The sun loomed high above the Royal Academy's vast training grounds, illuminating the dense forest where the grand Battle Royale was set to take place. The tension was palpable—thirty teams, sixty students total, all standing in formation under the banners of their respective courses. The instructors watched from above on floating platforms, with magical barriers surrounding the field.
The rules were simple, but brutal:
Fifty golden sticks hidden throughout the massive forest.
Each team must collect at least ten to pass.
They could steal, fight, or ally—whatever it took to survive.
But no one expected the Academy to allow Princess Arisa, Saint Alisa, and even the heir of House Ardenthal himself to compete in the same field. The murmurs were endless.
> "The princess herself is joining?"
"And the new Saint…? This is basically a war between prodigies."
And yet, none of that compared to the silent storm standing beside Sho—Liyana.
Her silver-white hair shimmered faintly in the light, her crimson eyes calm but unreadable. Even standing still, she radiated quiet strength. Sho glanced at her, already sensing something heavy beneath her calm façade.
> "Liyana," Sho muttered, "try not to hold back too much this time."
"Hm," she replied with a teasing smirk. "You just don't want me to outshine you again."
Sho sighed. "You already do that every time."
When the signal horn roared through the sky, the calm shattered instantly.
Mana exploded everywhere as thirty teams vanished into the forest in a blur of motion.
---
The Battle Begins
Sho and Liyana dashed through the forest, their steps silent yet precise. The air was thick with mana bursts and explosions from the battles around them.
They encountered their first opponents—three teams locked in chaotic combat over a single golden stick. Sho's eyes sharpened.
> "Liyana," he said, summoning mana into his hands, "stay close."
"You don't have to tell me twice."
In an instant, Sho blurred forward using Blink, appearing behind one of the mages and knocking him out cold with a single blow to the neck. Liyana followed, flicking her wrist; a stream of fire shaped like a serpent exploded from her palm, wrapping around another opponent's weapon and melting it mid-swing.
> "Tch—what kind of magic is that?!"
"Low level," Liyana replied flatly.
Within seconds, the three teams were wiped out.
Sho picked up three golden sticks, while Liyana handed him another she'd snatched mid-fight.
> "That's four," she said softly.
"And twenty-six left to take from others," Sho replied, grinning.
---
Meanwhile…
Elsewhere, Princess Arisa and Saint Alisa had gathered their elite squads.
Arisa's Royal Knights and Alisa's Holy Knights—the top seniors of the academy—were working in perfect coordination.
> "Push forward. Secure the perimeter," Arisa ordered, her tone sharp but calm. "We're not here to play."
Alisa's serene voice followed. "We're here to cleanse the battlefield of arrogance."
The Holy Knights raised their spears, chanting divine blessings that illuminated the dark forest, while Arisa's Royal Knights cast barriers to block the incoming attacks of other teams. Their cooperation was flawless—every movement, every spell, precise and overwhelming.
Instructors watching from afar could only whisper among themselves.
> "These students… they're fighting like generals."
"And yet… it feels like something far greater is about to happen."
---
Back to Sho and Liyana
They had collected seven sticks so far.
The battles were only getting fiercer.
Sho wiped blood from his cheek, his breathing heavy.
> "They're getting stronger," he muttered.
"You're enjoying it, aren't you?" Liyana said with a faint laugh.
"A little."
Suddenly, a powerful burst of light erupted in the distance—a divine aura so strong it distorted the air.
> "That's…" Sho narrowed his eyes. "The Saint."
"And the Princess," Liyana added, sensing the royal mana signature. "They're teaming up."
Before Sho could respond, multiple presences surrounded them—ten, no, fifteen in total. The elite Royal Knights and Holy Knights had found them.
> "Heir of House Ardenthal," one of the knights called out, pointing his spear. "And your… companion. Hand over your sticks."
Sho chuckled under his breath. "Guess we're popular."
> "So noisy," Liyana murmured, her tone calm but cold. She raised her hand, and a faint pulse of mana spread out—strong enough to make even the knights pause. "If you want them… come and take them."
The forest trembled.
Mana flared.
And the battle erupted.
Sho blurred forward with Blink, closing the distance instantly. His sword clashed against the knight's spear, sparks flying. Another came from behind—but before he could strike, a crimson flame exploded beside him, sending him flying into the trees.
> "Don't touch him," Liyana's voice echoed softly, her eyes glowing faintly crimson.
The Holy Knights began chanting in unison, golden light flooding the area. But Sho countered instantly, activating Domination Pulse—a surge of force radiated outward, disorienting enemies within ten meters. Liyana followed up, releasing a sweeping arc of mana that forced them all back.
> "Arisa and Alisa really went all out this time," Sho said, breathing hard.
"You wanted exciting," Liyana replied with a small grin. "You got it."
The ground cracked beneath their feet.
The trees burst into flames.
And the forest became a battlefield of light and fire—
Two forces clashing against the pride of the Empire itself.
And somewhere far above, Professor Chroma, one of the Ten Strongest in the world, watched through his crystal orb—eyes narrowing.
> "That boy… and that girl beside him. Interesting."
The storm of battle raged on, with Sho and Liyana standing shoulder-to-shoulder against the might of the academy's finest.
And this was only the beginning.
---