End Of Ceremony.

And just like that, Ethan was officially declared a Tyrant, marking his ascension to a new level of status and power within the academy. The announcement reverberated through the grand hall, accompanied by another round of intense stares from the gathered crowd. Some gazes were filled with jealousy, others with admiration, and a few with cold resentment. Yet, Ethan remained unaffected. He wasn't one to concern himself with the opinions of those around him. His focus was on what lay ahead, not on what others thought of him.

With his new title and crest proudly displayed on his uniform, Ethan was directed to sit with the other Tyrants—those who held the highest rank in the academy, just beneath the ruling High Table. He made his way to the designated area and found a seat beside Pywernia, a fellow Tyrant who seemed just as excited about his induction as he was indifferent to it. She bombarded him with questions and animated chatter, her energy seemingly boundless. Throughout the rest of the ceremony, she barely paused, even as the final results for the year were being announced.

"1st Year Final Results!" The voice of the announcer rang out, capturing everyone's attention.

"Ethan Smith Junior = 1st place!"

"Clara Verna = 2nd place!"

"Emily Daniels = 3rd place!"

"Trevor Barnes = 4th place!"

"Roe Deli = 5th place!"

As the results were read aloud, Ethan barely reacted, though a small flicker of satisfaction crossed his mind. His position as the top student wasn't unexpected, but hearing it confirmed in front of the entire academy felt like a tangible reward for his efforts. Clara, seated a few places down, glanced shyly in his direction when her name was called, her soft smile barely visible. Despite the brief eye contact, Ethan could sense the tension between them, particularly with what was about to happen next.

After the ceremony had ended and the formalities were concluded, Clara approached Ethan with a shy demeanor. Her silvery blonde hair framed her face as she looked up at him with her striking blue eyes.

"Congratulations on being a Tyrant," she said softly, almost hesitantly.

"Uh… thanks," Ethan replied, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I wish you could be a Tyrant too."

Clara smiled, though the subtle disappointment behind her expression didn't go unnoticed. Before either of them could say anything more, however, a high-pitched voice cut through the air.

"Honey boo! You are so awesome! I'm really proud of you!" Harley shouted with uncontainable enthusiasm as she jumped onto Ethan, hugging him tightly in front of everyone. Her bold and boisterous display of affection immediately caught the attention of nearby students, causing many to roll their eyes or mutter in annoyance. Clara, in particular, stiffened at the sight, her jaw clenched ever so slightly as she watched Harley practically drape herself over Ethan.

Ethan sighed helplessly, already accustomed to Harley's exuberant personality. He could feel the silent war brewing between Clara and Harley—a rivalry that was growing more intense by the day. While Clara was gentle, reserved, and quietly possessive, Harley was the complete opposite: loud, confident, and extremely possessive. Ethan knew better than to intervene. The last thing he wanted was to be caught in the middle of their escalating conflict. After all, both girls were formidable in their own right, and he wasn't foolish enough to get involved in their unspoken battle for his attention.

With the ceremony officially over, the parents began to leave, leaving the students to enjoy the rest of the day. Ethan found himself walking through the academy grounds with his usual group of friends: Trevor, Lamair, Clara, Emily, and, of course, Harley—the group's undeniable black sheep. They visited various food stands, wandered around the academy, and even tried their hand at karaoke. Everywhere they went, they drew attention. It was impossible not to notice them—a group of three beautiful girls and three handsome boys, two of whom were newly crowned Tyrants. Their status alone made them celebrities within the academy, but it was the palpable air of authority they carried that made others take notice.

Tyrants held the highest power within the academy, their influence surpassing even some of the staff. While the Academy Board of Directors and the principal outranked them, the Tyrants were second only to the Academy's highest governing bodies. And now, Ethan was one of them.

As they wandered through the bustling grounds, Lamair suddenly turned to Ethan, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Yo, Ethan. Let's have a friendly duel with some stakes. You in?" Lamair asked, noticing how Ethan seemed trapped between the affections of Clara and Harley, both of whom were eagerly offering him bites of various snacks.

"What are the stakes?" Trevor chimed in; his interest piqued. He had been trying to get closer to Emily for some time now, but her cool, distant demeanor was making things increasingly awkward.

Lamair thought for a moment before replying. "Winner treats us all to hot pot, and the loser treats us to hot pot for a whole week after school starts next semester. Good, right?"

"Good," Ethan agreed, smirking.

"Let's do it!" Trevor added enthusiastically.

And so, they made their way to the academy's simulation rooms. After paying for a private session, Ethan and Lamair entered separate pods, their minds already focused on the upcoming duel. The simulation pods, known as VR Capsules, worked by using the users' registered data, linking their mental and physical capabilities to the virtual battlefield they would soon fight on.

As the simulation began, Ethan found himself standing in the middle of a vast, barren wasteland. The land stretched on endlessly, devoid of any life or color. His ceremonial uniform had been replaced by a sleek blue energy suit, while Lamair, standing opposite him, wore a red one.

The countdown began, and both fighters took up their battle stances. As soon as the timer hit zero, they vanished from their positions in a blur of speed, meeting in the center of the battlefield with a deafening clash. Ethan was thrown back a full 15 meters from the impact, while Lamair was barely pushed back by four meters. It was immediately clear who had the upper hand in terms of raw strength and resilience.

But Ethan wasn't discouraged. First impressions rarely told the full story, and the beginning of a battle didn't determine its outcome.

Like two skilled assassins, they traded blows, their fists and legs moving with deadly precision. Their battle was entirely physical at first, relying on pure martial arts. The rest of their friends, watching from the simulation room, were in awe. Ethan had grown stronger, that much was obvious, and with each exchange, he seemed to be adapting to Lamair's movements, learning as he fought. Lamair, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the fight more and more, a wide grin spreading across his face that sent chills down the spines of those watching. He was a battle maniac, taking pleasure in the challenge even though it was just a simulation.

BANG!

They clashed again, only to be separated by the force of their blows. Lamair's eyes suddenly glowed with a purplish-pink hue as six ethereal strings emerged from his back, writhing like tentacles. From his storage ring, he summoned a black doll shaped like a child, which landed in front of him. Two of the strings connected with the doll, bringing it to life. Meanwhile, Ethan's body surged with bright blue energy, rocks and dead trees rising into the air around him as he prepared for the next phase of the battle.

SWISH! BANG!

Lamair charged forward, his puppet attacking alongside him, turning the fight into a two-against-one battle. But that wasn't all—Lamair's remaining four strings merged into one thick, powerful tendril that lashed out at Ethan with incredible speed and force.

Ethan, however, was not to be underestimated. He controlled the rocks and trees around him, sending them hurtling toward Lamair with deadly precision. Yet, Lamair managed to dodge each and every attack, even throwing some of the debris back at Ethan. Their reflexes were near perfect, each dodge and counterattack executed with lightning-fast precision.

The fight transitioned from martial arts to the use of affinities—Lamair with his puppet and strings, and Ethan with his control over the elements. Lamair's puppet was fast and agile, constantly attacking Ethan's blind spots while Lamair assaulted him head-on. Despite being hit multiple times, Ethan refused to back down. No matter how many times he was struck, he kept coming back, relentless like a cockroach that wouldn't die.

The battle reached its climax as Ethan, in a desperate move, managed to kick Lamair's puppet aside and block a sneak attack from Lamair. The ground beneath them exploded, leaving a massive crater in their wake. Both fighters stood at the center, breathing heavily, locked in a stalemate.

Suddenly, a blinding pink light erupted from Lamair's body. A black, spider-like rune with intricate pink details appeared on his forehead, and eight spectral spider legs emerged from his back. His eyes glowed with an eerie pink light as he vanished from his position in a burst of speed.

The battle was over in an instant.

...

"YOU LOSE!" was the message flashing before Ethan's eyes as his simulation pod opened.

"The hell! What the fuck was that?" Trevor's voice cut through the silence as he rushed over to Ethan's pod, shock and disbelief etched on his face. Everyone had seen it—the moment Lamair transformed and unleashed that devastating attack. It was unlike anything they had ever witnessed before.

Even Ethan, still vibrating with the adrenaline and fear from

 the simulation, knew that if that had been a real fight, he would have been dead. The aura Lamair had emitted in those final moments was something beyond the ordinary—something not even the fiercest beasts in the Beast Plane could rival.

"Hehe… I'll give you a clue," Lamair said with a smirk, his voice dripping with mystery. "It's related to my path."

"You've already got a path?" Ethan asked, his eyes wide in surprise.

"Mhm. I've had it for a while now. Pretty cool, huh?"

"It's more than cool," Ethan admitted, still processing everything that had just happened.

With the duel over, they left the simulation room, resuming their celebration. But Ethan's thoughts were still racing, even as Clara and Harley continued vying for his attention, feeding him snacks and showering him with affection. The rivalry between the two girls was intense, but in the back of Ethan's mind, he couldn't shake the image of Lamair's eerie transformation.

The future was becoming more unpredictable by the day.