No other student but Kuro decided to challenge Ludwig, so they all remained standing, watching with bated breath as Kuro confidently strode up the stage. The arena, bathed in the fading light of the evening, seemed to hold its breath as the two opponents faced each other. The shadows cast by the setting sun stretched long and dark across the arena floor, creating an eerie, almost otherworldly atmosphere.
Kuro's lips curled into a sly grin as he stopped a few paces away from Ludwig, his dark eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and challenge. "I guess you made it," he said, his voice smooth and dripping with mockery. "I thought you were done for after I took your beacon. You're full of surprises, aren't you?"