The next day, Astralis Academy was alive with noise—more than usual.
Because today marked the start of the Annual Regional Academy Mock Tournament.
Elite schools from the northern, central, and eastern provinces had sent their finest to clash in combat, strategy, and magic exhibitions. For most students, it was a prestigious event. For the nobles?
It was war in formalwear.
Inside the high tower of Astralis' Observation Hall, banners of the visiting schools floated in the air—Silvercrest Academy of Stormhold, Borealis Citadel School, Eastreach Arcanum, and more. Each school arrived with their squads, accompanied by weapon-carriers, illusionary pets, or enchanted familiars.
They wore armor with floating sigils.
They carried ancestral blades.
They looked proud.
And then Hades Draker entered.
No escort.
No dramatics.
Just silver hair, a calm smirk, and his Class Zero uniform buttoned with perfect form.
Instantly, heads turned.
The Silvercrest delegation whispered.
"That's the Draker heir?"
"Wasn't he ranked #1 since age seven?"
"I heard he bent a simulation field."
Hades gave them a lazy wave as he passed.
"Take pictures now," he called, "before I ruin your expectations."
Kaela face-palmed beside him. "Do you always do this?"
"I was born like this," he replied, brushing invisible dust off his shoulder.
[System Notification]
P_REX System v2.0
Seraphim Sync: 55%
Public Visibility: Normalized
Note: Foreign academy scans suppressed
Status: Tactical Camouflage — Genius Format
In the outer arena grounds, teams registered for the first round of combat trials.
This year's theme?
Live Monster Combat Scenarios.
Because theory was cute, but watching privileged noble students run from goblins was entertainment.
Today's trial would take place in the Verdan Wastes, a simulated monster-infested zone modeled after the real northern forest region. The goal: survive, defeat a specified target, and extract as a team.
Simple.
If you were born perfect.
🛡️ Team A (Class Zero) – Assignment:
Monster Zone: Verdan Wastes
Threat Type: Forest-Infused Monsters
Primary Target: Wyvern Alpha
Bonus Threats: Goblins, Orcs, Troll Whelps, Lesser Wargs
Environment Hazard: Rot Spores
Time Limit: 40 minutes
Elimination Threshold: Squad incapacitation = fail
Visibility Score: Shared to All Academies
Kaela checked her weapon seals. "We're actually doing this live?"
Selwyn nodded. "They imported real specimens. Controlled spawn conditions."
Mirth scrolled through a tactical sheet. "We'll be monitored by floating crystal nodes. Nothing can be fatal, but injuries are possible."
Hades cracked his knuckles.
"I was getting bored of simulated dummies anyway."
He adjusted his gloves and stepped toward the glowing platform.
"You all ready?"
Kaela raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"
He grinned. "Darling, I was ready before I was born."
As Team A was teleported into the Verdan Wastes, Hades' senses locked into place immediately. Fog curled between ancient trees. The sky glowed dim green, cast by the warped leaves overhead. A dead wyvern skeleton lay across a half-submerged ruin nearby.
Something roared in the distance.
"Lovely decor," Hades muttered.
A horned goblin scout peeked from the brush.
Hades vanished with a Flash Step, then reappeared standing calmly over its unconscious body.
"One down," he said.
"Did you punch it?"
"No," he said, dusting off his hand. "I let my charm do the work."
As the team advanced, Kaela took the lead for direct combat, Selwyn created wind funnels to disrupt aerial ambushes, and Mirth established mana-sensor beacons in a 30-meter ring.
Hades operated freely—jumping through brush, scouting threats, occasionally stopping to insult a goblin before freezing it with a light rune.
Then came the ogre.
It crashed through the tree line—ten feet tall, glowing rot sores on its shoulders, two clubs strapped to its back.
Kaela lunged. Selwyn opened a wind barrier. Mirth called positioning.
Hades didn't move.
"Guys," he said, calm, "leave this one to me."
"You sure?"
"Yup."
The ogre roared and charged.
Hades walked forward, completely relaxed.
Then—his eyes glowed.
Seraphim pulsed.
A pressure radiated from his chest, invisible but undeniable.
The ogre hesitated mid-step.
Its clubs dropped slightly.
Then—it dropped entirely, collapsing forward like a puppet with its strings cut.
Everyone stared.
Kaela whispered, "Did… did you just mana-pressure knock out an ogre?"
Hades shrugged. "I gave it a reason to nap."
[System Update]
Passive Skill Unlocked: Presence Lock (Lv.1) — Targets below threshold automatically submit or freeze upon intent release
Seraphim Sync: 57%
Reaction Logs: Normalized. No system anomaly flagged.
Enemy Scan: Wyvern Alpha Approaching
As they reached the heart of the Verdan Wastes, the Wyvern Alpha descended from the clouds like a living hurricane—scales glimmering, breath frosted with dark venom.
It roared so loud the other teams watching flinched through the scrying screens.
Kaela braced herself.
Selwyn began casting.
Mirth called positioning.
Hades cracked his neck.
"I've always wanted to ride a dragon."
"It's not a dragon, it's a wyvern," Mirth corrected.
Hades grinned. "Then it's about to be my wyvern."
They fought like shadows under lightning.
Kaela slashed a tendon.
Selwyn dragged wind into its wings.
Mirth planted a mana snare.
Hades ran straight up its spine like a silver ghost, flipping onto its head and slamming a control seal into its crown with a smirk.
"Bad lizard," he whispered. "Down."
The wyvern fell like a stone.
Back in the arena, heads exploded in applause.
One instructor from Eastreach stood up. "Who IS this kid?!"
A noble delegate from Silvercrest growled. "He makes it look like a joke."
The Headmaster of Astralis just smiled.
Because this?
This was what Hades Draker was born for.
Back in the arena prep room, just as Team A returned to applause and crystal-recorded highlights, a new student stood near the edge.
Black coat. Red cuffs. Raven hair. Eyes like silver ice.
A transfer student.
From the Duskspire Academy—a private school known for "special condition" students.
He stepped forward, gaze locking onto Hades.
"You're the top here?"
Hades looked him over. Smiled.
"You're late to the story, new guy. But sure, let's pretend you're a subplot."
The other student narrowed his eyes. "I'll be your rival."
Hades shrugged. "You'll be disappointed."