Chapter 284 - 282 : A C-rank skill
The demonic stadium fell silent.
The rule Maya had announced even before hung over every human student like an executioner’s blade.
Only the first-place team would be safe.
Every other academy would have to offer one of their members as a sacrifice.
The representatives would choose.
And once again, the burden of deciding who lived and who died fell upon the people standing at the front.
Maya floated above the arena, watching the humans with a faint smile.
She looked pleased.
She wanted fear.
She wanted betrayal.
She wanted to watch alliances collapse as the strong sacrificed the weak to preserve their own futures.
Then Arthur spoke.
"Aaron Vale Valmont."
For a moment, nobody understood what he had said.
Then the Celestias Academy students froze.
Every head turned toward Arthur.
Aaron stood several steps away.
His dark-blue hair moved faintly in the cold wind of the demonic stadium. His expression remained still, but the shock in his eyes could not be hidden.
Aaron was one of the people who trusted Arthur most.
He had followed Arthur without hesitation.
He had believed in him when others doubted him.
He had trained because Arthur told him to train.
He had entered dangerous situations because he believed Arthur would not abandon him.
And now Arthur had chosen him.
Julia’s eyes widened.
Then she screamed.
"Arthur!"
Her voice echoed through the stadium.
"How could you tell my brother to die?"
Everyone looked toward Aaron.
Before Arthur could answer, Aaron stepped forward.
"Sister, stop."
Julia froze.
Aaron’s expression was calm.
Too calm.
"I accept this outcome."
Julia stared at him in disbelief.
"Aaron..."
Aaron lowered his gaze.
He was afraid.
Anyone could see it.
But he did not blame Arthur.
He did not argue.
He did not beg.
Maya burst into laughter.
"Perfect."
Her voice echoed through the demonic stadium.
She looked toward the other academies.
"How touching."
The representatives of Stormveil Academy and Raven Academy stepped forward almost immediately.
The Stormveil representative was a blond-haired boy with dark eyes. His expression was tense, but his voice remained firm.
"I will take full responsibility for my team."
The Raven Academy representative stepped beside him.
He had green hair and green eyes, and his body was trembling despite his effort to look confident.
"I will do the same."
The students behind them watched in silence.
They knew what those words meant.
Their leaders had chosen themselves.
They had decided to protect the others by walking forward.
Then Princess Salima, the vice-representative of Mirage Crown Academy, stepped forward.
Her long gray hair moved gently as she walked.
"I will also take responsibility for our failure."
John, Mirage Crown Academy’s representative, immediately turned toward her.
"Princess, I will—"
Salima stopped him with a raised hand.
"No need."
Her voice was calm.
"As royalty, it is my duty to take care of my people."
She looked at her teammates.
"You should focus on surviving the other matches."
John’s fists clenched.
But he could not argue.
Meanwhile, the other academies made their choices.
Glacier Peak Academy had won the Clash of Intellectuals Challenge.
They were exempt.
But for every other academy, someone had to be offered.
Lumina Academy chose one of its weakest members.
A young healer named meera.
She stood trembling in place, looking as though she might collapse at any moment. Tears filled her eyes as she stared toward the center of the arena.
Karina walked toward her.
The Saintess placed one hand on the girl’s shoulder.
"You should be glad."
The healer looked up at her.
Karina’s expression remained calm.
"You will enter the Goddess’s embrace."
Her voice was cold.
"Your death will pave the path to victory for the others and for me."
Meera’s lips trembled.
"Be grateful."
She could only nod.
The strong ruled.
The weak were sacrificed.
That was the law these academies had lived by.
And now, with death standing directly in front of them, that cruel law had become impossible to ignore.
The other academies were no different.
Martial Star Academy chose a boy named Hosen.
He stood with his fists clenched, but the fear in his eyes was clear.
Bryan had forced the decision.
The massive Martial Star representative did not even look at him.
From Cherry Blossom Academy, a girl with sky-blue hair was selected.
Her name was Sera.
She refused to step forward.
Her body shook as she stayed behind her teammates.
Then Amaya leaned close to her ear.
"Go now."
Her voice was sweet.
But deadly.
"Or I will kill you myself."
A chill ran down Sera’s spine.
She stepped forward.
From Iron Fortress Academy, a black-haired boy named Rion was chosen.
He looked toward his teammates.
None of them met his eyes.
From Black Star Academy, another boy named Ricky was selected.
He did not protest.
He only stared at the floor.
The final five had been chosen for the same reason.
They were considered the weakest links.
They were the easiest people to sacrifice.
Aaron stepped forward.
Arthur stopped him.
Then he held out something.
Aaron looked down.
It was a skill book.
His eyes widened.
"C-rank?"
Arthur nodded.
"I was looking for the right opportunity to give this to you."
Arthur’s expression became serious.
"It is the perfect skill for someone like you."
Then Arthur took a sword from his storage ring.
The weapon was plain at first glance.
But its dense mana made the air around it feel heavy.
Arthur handed it to Aaron.
"Take this too."
Aaron grabbed the sword.
His hand dropped slightly under its weight.
The weapon was much heavier than it looked.
Aaron frowned.
"What are you planning?"
Arthur looked directly into his eyes.
"Remember this."
His voice was quiet.
"You have a terrifying talent."
Aaron remained still.
"And I believe in you."
Arthur’s crimson eyes did not waver.
"So you need to believe in me too."
Aaron stared at the skill book.
Then at the sword.
His breathing became steadier.
He nodded.
"I understand."
He walked toward the center of the arena.
No one came forward to help him.
No one tried to stop Arthur.
Everyone knew the truth.
If they interfered, they might be chosen as the next sacrifice.
Maya watched them with amusement.
"Perfect."
She raised her hand.
"Now, do not be sad."
The chosen students looked toward her.
"I am not going to tell you to just die."
Several students blinked.
Maya’s smile widened.
"I will give all of you a chance to survive."
Her eyes glinted.
"I made some changes."
Maya flicked her fingers.
The nine chosen candidates were teleported into the center of the arena.
Aaron.
The representatives of Stormveil and Raven Academy.
Princess Salima.
Meera.
Hosen.
Sera.
Rion.
Ricky.
They appeared in a large circle beneath the blood-red light of the demonic stadium.
Maya looked down at them.
"All of you will be given an opportunity."
She smiled.
"If you survive these people."
The demonic crowd cheered.
Then four figures stepped forward from the stands.
They jumped into the arena.
Boom!
The ground cracked beneath their feet.
The first was a vampire.
Rikishi.
He had long silver hair, pale skin, and crimson eyes. His smile revealed sharp fangs, and a crimson aura swirled around his body.
Beside him stood a dark elf woman.
Alima.
Her long dark-blue hair flowed down her back, and her violet eyes glowed with contempt. She carried a curved blade covered in glowing green runes.
The third was a demon.
Pazuzu.
His body was tall and heavily built, covered in dark red skin and black markings. Curved horns rose from his forehead, and smoke escaped from his mouth whenever he breathed.
The final figure was a werewolf.
Velkan.
He had a massive body covered in gray-black fur. His yellow eyes glowed with hunger, and his claws dug into the stone floor.
The demonic races cheered loudly for them.
Their champions.
Their hunters.
Their entertainment.
Alima, the dark elf woman, looked at the human students with disgust.
"How demeaning."
She clicked her tongue.
"To personally kill such low-ranked humans."
Rikishi smiled.
"Yes."
His eyes moved across the humans.
"I really wanted that Arthur boy to come here."
His fangs showed.
"I have a feeling his blood is valuable."
Rikishi’s expression became interested.
"I felt a strange sense of kinship from him."
Alima looked toward Arthur in the distance.
"You are right."
Her violet eyes narrowed.
"I also sensed the power of the World Tree from him."
Pazuzu’s deep voice rumbled.
"You two as well?"
His eyes burned with demonic greed.
"I felt a strong demonic Authority from that boy."
Velkan growled.
"Enough."
He pointed toward the nine humans.
"Let us kill them all and use them as sacrifices."
His yellow eyes gleamed.
"Remember, that woman named Maya promised us all these humans, dead or alive."
He licked his lips.
"We can divide them among ourselves and conduct our own sacrifice rituals."
Maya’s voice interrupted them.
"Enough talking."
The four turned toward her.
Maya looked at the nine candidates.
"So, candidates."
Her voice echoed across the stadium.
"You have an opportunity to survive."
"Kill them all."
The students stared at the four opponents.
Then Maya added casually.
"There is only one catch."
Her smile became cruel.
"They are all peak S-rankers."
The chosen students froze.
Maya laughed.
"In other words, you are all going to die unless you work together."
She spread her arms.
"So good luck."
A massive holographic screen materialized above the center of the arena.
A countdown appeared.
10.
9.
8.
Aaron looked toward Arthur.
Arthur stood inside the Celestias Academy section.
He gave Aaron a single nod.
Aaron closed his eyes.
He focused.
Then he opened them.
His pupils changed.
’I can see it.’
The space around him became different.
Points appeared in his perception.
Locations.
Objects.
People.
Structures.
Every position in the arena became clear.
The skill Arthur had given him was called Spatial Locations.
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[ Skill Name: Spatial Locations ]
[ Rank: C-Rank ]
[ Type: Spatial Perception ]
Description:
Allows the user to perceive nearby spatial points and determine the exact location of objects, people, and structures within their range.
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Aaron breathed slowly.
He could see the points.
The positions of enemies.
The cracks in the ground.
The location of every obstacle.
The invisible lines between spaces.
Meanwhile, Maya watched from above.
She remembered Arthur’s request.
He had asked her to give the students chosen for sacrifice a chance to fight back.
This was what she had given them.
Nine students.
Four peak S-rankers.
Impossible odds.
Maya knew they were all going to die anyway.
So why had Arthur asked?
Why had he bothered?
Maya narrowed her eyes.
’What is that boy planning?’
The countdown continued.
3.
2.
1.
Zero.
Boom!
A golden domain exploded across the arena.
The pressure was immense.
A vast golden presence spread through the stadium.
The ground cracked.
The demonic crowd stopped cheering.
Then a second domain spread over the first.
Crimson.
Violent.
Ancient.
A red domain covered the golden one.
For a moment, no one could move.
Maya’s eyes widened.
A notification appeared before Arthur.
[ Dragon King’s Domain Activated. ]
[ Domain of the Blood Monarch Activated. ]
The pressure crushed the arena.
Even the peak S-rankers struggled to breathe.
Rikishi’s smile vanished.
Alima’s eyes widened.
Pazuzu’s horns trembled.
Velkan’s claws scraped against the stone.
The nine students were also trapped.
But one person could still move.
Aaron.
His Dimension Walker talent allowed him to move through dimensions.
To hide between spaces.
To slip past the pressure that had frozen everyone else.
And he understood now.
He understood what Arthur wanted from him.