Combat Sector 8 – Trial of the Flamebound
"Next candidate: Saria Vonn, heiress of the Vonn family."
The crowd hushed.
A name like Vonn wasn't whispered lightly. They were one of the Seven Upper Pillar Houses—renowned for destructive flame rites and ancestral phoenix contracts.
The arena terrain shifted rapidly, flames bursting from underground vents as obsidian pillars rose like fangs from the earth.
The arena now resembled a lava-scarred crucible, where only those who mastered heat and chaos could survive.
On the balcony, Aaron blinked.
"Is that arena safe?"
Lily rolled her eyes. "Only if you're not flammable."
Nova chuckled. "Or suicidal."
Saria walked into the arena with elegance, long vermilion hair trailing behind like a living ember. Her robes bore golden runes that shimmered with burning script. She stopped in the center—and waited.
A moment later, her summon glyph pulsed. From it emerged the legendary beast of her house:
Crimson Arakai – The Phoenix Serpent.
A long, flaming serpent curled with wings like molten blades and feathers dripping cinders. The crowd gasped. The temperature rose even inside the viewing dome.
Aaron adjusted his collar. "Should we be wearing fireproof clothing?"
Lily smirked. "No one survives in that arena unless the phoenix lets them."
---
The Duel: Flames vs. Beast
The summoned magical beast for the exam this time wasn't a construct. It was a tamed Flameboar-Troll Hybrid, known for its regenerative hide and volatile core.
The moment it appeared, it roared—and charged.
Saria didn't blink.
With a snap of her fingers, twin flame chains erupted from her arms, lashing the beast mid-sprint. She spun midair, using phoenix wings from her summon as a lift—circling the battlefield in fiery arcs.
A voice boomed from the enchantment speakers:
"Flame Rite: Second Form – Crowned Ashes."
Pillars ignited.
The troll-boar screamed as the flames reversed its regeneration. Its boiling blood sizzled in open air, and with a final arc of burning chains—she pulled the creature down into a self-made crater.
One flame-infused stomp shattered the core.
Trial Complete.
---
Observation Balcony – Chilled Reactions
Aaron sipped his tea, completely unaware that his calm demeanor was horrifying to everyone watching him.
"That was… impressive," he said sincerely.
Everyone around him flinched.
Lily leaned closer. "You blinked. That's generous praise from you."
Nova laughed. "I think she'll cry from joy."
Indeed, below, Saria looked up—expecting acknowledgment. Aaron smiled slightly.
She turned away quickly, cheeks flushed—not from heat.
"…H-He noticed me."
---
Combat Sector 9 – Beastborn and Broken
"Next candidate: Kirin Zecht."
A new kind of murmur spread.
"Is that... a Beastkin?"
"No, look at his eyes. That's… a Zerkan hybrid."
"But they were wiped out in the last border war—"
"Then why is he here?!"
The arena shifted again, this time to a desolate wasteland with thorny roots, sandstorms, and wind-whipped rock formations. A test of agility and survival.
Kirin stepped forward slowly. Dark, ash-gray hair. Golden vertical eyes. Long coat stitched from monster pelts. Clawed gloves. No crest. No family backing.
He said nothing. His aura burned low and erratic—like a forge fire barely contained.
Aaron narrowed his eyes. "He's... quiet."
Lily's expression turned stern. "That boy… is cursed."
Nova looked intrigued. "Not by magic. By lineage."
Kirin summoned nothing.
Instead, he dropped to one knee—and unshackled his own limiter band.
From within his body, a beast howled.
The summoned exam beast—a twin-headed thunder ape—roared and lunged.
Kirin didn't move until the last moment. Then—
Flash Step.
One clawed hand grabbed the ape's face.
The next moment: silence.
He stood behind it.
The ape collapsed.
Trial Complete.
No words spoken. No audience cheered.
Only silence.
---
Aaron's Misunderstood Terror
Aaron rubbed his chin. "Should I be worried that they all look scared?"
Lily didn't answer. Nova leaned over. "They're all terrified of you, you know."
He blinked. "Me? I'm not even doing anything."
Lily muttered, "That's why they're scared."
Kirin looked up at the balcony. Aaron, again trying to be polite, gave him a thumbs up.
Kirin turned white.
"He noticed my existence. Why me? Did I offend him in a past life?"
---
Axel's Paranoia Grows
Elsewhere, Axel was scribbling in a notebook furiously.
"He's watching the strong ones. He knows who the threats are. I must stay low… until I'm stronger."
Behind him, a girl in a red ribbon quietly stared.
"Why are you hiding, Axel?"
He turned and gasped.
"Olivia?! How did you find me?!"
"I saw you shaking. Again."
Axel pulled on a fake smile. "I'm just being cautious. That professor—he's no ordinary man."
Olivia crossed her arms. "You're scared of him?"
Axel looked away. "…We all should be."
---
Closing Scene – Day Two Ends
As the sun dipped below the walls of Mysterious Academy, only a handful of trials remained for the day.
The headmistress stood alone atop the balcony, Aaron and Lily having left.
Nova smiled faintly to herself.
"Still just observing… I wonder when you'll actually reveal your fangs, Aaron Aetherwyn."
She turned, her own golden aura rippling for a moment.
Far below, students whispered in fear.
And yet, somewhere, a fire had been lit.
The strongest had yet to face the exam.
And Aaron—still thinking he was the weakest—remained unaware that the entire continent now whispered his name with dread.
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End of Chapter 31