Chapter - 13 [ Visit to Arena ]

The gym and arena stood as imposing structures on the far side of the main road, opposite the lodging area.

Their towering walls and bright lights hinted at the activities they would host, a symbol of the rigorous challenges

Heaven demanded of its students. Victor, after returning with the rest of his group to their building, decided he would explore it later in the evening when the air would be quieter, and the gym less crowded.

The surrounding buildings were eerily quiet, their emptiness a stark contrast to the hub of activity nearby.

These lodges, reserved for the special senior students, felt like dormant giants waiting to be awakened.

The distribution of lodges was a clever arrangement, with students of the same year purposefully distanced from each other.

Heaven encouraged interaction and exchange of knowledge across different years, fostering competition and collaboration in equal measure.

After a refreshing shower, Victor sat on his bed, legs crossed, and began to meditate. His mind, steady as a still pond, cleared itself of all distractions until a sharp chime of the doorbell shattered the silence.

His focus broke like ripples across water, and his eyes opened with a glint of curiosity.

"Who could it be?" he murmured. "Peter? Ariana? But they would've called."

Throwing on a plain t-shirt, Victor walked to the front door. The monitoring device mounted beside it displayed a female figure standing outside. He tilted his head slightly, eyebrows furrowing as he recognized her.

"What... Princess?"

Victor opened the door, his surprise barely concealed. "Come in," he said, stepping aside to allow Novaria, the Princess of Waria, to enter.

She moved gracefully, her composure regal but uncharacteristically serious. As they settled in the living room, Victor leaned forward, his tone curious but wary.

"Why did you come here, Novaria? Do you have something to say?"

"Friend Victor," she began, her voice calm yet purposeful. "Let me not beat around the bush. You must already be aware that even inside Heaven, factions play a major role."

Victor observed her carefully. Gone was the smiling demeanor she often wore; now she appeared as composed as a chess player about to make her move.

"Let me guess," he said, cutting through her words with startling precision.

"You're here to invite me to your faction, aren't you? You must've done your research on the special students. You know who's allied and who isn't. You've prioritized those who stand apart, like me, and made me your first stop.

The others—you already know their attitudes toward you. I'm the one who hasn't interacted with you much, and I have no connections to any faction. Am I wrong?"

Novaria blinked, her lips parting in astonishment. Victor's small smile deepened as he stood, walking to the back of the couch. His eyes never left her, sharp as a hawk.

"And if I'm not mistaken, Waria doesn't have an established faction in Heaven. Or, if it does, it's insignificant. With your arrival, students from Waria will naturally rally around you. A new faction, with you as its leader, will emerge. To strengthen your foothold, you need special students—like me. Am I wrong, Princess?"

Novaria stared at him, dumbfounded. It took her a moment to gather herself, sighing softly as her astonishment gave way to reluctant admiration.

"You're different," she admitted. "Yes, everything you've said is true. I want to create a new faction. So here I am, asking you to join. Friend Victor, please consi—"

"I reject your invitation."

Victor's voice was cold, emotionless. His gaze shifted to a painting hanging on the wall behind Novaria.

It depicted a meadow drenched in golden light, rolling hills peppered with wildflowers, a winding stream reflecting a fiery sunset, and a solitary tree standing stoic against a looming forest.

"Others might see joining you as an opportunity to gain favor with a princess," he continued.

"And they wouldn't be wrong. But the risks outweigh the rewards. Without top-ranking seniors in your faction, you'll be targeted for bullying. Your student life will suffer."

He began pacing toward the painting, his steps slow and deliberate, the soft echoes of his movement filling the room.

"And that's just the first year," Novaria countered, her voice regaining some strength. "By the second year, things will change. I'll ensure we recruit the best seniors. Once our footing is strong, the gains will outweigh the risks. I have the highest aura purity—98%. With hard work, I could surpass most seniors in under a year."

She leaned forward, her confidence returning despite Victor's harsh words. But Victor didn't pause, his hand reaching out to touch the painting's glass.

His fingers traced the painted grass, as though feeling its texture through the cold surface.

"When you interrupted me, you confirmed my assumptions," he said, not looking back.

"You have no strong allies in Heaven yet. And Shere Khan… He's watching you. You're right to build your faction, but doing so offends someone like him. He won't tolerate a rising power that could conflict with his. Do you understand the storm you're inviting?"

Novaria's lips parted, but no words came out. She stared at Victor's back, the weight of his words pressing down on her.

"I like quiet and peace," he finished, turning to face her. "That's my thing. Princess Novaria, I'll remain neutral. Now, if you don't mind, let's meet again in the evening."

He smiled faintly, gesturing toward the door. Novaria sighed, standing and following him silently.

"Watch out for snakes," Victor said as she stepped outside.

The door closed softly, leaving Novaria standing outside. His words echoed in her mind, sharp and chilling. Her resolve had grown stronger, but his warnings painted a vivid picture of the dangers ahead.

"But this makes it even more important for me to recruit students quickly," she murmured to herself, stepping towards the elevator.

---

When everyone gathered in the lobby once again, just as they had in the morning, Justin led the group toward the main road.

The air was buzzing with excitement, as hundreds of students moved in and out of the massive gym across the street.

Security personnel patrolled the area, their sharp eyes scanning for trouble, but they maintained a relaxed demeanor, as if anticipating the occasional scuffle.

"I heard there are a total of 400 students in the first year," someone mentioned, breaking the steady rhythm of footsteps. "And every year, 50 students are kicked out."

"Isn't that a little too harsh? By the final year, won't there only be 150 students left?"

Their voices blended with the surrounding chatter as they crossed the road and approached the towering structure.

Conversations among the group picked up, small pockets of discussions forming naturally.

The gym loomed ahead, a structure no less grand than the cafeteria and possibly even larger.

Its modern, industrial design made it appear like a fortress of steel and glass.

Inside, the building was split into six expansive floors. The ground floor served as the waiting and resting area, complete with sleek locker and shower rooms for both male and female students.

Each locker bore a digital lock and nameplate, a touch of personalization in the otherwise uniform facilities.

From the first floor onward, the building was dedicated to training. Each floor catered to a specific year, creating a hierarchy of skill and experience.

The sixth floor, reserved for final-year students and teachers, was said to house state-of-the-art equipment unavailable anywhere else.

The group wandered around the ground floor for a while, noting the lack of activity.

While the facility brimmed with potential, only a few students trained seriously. Most, like them, were there to explore and familiarize themselves with the layout.

"Let's head to the arena!" Michael's voice broke through the observations, his excitement radiating off him like heat waves. His eagerness was infectious, though Justin laughed.

"The arena isn't going to fly away, Michael."

Still, Justin followed the group, letting Michael take the lead. The younger boy's enthusiasm lit up his face, his eyes scanning every corner as if memorizing each detail.

Along the way, Novaria once again drew the attention of passing students. Whispers followed her, eyes lingering too long, but this time, fewer dared approach her. Justin's sharp, protective gaze deterred them.

While Novaria wasn't entirely pleased with his actions, she said nothing, letting him act as her silent guardian.

When they finally reached the arena, the group froze in awe. The structure stood like a crown jewel of the campus, sleek and modern, its exterior made of reinforced steel and glass. Massive flood lights lined the top, ready to illuminate the space during events.

Inside, the arena was even more impressive. The circular floor gleamed, its smooth surface embedded with pressure sensors that tracked movements.

Large LED screens displayed real-time data such as speed, impact force, and positioning.

Above them, high-definition cameras on mechanical arms rotate smoothly, capturing every angle for broadcasting and replay purposes.

Retractable barriers surrounded the fighting area, providing safety while keeping the view unobstructed for the audience.

The seating tiers rose steeply, ensuring every spectator had an unimpeded line of sight to the action below.

Toward the back, a control room with tinted glass walls overlooked the entire arena, its staff monitoring every detail of the space.

"Wow! It's completely different from the videos and pictures online!" Michael's jaw practically hit the floor as he stepped inside. His amazement mirrored the expressions of everyone in the group.

Victor tilted his head, observing every detail of the arena. While his expression remained calm, inside, he felt the same rush of excitement.

He licked his lips, pulling out his phone to snap a few photos to send to his family back in Innertik.

All around, students of various regions and in diverse styles of clothing moved about, their conversations blending into a low hum of excitement and curiosity.

Some looked impressed, others skeptical, and a few already seemed eager to put the arena to use.

Suddenly, a loud argument broke out near the center of the arena. A small crowd began to form around two groups—one composed of normal students, the other of special students.

In the middle of the commotion, a normal student and a special student stood face to face, their postures tense.

"You weren't looking where you were going! I was standing still!" the normal student, James, snapped, his voice rising above the chatter.

"You! How dare you blame me? I had my eyes open the entire time!" the special student, Guzi Gaz, retorted, his tone dripping with arrogance. His friends, Jim and Larry, stood behind him, their arms crossed, ready to back him up.

The argument escalated quickly. James, refusing to back down, stepped forward and jabbed a finger at Guzi.

"Oh really? Just because you're First Grade, you think you're stronger than me? Let's fight!"

The tension in the air was palpable as the crowd cleared a space for the two to settle their dispute.

"Let's go and watch!" Kushi practically bounced with excitement, dragging the group toward the action.

Victor remained calm, standing at the edge of the crowd beside Novaria.

"Who do you think will win?" Novaria whispered, her eyes locked on the two students.

Victor shook his head. "They haven't even started. I'm not God."

Just as Novaria nodded, he added quietly, "But the special student will win."

Her gaze snapped to him, curious but silent. She turned her attention back to the fight as it began.

"You still have time. Apologize, and I will forget this ever happened."

Guzi, unlike just a moment ago, appeared far more calm and composed compared to James. His sharp eyes locked onto his opponent, unwavering.

"Never!"

James roared, stomping his foot on the floor. A burst of aura shot out from him, heading straight for Guzi. He wasn't weak-James was a top Second-Tier Aura Grade User.

But Guzi remained unfazed, his eyes flashing with cold determination. He released his own aura to meet the incoming attack.

With a dark, almost sinister glow, his aura manifested around him. It gave the crowd the unmistakable feeling of facing a predator.

Boom!

The two auras collided with force, but without much struggle, the black aura bulldozed through the opposing attack.

Bam!

James was struck, his body pushed backward. He staggered, finally kneeling on one leg, sweat dripping down his face.

"I warned you," Guzi said, his voice steady.

In an instant, he dashed forward, his body cloaked in his aura, enhancing his physical strength. His right hand was pulled back and clenched into a tight fist.

James reacted, quickly coating his body in aura to defend himself. His hands shot forward to block the approaching punch aimed at his face.

However, Guzi was more experienced in battle and knew exactly how to deceive his opponent.

The punch was a feint. The real weapon was his legs. Stopping just before James, Guzi spun to the left and unleashed a spinning back-heel kick with his right leg.

James' eyes widened, his reaction far slower than necessary. The kick landed squarely between his neck and shoulder, sending a brutal shock through his body.

Bam!

James crumpled to the floor, clutching his neck and shoulder in agony. The fight had ended in mere seconds.

"James!" His friends rushed to his side, supporting him as he struggled to regain his composure.

Killing or seriously injuring someone was prohibited in Heaven unless there was a direct threat to life.

Guzi, in his restraint, had controlled the force of his kick, ensuring it only incapacitated James without crossing that line. With his power, he could've easily killed James in that exchange.

"Just as you said," Novaria murmured, glancing at Victor.

Victor shrugged. "The normal student was too emotional. The special student kept his composure. That's all it took."

As the crowd dispersed, chatter filled the arena, students analyzing the brief fight. Justin leaned in toward the group.

"That special student—Guzi Gaz—he's from Rio's main city. A First-Grade Aura user."

Victor remained silent, filing away the information as they moved on.