Demon King Has Returned

This morning, the academy felt more alive than usual, After a quick breakfast in the communal dining hall, all Class A students were directed to the academy's main arena.

I followed the crowd, yawning wide as I tried to shake off the stubborn sleepiness.

"Today we're starting practical lessons," Lilliana said excitedly beside me. "Have you heard about this arena, Adrian?"

I shrugged.

"Not much. All I know is it's used for duels and training."

"You're in for a surprise. This arena is nothing like a regular one," she said with a laugh.

The moment we arrived, I understood what she meant. The arena was massive, perfectly circular, with towering stands spacious enough to seat thousands.

The floor was made of polished black stone, glowing lines etched across its surface that clearly weren't just decorative. I could feel the magic coursing through the entire place.

"Welcome to the Lumina Arena," came the booming voice of Professor Maximilian, silencing the chatter of the students.

He stood in the center of the arena, looking small compared to the vastness of the space.

"This is where you'll hone your combat skills. There's no long-winded theory or boring lectures here. Only action."

One of the students near me a guy with crimson hair and wings looked like he could barely contain his excitement.

"Finally! I was getting sick of all the war stories."

Professor Maximilian smirked slightly, as if he'd expected that reaction.

"Today, we'll begin with a basic evaluation. I want to see where your skills are. Don't worry this isn't a competition. But I do expect you to give it your all."

He snapped his fingers, and the glowing lines on the arena floor lit up brighter.

"This arena has an automatic protection system. If you take a fatal hit, the system will stop your duel. So don't be afraid to fight with full force."

I glanced at Lilliana. She looked calm, but the spark of excitement in her eyes was impossible to miss. I sighed. This was going to be a long day.

The first duel started, and I opted to stand on the sidelines, observing. A boy in light armor faced off against a petite girl wielding a staff.

The match was fast-paced, full of attacks and movements that looked almost like a well-rehearsed dance.

"Wind Slash!"

The boy shouted as he swung his sword, sending a wave of wind hurtling toward his opponent.

The girl didn't panic. She tapped her staff against the ground.

"Barrier of Light!"

A glowing shield materialized, blocking the wind attack with a resonating.

"whoomph!"

I raised an eyebrow. Interesting. Their skills were far above average for their age. But, of course, this was Class A I shouldn't have been surprised.

After a few more duels, my name was finally called.

"Adrian," Professor Maximilian said. "You'll be facing Leon."

I stepped into the center of the arena, standing face-to-face with Leon, who radiated confidence.

"Hope you're ready," he said with a smug grin.

I just shrugged. He had no idea who he was dealing with.

"Begin!" Professor Maximilian called out.

Leon wasted no time.

"Flame Strike!"

With a swing of his sword, he sent a wave of fire rushing toward me.

I calmly stepped back, raising my right hand.

"Aether Shield!"

A transparent barrier appeared before me, absorbing the flames with a sharp crackle.

Leon looked surprised but only for a moment. He lunged forward, launching a series of quick slashes.

I dodged effortlessly, my movements feeling like a dance I'd rehearsed a thousand times. As he prepared another attack, I decided to end it.

"Shadow Bind," I murmured softly.

Leon's shadow suddenly sprang to life, wrapping around him like a serpent. He froze, struggling to break free, but it was pointless.

I walked closer, stopping a few steps away.

"You're done," I said casually.

Professor Maximilian raised his hand.

"That's enough! Adrian is the winner."

The shadows released Leon, and he dropped to his knees, panting.

"What the hell was that?" he asked, wide-eyed.

I just gave a faint smile.

"My little secret."

Once all the duels were over, Professor Maximilian gave his evaluation.

"You've all shown great potential," he said. "But remember, this is just the beginning. Your training here will be far more grueling than anything you experienced today."

I left the arena feeling a mix of emotions. An interesting first day, but I had the sense this was only the start.

As I walked back to the dorms, Lilliana caught up to me.

"You were amazing out there," she said with a wide grin. "Are you really still undecided on a specialization?"

I chuckled softly.

"Who knows?"

She gave me a suspicious look but didn't press further. I was relieved. The less they knew, the better.

That night, lying in bed, I thought about the prophecy of the Demon King's rise.

If they knew the Demon King was already here, walking among them, what would they do?

The next morning, the bell rang, marking the end of the theory class. I walked out alongside Lilliana, who was chattering non-stop about the elemental magic lesson we just had.

I was only half-listening, my mind preoccupied with the upcoming practical class.

"Adrian, you're listening to me, right?" Lilliana asked, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Hmm? Oh, of course. You said something about… fire?" I replied vaguely.

She sighed.

"You're not serious, are you? This stuff is important!"

I chuckled softly.

"I am serious. I just have my own way of learning."

We headed toward the practice field, where our next session would take place. When we arrived, I couldn't help but admire the setup.

The field was massive, equipped with various targets and terrains designed for combat simulation. There was sand, grass, and even rocky areas tailored for specific tactical training.

Several instructors stood at the center, waiting for the students to gather.

"Alright, students," a deep voice boomed, silencing the crowd. The speaker was a towering man with short, gray hair.

"My name is Instructor Garreth. I'll be leading today's practical session. Our focus will be on teamwork and basic skill application."

Garreth scanned the group with sharp eyes.

"The real world doesn't forgive mistakes. You must learn to work together if you want to survive. Now, let's start with warm-ups."

The warm-up was intense. We had to run laps around the field, do a series of physical exercises like push-ups and sit-ups, and then move on to basic combat drills. Afterward, Garreth divided us into small groups for the next phase of training.

I was grouped with Lilliana, a burly guy named Cedric, and a petite girl with blue hair named Mirabelle. Cedric radiated confidence, while Mirabelle looked a bit nervous.

"Alright, your group will be doing a combat simulation," Garreth announced. "Plan your strategy, use your skills, and show me what you've got."

Cedric took charge immediately.

"I'll be the main tank. I have strong defensive skills."

Lilliana nodded.

"I can attack from a distance with my elemental magic."

Mirabelle spoke timidly.

"I… I can provide support with healing magic."

I shrugged.

"I'll fill in wherever I'm needed."

Cedric gave me a skeptical look.

"You don't have a specialization?"

"I'm versatile," I said casually. "Trust me, I won't be a burden."

The simulation began with a loud gong that echoed across the field.

DOONGGG!

Our opponents were another team of four. They moved quickly, attacking with an organized formation. Cedric stepped forward, using his massive shield to block the incoming strikes.

Clang! Clang! The sound of metal clashing filled the air as enemy blades met Cedric's shield.

"Lilliana, now!" Cedric shouted.

Lilliana raised her hands, magical sigils glowing in the air.

"Flame Lance!"

She yelled, and a fiery spear shot out, hitting one of the opponents with pinpoint accuracy.

FWOOOOSH!

The enemy stumbled back, nearly losing their balance. Meanwhile, Mirabelle activated her healing magic, keeping Cedric in top condition despite the pressure from multiple attackers.

I observed the situation, looking for an opening. One opponent tried to flank Lilliana. Without hesitation, I moved in, swinging the wooden training sword we'd been provided.

"Shadow Step," I murmured.

SWOOSH!

In an instant, I was behind the enemy, taking them down with a swift strike.

Cedric glanced at me, surprised.

"What was that?"

I just smiled.

"Like I said, I'm versatile."

The battle ended after a few minutes. Our team was declared the winner, though Garreth gave us some constructive feedback.

"Your teamwork was decent," he said. "But you need better communication. Cedric, don't get so focused on defense that you lose sight of the battlefield. Lilliana, stay farther back from the front lines. Mirabelle, work on building your confidence. And Adrian…"

He paused, his sharp gaze locking onto me.

"You've got great potential, but you're too relaxed. Don't underestimate your opponents."

I nodded, trying to look serious. But internally, I chuckled. If I'd gone all out, the match would've ended in seconds.

The day ended with a satisfying exhaustion. I walked back to the dorms with Lilliana, Cedric, and Mirabelle. They seemed more at ease now, the tension from earlier replaced with a budding camaraderie.

"Adrian, you're such a mystery," Lilliana said with a smile. "I wonder how strong you really are."

I let out a small laugh.

"Well, maybe you'll find out one day."