The Great Colosseum of Aurelius Academy had transformed into a world of its own.

Thousands of spectators occupied the enormous stone terraces that rose toward the sky in giant concentric circles, noble families sat beneath luxurious canopies, while merchants, scholars, academy alumni, and imperial officials filled the remaining seats.

Bright banners representing Classes A through F fluttered high above the arena walls as magical lanterns floated through the air like miniature stars. The noise was overwhelming, and conversations echoed endlessly, students shouted predictions, and nobles boasted loudly that their heirs would secure victory today.

Beneath all that excitement, however, there was an invisible tension that everyone could feel, this was no longer an ordinary school event, it was a tournament that the entire empire would watch.

Down below, fourteen hundred students occupied the lower staging arena.

The sight was chaotic.

Class A students stood proudly with expensive uniforms and exotic contracted beasts by their sides.

Class B students gathered in disciplined groups while Class C students carefully reviewed strategies.

The lower classes stood together more cautiously, knowing they were often underestimated by the upper tiers, and everyone carried different expressions. Some were excited. Some were terrified. Others were desperate.

Lina stood among them quietly.

Her hand rested near her storage ring while her expression remained calm.

Three weeks of relentless training had changed her.

The nervous commoner girl still existed, but she was no longer fragile. Her shoulders no longer slouched, and her posture was balanced. Even the way she breathed had become controlled.

Next to her stood Chloe.

She looked the same as before; her blonde hair swayed gently as she chatted about pastries from breakfast, making her look completely harmless.

Nobody would ever suspect that beneath her skin lurked the strength of a Dhampir.

Inside Lina’s carry-bag, Qhuin scanned everything, his ruby eyes remaining half-closed.

The tournament hadn’t even begun yet, but his system was already working overtime.

Suddenly, the entire stadium trembled, and the spectators fell silent.

Even the beasts stopped making noise.

At the highest point of the colosseum, enormous obsidian gates began to open.

The sound echoed throughout the entire academy as a long red carpet unfurled from the entrance, while imperial guards marched out in perfect formation.

Then the emperor appeared, dressed in a golden robe embroidered with solar dragons, draped around his tall figure while a black cape flowed behind him.

His face remained calm, but the pressure radiating from his body was overwhelming. Several Class F students immediately paled.

Some weaker students even dropped to one knee before they realized what they were doing.

His presence alone was enough to make people understand why he ruled an empire.

Lina felt her heartbeat accelerate, and she instinctively straightened her back.

"He’s... incredible..."

Chloe quietly nodded.

"Even standing this far away feels heavy."

The emperor calmly walked toward the royal box. Then another figure entered everyone’s view.

Lord Alistair.

The principal looked exactly as he always did, relaxed and ageless.

He walked with his hands behind his back as though he wasn’t standing beside the ruler of an empire.

Students immediately erupted into whispers. To them, these two men represented legends.

One ruled the empire.

The other ruled Aurelius Academy.

Yet what truly caught Qhuin’s attention was the third figure.

Duke Kenneth.

The elegant nobleman sat between them with perfect composure. His aristocratic smile never wavered, and his movements remained refined.

If Qhuin didn’t know vampires existed in this world, he would’ve dismissed him entirely.

But now, something about this man felt wrong.

Inside the bag, Qhuin immediately activated every concealment function available.

Blue text flooded his vision.

[Warning: Multiple overwhelming lifeforms detected.]

[False Veil operating at maximum capacity.]

[Masking Sub-Routine active.]

[Compressing energy output to 0.01%.]

His ears turned, and for once, he wasn’t hunting. He felt like prey.

The carry-bag suddenly felt very small, and he lowered himself deeper into the bag and remained completely motionless.

To every observer, he was nothing more than a sleeping rabbit.

Meanwhile, Duke Kenneth casually scanned the arena, and his eyes swept over thousands of students.

Yet deep inside him, something stirred, and his instincts whispered that something was here.

The thing that had killed his assassin was here.

But where?

Before he could investigate further, Alistair suddenly smiled.

The principal didn’t say anything; he just smiled, and Kenneth immediately looked away.

His expression remained composed, but his grip tightened ever so slightly against the armrest.

Above them all, ancient runes suddenly activated.

The entire stadium lit up, and then Alistair stood. His voice spread across every corner of the colosseum without needing to be raised.

"Today, fourteen hundred students shall demonstrate the future of Solaria."

His eyes swept across the participants.

"Today, noble birth shall not guarantee victory."

The students became silent.

"Today, talent alone will not guarantee survival."

Even the nobles stopped speaking.

"Only those who adapt, endure, and overcome shall continue."

He smiled softly.

"Let the true caliber of Solaria be tested."

The entire stadium exploded into applause as thousands of people cheered.

Students roared with excitement.

Then the giant projection board floating above the arena began spinning.

Runes rotated rapidly, and names flashed one after another.

Students held their breath, and Lina clenched her fist.

Chloe blinked nervously.

The runes stopped, and a bright red name illuminated the entire stadium.

[CHLOE - CLASS D]

Chloe froze.

"...Huh?"

Lina looked at her.

"Oh no... you’re first."

Chloe laughed awkwardly.

"Seriously? First?"

The board spun again, and another name appeared.

[ADRIAN VERIS - CLASS B]

The stadium erupted.

A young noble stepped into the arena, his silver hair neatly combed backward while elegant red robes draped around his shoulders. A floating fire spirit orbited around him as he glanced toward Chloe.

Then he smirked, and the look in his eyes was unmistakable.

Chloe saw it immediately, but she simply smiled.

"Oh dear... my first match is against someone scary."

She turned toward Lina.

"Wish me luck."

Lina immediately hugged her.

"You’ll do great."

Chloe smiled brightly.

"Thanks."

Then she turned and began walking toward the arena.

Her footsteps were relaxed, with an innocent expression.

Every noble in the stadium was watching a fragile support student walk toward certain defeat.

Inside the carry-bag, Qhuin quietly watched her, and his ruby eyes glowed. Then his voice echoed inside Chloe’s mind.

"Remember your training."

Chloe continued walking.

"Do not reveal everything."

She stepped onto the arena.

"Win, but remain invisible."

The stadium roared around her, and Chloe smiled.

Then she looked up toward her opponent. Looking at him, she felt completely calm.

Adrian was excited because the emperor was watching, and this was an easy win for him.

And somewhere inside a small carry-bag, a tiny white rabbit narrowed his ruby eyes.

The game had finally begun.