The words hung in the air, heavy and cruel.

...Grip!

"What the hell is that supposed to mean, Gray!?" Selene tightened her grip on her sword, her teeth grinding together.

Gray gave a faint smirk, though his eyes remained lifeless.

"It means exactly what it sounds like."

The air around him trembled faintly, a dark pressure leaking from his body.

The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly, small pieces of dust floating upward from the force alone.

Lyra's heart pounded hard in her chest.

"…You're serious?" She could barely breathe as she whispered.

Gray didn't respond.

He simply lowered his stance, the blade of his rapier shifting to his side, the tip angled slightly upward, the stance of someone ready to cut down anyone who stepped forward.

Even without a word, the message was clear.

He wasn't joking.

At his words, Selina took a shaky step forward and spoke reluctantly.

"Then… what about Cassandra?" she asked, her eyes darting to the girl standing calmly at the far end of the arena, scythe in hand.

"You saw her fight before, Gray. How are we supposed to deal with her if we're not working together?"

"She's right. Cassandra's strong. Even you can't—" Lira frowned, gripping her sword tightly.

"I can win against her alone," Gray cut her off directly.

His words stunned them.

"…Which means I don't need your help."

The cold certainty in his tone sent a chill through the group.

Selene's jaw clenched in anger, while Lyra's heart dropped, her throat tightening. Even Ronan, still struggling to stand, looked at him in disbelief.

"Gray… you..."

He didn't look at her.

"Since none of you are making the first move," he suddenly spoke.

"I will."

Swoop!

He vanished.

The wind cracked where he stood just a heartbeat before. Dust exploded outward as the space he had occupied bent from the force of his movement.

"W-What—!? Where—!?" Selina's eyes widened as she spun around, searching frantically.

But what she didn't expect was that Gray was going to target their weak link once again.

"Shit—!" Ronan tried to step back, but he barely had time to raise his arms.

THUD!

Gray's knee slammed into his ribs.

The sound echoed through the arena, followed by Ronan's strangled gasp as his body was thrown across the ground, crashing and rolling several meters before stopping.

"Ronan!" Selina shouted, water already swirling around her palms.

She spun, forming a thick wall of water in front of her just as Gray's silhouette appeared behind it.

SWOOOOSH!

Her barrier split apart in an instant.

Gray's rapier pierced through it like it was air. Selina stumbled backward, barely dodging, but a strand of her blue hair fluttered away, sliced clean.

"Dammit!" She thrust both hands forward.

"Move!"

A surge of pressurized water exploded toward him, sweeping across the floor, but Gray sidestepped it easily, sliding low under the wave before twisting on his heel and appearing right behind her.

CRACK!

He kicked her legs out from under her and grabbed her collar, slamming her onto the ground before spinning away again.

"Selina!" Lyra yelled, lightning flashing across her body as she dashed forward, her blade glowing gold.

Zzzzzap!

Her sword cut through the air with blinding speed, but Gray parried it effortlessly with one hand.

Clang!

Sparks flew, the impact sending golden arcs across the ground.

"He's reading every move—!" Lira gritted her teeth, charging in beside Lyra.

She swung her sword in a wide arc, aiming to catch him off guard, but Gray ducked low, forcing her own strike to pass inches over his head.

Then, without missing a beat, he twisted his wrist.

CLANG!

His blade slid up Lira's guard, forcing her sword upward.

She stumbled a step back, and Gray's foot slammed into her stomach.

THUD!

"Ahh—!" Lira coughed as she flew backward, her armor scraping the ground.

"Stop holding back!" Selene shouted, her aura blade igniting with a bright white glow.

She dashed at full speed, her sword crackling with condensed mana.

BOOM!

She swung with both hands, her strike strong enough to shatter stone, but Gray tilted his head slightly, and her blade barely missed him by a hair.

He caught her wrist mid-swing.

Her eyes widened.

"...You're too slow to be able to land a single hit on me."

He twisted her arm sharply, forcing her to drop her weapon, then spun his rapier around, smacking the side of her face with the hilt.

CRACK!

Selene hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop as her aura flickered out.

Lyra clenched her teeth, golden lightning exploding out from her body.

"GRAY!" she screamed, her voice cracking with rage.

The lightning engulfed her, her speed doubling in an instant. She reappeared behind him in a flash, slashing diagonally.

ZZZZT!

CLANG!

Gray blocked it.

The force of her lightning strike sent a shock up his arm, but he didn't flinch. He twisted his blade, letting her momentum drag her forward, then elbowed her in the ribs.

She gasped, but before she could step back, Gray's hand caught her throat.

"…You're still too slow," he whispered coldly.

He threw her across the arena, her body sliding against the stone floor before crashing into Selina, who made sure that she didn't get thrown out of the arena.

'...Really?' Gray groaned inwardly

"Rrrgh…!" Ronan let out a painful groan, forcing himself to stand despite his injuries.

His knuckles bled as he summoned his gauntlets again, mana flaring weakly around him.

"I'm not done yet!"

He rushed forward, pushing through the pain, and threw a wild punch.

'Not you too...'

Swish!

SMACK!

Gray furrowed his eyebrows as he caught his blow easily.

His hand wrapped around Ronan's wrist, stopping his attack cold. Then, with a single step forward, he slammed his forehead into Ronan's nose.

CRACK!

Ronan's body went limp, and Gray shoved him aside without a second glance.

Selina had recovered enough to attack again, summoning a dozen water spears that flew toward him at high speed.

Swip, swip, swip!

Gray didn't move his feet and instead swung his sword at the spears.

Swish, swoop!

Each spear was cut down mid-air, shattered into mist before they could even touch him.

"Damn it—!" Selina stepped back, sweat beading on her forehead.

"How can he—"

Before she could finish, Gray appeared in front of her.

WHOOSH!

He swung his sword horizontally, not to cut, but to strike. The flat side hit her abdomen, the impact sending her flying.

She rolled several times before lying still, gasping for breath.

Lira tried one last desperate attack, charging from behind. She swung with both hands, screaming as her sword blazed with her aura.

Gray turned his head slightly and caught her sword between his fingers.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Impossible…" she whispered.

"You shouldn't shout before attacking," Gray didn't bother smiling.

He twisted the blade out of her hands and slammed the hilt of his rapier into her gut.

THUD!

She fell to her knees, coughing violently.

'Is that all...? Gray now stood in the middle of the arena again, surrounded by his fallen teammates.

All of them were groaning in the ground, not being able to move anymore.

Well... all of the except one.

"Agh..."

Lyra, shaking, slowly pushed herself up from the ground. Her hair was messy, her golden lightning flickering weakly around her.

Her eyes burned with anger and heartbreak.

'...It's just an exam, woman.'

Gray almost wanted to roll his eyes at her expression.

"…Why, Gray…?" she whispered, clutching her sword.

"Why are you doing this?"

Gray looked at her, his expression blank.

Then, without answering, he raised his rapier again.

"Because I can."

He vanished again, already swinging his rapier.

THUD!

Lyra's body went limp the instant the hilt connected with her temple.

Her sword slipped from her hand, clattering across the stone floor. Gray caught her before she could fall completely and, without a word, lifted her easily in his arms.

He carried her toward the edge of the arena, and when he reached the boundary, he set her down gently, resting her against the side wall like someone laying down a sleeping child.

Then he turned back.

Selina was already trying to crawl up, her hand trembling as she summoned a sphere of water in front of her.

"Stay… away…" she breathed.

Gray sighed quietly.

In a blink, he appeared in front of her.

SMACK!

The back of his rapier struck her neck. Her spell burst into mist as her body went limp, falling forward into his arms.

"Stubborn," he muttered under his breath.

He carried her the same way and placed her beside Lyra.

The faint glow of the arena's light reflected on their unconscious faces, making them look peaceful, almost like they were just asleep.

Then he turned to the others.

Lira and Selene stood side by side, their faces pale but still defiant. Lira's sword trembled in her grip; Selene's aura flickered weakly around her blade.

"You still want to continue?" Gray asked calmly.

"Until the end," Selene said, forcing a weak smile.

Gray's expression didn't change.

He lowered his stance slightly.

"Fine."

SWOOSH!

He disappeared.

"He's behi—!"

Before she could finish, Gray's knee hit her stomach.

THUD!

Air rushed out of her lungs as she collapsed forward.

He caught her by the collar to stop her from hitting the floor and gently set her down beside the others, brushing the dirt off her shoulder almost absentmindedly.

Selene charged from behind, yelling as her aura sword came down with all her remaining strength.

Gray turned slightly and raised his rapier, blocking her strike without effort.

Her teeth clenched as sparks flew between their blades.

"Why… why are you doing this, Gray?!" she screamed.

He tilted his head.

"Because I want to."

With one twist of his wrist, her weapon was disarmed. Then he stepped closer and pressed the hilt of his rapier against her neck.

THUMP!

Selene dropped, unconscious, before she even hit the ground.

'...Gosh, what's up with these women creating drama? It's a fucking exam...' he shook his head lightly.

Gray looked at her for a second, then sighed softly and carried her to the same side of the arena as the others, placing her down gently beside the others.

Only one remained.

Ronan.

The man groaned, pushing himself off the floor, blood dripping from his mouth. His breathing was harsh, his body shaking from the earlier hits.

Gray walked toward him slowly.

Ronan spat to the side and forced a smirk.

"Gonna… carry me out too?"

"…No," Gray stopped a few steps away.

THUD!

His foot shot forward, connecting squarely with Ronan's chest. The sound echoed like a drum.

"Kugh!"

Ronan flew through the air and landed outside the arena, rolling across the ground before lying flat, unconscious.

Silence followed.

Gray exhaled quietly, lowering his sword.

And then, the sound of soft footsteps echoed through the air.

Step, step, step...

From the far side of the arena, Cassandra approached, her long gray hair swaying gently behind her.

Her hands rested casually on her scythe, spinning it once before letting it rest on her shoulder.

She stopped a few meters away, her gray eyes smiling like crescent moons.

"Round two?" she asked lightly.

Gray turned toward her with his usual blank expression.

"…Round two," he replied, giving a small nod.

Cassandra smiled faintly, her fingers tightening on the scythe's handle.

"Good," she whispered.

"I was hoping you'd say that."

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