The smoke thinned, revealing the golden spike-haired man. His lips curled into a wolfish grin, voice carrying a weight that pressed against the air itself.
"Participant No. 439," Celeron said, rolling the number on his tongue like a challenge. "You’re the one shaking the board. I’ll make you an offer."
His eyes narrowed, hunger blazing.
"Fight me. Right here. If you can best me, I’ll tell the Association you’re no threat... just a very strong recruit. But if you fall—" his grin widened, teeth bared like a beast, "—then I’ll drag your broken body out and let them decide what to do with you."
Arzael’s hooded gaze stayed fixed, crimson eyes glinting faintly beneath the shadow.
"...So, you’re saying my freedom depends on crushing you?"
"Exactly." Celeron barked a laugh, stomping once, the ground cracking underfoot. His aura flared, wild and oppressive. Then, as Arzael began walking toward him, step by deliberate step, his grin twitched wider.
"Oh? You’re approaching me? Instead of running away, you’re coming right to me?" His voice thundered with savage delight. "A mere academy candidate... daring to step toward a Class-S, Rank 13 hero?"
Arzael’s footsteps never faltered, the shadows clinging tighter around him.
"...I can’t beat your ass without getting closer."
"Oh ho. Then come as close as you like." Celeron stepped toward Arzael, each footfall sending tremors through the ground.
’Heh... he’s walked straight into my trap,’ Arzael thought, shadows flickering around his form.
When they were close enough, both Arzael and Celeron vanished, only to reappear a moment later a short distance apart. Their speed defied comprehension, and their fists collided—
BOOOOMMMM!
The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the entire simulation world.
In the western corner, participants battling the Ant Queen froze, sensing the vibration. "Heh? What—? What was that? Is this simulation about to collapse?" a Beastkin exam participant exclaimed, his eyes wide in disbelief.
Meanwhile, in the east, another participants fighting humanoid forest monsters also stopped in their tracks, unsure whether to continue or run.
’Sooner or later, the Swarm Orbs will zero in on this fight...’
As the dust settled, Arzael and Celeron came fully into view, the battlefield scarred, the air still crackling with residual energy.
"No wonder your score is so high. You truly are an anomaly. If a Class-S Hero other than me had shown up here, you would have been eliminated immediately," Celeron said, his tone dripping with mockery, eyes scanning Arzael like a predator assessing prey.
’I just used Threat Level... yet he’s no stronger than Wrath Archdemon,’ Arzael observed silently.
Arzael paused briefly, letting the moment stretch, before continuing, "I’m not sure they could even kill me."
"Hah! I like your confidence..." Celeron vanished once more, only to reappear beside Arzael, launching a fist toward him with a speed that blurred the air.
"Shadow Step."
In an instant, Arzael vanished and reappeared beside him, calm, deliberate, the shadows swallowing his movements.
’This guy’s an Enchanter type, just like Grokk,’ he thought.
Celeron’s missed punch barely grazed the air, and he glared at Arzael before vanishing again, leaving only cracked earth and a faint trace of aura in his wake.
He unleashed a kick that split the ground, but Arzael merely shifted his body, effortless and precise, as if the attack had been a breeze.
At that moment, Arzael spoke, voice low, casual, almost conversational amid the chaos "...Do you know the name Aelric? The son of the Alzareth Emperor? Do you know where he is now?"
Celeron staggered a half-step—not from the strike, but because the question pierced deeper than any blade. "You ask questions at the wrong time kiddo," he growled, teeth clenched.
Instantly, Celeron radiated a powerful aura. the ground beneath him cracked, energy pulsating outward. His golden spiked hair flared red, the air around him shimmering with raw intensity.
"WRAHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
He charged his power, the aura exploding outward like a mountain ready to erupt.
"...You burned that much mana just to change your hair color? What’s next, blue? ...Or maybe you’ll scream for five minutes first?" Arzael quipped, voice dry, eyes unflinching.
Suddenly, the Proctor’s voice boomed from above the sky "Finally... the audience!!! We’ve located the top-ranked participant!!!"
He paused then continued, "HUH?! That’s Hero Class S, Lord Celeron!!! How is he here?!!"
Swarm Orbs appeared above, their light focusing with precision on the duo. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on N()velFire.net
’Looks like I have no choice but to fight...’
Across the continents, the news spread fast—#1-ranked participant in the Academy exam had appeared in the arena.
In Eterna’s capital, children pointed at the screens, cheering wildly. "The Shadow’s finally here!" People leaned forward, eyes wide, some whispering in awe. Even merchants stopped mid-transaction, glancing up with murmurs of disbelief.
In Valiant’s capital, the guild balcony buzzed with interest. Grokk exhaled smoke, grinning slowly. "Hah, that kid’s at it again... and not holding back this time." Celia leaned against the railing, smirking. "Let’s see how much chaos he’ll cause..." Her words carried playful amusement, and the apprentices nearby exchanged anxious glances.
In Alzareth, reactions were starkly different. Slaves barely moved, while the human nobles leaned forward, glasses and fans forgotten. "Class-S Hero, right? About time something entertaining happened," one whispered, excitement flickering behind a composed facade. Quiet discussions spread through the court, speculation and anticipation mixing with tension.
Inside the castle, the Emperor’s eyes narrowed as he stared out. "...That one... must be watched carefully." A shadow behind him bowed and slipped away silently, leaving only the echo of hurried footsteps.
Back in the simulation arena, Celeron was fully charging his power, his hair blazing red, aura tearing through the air with violent intensity.
’Let me guess... the world elites will send spies to Hero Haven to monitor me, right?’ Arzael’s smile was dark beneath his hood, his eyes scanning the sky.
In front of him, Celeron spoke again "Alright, let’s continue."
He vanished, faster and stronger than before, unleashing a barrage of explosive punches at Arzael—
Whusshhh!
Celeron missed again. His cloak seems to bleed shadows... ’just watching it makes me queasy,’
While Celeron was lost in his own movements, Arzael struck back with a devastating, precise hit—
BAAAMMMM!!
Celeron was hurled hundred meters away, crashing through trees before coming to a halt.
"WUOOooohhhHhhhhhh! Look at that, audience! Lord Celeron just got thrown back!!" the Proctor’s voice rang from above.
"...What power is that? Even my Super Enchanted form struggles to track his speed... Should I use Super Extra Enchanted?" Celeron muttered to himself, rising from the ground.
Arzael emerged from the shattered trees, walking casually, each step deliberate.
"Do you still want to continue?" he asked, voice steady, unshaken.
Celeron replied immediately, "Heh, I’ve just begun, you know."
They faced each other, height difference giving Celeron the advantage of looking down. He tried to intimidate, but Arzael simply met his gaze, his red eyes gleaming beneath the dark hood.