Hollow soul

As Hira and Takuma walked toward the exit of the arena, a sudden chill ran down their spines.

A menacing aura surged through the air—thick, suffocating, and drenched in malice.

Takuma narrowed his eyes.

"That aura…"

He could feel two presences.

One was clearly human.

But the other—

"It's not just any mage. I can feel traces of a second aura… a demonic beast."

Hira's expression darkened.

"Indeed."

"I know this boy."

Takuma turned his head slightly, his curiosity piqued.

"Who is he, then?"

Hira's gaze turned distant as old memories resurfaced.

"A boy who slaughtered every single one of his classmates…"

The air grew heavy at Hira's words.

"Why?"

Hiratsu asked, voice tense.

Hira exhaled.

"Because they mocked the death of his lover."

Silence.

Everyone listening—Aiki, Akemi, Hiratsu—all froze.

Hira continued.

"I remember rushing to the school after the massacre, hoping to heal and save anyone I could."

"But I was too late."

"Only one survived."

Takuma's eyes sharpened.

"Don't tell me…"

Hira nodded.

"Yes. The sole survivor was none other than the vice king of Takion's son."

"And now, he stands among the top 50 mages in this entire continent."

Outrage and Reality

Hiratsu clenched his fists.

"Then why the hell is he here? Shouldn't he be in prison?!"

Hira's voice was cold.

"Exactly."

"But he is the son of king of Taikon."

"Even the law couldn't touch him."

Akemi's expression twisted.

Aiki lowered his head in frustration.

Someone like that, walking freely?

Competing in the tournament as if nothing had happened?

It was disgusting.

Takuma suddenly turned back toward the arena, a smirk creeping onto his lips.

"Well then."

"I think I'd like to meet this demon boy."

Hira grinned, excitement flashing in his eyes.

"Looks like it's going to be a long night."

The stadium was nearly empty, with only a few nobles watching.

No roaring crowds.

No wild cheers.

Just silence.

Then, he stepped onto the battlefield.

Yagami.

The one they all feared.

The one who carried both power and blood on his hands.

A Display of Power

His opponent, the 100th rank, gripped his sword tightly.

He wasn't going to hold back.

With a burst of speed, he sprinted at Yagami, blade ready to cut through flesh and bone—

Yet.

Yagami didn't move.

Didn't even blink.

The swordsman swung.

A perfect strike—

But his blade stopped.

As if hitting an invisible wall.

Hiratsu's eyes widened in shock.

"I-Impossible… how?!"

Yagami clenched his fist.

Then, with a single punch,

The swordsman flew across the battlefield like an insect.

Takuma's expression shifted to amazement.

"He can control his aura at this young age…"

Akemi, still stunned, asked,

"But how wasn't he cut?"

Takuma answered,

"He wasn't just standing there."

"He was waiting for the perfect moment."

"He gathered all his aura and focused it exactly where the strike would land—absorbing the impact completely."

"This technique… took me years to master."

"Yet, this boy does it effortlessly."

Hira smirked.

"His potential is insane."

Hiratsu's turn was next—

But Takuma refused to let him fight.

An hour later, Aiki's match was up—

But Takuma refused again.

There was something dangerous about this next fight.

Something that shouldn't happen.

Then—

The 50th Rank stepped forward.

The son of the vice king of Takion.

Ray.

And his opponent—

Yagami.

The son of the King of Takion.

Ray smirked.

"Long time no see, Yagami."

Yagami's eyes were empty.

"Let's finish this quickly."

"I want to reach the top 10 as fast as possible."

Ray chuckled.

"Oh, don't be ridiculous. I will win here."

The fight began.

Both stood still.

Neither moved.

Ray smirked.

"So, you've got a nice little defensive trick, huh?"

He lifted his hand, light magic swirling in his palm.

"But I know something about that technique."

"You need to be calm to use it, don't you?"

"What happens when you get angry?"

Yagami's fist clenched.

A hologram of light formed above the battlefield.

It was a picture of a girl.

Dead.

Ray laughed.

"Hahaha, look—it's your dead lover."

The arena went silent.

Yagami's breathing slowed.

His heart pounded.

Ray wasn't done.

"You know, when Neru died, I was so sad."

Then, with a smirk,

"She made good tea… but sometimes, I'd pour it on her face."

"I loved the way she screamed in pain."

The world froze.

Yagami's body trembled.

His mind shattered.

The memories came rushing back.

Neru's cries.

Her pain.

Her bloody, trembling hands.

Ray's voice cut through his thoughts.

"It doesn't matter anyway."

"She's dead now."

Yagami moved.

For the first time in the fight, he rushed forward.

Ray smiled and unleashed a deadly beam of light.

"Go marry her in hell."

The laser struck Yagami's shoulder.

It pierced through him.

But it wasn't deadly.

What was deadly—

—was what was coming for Ray.

Ray tried to fire again—

But it was too late.

A fist.

A single, unstoppable fist crashed into his ribs.

Ray coughed blood.

His body shook.

The match should've ended.

But Yagami wasn't done.

Tears streamed down his face.

But his fists never stopped.

He grabbed his daggers.

And stabbed.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Ray screamed.

But Yagami didn't stop.

Even when the tester yelled.

Even when Ray was on the ground, helpless.

Yagami kept going.

"DIE."

"DIE."

"DIE."

Takuma moved first.

Hira followed.

Both jumped in, grabbing Yagami's blood-drenched hands.

Holding him back.

The match was over.

Yagami was too strong.

But Takuma could see it.

Despite his terrifying power—

Despite his unmatched skill—

Yagami's heart…

Was already broken.

Peeep!

A sharp whistle cut through the bloodstained air.

A voice echoed across the battlefield:

"For violating the rules of the tournament—"

"Yagami is disqualified and will not fight again."

Peeep!

"Yagami's final rank is… 51."

Yagami's head was tilted downward, his bloodstained hands still clenched.

Takuma and Hira held him back, their grips tight.

The battlefield was silent.

Everyone was still processing what had just happened.

Ray, the 50th Rank, lay motionless on the ground, barely alive.

The nobles whispered among themselves.

Some were shocked.

Some were disgusted.

But most were amused.

"Hah… Haha… Hahahaha!"

Yagami laughed.

A bitter, broken laugh.

He lifted his blood-soaked hands, staring at them like they belonged to someone else.

Then, through his ragged breathing, he spoke:

"These nobles…"

His voice was low at first.

Then, with venom in his tone, he growled:

"These nobles are pieces of shit."

The audience gasped.

The officials stiffened.

Even the other top 100 competitors were stunned.

No one ever spoke out against the nobles.

Not unless they had a death wish.

But Yagami didn't care.

His lover was dead.

His soul was hollow.

And now—

They wanted to punish him for seeking justice?