The platform lights shifted again, and the arena's attention rolled smoothly to the next stage.
"Shen Lian — Radiant Sky Institute."
"Pei Rong — Starfall Eighth Academy."
The name Radiant Sky carried weight on its own. Even before Shen Lian appeared, the pressure around the platform subtly changed.
Student Profile Display
Shen Lian
Academy: Radiant Sky Institute
Primary Monster Gene: Cloudshadow Serpent
Elemental Affinity: Wind — High
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [ high ]
Pei Rong
Academy: Starfall Eighth Academy
Primary Monster Gene: Marshcoil Salamander
Elemental Affinity: Water — Mid
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [ mid ]
Pei Rong stepped onto the platform first, rolling his shoulders as water-aspected energy circulated steadily around his body. His grip tightened on the short trident in his hand, eyes sharp but cautious.
Shen Lian followed, expression calm, movements unhurried. Wind barely stirred around him, yet it felt unnaturally controlled, like it was waiting rather than flowing.
The barrier sealed. The signal sounded.
Pei Rong acted immediately, slamming the butt of his trident down as water surged forward in a thick wave meant to limit movement — [ Mireflow Surge ]. The platform surface slickened instantly, footing becoming unstable.
Shen Lian stepped lightly onto the wave.
Not through it — along it.
Wind wrapped around his feet, lifting him just enough as he glided forward using [ Slipstream Walk ], his body skimming over the unstable surface without losing speed. Before Pei Rong could adjust, Shen Lian flicked his wrist, sending a thin crescent of compressed air slicing forward — [ Razor Current ].
Pei Rong crossed his trident to block, water condensing defensively, but the impact still drove him back several steps. He gritted his teeth and countered, spinning the weapon as water spiraled outward in a tightening vortex — [ Coilbind Flood ] — aiming to trap Shen Lian in place.
Shen Lian's eyes narrowed slightly.
The air around him compressed suddenly, then burst.
He vanished from the vortex's center, reappearing at Pei Rong's flank as [ Cloudstep Blink ] carried him through the shifting currents. His palm struck Pei Rong's side, wind pressure detonating inward — [ Serpent Break ].
Pei Rong's body folded instantly. The trident slipped from his grip as he crashed to the platform, breath ripped from his lungs.
Shen Lian didn't pursue further.
The medic signal activated almost immediately.
[ Match Ended ]
Winner: Shen Lian — Radiant Sky Institute
Shen Lian turned and walked off the platform without a backward glance, wind dispersing quietly around him. The fight had ended so cleanly that the crowd needed a moment to react.
"That was… efficient."
"He didn't even let him set up."
Radiant Sky's section remained calm, as if this outcome had never been in doubt.
The next platform activated before the noise fully settled.
"Qiao Ren — Northriver Combat School."
"Hao Lin — Starfall Ninth Academy."
Student Profile Display
Qiao Ren
Academy: Northriver Combat School
Primary Monster Gene: Ironback River Bear
Elemental Affinity: Earth — High
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [ high ]
Hao Lin
Academy: Starfall Ninth Academy
Primary Monster Gene: Duskfin Eel
Elemental Affinity: Water — Mid
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [ mid ]
Hao Lin entered first, jaw tight, spear held low and angled defensively. His eyes flicked briefly toward Qiao Ren's massive frame, then back to the center of the platform.
Qiao Ren stepped on next.
The platform felt heavier the moment he arrived.
Earth-aspected energy settled around him naturally, dense and grounded, his breathing slow and steady as if nothing here required urgency.
The signal sounded.
Hao Lin struck first, water snapping forward in a rapid thrust — [ Piercing Current ] — followed by a sweeping follow-up meant to keep Qiao Ren moving. Qiao Ren didn't retreat. He planted his feet and raised his forearms, earth reinforcing his stance as the spear struck harmlessly against hardened skin — [ Stonebound Guard ].
Hao Lin's eyes widened slightly.
Qiao Ren stepped forward.
The platform cracked under his weight as he drove a fist down, earth surging outward in a shockwave — [ Riverbed Quake ]. Hao Lin barely managed to leap aside, water propelling him backward to avoid being knocked flat.
He tried to recover immediately, spear spinning as water wrapped around its shaft, launching himself forward with [ Eelflash Lunge ].
Qiao Ren met him head-on.
He caught the spear mid-thrust.
Earth surged up his arm, locking the weapon in place as Qiao Ren twisted his body and slammed his shoulder forward — [ Bearfall Crush ].
The impact sent Hao Lin flying across the platform, his body skidding hard before rolling to a stop. He tried to rise, muscles shaking, but Qiao Ren was already there.
One stomp.
The earth beneath Hao Lin surged upward, pinning him in place — [ Groundlock Suppression ].
The medic signal activated immediately.
[ Match Ended ]
Winner: Qiao Ren — Northriver Combat School
Qiao Ren stepped back, earth settling as he gave a short nod to the medics before leaving the platform. The audience noise swelled again, heavier this time.
"That wasn't even close."
"He never panicked."
Across the arena, lower-academy students watched quietly.
Not because the fights were cruel.
But because the difference was undeniable.
"Next match. Zhao Chen — Starfall Tenth Academy. Guo Heng — Starfall First Academy."
A visible reaction rippled through the crowd the moment the names appeared. Starfall Tenth again—and this time directly facing Starfall First. Whispers spread quickly through the stands, some surprised, some dismissive, others quietly curious.
The display rose above the platform.
Student Profile Display
Zhao Chen
Academy: Starfall Tenth Academy
Primary Monster Gene: Bladetooth Lynx
Elemental Affinity: Wind — Mid
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [ Mid ]
Guo Heng
Academy: Starfall First Academy
Primary Monster Gene: Redcrest Warhawk
Elemental Affinity: Fire — Mid-High
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [ Mid ]
Comments followed immediately from the audience. Another Tenth Academy student. Guo Heng was known for his aggressive style—most people didn't expect this to last long.
Chen stepped onto the platform first, his sword resting casually at his side. His expression was calm, but his grip was firm, knuckles pale against the hilt. Guo Heng followed soon after, spear in hand, heat faintly distorting the air around him. His eyes swept over Chen once before losing interest.
"So," Guo Heng said lightly as he rolled his shoulders, "you're the other one."
Chen didn't ask who he meant. He already knew.
The barrier sealed, and the signal sounded.
Guo Heng moved immediately, fire spiraling along his spear as he surged forward with [ Flamepin Thrust ], aiming straight down Chen's centerline. The pressure was heavy and direct—no testing, no hesitation. Chen stepped aside and met the shaft with his blade, the impact ringing sharply as heat burst outward and forced him back a step, boots scraping against the platform.
Guo Heng pressed forward without pause, his spear carving quick, aggressive arcs as flames flared with every strike. Chen retreated under the pressure, parrying instead of countering, eyes tracking every movement closely. From the stands, voices murmured that he was already on the defensive—that First Academy's pressure was simply different.
Guo Heng smiled as he advanced. "You're not bad," he said. "But you're already behind."
Chen didn't answer. Instead, he shifted his stance, and the air around the platform changed.
With [ Crosswind Draw ], a sharp gust snapped across the stage, deflecting the spear just enough to break Guo Heng's rhythm. Chen stepped in immediately, his sword flashing toward Guo Heng's shoulder. Guo Heng twisted at the last moment, taking the cut along his arm instead of the joint as fire surged instinctively in response.
[ Ember Pulse ] erupted outward in a burst of heat, forcing Chen to disengage. Both fighters reset, circling. For the first time, Guo Heng's expression sharpened.
"You're not just following orders, are you?" he asked.
Chen raised his sword again. "Never was."
They clashed once more, this time on even footing. Fire and wind collided in overlapping bursts as Chen's movements remained tight and efficient, constantly searching for openings. Guo Heng stayed relentless, pushing forward with raw momentum, trying to overwhelm Chen before he could fully settle into the fight.
Then came a misstep.
Chen slipped inside Guo Heng's guard.
With [ Gale Sever ], his blade cut upward, wind sharpening the edge. Guo Heng grunted as blood sprayed lightly and he staggered back. The arena stirred, voices rising as people realized what they were seeing—a clean hit against a First Academy student.
Guo Heng's smile vanished as fire flared violently around him. Using [ Warhawk Ascension ], heat erupted beneath his feet and launched him into the air, spear descending like a falling brand. Chen raised his sword—then lowered it at the last moment and stepped sideways instead.
The spear struck the platform, fire scattering uselessly.
Chen moved in close—too close.
With [ Windlock Cut ], a precise slash crossed Guo Heng's ribs, followed immediately by a second strike to the back of his knee. Guo Heng collapsed to one knee, breath knocked from his lungs.
Before Chen could finish, the medic signal flared.
[ Match Ended ]
Winner: Zhao Chen — Starfall Tenth Academy
For a brief moment, the arena was silent. Then the noise hit all at once. He beat a First Academy student. Cleanly. No tricks.
Chen stepped back, lowering his sword as he exhaled slowly. Guo Heng remained kneeling for a second longer, staring at the ground, jaw clenched—not in pain, but disbelief.
In the Starfall First section, several students finally sat upright. This wasn't an accident.
And in the Starfall Tenth area, no one shouted. They simply watched Chen walk off the platform.
Because now, everyone understood something clearly.
It wasn't just Wei Jin.
Starfall Tenth hadn't climbed this far by mistake.