The hallway buzzed with excitement as students trickled off toward their next classes. Elemental students veered right, chatting about mana control and affinity, while weapon-focused students turned left, stretching limbs and murmuring about sparring.
Alex walked beside Kirito in silence. Though the tension from earlier had eased, a weight still sat on his shoulders—one that wasn't entirely from nerves.
"You sure you're good?" Kirito finally asked.
Alex nodded. "Yeah. Just… needed some time to breathe."
Kirito didn't press. But his glance lingered a second longer, like he was watching for cracks.
They arrived at the Weapon Arena—a massive domed structure lined with stone pillars and mana-reinforced walls. Bright crystals embedded in the ceiling bathed the arena in a soft white glow. Along the walls hung racks of various training weapons—swords, spears, axes, gauntlets, hammers, staffs, and more. None of them were top-grade, just low-tier tools for beginners.
A tall man stood in the center of the room, arms crossed. A deep scar ran down the left side of his face, and a massive greatsword rested on his back.
"I am Instructor Rago," he announced, voice echoing like thunder. "This is Weapon Class. If you think your ability alone will save your life in real combat, you're wrong. Out there, you either master your weapon… or you die."
His gaze swept across the crowd. "Spread out. Choose a weapon from the hall—any that suits you. These are practice tools only, so don't expect fancy tricks. Then pair up. We'll begin with a sparring round."
Students moved at once, fanning out to examine the racks. Some dashed toward swords with gleaming eyes, others toward polearms and blunt weapons.
Alex trailed behind, scanning the rows thoughtfully.
His eyes paused on a set of clawed gauntlets—sleek black metal with curved crimson-tinted blades extending from the knuckles. The claws looked dangerous despite being dulled for practice, and the gauntlets themselves were slim, designed for speed and ferocity over brute force.
As he stepped closer, a soft ding echoed in his mind.
> [System Alert]
Weapon Type: Clawed Gauntlets detected
Compatibility: 97%
Adaptive match to Host's natural combat style
Linked Skill: [Crimson Claw]
— Description: A close-combat ghoul skill that channels latent energy into the user's strikes.
— Bonus: Increased slashing power and chance to inflict bleeding.
Alex raised an eyebrow, sliding his hands into the gauntlets. They fit like a second skin.
"Crimson Claw, huh… I'm definitely testing this out later," he muttered under his breath.
"Fancy choice."
Alex turned. Kirito had appeared beside him, wooden katana already resting against his shoulder.
"Looks like we're both aiming for close combat," Kirito added, a glint in his eye. "Spar with me?"
Alex gave a half-smile. "Thought you'd never ask."
They stepped into one of the open dueling spaces as more students started forming pairs. Around them, the low hum of practice weapons clashing filled the room.
Kirito dropped into a calm stance, feet planted firmly, sword raised just below his chin. His entire presence shifted, becoming sharper—colder. This wasn't the soft-spoken boy from before.
Alex slid into a stance of his own, testing the weight of the gauntlets. They were light but strong. Balanced.
"Ready?" Kirito asked.
"Always."
Kirito dashed in first, blade swinging in a clean horizontal arc. Alex raised his gauntlet just in time, blocking with a sharp clang before sliding beneath the strike and aiming a hook at Kirito's ribs.
Kirito spun away, returning with a strike to Alex's side. But Alex leaned in, claws grazing the side of Kirito's blade.
Their movements were raw but fast—like two animals testing each other's strengths. Kirito's form was elegant, honed by training. Alex's was aggressive and instinctual, shaped by something primal simmering just beneath the surface.
A few students nearby slowed their own sparring to glance over. The duo's pace was intense.
Alex feinted left, then surged forward with a clawed jab, stopping just before Kirito's chest.
"Gotcha," Alex grinned.
Kirito stared at the gauntlet inches from his vest, then smirked. "You're not bad."
"You either," Alex said, pulling back. "Guess we're both full of surprises."
Rago's voice boomed across the arena. "That's enough. Good effort—some of you actually look like you've held a weapon before. The rest of you? Pray you never leave the city until you improve."
Laughter echoed from a few corners. But the message was clear—next class wouldn't be so easy.
As students began returning the weapons, Alex glanced at his system window again.
> Hunger: 65%
Energy: 58%
He flexed his fingers inside the gauntlets. They were only practice gear—but something inside him knew.
In real combat, these things might just become an extension of me.
Far from the arena—high above the academy walls—a figure crouched atop a tree branch.
A pair of glowing red eyes watched the training buildings from the shadows, silent and still.
Their lips curled into a quiet grin.
"Academy, huh? This should be fun
Meanwhile, in the large, open-air dome designated for elemental users, students began gathering in groups based on their elemental affinity. The arena was surrounded by elemental conduits—magical crystals pulsing with raw energy, one for each core element.
Miranda stood with a calm but focused expression, adjusting the sleek academy gloves designed to help regulate mana flow. Her long hair fluttered slightly in the wind as she looked around, taking in the other elemental students.
Zane, already stretching lazily beside her, let out a yawn. "Hmph, not bad. Nice space. Better lighting than the last classroom, at least."
She smirked. "Try not to electrocute someone on the first day."
Zane grinned, holding up his hand. A streak of blue lightning crackled across his knuckles, dancing with dangerous ease. "No promises."
An instructor, dressed in a long coat with elemental sigils glowing along his sleeves, stepped into the center of the field.
"Welcome to your first Elemental Combat lesson," he called out, voice steady but sharp. "You're here to learn not only to control your abilities—but to wield them in real combat situations. Pair up. Let's see what you're made of."
Zane's eyes instantly lit up. "Well, Ice Queen? Wanna dance?"
Miranda raised a brow, arms crossing. "Only if you don't cry when I freeze your fancy hair."
Water shimmered in the air around her fingertips, forming delicate spears of ice that hovered and glistened in the sunlight.
As other students began forming dueling circles, Miranda and Zane stepped into their own.
The instructor stepped back as the sparring sessions began. "No lethal attacks. This is training, not war. Push your limits—but show control!"
Zane and Miranda faced each other across the dueling circle. A faint breeze kicked up dust as they locked eyes.
"Ladies first," Zane smirked, electricity crackling in his palms.
Miranda rolled her eyes. "Always such a gentleman."
She flicked her wrist, and several sharp shards of ice formed in the air around her. With a graceful motion, she launched them at Zane. He dashed sideways, electricity pulsing through his legs to boost his speed.
"You've gotten faster," Miranda noted, spinning to meet his new position.
"Gotta keep up with you, Ice Queen," Zane replied, raising his hand. A whip of lightning lashed forward.
Miranda formed a barrier of water mid-air, the lightning striking it with a loud sizzle and scattering into sparks. The clash sent a pulse of energy through the surrounding area, drawing the attention of nearby students.
"Not bad," Zane said, circling. "But can you handle this?"
He slammed both hands to the ground, sending a shockwave of static surging forward. Miranda leapt back, landing on a rising platform of ice she created beneath her feet. From above, she retaliated with a focused blast of compressed water.
Zane raised a hand to block—barely deflecting it with a charged shield of raw lightning.
Students nearby began murmuring. "Damn… those two aren't normal."
Then, suddenly—
Miranda's eyes glinted. She twirled her fingers, and the temperature in the air around her dropped sharply. Her ice began to take on a faint glow—purer, denser.
Zane hesitated for just a second. "...What the—"
Before he could finish, Miranda clapped her hands together, and a massive ice spear erupted from the ground in front of him. Zane barely dodged, tumbling sideways with a laugh.
"Okay, okay! Chill!" he shouted. "We're not even in a ranked match!"
Miranda blinked in surprise, lowering her hands. "Sorry… I didn't mean to go that far."
The instructor narrowed his eyes from a distance, silently noting what he just witnessed.
That wasn't basic elemental manipulation.
That was Tier B-level control—at least.
Zane stood, brushing dust off his jacket, grinning. "I knew you were holding out on us."
Miranda gave a sheepish smile.