The arena exploded with noise.

  Students rushed forward the moment Clarence ended the match.

  “That was insane!”

  “Did you see how fast Vega moved?!”

  “No—did you see Oscar punch him?!”

  Archer threw an arm around Oscar’s shoulders immediately.

  “Dude, you just punched the prince twice!”

  Oscar rubbed the back of his neck.

  “Pretty sure I almost got sliced in half though.”

  Across the arena, several students had gathered around Vega.

  Alexander crossed his arms, studying both of them carefully.

  “Two monsters already.”

  Near the weapon rack, Clarence watched silently.

  His eyes narrowed slightly.

  Interesting…

  Alexander walked up to Vega.

  “Your movements without your core were impressive.”

  Vega shrugged.

  “So were his.”

  Tokiya nodded beside them.

  “Still… that fight wasn’t normal.”

  Vega’s eyes slowly drifted toward Oscar.

  The faint smile from earlier returned.

  Interesting.

  Meanwhile, Clarence stepped back into the arena.

  His voice cut cleanly through the noise.

  “That’s enough.”

  The entire class immediately went quiet.

  The students returned to the arena floor.

  Clarence slowly looked around the group before speaking again.

  “This fight showed me several things.”

  His gaze moved to Vega.

  “Vega.”

  Vega stepped forward slightly.

  “Your swordsmanship is exceptional. You aren’t reliant on your core for combat. The way you control your body is exactly what you need when you can’t use your core. Your father trained you well.”

  Vega nodded.

  “Thank you.”

  Clarence then turned to Oscar.

  “It’s quite clear Haruto trained you.”

  Oscar looked puzzled.

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

  Clarence’s expression shifted slightly.

  “Well, Haruto isn’t exactly built for teaching. He’s completely oblivious to how fundamentals work for people aspiring to become Guardians.”

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  Oscar wasn’t sure how to respond.

  “What he taught you was something very important,” Clarence continued, “but it’s useless if you don’t master the fundamentals.”

  Oscar nodded.

  “Yes sir.”

  Clarence smiled slightly.

  “You have great footwork and instincts that can’t be taught. You did a fine job today.”

  Oscar grinned.

  “Thank you sir.”

  Clarence’s eyes sharpened.

  “But understand this—instinct alone will not win you fights. You need control over your core.”

  His gaze shifted across the arena.

  “Not just him. All of you.”

  Clarence gestured toward two students.

  “Alexander. Elaina. You're next.”

  The class immediately reacted.

  “Two more powerhouses going against each other?!”

  “We just watched a crazy fight!”

  Clarence ignored the complaints.

  “You’re not here to spectate.”

  His eyes moved across every student.

  “You’re here to become Guardians.”

  The class straightened instantly.

  “So we will continue sparring.”

  Excited whispers spread through the students.

  “More fights!”

  Kakeru pumped his fist.

  “Good. I want to fight.”

  Students moved back into the stands as the next fighters stepped forward.

  Alexander walked into the center of the arena, rolling his shoulders as he prepared.

  Across from him, Elaina approached with calm, measured steps.

  The training field grew quiet once again.

  Alexander gripped his wooden sword.

  Elaina carried a long staff.

  The difference in their weapons was immediately noticeable.

  Alexander lowered into a stance similar to Vega’s.

  Balanced.

  Ready to strike.

  Elaina stood upright with perfect posture, her staff angled forward.

  Elegant.

  Controlled.

  Precise.

  Clarence stepped away from the center of the arena.

  “Begin.”

  Alexander moved first.

  His foot slammed against the stone floor as his body surged forward with explosive speed.

  The wooden blade cut downward in a powerful opening strike meant to overwhelm immediately.

  CLACK.

  Elaina moved her staff with surprising precision, intercepting the strike.

  Alexander’s sword slid along the length of her staff past her shoulder.

  Elaina stepped smoothly to the side.

  Her staff whipped toward Alexander’s back.

  Alexander jumped over the sweeping strike, creating distance between them.

  Elaina stepped forward.

  Alexander quickly realized something.

  He couldn’t get close.

  I need to close the distance if I want to win this.

  Alexander bent his knees and exploded forward again.

  Elaina moved her staff directly into his path.

  She countered instantly, swinging the weapon toward him again.

  Alexander adjusted mid-motion.

  He dodged the blow and swung upward.

  His blade whipped around in a horizontal slash aimed at her ribs.

  Elaina leaned backward just enough for the blade to pass inches from her uniform.

  She immediately went back on the offensive.

  Her staff shot forward.

  Alexander caught the strike with his free hand against the flat of his blade, stopping the blow.

  The students leaned forward.

  Alexander’s grin widened slightly.

  He rushed forward again.

  Slash.

  Slash.

  Slash.

  Each strike forced Elaina to react instantly.

  The two were moving so fast it was difficult to follow.

  CLACK.

  CLACK.

  CLACK.

  Each countered the other’s blows with perfect precision.

  Both began increasing their speed.

  Alexander’s sword came down in a heavy overhead strike.

  Elaina gripped her staff with both hands and raised it above her head.

  The impact echoed across the training field.

  Before Alexander could land again—

  Elaina twisted her staff toward his ribs.

  Alexander twisted his torso just in time.

  The force of the swing barely grazed his uniform.

  The crowd gasped.

  “What a dodge!”

  Alexander exhaled slowly.

  That had been close.

  He lifted his sword and rushed forward again.

  But this time, he changed his approach.

  Instead of attacking immediately, he began circling her.

  Slowly.

  Testing.

  Elaina watched him carefully.

  Alexander suddenly lunged.

  A diagonal slash cut toward her shoulder.

  Elaina knocked the blade upward.

  Alexander followed instantly with a second strike toward her legs.

  She jumped back just in time.

  The wooden blade scraped across the stone where she had stood moments earlier.

  Alexander pressed forward aggressively.

  His strikes came faster now.

  More relentless.

  Each attack forced Elaina to move.

  Step.

  Turn.

  Deflect.

  Alexander’s blade crashed against her staff again and again.

  Elaina’s control was flawless.

  Every time the sword came down, she redirected it just enough to avoid the full force.

  CLACK.

  CLACK.

  CLACK.

  Alexander suddenly surged forward, closing the distance completely.

  Elaina’s eyes widened slightly.

  For the first time—

  She was being pushed back.

  The crowd reacted immediately.

  “Is she going to lose?!”

  Alexander raised his sword high.

  Elaina tried shifting sideways.

  She attempted to counter—

  But her balance was slightly off.

  Alexander swung.

  The wooden blade struck her side.

  Elaina staggered backward before dropping to one knee.

  The arena erupted.

  Alexander stepped forward and lowered his blade.

  The tip of the sword hovered just inches from Elaina.

  The match was decided.

  “Well done, you two!”

  Clarence’s voice echoed across the arena.

  “That’s enough.”

  The tension in the arena finally released.

  The sparring match had ended.

  But the message was clear to everyone watching.

  Both of them were monsters in their own way.

  And neither had even touched their core power yet.