A new beginning

The battlefield was silent except for the sound of Rin's labored breathing. Dust and debris swirled in the air as Seung-Ho raised his hand, preparing to deliver the final attack.

Rin, battered and struggling to rise, had managed to plant his sword into the earth for support. His vision blurred and his muscles screamed in protest, yet he refused to collapse completely.

A few feet away, Seung-Ho looked down at Rin with a smirk—one that carried no mockery, only the quiet confidence of a predator who knew the hunt was over.

With a measured motion, Seung-Ho raised his arm and, in that moment, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. A crushing force rippled through the arena.

The air grew thick and nearly suffocating as the ground trembled beneath the surge of Seung-Ho's mana. His body glowed with a raw, untamed purple energy, and above him, a massive, dark sphere of swirling gravity began to take shape. It pulsed with sheer destructive power.

"Let's end this," Seung-Ho said in a calm yet absolute tone, his voice resonating through the arena with his eyes glowing with a murderous intent. "Don't even try to block this—your sword can only deflect direct attacks."

The sphere expanded rapidly, distorting the very air around it as the gravitational pull intensified. The audience gasped, mesmerized and horrified as the fabric of space itself seemed to warp under the overwhelming force.

Rin attempted to move, to raise his weapon in defiance, but his body refused to respond. The weight pressing down on him was unbearable, as if a mountain had been laid upon his entire being.

Then, with a swift flick of his wrist, Seung-Ho activated the Graviton Collapse. In an instant, the enormous gravitational sphere inverted, reversing its pull and lifting Rin high into the sky. His body became weightless under the sudden shift, suspended like a fallen warrior awaiting judgment. The space around him tilted as he was drawn upward, his fate hanging precariously in the balance.

Seung-Ho's eyes gleamed with determination and a hint of satisfaction. And then—he brought his hand down.

In that moment, gravity returned in full force. Rin was hurled downward like a falling star, his body accelerating at an unimaginable speed. The very air rippled around him as a deafening boom echoed through the arena, and the sky itself seemed to crack apart under the violence of his descent.

The moment Rin's battered body made impact, the ground exploded. A massive shockwave rippled outward, and a crater formed instantly as the battlefield was obliterated by the gravitational slam.

Dust and shattered stone erupted into the air, creating a thick smokescreen that plunged the arena into darkness for several heartbeats.

When the dust finally settled, all that remained was a vast crater—deep enough to swallow a small fortress. At its center, Rin lay motionless, his body half-buried in the shattered earth. His weapon, Voidfang, rested a few feet away, its once-glowing edge now dim and lifeless.

Silence reigned.

Then, breaking the stillness, the referee's voice boomed through the stadium, barely audible over the roar of the crowd. "The match is over! Seung-Ho wins!"

Seung-Ho exhaled slowly, lowering his hand as he moved toward Rin's unmoving form. His expression remained unreadable until he knelt beside the fallen fighter. Gently, he reached out and examined Rin's bruised, broken body.

"Not bad," he muttered under his breath, speaking softly for only himself—and the nearly unconscious Rin—to hear. "But not good enough."

In that unexpected moment, Seung-Ho's demeanor shifted. With deliberate care, he placed his hand on Rin's chest. A soft, green glow enveloped the wounded warrior, slowly knitting together minor cuts, bruises, and the fatigue that weighed heavily upon him. The healing magic felt like a warm embrace, gently restoring vitality where destruction had reigned moments before.

Somewhere in the shadows of the arena, the Director of the Hunter's Academy observed the scene with wide-eyed surprise.

Muttering to himself, he wondered, "Who is this kid really? A mage who can command both offensive and healing magic… I need to get to know him."

After a few tense minutes, Rin's eyes fluttered open as he returned to full consciousness.

Blinking away the haze of pain and confusion, he found Seung-Ho standing and picking up Voidfang. With a calm tone, Seung-Ho spoke, "You can have this if you can one day defeat me."

Before Rin could respond, Seung-Ho summoned a teleportation circle, and in a flash of light, the gleaming sword vanished from sight. Clenching his fist with renewed determination, Rin's eyes burned with silent resolve as he whispered, "I will defeat you one day."

Seung-Ho's teasing tone carried on the wind. "I'll be waiting for you."

The crowd erupted into cheers, their chants of Seung-Ho's name echoing through the arena. He had once again proven why he was considered the strongest—a champion who not only dominated his foes but also possessed the surprising honor of extending mercy to a worthy adversary.

As the victorious fighter moved out of the arena, Rin was left to grapple with the reality of his defeat. His mind replayed the battle in vivid detail—each misstep, each moment of hesitation.

Though frustration and a sense of inadequacy churned within him, he also recognized a crucial truth: without true skill, even the mightiest weapon was nothing more than a pretty ornament.

Outside the arena, a few fellow hopefuls approached. Among them, Min-Soo and Ji-Hyun called out to him, their voices filled with both concern and encouragement. "Rin! Rin!" they shouted.

Hearing their voices, Rin trudged toward them. Min-Soo greeted him with a warm smile and said, "That was a truly interesting fight. You gave it your all, and you've qualified for the academy. There's no need to beat yourself up—just work on getting stronger."

Rin paused, absorbing the supportive words of his peers. In that quiet moment, the magnitude of the academy's challenges began to sink in.

He knew that his journey as a hunter was just beginning, and that mastering both his innate magic and combat skills would be essential if he were ever to bridge the gap between himself and warriors like Seung-Ho.