"Wow! He killed a Tier-4 monster!"
"How is that even possible?"
"Dual elents—and under twenty? That’s insane."
"Who the hell is this guy?"
The chat exploded with comnts. Viewers across the world stared at the screen in disbelief.
***
The cara zood in on Alvin.
The majestic fox’s body faded into glittering dust, dissolving into the air. The forest grew quiet again.
Alvin turned, ready to head toward the Central Peak,
When a voice cut through the silence.
"That was a Tier-4 monster. You really killed it?"
He didn’t respond. He had already sensed the newcor approaching. That was why he’d ended the fight with a single slash.
His eyes shifted.
A young man stepped into view.
Handso face. Jet-black hair. Crimson eyes that glead like coals.
Alvin narrowed his gaze.
’Well, look who showed up... the main character.’
The boy stepped closer, his tone sharp.
"Taking down a Tier-4 must’ve given you a huge lead, huh?"
He scoffed, eyes filled with quiet fire.
"I hate geniuses like you."
Then he smiled—not warmly, but with a hint of challenge.
"But it doesn’t matter. Once I beat you, everyone will know I’m stronger. Even if you beca first ranker."
A spear appeared in his hands. Long, sleek, and glowing with a red blade edged in blue.
"I’m Dalton Noctis," he said coldly. "Co at ."
Alvin tightened his grip on the dull blade in his hand.
’He’s here already?’
’In the ga, he was supposed to et so support characters and team up to beat the fox.’
’And what’s with this grudge against geniuses? Wasn’t he one too?’
***
Inside the VIP guest room...
Oliver Noctis sat in silence, his gaze locked on the screen as he watched his son confront Alvin.
His expression was sharp.
’Don’t lose to him, Dalton. Even if he finishes first... if you defeat him, he’ll just be a puppet with no real power.’
Then he noticed sothing.
"Hm?"
He turned slightly, eyes narrowing at the man beside him.
Erwin Vaelcrest wore a faint frown, his gaze unfocused—almost distant.
"Sothing wrong, Erwin?" Oliver asked.
Erwin shook his head slowly. "No... I just find that boy familiar."
***
On the battlefield, the clash had begun.
Both Alvin and Dalton moved in a blur—two Late-stage Experts exchanging blows faster than the eye could follow.
Dalton lunged, his spear flashing forward in a vicious thrust.
Alvin leaned to the side, avoiding it by inches. In the sa breath, he slashed toward Dalton’s extended arm.
Dalton’s eyes glinted, and lightning sparked around him as he jerked back.
’I nearly lost my arm...’
Alvin’s expression stayed calm as he studied his opponent.
’That reaction speed... it’s not normal for soone at the Late-Expert stage.’
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Wind surged around Alvin’s body, enhancing his speed and strength.
They moved again.
Spear and sword clashed in a flurry of blows, shockwaves rippling with each impact.
Dalton spun his spear mid-swing, lightning crackling at his feet.
Then suddenly,
He slamd the weapon into the ground.
"Lightning Surge!"
Arcs of lightning erupted from the point of impact, spreading out like serpentine tendrils in every direction.
Alvin’s eyes narrowed.
’An area attack? At this range?’
Caught off guard, he hadn’t expected Dalton to cast a wide-range spell during a close-quarters fight.
But Alvin didn’t hesitate.
His body flickered.
Shadow Step.
He vanished from the spell’s radius in an instant.
Dalton blinked. "What?"
Before he could turn, Alvin stepped into his shadow.
A kick smashed into Dalton’s ribs.
"Argh!"
Dalton stumbled back, pain flaring across his side.
He coughed, then grinned.
"Dual elents, huh? Not bad..."
Flas began to swirl around his spear.
"But you’re not the only one who has them."
Alvin simply stared, his expression dull and uninterested.
That look made Dalton grit his teeth.
Veins bulged on his neck as he raised the spear behind him and snarled—
"Fire Lance!"
A blazing spear of fla shot through the air toward Alvin.
Without a word, Alvin raised his hand and shifted it slightly to the side.
The fire lance veered off course, redirected by wind without a hint of urgency.
It slamd into the ground behind him.
BOOM!
The explosion lit up the arena.
Smoke and fire rolled through the air, but Alvin didn’t flinch.
He just stood there, eyes still fixed on Dalton.
"I’ve had enough fun for today," Alvin said, his voice flat.
Then he moved.
Dalton barely had ti to raise his spear before Alvin was on him.
No flashy spell. No warning.
Just speed—wind-enhanced, razor-sharp, and relentless.
CLANG!
The dull blade crashed against the shaft of Dalton’s spear, sending a jolt up his arms. He staggered but recovered fast, lightning crackling along his limbs for balance.
Dalton thrust his spear forward.
Alvin weaved around it like water, his sword dragging across the shaft in a deflecting slide. He twisted, pivoted, and ca down with a diagonal slash.
Dalton blocked again, sparks flying.
Step. Parry. Swipe. Pivot.
The clash between them turned primal—pure movent, instinct, and muscle mory.
Wind and lightning scread in the air as their elents surged within them, enhancing every strike, every dodge, every heartbeat.
Dalton ducked a slash and went for Alvin’s legs, but Alvin jumped—not high, just enough—and brought his foot down on the spearhead, pinning it to the ground.
Dalton yanked it free and spun, aiming a sweeping strike.
Alvin leaned back, almost too far, letting the blade graze the edge of his coat.
Then he stepped in.
Too close.
Dalton tried to retreat, but Alvin’s knee sank into his gut before he could.
"Guh—!"
Dalton reeled, his grip on the spear faltering.
Alvin didn’t give him ti.
A slash ca up from below—controlled, sharp, but stopping just short of skin. The wind trailing the blade left a thin cut across Dalton’s cheek.
He froze.
Alvin stood in front of him, blade hovering at his throat.
No killing intent. No bloodlust.
Just absolute control.
"You still need refinent," Alvin said.
Dalton clenched his fists, furious—but silent.
Around them, the arena had gone quiet.
Everyone watching had forgotten to breathe.
"Y-You didn’t even give ti to cast spells or techniques," Dalton said, his voice trembling with disbelief. "If I had, things would’ve been different."
Alvin paused, blinking.
’What...?’
That wasn’t sothing Dalton should’ve said. Not the Dalton from the ga.
He rembered him as confident—arrogant, even. A natural-born genius with the charisma to rally allies and crush enemies alike.
But this version?
This version looked broken.
As Alvin turned to leave, he caught Dalton whispering to himself.
"...Am I really that untalented?"
The words hit the air like a stone in still water.
"First it was Alvida... She beat with one punch."
"...And now so nobody’s stronger than ?"
"Am I... just not good enough?"
Alvin narrowed his eyes.
’Self-doubt?’
That wasn’t right. This wasn’t the Dalton he knew from the story.
Then it hit him—a change.
The air grew heavier. The wind stilled.
Alvin’s instincts scread. Danger. Sothing was coming.
Without hesitation, he stepped back—away from Dalton.
From a safe distance, he observed.
Dalton stood there, unmoving.
His body hadn’t changed. No surge of mana. No glowing core. No elental flare.
But sothing felt different.
Alvin’s grip tightened around his sword.
"Strange, this feeling? It can’t be?"
***
Regalia City, Central District...
Inside a quiet apartnt,
"Alice, are you still training?" Amanda called out from the living room.
A voice replied from behind a closed door, calm and casual.
"It’s done."
The door creaked open, and Alice stepped out. Her hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and she was still in gym clothes, a towel slung around her neck.
"Want to order sothing to eat, Mom?" she asked, drying her face.
Amanda shook her head. "No need. I’ll cook."
Alice froze mid-step, blinking.
"...What?" she said, almost unsure if she heard correctly. "You know how to cook?"
Amanda gave her a small smile.
"What, you think I can’t?"
She chuckled lightly, but her tone softened.
"Sigh... I-I never cooked for you, have I?"
There was a pause. Amanda glanced at the kitchen, her expression distant for a mont.
"When was the last ti I even made a al...? Twenty years? Maybe more?"
Alice watched her for a second, then smiled, trying to ease the shift in mood.
"Want to help?"
Amanda shook her head and walked toward the kitchen, her back straight.
"Go freshen up, kiddo. I’ve got this."
Alice nodded and disappeared down the hallway.
The apartnt settled into peaceful quiet.
After freshening up, Alice flopped onto the sofa, letting out a quiet sigh. Her damp hair brushed against the cushions as she tilted her head toward the kitchen.
A delicious sll drifted through the air.
Her stomach growled in protest.
Then her mobile rang.
BuzzBuzz
Alice blinked and picked up her phone from the table.
[Vice President: Crybaby]
Her eyebrow twitched.
’Why is she calling now...? Don’t tell there’s an issue with the entrance exam already.’
She answered the call with a hint of hesitation.
"P-President?"
Sera’s voice ca through the line imdiately, excited and a little frantic.
"If you’re free, you’ve gotta see this blue-haired kid!"
Alice sat up, confused. "What?"
"He soloed a Tier-4 monster—Tier-4!—and now he’s about to throw down with the heir of the Noctis family!"
Alice blinked, processing.
Sera didn’t stop. "We need to make him join the Student Council. Like now."
Alice let out a slow breath, already reaching for the remote.
"...What’s his na?"
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