gaze fixed on Aolomon with unmistakable approval. "With that spirit, we might end this session sooner than expected."

Aolomon stood alone in the center of the arena, his posture relaxed, as if the chaos around him hadn’t touched him. His face was calm, a confident smile playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling calm. Not a single scratch marred his skin, and he looked as though he hadn’t even broken a sweat.

The Vice President smiled, his voice filled with dark amusement. "You are now my favorite student in this batch. Keep it up." He paused, then addressed Aolomon directly. "Now, as your reward, you may choose: which section would you like to join, and where shall GA 9th go?"

Aolomon’s gaze met the Vice President’s, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Lord Handsome Devil," he replied, his voice laced with dark humor, "I’ll join Section 2 in the next round, against Section 1. As for GA 9th… wherever she wants."

The Vice President chuckled, nodding in approval. "Excellent choice. Stand down for now; the next round awaits."

But just as Aolomon turned to leave the stage, a clear, resolute voice broke the silence. "Mr. Vice President, I’d like to revoke all the immunity including mine and lead my section. I can’t let them fight without a GA."

The crowd fell silent, eyes turning to Rayn, who stood with a defiant expression, her stance unyielding. The Vice President’s smile widened with approval, his gaze gleaming with excitement.

"Oh, another GA entering the fray? Wonderful. Very well, I grant your request."

2nd GA stepped forward, his voice steady. "Mr. Vice President, I’d like to join as well."

The Vice President’s voice rang out, filled with eager anticipation. "Perfect! Let’s proceed with the next round. This is shaping up to be the most entertaining batch yet."