BOOM!

Where the arena floor had been smooth, a crimson-and-black stone coffin now stood. Opposite it, a long blade radiating pale blue energy stabbed straight into the ground.

The coffin lid creaked open. A creeping chill made every spectator tug their clothes tighter.

Inside lay a pale blue war spear, waiting silently for its master.

Students instinctively pulled out phones, scanning the weapons with their Student Handbooks:

【Snowfall Thousand Chills | Grade: Exclusive | Owner: Lin Zhong】

【Kunitsugu Masamune | Grade: Fine | Owner: Sebastian】

The Handbook could identify weapon grades, but full details required the owner’s permission.

"Ex... Exclusive-grade? Are you kidding me?"

"No way!"

Disbelieving murmurs flooded the arena. Exclusive weapons—every student’s ultimate dream.

Fewer than a hundred existed in the entire Fool Academy. Yet this guy owned one?

*Snowfall Thousand Chills? At least it’s not Radiant Glory.*

Su Han’s knotted brow eased slightly. She knew Lin Zhong’s weapon intimately—but these two blades represented two identities:

Fool Academy’s hero... and its most despised traitor.

CRACK!

Figures emerged from staircases on both sides of the arena.

A handsome guy in black tactical gear. And another in a hooded sweatshirt, hands buried in pockets.

*Exclusive weapon?*

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed at the ominous coffin. System ratings reflected containment needs—not prestige. Exclusive weapons were too dangerous to sheathe normally. Unlike his own blade, human-forged and stable.

He yanked the pale sword from the earth and slid it into its scabbard. Fine-grade—just one tier above common.

But "Fine" wasn’t weak. Even legendary blades like the XuanYuan Sword or Pangu’s Axe were rated Fine.

Weapons above Fine only dropped from Dungeon Instances. That was iron law.

*Kunitsugu Masamune*—Sebastian’s blade. A top-tier Fine weapon rivaling divine artifacts.

*SNAP!*

Lin Zhong’s hand closed the coffin lid. The chilling aura vanished with a sigh.

"What’s he doing?"

"No weapon? No armor? Is he insane?"

Contempt deepened in every onlooker’s eyes. Such arrogance—disdaining weapons entirely.

"You bastard!"

Sebastian’s grip tightened on Kunitsugu Masamune. If not for the countdown freeze, he’d have charged already.

This casual disdain shattered a Sword Wielder’s dignity.

【Martial Arts Division, Year 3: Moonblade Sebastian – Ready】

【Ability Division, Year 2: White Reaper Lin Zhong – Ready】

【3... 2... 1】

【BEGIN!】

The countdown ended. Sebastian drew his sword. A razor-sharp blade aura sliced toward Lin Zhong, tearing the air apart.

The shrieking vacuum closed in—but Lin Zhong stood frozen.

*Freeze.*

His palm lifted. Ice mist coalesced into a war spear. Unlike Snowfall Thousand Chills, this one radiated no aura—just an ordinary weapon.

"Boring."

Lin Zhong flicked the spear. The blade aura shattered against its shaft.

"He blocked it?"

Spectators gaped. Sebastian’s 700,000-credit bounty move—deflected so easily?

Their shock meant nothing to the fighters.

Sebastian lunged, sword already arcing toward Lin Zhong’s throat.

*Sword Art: Lotus.*

His wrist twisted. Kunitsugu Masamune sheathed itself—then flashed out faster.

Blade auras stabbed at Lin Zhong’s weak points.

Yet the ice spear was always there, intercepting each strike. Every aura dissolved on contact.

*Sword Art: Shadow Slash.*

Sebastian leaped back—but his blade had already left its sheath. A shadow-double mimicked his motion, moving faster, striking erratically.

*Circle Dance Strike.*

Lin Zhong didn’t block the shadow. He thrust his spear through its core, twisted his wrist—and slammed it into the ground. Dust exploded.

But he wasn’t done. His figure burst from the debris.

The spear tip hooked under Sebastian’s guard, hurling him skyward.

*Tap!*

Lin Zhong leaped after him. Sheets of ice formed beneath his feet with every step.

*How is this Ability Division?*

Doubt struck every mind. Academies had three divisions:

Ability users blended supernatural powers and martial arts—but their gifts were rare.

Magic Division sacrificed defense for raw spellcasting—if closed in on, they were helpless.

Martial Arts Division mastered body and blade. "Unstoppable up close" defined them.

Yet Lin Zhong was dominating a high-level Martial Arts student in close combat.

Who was the real Martial Arts Division student here?

Back in the arena, Sebastian twisted midair, readying a counter.

*Triple Shadow Flash!*

He gripped Kunitsugu Masamune, eyes locked on Lin Zhong’s approach.

Closer... closer... *now!*

Three massive blade auras sliced toward Lin Zhong’s landing points.

But—empty air.

Sebastian stared at the ice platform. No one stood there.

"Pity. I’m not there."

Lin Zhong’s voice came from directly above. His other hand—previously in his pocket—snapped out. Fingers clenched. Ice fog sheathed his fist.

"Now... who’s the Martial Arts Division?"