While Illusionary Feather was taken away by the silver-haired queen Avira, and Belka’s group rushed to help, a squad of black-clad figures raced southward toward the Teleportation Array at Dragon Rearing Mountain, southwest of Dragon Tamer Academy. None rode dragons, yet their speed through the forest rivaled flying mounts—clearly elite fighters.
“How much farther, boss?” a voice called from the rear.
“Three or four hours,” the leader replied.
“Finally,” another sighed with relief.
Silence fell as they pressed on.
Meanwhile, Illusionary Feather followed Avira and Misha to a colossal structure. From his months of research, Huyu recognized it: the Mech Combat Arena, used yearly during Mechanical Campus’s Youth Festival. Despite its name, it wasn’t illicit—it was where students poured their passion. Every festival, it overflowed with crowds. Students from all three non-Inventor professions—Mechanic Engineers, Dragon Engineers, and Magic Engineers—fought here in 1v1, 3v3, 5v5, and free-for-all matches.
It was also where victors confessed to crushes. Win or lose, if your fight fired up the crowd, you could shout your beloved’s name before the entire plaza. If she stepped forward? Congratulations. If not? Try harder next time.
Inventors could join too—but only after faculty assessed their gear. Unsafe weapons got banned. After all, Inventors crafted all sorts of things, battle tools included.
Dragon Engineers were deadliest in combat, striking unseen. Mechanic Engineers? Their Mechs were terrifying, but they themselves were easy targets. Magic Engineers unleashed the strongest area attacks—usually swarmed and eliminated early.
*A good place. I should compete someday.* Huyu eyed the arena’s cylindrical walls and dome roof. *But why are we here today?*
As Avira led him toward the main gate, Huyu spotted long ticket lines. He recalled the archives: *“Except during Youth Festival or major holidays, this arena is for sparring and battle practice.”*
*So she wants to spar with me.*
Some idiot had spread rumors: *“The Silver-Haired Queen will duel the StudentCouncil newbie at the arena—to draw out the Blade Dance Queen for a showdown.”* Now thousands queued for tickets. The arena held 150,000.
*Mechanical Campus has only 300,000–400,000 students. Half the campus could fit here. Terrifying.*
Huyu trudged behind Avira. He’d wronged her first. This “compensation” felt excessive, but he had no choice.
Soon after, Belka’s group arrived. Seeing the endless queue, they prepared to wait—but everyone recognized the StudentCouncil President. Especially Belka, the Blade Dance Queen, Avira’s equal in fame. Rumors claimed *she* might duel Avira today. The crowd parted instantly, waiving tickets.
Inside, Belka spotted Huyu and Avira facing each other on the massive stage, twenty meters apart. Huyu looked utterly miserable, yawning repeatedly. Nearby, Blazing Heart sat ringside beside a fiery-haired girl—Misha.
*Time to get answers,* Belka thought.
---
In a quiet forest far from the arena’s chaos, the black-clad squad neared the Teleportation Array. Pushing through dense woods, they entered a grassy clearing. Ahead stood an ancient building, swallowed by emerald vines.
“Is this it, boss?” a talkative member asked.
“Yes,” the leader rasped. “This leads to Dragon Rearing Mountain. Our target: the artifact left by the mighty Black Dragon, as the old texts describe.”
“Let’s hurry! Before the Academy finds us!” another urged.
The leader waved sharply. Silence fell. They advanced cautiously, weapons ready. At the entrance, he tossed a stone inside. *Tap-tap-tap.* It landed harmlessly.
Slowly, they entered. Stone walls, cracked with age, radiated ancient pressure. The corridor stretched into pitch darkness.
Cowards would’ve fled. These men didn’t flinch. The leader traced the wall, pressed a hidden switch—and torches flared to life from the entrance inward.
“Stay alert,” he ordered, leading the way.
---
Back at the arena, Belka learned the truth from Misha: Half a month ago, Huyu had sought Branch 19’s help to search Mechanical Campus. He’d crossed paths with Avira, the Discipline Committee Head, returning from a mission. He’d promised her a favor in exchange for aid—but forgot. Today, she’d cornered him on the street to “settle the debt.”
StudentCouncil members had principles. Since Huyu was at fault, they couldn’t interfere. They settled beside Misha to watch.
Huyu noticed Belka’s group. He’d hoped for rescue—but saw only eager spectators led by Belka. His shoulders slumped. Drowsiness crept over him.
---
The black-clad thieves reached a corridor bend. As their leader prepared another test, stone slabs slammed shut behind them. Iron spikes shot from the walls.
“Run!”
They sprinted forward. Rear guards raised earth and ice shields—shattered instantly by the spikes. But the delay bought them time.
*Did they think Dragon Tamer Academy’s Teleportation Array was unguarded?* These traps were crafted by the Integrated Tower—the pinnacle of global tech. Several thieves bled from minor wounds.
They burst into a vast central hall. A massive Teleportation Array dominated the floor. Ten square niches lined the walls, each holding a circular pedestal—for mana-storing crystal orbs to power the array.
Hope flared—but the leader checked his team’s injuries first. After quick treatment, ten men placed their orbs into the niches.
Light erupted. They leaped into the array’s glow—and vanished.
On the 52nd floor of the Integrated Tower, Maria Bella sensed the disturbance.
*Intruders at Dragon Rearing Mountain!*
---
**Mech Combat Arena**
The referee blew his whistle. Avira’s hands flashed—a rapid-fire crossbow materialized, loaded with ten bolts. Huyu? He was asleep.
Yet his aura shifted. Even with closed eyes, he radiated threat. Avira didn’t hesitate. She fired twenty bolts in a cross-pattern, aiming to pin him like a pincushion.
Huyu’s hand snapped to his waistband. Front-row girls blushed, imagining his pants dropping. Avira knew better—this opponent was dangerous.
*Clang-clang!* His “belt” unfurled: a 1.8-meter black flexible sword, deflecting every bolt. The girls exhaled in relief. *Why hide a sword there?!*
Huyu heard none of it. He fought in his sleep.
His strength was diminished—but still enough to win or draw.
Avira retreated. Gear materialized across her body—stored in her Contract Seal, ready to arm any limb. Shoulder-mounted pellet launchers clicked at her elbows. *Ten shots. Weak individually, deadly in spread.* She fired.
Illusionary Feather countered the widespread attack with an unexpected defense—a pitch-black barrier sprang before him, swallowing every pellet. What felt off was that no one could see inside the arena anymore; the entire dueling ground was wrapped in darkness, forcing the whole crowd to stand up. Minutes dragged on, but the black curtain refused to fade.
If not for the constant clash of combat echoing within, everyone would’ve left in disappointment or called for teachers. Only one person stayed calm, watching intently: Blazing Heart, Illusionary Feather’s little companion. The darkness couldn’t block her sight, and since she usually looked blank-faced, Belka and the others paid her no mind.
Just as the clanging and clattering of metal strikes filled the air nonstop—
—the ten black-clad figures who’d entered Dragon Rearing Mountain began advancing deeper under their leader’s orders.
By afternoon, many had lost patience and left. As the last spectators prepared to depart, the black curtain vanished. Inside, both fighters knelt on one knee, drenched in sweat. Avira’s clothes were soaked through and torn; Illusionary Feather was no better.
Avira glanced up at Illusionary Feather, ready to surrender—when both collapsed simultaneously, no clear order between them. An obvious draw. The referee teacher announced the result. Many were still stunned: Level Nine’s silver-haired queen, Avira, had tied with a StudentCouncil clerk. That clerk might be the academy’s eleventh Level Nine. While the crowd stood frozen, Misha and StudentCouncil members rushed onstage, helping both fighters up and leading them away from the dueling arena. News of Illusionary Feather’s tie with the silver-haired queen spread like wildfire among those who remained.
Peace? It had vanished again.
