Starfall Auditorium, Swordflower University.
As Arsenal spoke, he quickly ushered Sonia to the nearby commentary table, where she sat down obediently and, for once, kept her mouth shut.
As long as no one asked her a question, she could maintain her self-control.
Her emotions were a mixed bag—part worry, part relief. The worry was obvious: she had just offended two esteemed professors in quick succession. The relief? She had primarily insulted Rhythm Sword Saint Nidala, who had always been at odds with her mentor, Telozan. Surely, Telozan would shield his little apprentice.
As for Weapon Master Oleron, the solution was simple: Sonia just had to avoid setting foot in Truth University's campus. Oleron wasn't likely to cross schools just to give her trouble.
The only real casualty was her dream of becoming a professional host or a star. That future now seemed bleak.
On stage, the first match was underway. Lorraine Z, a senior from Swordflower, was paired against Riggan Carroll of Truth University. Lorraine had once been a thorn in Sonia's side and a relative of her former rival, Celia. Although not as strong as Leonie, Lorraine was a member of Swordflower's competition team, capable of taking on both Sonia and Felix at the same time.
"Lorraine," Riggan sneered, drawing a menacing bow. "I heard you've resorted to bullying freshmen lately. Can't grow stronger, so you lash out at those weaker than you? Swordflower's student culture is truly inspiring."
"And Riggan, don't forget who snapped your bowstring last year," Lorraine shot back, gripping his sword tightly.
"Yeah? And who planted an arrow in your backside?"
Arsenal skimmed their profiles. "These two clashed in last year's league tournament. A year later, it seems they're ready to settle the score. What do you think, Miss Servi?"
Arsenal wasn't intentionally provoking her this time; it was scripted. Sonia's role in this segment was to analyze both contestants' strengths, techniques, and prior records. He decided to take a leap of faith, hoping she'd stick to the script.
He forgot that the script said, "Introduce the contestants," not, "What's your opinion?"
Meeting Sonia's resigned gaze, Arsenal immediately realized his mistake.
"I think these two are wasting everyone's time trash-talking. Why don't they start fighting already so we can have some fun?"
Lorraine's face twitched as he launched the first attack, lunging forward in a straight thrust.
Riggan sidestepped with a deft movement, drawing a silver energy arrow in the blink of an eye. The roles of attacker and defender reversed instantly.
"Brilliant! A swordplay miracle: Shooting Star Thrust! But Riggan is unfazed. Known for his skill in group combat, his archery proves equally lethal in close quarters," Arsenal narrated. "Lorraine will need to keep his wits about him."
"Ah, there's the signature Stepping Steel Arrow! Riggan's hallmark miracle, allowing him to shoot a powerful arrow mid-dodge. Lorraine's defensive spirit barely held up!"
"An aggressive counterattack! But Riggan neutralizes it and re-establishes distance!"
As the match continued, Arsenal's commentary filled the room. His voice grew hoarse, and he instinctively turned to Sonia. "What's your take on the match so far?"
To his credit, it was an automatic response—a veteran broadcaster's tactic to fill dead air while hydrating.
Sonia's response was chillingly precise.
"Lorraine's losing. He's a speed-based fighter, and Riggan's built for endurance and distance control. But Riggan lacks explosive miracles. If Lorraine is willing to sacrifice an arm to close the gap, he has a shot at turning the tide."
Her calm analysis drew surprised looks from the audience—especially from Nidala, Oleron, and the two contestants on stage.
The moment Sonia finished, Lorraine moved. With a sudden burst of speed, he closed the distance, slashing a massive Cross Blade Miracle that engulfed the stage like an executioner's guillotine.
"You think that's enough?" Riggan sneered, slipping through the energy slash unscathed and loosing an arrow toward the charging Lorraine.
This time, Lorraine didn't dodge or parry. He took the arrow with his arm, closing the gap in a desperate gamble.
Caught off guard, Riggan fired three explosive arrows in quick succession. The shots howled like meteors, each carrying enough power to split a man in half.
But Lorraine was relentless. He activated his defensive spirit, taking the arrows head-on to secure his advance.
When the dust settled, Lorraine's arm was a mangled mess, blood dripping through punctures and fractures. Yet his sword was at Riggan's throat.
In seconds, the fight had flipped on its head.
"The winner of the first match: Lorraine Z of Swordflower University!" Arsenal declared.
Medics rushed to tend to Lorraine's injuries, while Riggan stood motionless on stage, humiliated but unscathed.
"Next up, we have—" Arsenal began.
"You!" Riggan interrupted, pointing a shaking finger at Sonia. "Sitting there spouting nonsense! If you're so smart, why don't you get up here?"
"Riggan!" Oleron snapped, his face darkening.
"If it weren't for her idiotic commentary, I wouldn't have lost!" Riggan argued. "I can't stand people like her—always pointing fingers, never stepping up! Come fight me if you think you're so great!"
"Sure," Sonia said, standing up.
Riggan blinked. "What?"
"You heard me. Let's fight." Sonia stepped onto the stage, her voice cold. "I've had enough of your whining. You lost because you're weak, not because of me. But since you're so eager to prove otherwise, let's go."
"You think you can win? You're a first-year, right?" Riggan scoffed, summoning nearly-complete Silver Wings behind him. "I bet you can't even muster enough spirit power to match a feather."
Before Arsenal could intervene, Sonia unfurled her own Silver Wings—fully formed, dazzling under the starlight.
The crowd gasped.
"You wanted to compare spirit power? Perfect. I've been itching to show these off," Sonia said, brushing her wings. "Be honored to be my stepping stone. Your defeat will pave the way for my glory."
Even Sonia wasn't sure if her bold words were driven by her mysterious compulsion or genuine confidence. She just knew one thing: it felt amazing.
As she strode toward the stage, Riggan instinctively stepped back.
Before the fight could begin, a sudden ripple of energy drew everyone's attention to the sky.
Above the retractable ceiling, a radiant star seemed to burst with sorcery. A figure plummeted through the light, landing squarely in the auditorium—right in front of Sonia.
The intruder wasted no time, lunging toward Sonia in a desperate attempt to take her hostage.
But Sonia was faster. Channeling her Darklight Slash, she forced him back. The intruder hesitated, realizing the "random girl" was a sorcerer.
He pivoted, opting to escape. But before he could make it far, two hands clamped down on his shoulders like iron chains.
"You're marked by Starlight Shackles," Oleron said calmly.
The intruder looked down to see glowing blue rings around his neck, wrists, and ankles—bindings he hadn't even noticed until now.
"You're an outsider, tagged as an invasive entity by the Stellar Nation. No teleporting for you," Nidala added, gazing at the shimmering portal above.
The intruder's chip flashed red with a self-destruct warning.
"Not so fast," Nidala muttered, neutralizing the command with a wave of his hand.
But even without the chip, the man's body began to disintegrate—blood boiling, bones liquefying, memories unraveling. As he dissolved, a malicious smile spread across his face.
He didn't need to say it. His demise would bring misfortune to everyone here.