The air was thick with tension. Baikon clenched his fists, his Black Aura surging as he prepared for another strike.
But Mri?
He remained still. Hands relaxed at his sides. Unfazed.
The crowd could feel it now.
This wasn't just a fight.
It was a message.
Mri wasn't here to impress anyone.
He wasn't here to prove anything.
But he was here to win.
The Dragons Strike Back
Baikon gritted his teeth. Enough of this!
He dashed forward, this time smarter—more calculated.
Instead of aiming for Mri directly, he feinted a high punch—only to twist his body at the last moment, launching a devastating kick towards Mri's ribs.
It was fast.
Too fast for most fighters to react.
But not for him.
THUD—
Mri's hand shot out, stopping Baikon's kick mid-air.
A shockwave spread through the ground, sending dust swirling around them.
Baikon's eyes widened in disbelief.
The crowd froze.
"He… caught it?"
For a moment, silence.
And then—
Mri moved.
With a simple, effortless motion, he twisted Baikon's leg—and sent him flying.
Baikon crashed to the ground, skidding several feet before coming to a stop.
The audience exploded.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
"DID YOU SEE HOW CASUALLY HE DID THAT?!"
"NO AURA—NOTHING—HE JUST THREW BAIKON LIKE A RAGDOLL!"
Tulina's fingers curled into a fist.
She hated to admit it—but Mri was still a monster.
The Dragons' Response
Baikon coughed as he struggled to his feet, but before he could fully recover—
"Enough."
A voice cut through the chaos.
Dipangkar, Leader of The Dragons, stepped forward. His Green Aura shimmered, his presence alone commanding silence.
Baikon lowered his head slightly. "Leader, I—"
Dipangkar raised a hand, stopping him. "You did enough. Stand down."
Mri watched silently. He wasn't surprised.
Dipangkar wasn't a fool. He knew this wasn't a fight Baikon could win.
The real question was—what would The Dragons do next?
The Revolutionary Stars' leader, Ayang, stepped forward, standing beside Mri.
"You done, or do you want another round?"
Dipangkar's gaze flickered toward Mri. No hostility—just quiet calculation.
Then, he spoke.
"Mri… you're strong. Stronger than most people here."
Mri didn't respond.
"But you should know something." Dipangkar's tone darkened. "This fight? It was just a warm-up. The real battle hasn't even begun yet."
Mri's expression remained unreadable. But inside, he knew—
Dipangkar wasn't bluffing.
There were still far stronger fighters in this academy.
And he had just painted a target on his back.
A Hidden Threat
As The Dragons left, the crowd slowly dispersed, murmuring among themselves.
But somewhere in the shadows, a pair of unseen eyes watched Mri closely.
A student in a hoodie, leaning against a pillar.
He pulled out his phone and sent a message.
"The rumors were true. He's dangerous."
A response came instantly.
"Keep watching him. We'll handle it soon."
The hooded figure smirked.
"Let's see how long you can stay undefeated, Mri."
That Night…
Mri sat alone on the rooftop of the dormitory, staring at the stars.
His knuckles still tingled from the fight.
A voice interrupted his thoughts.
"You were holding back."
Mri turned his head.
Ayang leaned against the railing, arms crossed. "You could've ended Baikon in a single hit. But you didn't."
Mri didn't answer.
Ayang chuckled. "What, afraid of showing your true strength?"
Mri sighed. "It's not about fear. It's about patience."
Ayang raised an eyebrow. "Patience for what?"
Mri's gaze darkened.
"For the real fights."
Somewhere, deep inside, he knew—
His battles were only just beginning.