Chapter 20: The Battle of Shadows & Supreme Light

The coliseum roared with anticipation.

Leon stood firm in the arena's center, his breath steady, his muscles coiled like a spring.

Darius the Shadow Fang was no ordinary opponent.

Ranked #3 among the Academy's elites, his reputation as an untouchable specter preceded him. Opponents who faced him rarely saw his attacks until it was too late.

Now, he stood across from Leon, silent, unreadable. His entire presence exuded predatory intent, his abyssal cloak billowing despite the still air.

From above, Headmistress Elaris raised her hand.

"Begin."

Darius vanished.

Leon vs. Darius – A Fight Beyond Sight

Leon's Supreme Instinct activated at full force.

But even with it—Darius was faster.

A whisper of movement. A flicker of darkness.

Then—pain.

A deep slash appeared across Leon's forearm before he even registered the attack. Blood dripped down his fingers.

The crowd gasped.

Darius was already behind him.

Leon barely twisted in time to dodge a second strike aimed at his ribs. His counterpunch hit nothing but air.

Darius wasn't just fast. He was beyond human.

His attacks came from every direction. Unpredictable. Lethal.

Leon exhaled. Adapt. Or die.

He closed his eyes.

Shut out the distractions.

Focus.

The Supreme Awakening – Seeing the Unseen

Darius lunged again, his twin daggers slicing through the air toward Leon's throat.

But this time—Leon saw it.

Not with his eyes.

But with instinct.

A shift in air pressure. A whisper of motion.

Leon ducked—Darius's blades whizzed past his skull.

Leon retaliated.

A precise palm strike to the gut.

For the first time—Darius flinched.

The arena erupted.

Leon exhaled slowly.

He was starting to read the shadows.

The Shadow Fang's True Power – Abyssal Art Unleashed

Darius recovered instantly, stepping back.

He exhaled. "You're learning faster than I expected."

Then his aura shifted.

A pulse of abyssal energy surged around him, and the very air in the arena darkened.

[Selene]: "Warning: Abyssal Art Activated – Shadow Dominion."

Leon's muscles tensed.

The shadows themselves moved.

Darius disappeared—but this time, Leon didn't sense him.

Then—pain.

A sharp kick to the ribs.

A dagger grazing his shoulder.

Leon couldn't see.

Couldn't react.

Darius was fighting in pure darkness.

The Breaking Point – Supreme Light Awakens

Leon wiped blood from his mouth, standing in absolute shadow.

He couldn't rely on normal senses anymore.

But he didn't need to.

[Selene]: "Analyzing Shadow Dominion... Countermeasure Detected."

Leon smirked. "Then let's use it."

He raised his hand.

A surge of Supreme Energy built within him.

And then—he let it explode.

A pulse of blinding light erupted from his body, flooding the battlefield with radiant energy.

The shadows vanished.

Darius reappeared, his movements disrupted.

Leon was already moving.

His fist collided with Darius's chest.

The ranked student staggered.

And then—Leon struck again.

A devastating elbow to the jaw. A knee to the ribs. A spinning kick that sent Darius crashing into the dirt.

The crowd lost their minds.

The Verdict – Leon Rises Again

Darius lay on the ground, breathing heavily.

Then—he laughed.

"You really are something else," he admitted, wiping blood from his lip.

Leon exhaled. "Are we done?"

Darius grinned. "For now."

The Ranking Pillar shifted.

Leon Valeheart – Rank #3.

The arena erupted.

Leon had done it.

He had entered the top three.

And now—the other Tyrants were watching.

Meanwhile… Celeste vs. The Abyssal Guardian

Far from the Academy, Celeste stood before a massive, armored figure, its abyssal greatsword nearly twice her height.

"You are unworthy," the guardian rumbled.

Celeste tightened her grip on her blade.

"Then I'll just have to prove you wrong."

The abyss trembled as Celeste charged forward.