My Infinite System.-Chapter 26: The Day Of The Duel

A week later

The morning air was crisp as always, with a faint mist curling low across the academy grounds. Sunlight filtered through drifting clouds, casting pale gold rays across the massive stone structure of the Hunter Academy Arena.

Inside, the stands were already half-full despite the early hour. Students gathered in tight clusters, chatter rising into the cold air like smoke. The arena floor below was a wide circle of reinforced white stone, ringed by black iron barriers etched with suppression runes. Along the far walls, mana-lights pulsed softly, illuminating banners of the academy’s five divisions.

On the highest terrace overlooking the arena stood a row of instructors, their coats drifting slightly in the breeze.

"This is stupid," Athena muttered, folding her arms over her chest. Her dark braid fell forward as she leaned against the railing, violet eyes watching the empty arena floor with bored precision. "What are they trying to prove with this spectacle?"

Beside her, Instructor Kale, a heavyset man with greying hair and thick beard, chuckled quietly. "They’re Class Zero. Everything they do is a spectacle."

Instructor Mira, wearing a thin silk shawl over her robes despite the chill, tilted her head curiously. "They say the Thorn boy recovered from his... incident last week."

Athena’s eyes flicked to her. "If by ’recovered’ you mean he’s walking again, sure."

Mira’s lips twitched faintly. "And Evelyn Merrin... she’s been the academy’s darling lately, hasn’t she?"

Kale grunted. "The students love her. Even the fourth-years talk about her like she’s some idol. She’s too friendly for her own good. The world outside these walls doesn’t care about kindness."

Athena’s gaze remained fixed on the arena. "Kindness is fine. But if that girl’s ability is what they say it is, she won’t need anyone’s protection soon."

Kale raised an eyebrow. "You think it’s true? Infinite Replication?"

"I saw it," Athena said softly, her tone unreadable. "It’s true."

Silence fell between them as the other instructors shifted, their eyes locked on the quiet arena below.

Finally, Mira spoke, voice hushed. "They’re coming."

On the arena stands

Students filled every row now, their chatter rising like a tide.

"Why are we even here?" a third-year boy muttered to his friend as he chewed on a mana-infused pastry. "It’s just Class Zero showing off."

"You say that," his friend replied, pushing his round glasses up his nose, "but you were the one dragging me out of bed to get a front row seat."

"That’s different!" the boy snapped. "I just... wanna see if Lucian’s really as strong as everyone says."

Further up the stands, a group of first-year girls whispered in excited clusters, eyes wide with anticipation.

"Do you think Evelyn will use that lightning thing again?"

"I hope so! She’s so pretty... and strong... and she actually talks to everyone."

"Right? She helped me with mana control drills last week. She didn’t even laugh when I messed up."

Down near the arena edge, a tall fourth-year boy leaned against the railing, arms folded across his broad chest. His friends stood beside him, their expressions mixed with curiosity and disdain.

"This is just academy politics," one said. "They’re showing off Class Zero so the sponsors keep funding the special curriculum."

"Maybe," the fourth-year said, eyes narrowed as he scanned the instructors above. "But don’t lie... you’re curious too. Those kids... they’re different."

At the back row, a group of first-year boys held up small paper talismans with Evelyn’s name scribbled across them in stylised calligraphy.

"Evelyn-sama!" one of them whispered under his breath. "Please notice us today..."

His friend elbowed him in embarrassment. "Shut up, idiot."

Then it happened.

The great iron doors on the far side of the arena creaked open, the sound rolling across the stone like distant thunder.

Silence fell instantly.

From the shadows beyond the gate, five figures emerged.

First was Silas, broad-shouldered and towering, his black academy coat unbuttoned to reveal compression bands crisscrossing his forearms and chest. Mana flickered around him like heat haze, and his heavy boots sent small tremors through the ground with each step.

Behind him walked Reia, her light brown hair tied in a short braid, eyes half-lidded with calm calculation. She wore reinforced combat sleeves over her uniform, and her steps made no sound despite the gravel beneath her feet.

Then came Vyn. She moved like a ghost, robes drifting around her slender frame, her black hair falling straight down her back. Her silver-grey eyes were empty as mirrors, reflecting nothing as she walked with eerie silence.

Beside her walked Evelyn. The morning light caught her tied-back red hair, making it glow like embers. Her eyes were calm but flickered with faint silver under her bangs, and sparks of residual lightning licked across her exposed wrist for half a second before vanishing. Students whispered her name with awe as she passed.

And at the rear walked Lucian.

Hands in his pockets, uniform jacket open, tie loose, dark hair falling over his sharp eyes as he scanned the stands with bored indifference. Mana flickered around him like faint ripples in water, distorting the air subtly as he moved.

They walked in silence, side by side, their shadows long under the rising sun that spilled through the arena arches.

Students held their breath.

For that brief moment, as their footsteps echoed across the stone and the mana-lights flickered brighter at their arrival, it felt as if the world had narrowed to these five alone.

Class Zero.

Irregulars. Monsters. Legends in the making.

They stopped in a loose line at the centre of the arena, facing the stands. The instructors watched from above, silent and sharp-eyed.

Athena tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk ghosting across her lips as she watched her students stand beneath the vast stone arches of the arena.

Let’s see what you do with this stage, she thought.

The wind rustled through the arena, carrying dust and echoes across the stone.

And the duel was about to begin.

A/N

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