Then she pointed toward the student she kicked earlier.

"Third-year. Ranked sixty-two."

The boy visibly stiffened.

Ravenna looked back toward Alex.

"Fight him."

Silence.

Then immediate murmuring spread through the arena.

"What?"

"She’s serious?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"That’s a third-year!"

Even the injured student looked surprised.

"...Instructor?"

"You heard me."

Alex glanced toward the third-year calmly.

Then toward Ravenna.

"...Right now?"

"You have a problem with that?"

"No," Alex replied honestly. "Just checking."

Adoff sighed internally.

I really hate how calm you are.

The third-year student stepped forward slowly while rolling his shoulders.

Tall.

Muscular.

Sword user.

Probably around nineteen years old.

He looked irritated more than anything else.

"This is stupid," he muttered while drawing his blade. "No offense, first-year."

"Some taken."

A few students laughed quietly.

The third-year sighed.

"Look, I’ll go easy—"

Boom.

Alex vanished.

The arena cracked beneath his feet.

The upperclassman’s eyes widened instantly.

Fast.

Way too fast.

Clang!

The [Abyss Blade] slammed against the student’s sword hard enough to send shockwaves through the arena.

The third-year staggered backward immediately.

Every upperclassman stood up slightly.

"What the hell?!"

"He’s actually fast!"

The third-year quickly regained footing before swinging again—

Slash.

Alex stepped inside the attack effortlessly.

The black blade stopped directly against the student’s throat.

Silence.

Complete silence.

The fight had lasted less than three seconds.

The third-year froze completely.

A single drop of blood rolled down his neck.

Alex tilted his head slightly.

"...Were you saying something?"

The entire arena stared blankly.

Adoff slowly blinked.

...Okay maybe you are insane.

The third-year student stood completely frozen.

His sword remained half-raised.

Alex’s [Abyss Blade] rested against his throat so casually that somehow made it worse.

The entire arena had gone silent.

No one moved.

No one even blinked.

Then—

"...What the hell?" someone whispered from the upper seats.

The noise exploded immediately afterward.

"He crossed that distance instantly!"

"That was a third-year!"

"No way that’s a first-year—"

Ravenna raised one hand slightly.

Silence returned instantly.

Her golden eyes remained locked onto Alex.

Not surprised.

Interested.

Alex slowly lowered the blade before stepping back casually.

The third-year remained standing there for another second before finally exhaling sharply.

"...Okay," he muttered. "That was humiliating."

A few students laughed quietly.

Alex rested the [Abyss Blade] against his shoulder.

"You talked too much before attacking."

"That’s because normal first-years don’t move like psychopaths."

"Fair."

The third-year stared at him for a moment before suddenly grinning slightly.

"...I kinda get the rumors now."

Adoff’s voice echoed inside Alex’s head.

You definitely enjoyed that.

"A little."

Thought so.

Ravenna stepped forward calmly.

"What did you learn?" she asked the arena.

Several upperclassmen immediately straightened.

One student answered first.

"He overwhelmed him with speed."

"Wrong," Ravenna replied instantly.

Another student frowned slightly.

"The third-year underestimated him."

"Partially correct."

Her gaze swept across the room.

"The moment combat begins, rankings become meaningless."

Silence filled the arena again.

"Arrogance gets people killed."

The third-year grimaced slightly hearing that.

Ravenna finally looked back toward Alex.

"You move efficiently."

"Thanks."

"You rely too much on instinct."

Alex’s expression barely shifted.

Interesting observation.

Ravenna continued calmly.

"Your reactions are sharp. Your aggression is effective. But your movements waste energy."

Adoff quietly muttered inside Alex’s mind.

She figured that out fast.

Alex agreed internally.

Most people only noticed his speed.

This woman noticed the flaws behind it.

Dangerous.

Ravenna folded her arms.

"You fight like someone who learned through survival rather than discipline."

The arena quieted slightly.

Alex stayed silent.

Because she was right.

He didn’t have formal training.

Everything he learned came from adapting mid-fight.

From pain.

From near death.

Ravenna watched him carefully before speaking again.

"That style works against weaker opponents."

Her eyes sharpened slightly.

"It gets you killed against monsters."

The atmosphere became heavier.

Alex slowly adjusted his grip on the [Abyss Blade].

"...You offering to fix that?"

A few students looked shocked hearing him speak to Ravenna so casually.

But instead of getting angry—

Ravenna smirked faintly.

"For once, a first-year asked the correct question."

Several upperclassmen looked disturbed seeing that expression on her face.

One girl near the back whispered quietly:

"...Oh no."

Adoff immediately noticed it too.

Why do I suddenly feel bad for us?

Ravenna pointed toward the center battlefield.

"Again."

The third-year student blinked.

"...Me?"

"No."

Her golden eyes locked directly onto Alex.

"You."

Then she drew a sword from the weapon rack beside the arena.

The entire room froze.

Even the upperclassmen looked alarmed now.

"Instructor...?" someone muttered nervously.

Ravenna ignored them completely.

"This time," she said calmly, "fight me."

Silence.

Then complete chaos erupted through the arena.

"WHAT?!"

"She’s serious?!"

"That’s insane!"

"He’s dead!"

Adoff’s ears flattened immediately.

NOPE. ABSOLUTELY NOT.

Alex stared at Ravenna for a moment.

Then slowly smiled.

"...Well that sounds educational."

YOU ARE THE PROBLEM.

Ravenna stepped onto the battlefield calmly while adjusting her grip on the practice sword.

Despite using a dull academy weapon—

The pressure surrounding her immediately intensified.

The upperclassmen instinctively backed away from the railing.

No one wanted to be close if Ravenna got serious.

Alex walked toward the center platform without hesitation.

Adoff paced nervously near the wall.

This woman could literally kill you by accident.

"Probably."

WHY ARE YOU SO CALM ABOUT THAT?!

Alex ignored him.

Ravenna stopped several meters away.

"Rule one," she said calmly.

"Survive."

Then—

She disappeared.

Boom!

The battlefield exploded apart beneath her feet.

Alex’s eyes widened instantly.

Fast.

Far faster than the Demon.

His instincts screamed immediately.

Move.

Alex twisted sideways—

BOOM!!!

The shockwave alone shattered the ground where he’d been standing.

The delayed impact blasted across the arena hard enough to crack reinforced stone.

Several upperclassmen visibly flinched.

Alex slid backward across the battlefield before stabilizing himself.

His eyes sharpened instantly.

She held back.

But not much.

Ravenna stood calmly several meters away, sword lowered casually at her side.

"You reacted," she noted.

Adoff stared blankly.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN "YOU REACTED"?!

Alex’s heartbeat had accelerated slightly.

Not fear.

Excitement.

The pressure Ravenna emitted felt overwhelming compared to the students around him.

This was real strength.

Not talent.

Not status.

Power earned through countless battles.

Ravenna watched him carefully.

"You didn’t freeze."

"Should I have?"

"No," she replied calmly.

Then she vanished again.

Clang!

Alex barely blocked the incoming strike in time.

The impact sent violent vibrations through his arms instantly.

Heavy.

Way too heavy.

Ravenna didn’t stop.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Each strike crashed against Alex’s blade with overwhelming precision.

No wasted movement.

No openings.

No hesitation.

Alex was forced backward immediately.

The arena floor cracked beneath every step.

Upperclassmen stared silently now.

Because Ravenna wasn’t testing him anymore.

She was pressuring him seriously.

Alex ducked beneath another strike before countering upward—

Ravenna sidestepped effortlessly.

Then kicked him directly in the stomach.

Boom!

Alex flew backward violently before crashing against the reinforced arena wall.

Dust exploded outward.

Adoff immediately stood upright.

Alex!

Pain shot through Alex’s body instantly.

He coughed lightly before forcing himself back upright.

Then—

He smiled again.

Ravenna noticed immediately.

"...Interesting."

Most students broke under pressure.

This one smiled.

Alex rolled his shoulder slowly before lifting the [Abyss Blade] again.

"That kick was rude."

"You’re still standing."

"Unfortunately."

The upperclassmen looked completely stunned now.

One student whispered quietly:

"...He’s adapting."

Ravenna heard it too.

Her golden eyes narrowed slightly.

Because they were right.

Even now—

Alex was learning.