"Begin!"

Neither moved.

Zephyrion simply stood there calmly, while Lumi stared ahead with a deep frown.

Several seconds passed, yet nothing changed. All around, many within the crowd had already begun wondering just what was going on. Why wasn’t the battle starting?

The overseer’s hesitant voice rang out.

"...I’ve already given the go ahead to begin the battle... you two can start now..."

Lumi slowly turned her gaze toward him. The sheer coldness contained within her eyes made the overseer flinch instinctively. Then, with a sharp huff, she folded her arms and turned away.

The overseer stared, bewildered. Lumi had just taken on a posture that clearly signified she had no intention of fighting. He turned toward Zephyrion, who merely shrugged.

As the awkward silence dragged on, frowns gradually appeared on the faces of the city lords. Zephyrion resisted the urge to sigh.

This particular situation was something he had hoped to avoid, at least until the finals. Lumi simply would not fight him. Even if he attacked, there was a high chance she would just endure the beating rather than retaliate.

Something similar had happened before during training in the Order. After finding her, he had taken up the responsibility of training her personally.

After months of training, believing she lacked talent and couldn’t fight, he had eventually assigned someone else to spar with her instead.

The fight had ended swiftly.

Still, this was the Proving. Refusing to fight here was practically insulting the thousands watching, along with the countless youths and candidates who had struggled desperately for a chance to participate, only to fail.

But judging from the pout on Lumi’s face and the stubborn intensity in her eyes... she simply didn’t care.

Eventually, the overseer decided to try again, this time with a firmer tone.

"This is the Proving," he said. "No matter the relationship between the two of you, you must fight until a winner is decided."

Lumi shook her head.

"Lumi..." Zephyrion called with a frown. "Only one of us can win."

Lumi blinked once. A moment later, she nodded.

Then, beneath the bewildered gazes of the city lords and the millions watching across the South, she turned and calmly walked out of the arena.

Landing lightly on the coliseum floor, she looked toward the overseer and gave a small nod with a smile, as though everything had been perfectly resolved now.

The overseer was speechless.

’What is this child?’

Lumi walking out was essentially forfeiting the match without even exchanging a single blow. It was the first time he had ever seen a youth like this. Most chased fame, glory, recognition.

None would willingly pass up the opportunity to display their strength before the entire South.

Now, what exactly was he supposed to do?

Zephyrion noticed the hesitation in the overseer’s expression and inwardly nodded. As expected, the man was uncertain whether or not to officially end the match.

With Lumi out of the arena, she should technically be disqualified, yet all of it had happened without a single blow being exchanged.

Suddenly, another official hurried over and whispered something into the overseer’s ear. Catching snippets of the exchange, Zephyrion’s eyes narrowed slightly in surprise. His gaze shifted toward Ingrid.

She met his eyes calmly, a composed glint resting within them. The message had clearly come from her.

’Why would she help me?’

"The match between Zephyrion Calderalth and Lumi Calderalth has been cancelled, with Lumi Calderalth being disqualified," the overseer announced. "Her replacement will be... Zair Jostem."

"This should not be allowed, Lord Calderalth." City Lord Borric, whose son had fallen to Lumi, rose to his feet and bowed toward Kastor. "Every candidate here clawed and bled their way through this Proving. Allowing someone to simply walk away sends the wrong message to the public. It tells them laziness is acceptable."

Agreement quickly spread throughout the coliseum. Shouts erupted from the crowd while several city lords nodded in approval.

"I made the decision." Ingrid’s cold eyes settled onto Borric. "If you have a problem with it, bring it to me."

Borric’s expression twitched faintly, but he did not back down.

"I’m merely trying to prevent the wrong message from spreading. All I ask for is fairness. She should fight, just like every candidate before her." His gaze narrowed slightly. "Or are you suggesting she deserves special treatment?"

"No I’m—"

"Hell yeah."

Ingrid’s brows furrowed. She, Borric, and the others turned sharply toward Garrick.

"...you’re saying she deserves special treatment?" Borric asked in disbelief.

"Absolutely," Garrick answered without the slightest hesitation. "She’s strong. The strong make the rules. That’s literally how the world works."

He leaned back lazily in his seat.

"And why the fuck should she care about all the other youths who ’tried their hardest’?" Garrick mocked, making a dramatic face. "’Oh no, we worked soooo hard.’ Boo hoo. Hard work without results is worthless. She made it here because she’s strong. They didn’t because they’re weak. That ain’t her problem. It’s theirs. Their parents’. Their bloodline’s. Who told them to be so fucking weak?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Borric and the other city lords fell momentarily silent. Saying something like that openly before the entire South, most of whom were weak ordinary people, was utterly insane.

But Garrick continued without the slightest restraint.

"Besides, I think you’re the one teaching the wrong lesson here." He gestured toward the arena below. "This world favors the strong. Pretending effort alone deserves praise is bullshit. If you’re weak, then train until your fucking anus bleeds until you stop being weak. Otherwise, you’ll never amount to anything.

"You’ll never make the rules either. You’ll only follow them." He pointed downward casually. "Like right now."

Garrick turned toward Kastor.

"Right, Head of House?"

Every gaze immediately shifted toward Kastor. Garrick’s words sounded outrageous, but ultimately, the final decision rested with the head of House Calderalth.

Silence lingered for a moment.

Then Kastor finally spoke.

"I’ll allow it," he said calmly. "Continue."

The expressions of the city lords darkened immediately. Regardless of their displeasure, Kastor’s word was absolute.

Zephyrion observed the entire exchange without any visible reaction.

Soon after, the overseer resumed the Proving. Zephyrion’s replacement opponent turned out to be weak, and the battle ended almost as quickly as it had begun.

Just like that, the round came to an end.

Only four candidates remained.

Zephyrion. Kaelion. Vaelor. Nedra.

The four had proven their might throughout the Proving, and the next round would see them clash directly against one another. The anticipation filling the coliseum became almost tangible.

Eventually, the first semifinal match was announced.