Preparations in the central training arena of the "Black Spear" headquarters were moving at a rapid and relentless pace. This was not a standard drill area; it was a cathedral of steel and mana-tech designed for the Empire's most elite assets. Engineers and technical specialists from the Supreme Union swarmed the ring, recalibrating sensors and activating the Hexagonal Barrier System. This advanced magical shield utilized high-density mana as its primary energy source, creating a translucent, shimmering wall of geometric patterns. The barrier was specifically engineered to contain the forces of high-tier confrontations, ensuring that no energy leakage would destroy the surrounding facilities.

  ?On the high observation deck, the air was thick with anticipation. Important figures from across the kingdom began to arrive, their presence signifying the gravity of this duel. Among the most notable were Professor Suzuna Hikari, the Magic Science lead at Arcadia, and Professor Lazarus Simon. Suzuna looked at the arena with a mixture of professional intrigue and deep personal disbelief. The idea that Zorua—the legendary deputy of General Akaria—would be facing Nico Sigmund, a student whose file had been a void of mystery, was a concept her academic mind struggled to process.

  ?General Akaria received the dignitaries with her trademark coldness, directing them to the secure viewing zones. She remained silent, her sharp eyes fixed on the metallic floor of the ring.

  ?[The Quiet Before the Storm]

  ?Far from the mechanical hum of the arena, the headquarters' private library remained a sanctuary of absolute silence. Nico Sigmund sat in a secluded corner, flipping through the pages of an ancient book. He looked entirely at peace, as if the impending clash with one of the kingdom's strongest warriors was a distant, trivial matter.

  ?His solitude was interrupted by soft, hesitant footsteps. Elara stood before him, her arms tightly clutching a book to her chest. Her face was flushed with a deep crimson, her gaze fixed on the floor before she managed to find her voice.

  ?"May I... sit beside you?" she asked, her voice a faint, trembling whisper.

  ?Nico didn't look up from his pages immediately. "Of course, Elara. You may sit whenever you wish."

  ?Nico eventually turned his gaze toward her. His last memory of her was her frantic retreat from the garden after their previous conversation. He spoke in a calm, steady tone. "Are you alright? I apologize for my words in the garden; perhaps you shouldn't have heard those things at that time."

  ?Elara offered a soft, shy smile, her eyes finally meeting his for a fleeting second. "No... you were right, Lord Nico. Everything you mentioned sparked a curiosity I couldn't ignore. I began researching what lies beyond the stars and the known planets. I don't know if I can grasp the absolute truth yet, but in my heart, I feel your words were correct."

  ?She handed him the book she was carrying. "Please... take this. It speaks of the philosophy of the universe. I would be happy to discuss it with you, if you wish."

  ?Nico looked at her with a flicker of appreciation. He had expected her to be afraid, but instead, she possessed an intellectual intuition that led her to dive into those secrets after him.

  ?"Well done, Elara," Nico said. "I will certainly discuss these ideas with you. I promise you a quiet session away from the noise of others... but only after I finish my business with Lord Zorua."

  ?For the first time, a look of longing and joy touched Elara's features. It was the expression of someone who had finally found a soul that understood her silence. "May I ask... why did you agree to face Lord Zorua?"

  ?Nico replied with absolute coldness, his eyes returning to their neutral, icy state. "In truth, I do not know, Elara. He was the one who requested the challenge. Perhaps he wishes to test his strength, or perhaps he needs to prove something to himself. You will be in the arena with everyone else, won't you?"

  ?Elara nodded. "Yes. I will definitely be there."

  ?"Good," Nico said, closing his book. "After it is over, you and I will travel through the stars through these ideas."

  ?Impulsively, Elara leaned forward and embraced him—a gesture of total trust. She withdrew just as quickly, disappearing without another word. Nico watched her leave with a small smile. Then, his eyes suddenly glowed a deep, predatory crimson. The mana within his body began to churn like a beast testing its chains.

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  ?[The Pride of the Legend]

  ?On the opposite side of the headquarters, Zorua Machiavelli was finalizing his preparations. He was already dressed in his combat suit—a reinforced black shirt that clung to his muscular frame to support mana flow and provide maximum flexibility. His concentration was absolute until a sharp knock echoed through the room.

  ?"It seems you are taking this duel very seriously," General Akaria said, stepping into the room.

  ?Zorua turned and offered a respectful, military bow. "Yes, General. I am completely serious."

  ?Akaria's eyes narrowed, her voice carrying a warning weight. "Remember, Zorua. This is a sparring match. Do not let things spiral out of control and turn into a disaster."

  ?Zorua looked directly into her eyes, his expression stern. "I understand, General. But I have one request; try not to interfere in this battle no matter what happens. Just trust me, and grant my request this one time."

  ?Akaria studied him for a long moment, as if trying to read his mind. She didn't answer. Instead, she turned and left the room, leaving behind an atmosphere of tension that felt like the heavy air before a lightning strike.

  ?Zorua emerged from his quarters with a confident, measured stride. In the corridor, the new Elites—Melina, Jackson, and Natalia—were waiting for him.

  ?"Is everything ready, Lord Zorua?" Jackson asked, his voice full of encouragement. "No matter how powerful he is, we know you can crush him. No one matches your experience."

  ?Natalia added with a sneer she didn't bother to hide, "I knew him at the university. He was always an isolated weirdo. I'm certain you'll finish him in the first seconds. He has nothing that qualifies him to stand before the General's deputy."

  ?Zorua offered a calm smile. "Thank you for the confidence, Elites. But in military tradition, one never underestimates the opponent. We must always take precautions." He paused, looking around. "Has anyone seen Elara? I haven't seen her since this morning."

  ?Melina looked down, her voice tinged with a strange regret. "I saw her a while ago. She was... with Nico."

  ?Zorua's eyes widened slightly in silent shock. [Elara? Breaking her shell for him?] Natalia's face twisted in anger. "What? Has she gone completely insane? I'm going to find her right now and scold her."

  ?Zorua stopped her with a wave of his hand. "Leave her for now, Natalia. I must head to the arena. I'll see you there."

  ?As Zorua walked toward the arena, his internal monologue turned bitter. [I don't know what fate holds, Nico, but I will prove that I am the most deserving. My experience, my training, and my commitments brought me here. Even if you are a messenger from the ancient ages, you won't possess the combat experience I have refined in this era.]

  ?He continued his thought with mockery: [I've searched the history books over 3,500 years old. The name 'Nico Sigmund' doesn't exist. Tomorrow, I will expose the falsehood of this myth. My Frost Mana is absolute.]

  ?[The Instinct of War]

  ?In his own prep room, Nico was donning the black mana-tech shirt. He examined the outfit with curiosity; it clung to his body like a second skin, highlighting his lean musculature. The design was clever; the sleeveless structure allowed for absolute freedom in his shoulder and elbow joints—optimized for high-speed combat and mana mobility.

  ?"I didn't ask for this outfit," Nico murmured, testing the energy flow through the fabric. "But they say it enhances mana stability. It is true... I feel a strange calm in the energy flow."

  ?However, despite the calm of the outfit, Nico's body was sending entirely different signals. He felt a sharp tingle in his muscles, a predatory hum in his consciousness.

  ?"Why do I feel like this duel will turn into a battle of attrition?" Nico wondered seriously. "This body I inhabit now seems to be giving me an early warning; it is a body specialized in war, and it senses the scent of a real clash before it happens. Zorua thinks it's a sport... but my instinct tells me it will be something much deeper."

  ?[The Convergence]

  ?The arena was a sea of expectant faces. Zorua stepped onto the metallic floor, the embodiment of imperial discipline. His sharp features and focused gaze reflected a man who had survived a hundred battlefields. He was the "Master of Frost," the backbone of the Black Spear's defense.

  ?Opposite him stood Nico Sigmund.

  ?To the audience, he was an incomprehensible mystery—a man who had been suddenly classified with the "Emperor" rank, the rank that immediately follows the highest levels of the Legendary classification. Nico stood face-to-face with Zorua, his features a mask of absolute coldness.

  ?The stands were packed. Professor Suzuna Hikari watched with tension, Lazarus Simon clenched his fists, and the new Elites watched in dead silence. High above, Akaria raised her hand as a signal to begin.

  ?The hand remained raised for four seconds that felt like an eternity. Then, she brought it down with decisive speed. The energy barrier sealed completely, isolating Nico and Zorua in a world of their own.

  ?Zorua raised his right hand. Frost Mana began to flow in a torrent of brilliant blue energy, causing the temperature within the barrier to plummet toward absolute zero in seconds.

  ?"Prepare yourself, Nico," Zorua spoke, his voice hard and focused. "In this moment, I will not hold back. You will find no mercy from me."

  ?In response, Nico didn't take a complex defensive stance. Instead, he slowly raised his hand, looking at it with strange tranquility. Without warning, a raging fire erupted from his palm—a fire that was not ordinary, but danced with a heat that made the very air around him shimmer.

  ?Nico looked at Zorua, a small, mysterious smile playing on his lips. He uttered only two words, his voice a calm invitation to destruction:

  ?"Come... try it."

  [End of Chapter 30]