After roughly thirty minutes, Clay finally arrived at the Battle Arena, letting out a sigh of relief when he saw that he was on time, he almost forgot the time while practicing with his katana and mana control. He noticed that some students were running to get here at the last minute.

Amanda, their teacher, stood in front of the students, ready to start the one-versus-one matches for the day. "Attention everyone!" she announced. "Today, we will be having one-on-one battles. Everyone will fight at least once. The rules are simple: the winner is determined by either knocking out their opponent, forcing them to surrender, or activating the substitution magic tool."

Whispers began circulating among the students, as it was unusual to start the first academy day with fighting.

Amanda narrowed her eyes upon hearing some of the students' whispers. "Life-death battles are important for one's growth, especially here at the academy, where we have many healers on standby to assist when you can go all out." She gestured toward a group of healers in the far corner.

"This is also another test to evaluate everyone's combat performance. Do your best because if I find you below my expectations, I might kick you out." Her remark made many students pale. "Just so you all know, every single first-year class will be fighting this week, and Class 1-A is up first. We are not the greatest academy for nothing..."

Amanda consulted her holographic watch and scanned through a list of students with her finger before tapping on it a few times. "Lina Day, rank 31, versus Weng Xiao, rank 43. Come forward," she declared.

Two students stepped forward upon hearing their names called, standing a bit ahead of the other students.

Weng Xiao was quite tall and had an impressive build. He had black hair and black eyes that displayed his Asian heritage. He held a large greatsword that was taller than him and leaned onto his broad shoulder.

Rina Day was a short, blonde-haired young girl with piercing green eyes. She carried a steel shortbow and a bag of arrows on her back.

The two students looked at each other, exchanging piercing glares and appearing ready to battle it out.

Amanda observed the students she had called, ensuring that they matched the student pictures she had seen a moment ago. "Take these substitution magic tools," she instructed, handing each of them a magic tool that resembled a necklace with a green crystal.

These substitution magic tools could bear heavy injuries, even death, in place of the wearer, but they only worked for damages output below the grade. Because of these inventions, lower-level battles became more popular and aggressive, which improved the students' combat ability.

However, accidents still occurred. There were students who recklessly raised their prowess to for a short duration, which could break the magic tool. So the tools did not offer complete safety guarantees, but they did increase the probability of safety.

Rina and Weng Xiao took their magic tools and walked onto one of the battle stages. The stage was open and had a hard, plain stone ground that was roughly the size of a regular gym. Dozens of chairs surrounded the stage for the students to sit on.

"Who do you think will win?" some students asked each other.

"I think Rina will win since her ranking is higher..."

"No, I bet a hundred on Weng Xiao. That greatsword could one-shot that short girl."

Conversations and bets ensued among the students, with some displaying their ignorance or arrogance.

Amanda glanced toward Lina and Weng, who were facing each other. Both students nodded in response, indicating that they were ready. Amanda raised her arm and then brought it down. "Begin!" she shouted.

Rina deftly notched an arrow onto her bow and released the bowstring. The arrow whistled through the air with a swift speed, aimed towards her opponent, Weng Xiao.

Swoosh!

But Weng Xiao was alert and ready for her attack. He swiftly parried her arrow with his greatsword, causing it to harmlessly clatter to the ground. Undeterred, Weng Xiao charged towards Rina, determined to defeat her.

Rina didn't falter and quickly retreated, firing a barrage of arrows at Weng. The spectators watched in awe as Rina's impressive speed and precision earned her applause and gasps of admiration.

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Despite Weng Xiao's fatigue and the weight of his sword, he deflected and parried Rina's arrows with renewed vigor. However, Rina managed to create some distance between them by leaping backward, allowing her to aim her bow at Weng Xiao's head. With a sharp exhale, she released the arrow, but Weng Xiao was ready to deflect it once again.

Unfazed, Rina immediately sent another arrow towards Weng, but this time, Weng Xiao expertly sidestepped it and lunged towards her with a powerful swing of his sword.

Weng's skill caused his sword to pulse with a fiery red aura, causing Rina's heart to race with fear. She froze, momentarily paralyzed by the sight of the deadly attack hurtling towards her chest.

Bang!

The impact of the strike sent Rina flying through the air, crashing into the chairs in the empty audience seats on the opposite side of the students. Blood rose in her throat, leaving her pale and battered, but she refused to give up. With a grim determination, Rina quickly readied another arrow.

Rina ignited the arrow with her skill, sending flames flickering along its length. She let it fly towards the running Weng Xiao.

"Futile..." He muttered silently as he raised his sword to parry it.

However, at the last moment, the arrow changed its trajectory. With a swift 180-degree spin, it found its mark on Weng's unprotected back, leaving him bewildered and shocked.

''ARGH!''

Weng let out a deafening groan of pain before collapsing on the ground. The flames on his back were quickly extinguished by Amanda's skilled hands.

''The winner is Rina Day!'' Amanda announced loudly.

''That was amazing!'' The spectators cheered and clapped, impressed by Rina's incredible skills and bravery. Afterall this was the first time for some watching an fight up-close instead of holograms.

Rina gazed at the arrow she had just released. Instead of using one skill, she had used two simultaneously, adding to the arrow, causing it to change direction mid-air. It was an impressive feat for a sixteen-year-old, especially considering that it was her first try, and she was quite surprised.

"Well done," Amanda turned her head towards Rina and praised her genuinely.

Rina happily smiled despite her pale appearance, but she couldn't stay conscious any longer, and she fainted due to the loss of blood.

Amanda released water waves that carried both Weng Xiao and Rina up and laid them down on the ground beside the healers who carried them away. She displayed her affinity for water, as well as her title as 'Sea Princess.' The healers used their skills to heal the tired and injured bodies of Rina and Weng Xiao.

"Now, onto the next round!" she spoke again while clicking a few buttons on her hologram.

"Mark Atlas, rank 102, versus Clay Crest, rank 779," she spoke aloud. However, she glanced at the hologram again due to an abnormality.

Murmurs and whispers circulated among the students, discussing the large rank disparity between the opponents, meaning an unfair battle.

Unbothered by all the whispers, Mark walked to the front. He was a blonde-haired boy with arrogant light-blue eyes. On his back, he carried a steel longsword.

His eyes wandered, searching for his fellow students behind him.

Clay, who was trembling slightly, regained his composure upon seeing his opponent already in front of him. He steeled his nerves and walked up front.

Mark looked him up and down before muttering something. He grinned at him before looking away.

Clay felt oddly uncomfortable at his gaze and smile. But he shook his head and ignored it, instead looking at Amanda, who was also looking at him.

"Clay Crest, because of the large rank disparity, you are allowed to skip the match," Amanda spoke.

Clay became quiet. Should he or should he not? He glanced at Mark, who was also looking at him. Mark slowly moved his mouth, catching his attention.

He read the word through his lip movements.

C-O-W-A-R-D.

He became slightly stunned and irritated seeing that Mark was insulting him. He tightly clenched his fists and resolutely nodded his head towards Amanda.

He might look reckless or arrogant, but he had a plan that could wipe that smile off his opponent's face.

Blind arrogance leads to one's ruin.

"Haa.. good luck. Remember to surrender when you feel like it," Amanda sighed and spoke.

The system randomly decides the participants, usually pairing fair matches, but not this time. If she could, she would've canceled the match, but because both students agreed to battle, she couldn't go against their choices.

Clay and Mark walked to the middle of the battle stage, followed by bets and talks surrounding them.

"What recklessness! It's a difference of about 700 in the year ranking!"

"I know, right? I bet he's going to get one-shot."

"How long do you think that brown-haired boy will last?"

Clay analyzed his opponent. Mark was a swordsman like him, but he used a longsword, and he had a great build suitable for swordsmanship.

But the most crucial factor was the rank difference, not the academy one, but the prowess that could be seen in the 'Status Window.'

Clay holds the combat rank of grade, which is the second to last rank. This rank is calculated by combining various attributes, such as Strength, Mana, or Agility. However, Mark's combat rank is in the 100s and they usually holds the grade, which is one step above his own rank. Moreover, he also suspects that Mark is expected to have more skills at his disposal than himself.

"Hmm, Clay Crest, I recognize that name," Mark suddenly spoke.

Clay blinked, unsure of what Mark was talking about. Was this some sort of trick to throw him off his game?

"What do you mean?" Clay asked warily.

"Oh, you don't know... Actually, it's better if you don't," Mark replied mysteriously.

Clay was about to ask again, but Amanda interrupted them, walking towards them. Mark nodded at her and gave her a beaming smile, but she ignored him and focused on Clay. Mark unsheathed his longsword, preparing for a fight.

Amanda raised her arm and then brought it down, shouting, "Begin!"