The crowd cheered as the battle royale kept going. Liora shouted from across the arena:
"Noah! Be careful!"
My status window popped up in front of me.
✅ Hidden Side Mission Complete
— New Skills: Black Vortex, Black Lightning
— Stamina +5
— Mana +5
I blinked. "When did I complete a hidden mission?"
But I didn't have time to think.
Brutus the Black Warden—a giant wall of armor—was walking toward me. He looked like he could crush a mountain.
I raised my sword. My body was still tired from the last fight. My black sword felt heavy in my hand.
The Fight Begins
Brutus swung his huge axe. I barely dodged. The floor cracked where I had just been standing. The force of it knocked me over.
The crowd gasped.
I coughed, and blood hit the stone floor.
That's not good, I thought.
I looked up. In the stands, I saw my mom standing with her hands together, cheering. "You can do it, Noah!"
Next to her, I saw Vivianne. She smiled calmly, like this was all going according to plan.
She's probably enjoying this, I joked in my head, even though I could barely stand.
Standing Again
My knees shook, but I forced myself up.
The status window blinked again:
🔓 New Boost Activated
— Temporary Stat Boost
— Stamina +10
— Mana +10
— Black Vortex + Dark Dimension can now combine
I gripped my sword tighter.
Brutus charged again.
His axe glowed with red and black magic. He swung it down with all his strength.
I held my sword up and yelled:
"Black Dimensional Vortex Slash!"
My sword glowed with black fire, spinning like a storm. A blast of shadows and lightning ripped through the air.
My slash hit Brutus's attack.
The force exploded—wind and smoke shot everywhere.
Everything went quiet.
Brutus dropped his axe.
Then—he fell.
I don't know what hurt more—my ribs, my legs, or the sound of my heart still beating when I expected it to stop.
The final battle was over.
I had actually survived.
But that didn't mean we won.
I lay on the cold arena floor, blinking up at the sky. The floating battlefield around me was broken in pieces. Smoke drifted through the air. It looked like a war zone.
My sword—still glowing faintly with black flames—was stuck in the stone next to me. My body? A wreck. I was covered in cuts, my mana almost gone, and my limbs felt like jelly.
Then came the soft ding.
✅ Hidden Side Mission Complete
🩺 Stats Increased
– Stamina +5
– Mana +5
Mission Complete: Survive Today
🍀 Luck: 5 → 7
🧬 Body Gained Healthy Cells
I stared at the floating window and laughed. It sounded broken, dry, and tired—but it was still a laugh.
I was alive.
Somehow.
I glanced to the stands.
Through my blurry vision, I saw my mom—cheering like her son had just brought home a gold medal and free dessert. Vivianne stood next to her, smiling proudly like she already knew I'd survive. (Honestly, I think she placed bets.)
Farther across the arena, I saw everyone resting in their team sections.They looked beat up—but alive.
I gave a weak thumbs up toward Liora. She didn't see it. Probably because she was too busy trying not to vomit.
Later that day we were all cleaned up and sitting in our academy robes, waiting for the results.
The banners for all four academies hung tall in the dome:
Cyran Academy
Gravesend Institute
Nysira Academy
Elaris Academy
The crowd of nobles, students, royals, and teachers filled every seat.
Headmaster Dorian Graymoor stepped forward. He held a sealed scroll and a strange twinkle in his eye.
"After careful review," he said, "the final scores are in."
🏆 Final Scores
Gravesend Institute — 47 Points
Cyran Academy — 46 Points
Nysira Academy — 38 Points
Elaris Academy — 34 Points
We lost.
By one point.
I couldn't even be mad.
Gravesend had Brutus and Vex Umbra. They were monsters.
Still… the cheers for Cyran were loud. Almost louder than for Gravesend.
Graymoor raised his hand again.
"And now… the Player of the Tournament Award."
I slumped in my chair.
Don't say it. Don't say it. Don't—
"Noah Drakopoulos, please step forward."
I wanted to melt into the floor.
Instead, I stood. Slowly. Wobbling.
The crowd clapped—then erupted into cheers.
I swear I heard someone scream "That's the sick kid!"
Graymoor handed me a shining silver pin.
"Congratulations," he said. "You did something extraordinary. You survived."
Back in my seat, I held the crest in my hands.
And for once, I didn't feel like the background character.
The next day I was back where I always seemed to end up: the infirmary bed.
Nurse Vivianne checked my temperature. I waved her off.
"Still alive," I said.
"Barely," she said, smirking.
Liora came in to visit. She was covered in bandages, dragging a tray of grapes.
"You owe me," she said.
"For what?"
"For not dying," she grinned.
"I'll put it on your tab," I said.
The Status Window floated quietly in front of me:
📘 Mission Complete: Survive the Day
🎲 Luck: 7-10
❤️ Condition: Stabilized
🛡️ New Mission Incoming…
I groaned.
"Don't tell me there's more."
After the tournament, after the infirmary, after Liora stuffed grapes in my mouth like I was a retired hero, I finally got to do something I hadn't done in a while:
Go back to my dorm.
It was quiet at first. Peaceful. I pushed open the door to Dorm One, ready to crash on my bed, take a long nap, and pretend I was normal for five minutes.
Instead?
"SURPRISE!!!"
Confetti exploded in my face. Glitter. Streamers. Noise spells. One kid even released tiny floating cupcakes.
The entire male dorm was there. Nobles, quiet ones, loud ones, even the ones who always pretended I didn't exist. All clapping, cheering, shouting:
"NOAH!"
"BLACK FLAMES!"
"THE GUY WHO DIDN'T DIE!"
A big "WELCOME BACK, CHAMPION" banner was floating in the air. Someone had drawn me slashing Brutus with fire. I looked ten times cooler than in real life.
"Uh…" I blinked. "This is for me?"
"Duh," said one guy, handing me juice. "You didn't just fight. You won hearts."
"I also lost my spleen," I muttered.
They pulled me to the middle of the room. Music spells played in the background. Someone handed me a plate of roasted meat and bread. It smelled like victory.
I actually smiled. This? This was nice.
I even laughed. Talked to people. I was finally part of the school. Part of the dorm. Not just the sick noble in the shadows.
And then I collapsed.
One minute I was holding a piece of meat.
Next minute?
Boom. Floor. Cold.
Someone yelled.
I barely heard it.
Everything spun.
It was like my body finally decided, "We did a lot today. Let's shut down now."
The guys rushed to help. I was lifted onto a couch. Someone called Nurse Vivianne. She told them it was normal… for me.
"Just let him rest," she said. "His body's still catching up with his soul."
Whatever that meant.
I laid there, eyes half-open.
Everyone calmed down. The party slowed. My head was fuzzy. My breathing uneven.
Then the Status Window popped up again.
⚠️ New Mission Unlocked!
🕵️♂️ Stop the Assassination of Elizabeth Argento
🎯 Target: Elizabeth Argento
🎁 Reward: Healthy Lungs
I stared.
Then coughed once.
"Are you kidding me?" I whispered. "I just finished surviving a bloody tournament. Now I have to play bodyguard?"
I wheezed.
"…for a girl who might actually kill me one day."