As the situation intensified, a professor swiftly teleported to the scene, deploying a barrier in front of Alex to prevent any further harm to Quinton.


    "Please step back, Alex. Any more than this could result in your expulsion," the professor warned, his wand pointed firmly at Alex. Beads of sweat rolled down his face as he attempted to assert control.


    The overwhelming intensity of Alex''s aura was palpable, casting doubt on the professor''s ability to contain the situation. Combat department professors rushed toward the arena to assist.


    Amidst the tense standoff, Alex maintained his intense bloodlust, causing Quinton to quiver in fear. Alex then turned his focus to Aria and made his way over to her. His aura gradually subsided as he knelt to check on her condition, leaving the approaching professors stunned by the abrupt change.


    "Are you okay?" he asked, genuine concern in his voice.


    "Y-yes," Aria replied, still in shock over the unfolding events, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Without further ado, Alex lifted Aria into his arms, cradling her gently. Aria was flustered by this sudden gesture, her face turning crimson.


    "W-wait, what are you doing?" she stammered, her embarrassment evident in her flushed cheeks.


    "Don''t lie. You''re clearly not alright. Look at you trembling," Alex remarked. "I''ll take you to the infirmary myself, so just stay still," he assured her.


    With that, he quickly exited the arena, Aria nestled securely in his arms. Aria soon realized that, despite her initial difort with Alex''s attention as she knows about the way he felt towards her, his touch now felt like the safest haven in the world.


    As they left the arena, the bewildered crowd, professors, and students could only watch in astonishment. Aria''s emotions were in turmoil, and she couldn''t help but reflect on how her feelings towards Alex were undergoing a remarkable transformation.


    …..


    ''Wow''


    ''WTF was that?''


    The unexpected turn of events with Alex rushing to Aria''s aid left me exhrated. It was a thrilling moment that felt like something out of a novel.


    I wondered if this situation had also urred in the novel. While it was clear that Alex had feelings for Aria now, in the original story, which was mostly from Tristan''s perspective, the details of Alex''s rtionships remained shrouded in mystery.


    Given how shitty the original Adrian was portrayed, he likely didn''t allow Alex to get close to both him and Aria during their initial encounter at the bandit ambush and instead went their own separate ways.


    This made it unlikely that a situation like this had taken ce in the novel''s storyline.


    The audience began to murmur and whisper amongst themselves, their curiosity piqued by the sudden and unexpected situation. Many of them were eager to specte about the nature of Alex and Aria''s rtionship, given the swift and decisive manner in which he hade to her rescue. It was a topic of discussion that was sure to linger among the students and spectators long even after thebat exams had concluded.


    After the professors took away the fallen Quinton, I couldn''t help but smile inwardly, ns were already brewing inside my head on what to do to him.


    ''Sis isn''t he a nice offering?''


    "Tristan, Evadne Darja, the students called please proceed to the waiting area as you take care of your preparations"


    The announcement echoed through the arena, signaling the much-anticipated battle between Tristan and Evadne Darja. The crowd buzzed with excitement and anticipation. This showdown had stirred a frenzy of hype among the spectators.


    Evadne Darja, the reigning champion of thebat department''s second-year students, had a ster record, having defeated even the top students from the third and fourth years.


    The audience was inclined to believe that this fight would be a cakewalk for her, given her impressive track record. However, the presence of Tristan, with his mysterious reputation, threw an element of uncertainty into the mix.


    I fixed my gaze entirely on the stage, fully engrossed in the forting spectacle. This was an uncharted battle, not documented in the novel. The idental death of William had led to an unexpected shift in thebatants, and Tristan''s newfound opponent was no pushover.


    While Evadne had been mentioned briefly in the novel, she hadn''t yet yed a significant role in the events I''d read so far. The oue of this duel promised to be a spectacle worth witnessing.


    Tristan''s entrance into the arena was met with a thunderous apuse. The cheers and apuse resonated from the crowd, a mixture of first-year and second-year students, and it appeared that he had garnered quite a following among the first-year students, if the cheers were any indication.


    The atmosphere was charged with excitement, and anticipation hung thick in the air. Finally, Evadne Darja made her grand entrance, hoisting a colossal axe onto her shoulder.


    Her wild smile was an imposing sight, one that only added to the palpable tension that had settled over the arena. It was clear that bothbatants were ready to deliver a spectacr showdown.


    ....


    Throughout her life, Evadne had never encountered an opponent she could truly consider her equal. Even during her early training at the main n estate, her strength had grown to the point where her own parents, both skilled warriors themselves, struggled to keep up with her rapid progress.


    It was a testament to her exceptional martial talents that her family, no strangers tobat excellence, had to admit their daughter was on apletely different level.


    As she honed her skills, Evadne quickly became the n''s martial prodigy, her name spoken with reverence and awe throughout the estate. Her potential was so immense that even the n''s patriarch, a seasoned warrior with a wealth of experience, was called upon by the n elders to train her personally.


    It was a rare urrence, and it highlighted just how extraordinary Evadne''s abilities were. Her parents and the n elders understood that trying to mold her ording to traditional methods would be a disservice.


    She was a force of nature, a martial genius, and any attempt to restrict her talents would only hinder her growth.


    Recognizing the unique and overwhelming nature of Evadne''s power, the n patriarch, her parents, and the council of elders made a solemn decision.


    They came to the unanimous conclusion that traditional training methods were insufficient for Evadne, and that she had already far surpassed their own abilities. In their wisdom, they saw the necessity of a different path for their exceptional prodigy.


    And so, in a family meeting that resonated with an air of profound respect, they dered that Evadne must embark on her own journey to reach the peak of her strength.


    The patriarch, with the solemnity that came with his revered position, looked deep into her eyes and spoke with an unwavering voice.


    "Evadne, you have surpassed us all. Your strength is nature itself, and no one within our n can guide you further on this path. It is time for you to seek your own way, to discover your own limits, and to find a worthy opponent who can match your unparalleled abilities."


    Evadne nodded with solemn determination, fully understanding the gravity of their decision. She had long known that her quest for power was a solitary one, but now, with the blessing and acknowledgment of her n.


    She was free to pursue the ultimate heights of martial prowess in her own way.


    The weight of their trust and expectations rested upon her shoulders, and with a firm resolve, she set out on her personal journey toward the zenith of her strength.


    Evadne bore no resentment towards her parents or her n for recognizing her incredible strength and deciding to stop her training.


    In fact, she had always epted it as a simple fact.


    She was undeniably strong, and her abilities had set her apart from the very beginning.


    She didn''t hold it against them, for she had be aware of the extraordinary nature of her strength as well.


    Each opponent she had faced in the past, regardless of their skill or determination, had ended up as little more than lifeless corpses at her feet.


    It was a reality she had grown ustomed to, a brutal fact of her existence as a martial genius. In her relentless pursuit of perfection, she had inadvertently isted herself, a lone warrior without a true rival.


    So, when she heard rumors spread about a first-year student at the academy capable of potentially satisfying her insatiable hunger for an equal fight, Evadne''s heart raced with excitement.


    Her blood surged with eagerness as she contemted the prospect of finally encountering an opponent with the strength and skill to match her own.


    The anticipation of a genuine challenge had her on the edge of her seat, and it was an opportunity she couldn''t resist.


    A battle with Tristan, who had quickly risen to prominence among the first-year students, held the promise of satiating her lifelong yearning for a worthy adversary.


    And now she was in that battle.


    "Ready."


    At the announcer''s signal, the two fighters readied their stances. Tristan held his sword in a quick-draw stance, while Evadne readied her axe over her shoulder. The twobatants stared at each other with intense determination in their eyes, showing mutual respect for their opponent.


    "Start."


    BOOOOM!!!!!!!


    The moment the announcer gave the signal to start, an explosion of motion enveloped the entire arena. Smoke and debris filled the air as their weapons shed, but all of this urred in less than a second.


    It was a whirlwind of action: Evadne closed the distance in the blink of an eye, her massive axe hurtling toward Tristan''s face. However, Tristan reacted with lightning speed, drawing his sword from its sheath and unleashing a devastating quick-draw sh in response.


    The intensity of their sh was nothing short of astounding, and their mutual respect was palpable, even to those watching from the stands.


    Even as the smoke was covering the arena, multiple sounds of metal shing against one another could be heard.


    The deafening sh of their weapons echoed throughout the arena, a harmonious symphony ofbat that resonated with both awe and dread.


    Evadne, renowned as the strongest second-year student, and Tristan, a brilliant first-year prodigy, were now entangled in an intense duel, a confrontation of unparalleled strength and skill.


    Amid the chaos of battle, spectators strained to catch a glimpse of the action, their eyes fixed on the storm of movement within the swirling smoke and debris.


    Thebatants were locked in a fierce exchange, each strike resonating with unrestrained power and precision.


    Every motion, every calcted strike, revealed their mastery of martial arts and their deep understanding of the art ofbat. The air buzzed with tension as the two fighters sought to exploit any opening, any weakness, in the other''s defenses.


    As the dust settled and the smoke cleared, the audience collectively held its breath, eager to witness the oue of this incredible sh of titans.


    Evadne and Tristan stood there, muscles taut, weapons poised, and a glint of admiration in their eyes, ready to continue their breathtaking confrontation.