Timeless Assassin

(Rodova Military Academy, Practical Combat Grounds – 9:05 AM)

Once everyone was settled and the medical staff had finished setting up their emergency operating stations, Major Hen stepped into the center of the marked combat field, his presence alone enough to command everyone’s attention, as he raised his right palm, signaling for silence.

"Alright, quiet down—" His deep voice carried across the arena, as the excited murmurs gradually faded.

"As you all know, Sundays are reserved for educational combat analysis, and today will be no different.

Today’s fights will be observed, reviewed, and analyzed by me after they are concluded, as although our original plan was to hold matchups between the best of the first-year students. However—" Hen paused, as he glanced toward a familiar figure in the stands, "Captain Yu Shen approached me with an alternative proposal, and I gladly accepted it."

Hen said, as he gestured towards Yu Shen in the crowd, who gladly flashed his signature smile and waved to the crowd, basking in the attention.

"As most of you are aware, today’s fight will be an unusual one. First-year juniors will be facing off against second-year seniors—a matchup typically reserved for the end-of-semester trials."

Hen’s gaze briefly flickered toward the fighters in question. Su Yang, Leo Skyshard, Minerva and Khyaal.

His eyes lingered on each of them for just a moment before continuing.

"For all first-years present, this is an opportunity to witness the very best of your class go up against seasoned upperclassmen—fighters who have endured the rigorous training of Rodova for a full year.

Who will win? That’s for us to find out. But regardless of the outcome, there will be lessons to learn."

His voice took on a sharper edge.

"We will break down the good, the bad, and the ugly.

And every single one of you will walk away from here more enlightened than before."

With that, Hen turned and walked out of the arena, his part in the introduction complete.

However—just as he reached his seat, he paused for one last announcement.

"Today’s fight will be conducted under official inter-school circuit rules.

That means—no body armor. No strike restrictions.

However, lethal force and the use of paralytic poisons remain strictly prohibited." He said, as he swept his gaze across all fighters, his voice firm.

"Break those rules, and you’ll face immediate disqualification and severe consequences. So don’t even try and test me–" He threatened, as only after making that last threat did he look satisfied, as he took his seat in the stands.

Then, in a single, commanding word, he said—

"Begin."

—---

Cheers erupted across the arena when Hen signalled for the fight to begin, as the assistant referees began walking out to the field.

But before the energy could settle, or the official process for the fight could begin, Yu Shen stood.

And with a loud, theatrical flourish, he raised his hands, calling for attention.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—"

His booming voice cut through the chaos, forcing the roaring crowd to turn their focus toward him.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF I MAY HAVE YOUR ATTENTION FOR A MOMENT—"

The audience quieted, their curiosity piqued, as Yu Shen smirked.

"I know many of you believe that Leo Skyshard and Su Yang are destined to join Rodova’s esteemed interschool circuits team.

I mean—why wouldn’t they?" He chuckled.

"They’re Monarch-level talents. The pride of this academy!" Su Yang exclaimed, as his words sent ripples through the audience.

Even Leo could sense it—the subtle shift in the atmosphere.

A shift that Yu Shen had masterfully orchestrated.

"Now, don’t get me wrong—I, too, believe that these two juniors will, without a doubt, join the circuits team... Someday."

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The way he emphasized that last word sent an unspoken message.

Then, his expression hardened.

"But whether they join as first-years…" His smirk widened, "That is something they will have to prove.

And make no mistake—nothing will be handed to them."

A murmur spread through the crowd, as Alric’s face immediately soured.

The principal wasn’t impressed by what Yu Shen was trying to pull off here, as he saw straight through his childish tricks.

Yu Shen was trying to create public pressure on Alric with his speech, so that if he now handed over those spots to Su Yang and Leo, it would be him who would look like a biased principal.

"The esteemed Rodova Military Academy is not built on favoritism.

It is built on meritocracy.

And meritocracy alone."

Yu Shen’s voice rang with conviction, his words sinking into the crowd.

"So today, I, Yu Shen, declare this: If these two geniuses can defeat their opponents in a fair fight—

I will welcome them onto the circuit’s team with open arms.

They will participate in every training match against our rival military academies throughout this academic year and they will join our team exercises in preparation for the circuits."

A tense silence followed.

Then—Yu Shen’s eyes gleamed.

"But if they fail—" He let the words hang in the air, drawing out the tension.

"Then they will wait. Just like everyone else.

And at the end of the year, when the final circuits team is selected—

They can try again."

The crowd erupted.

This—this was exactly what they wanted to hear.

Rodova wasn’t some elite club where names alone earned positions.

Rodova was a battlefield.

And only the strong survived.

"If they perform—" Yu Shen’s voice cut through the cheers.

"They are welcome."

"But if they don’t—" He paused, letting the tension simmer.

Then, he smiled.

"They. Will. Not. Join. My. Team."

The arena exploded into deafening roars.

The stake for this fight had been set, and the crowd went wild to know that justice was being upheld here.

Alric, Su Yang and Leo were not pleased by this speech at all, however, there was nothing either of them could do about it.

Protesting in front of a cheering crowd would only make them look like biased fools and hence, they could only bide their silence for now.

"My, My…. I quite disliked Yu Shen before today, but he might become my favorite student of all time after today!" Professor David said with a smile, as although he hated the Yu family young master with a passion up-till last year, he was really happy to see him put Leo and Su Yang in their place today.

Yu Shen!

Yu Shen!

Yu Shen!

The crowd cheered, as the Captain bowed to every section of the cheering crowd before finally taking his seat.

Then—

The referees once again began walking towards the center, as they discussed something amongst each other, before taking their positions around several spots of the market combat arena.

"First Fight. Su Yang versus Minerva–" The head referee standing in the centre declared, as the crowd roared even louder at his words.

*SHINGG–*

Su Yang unsheathed his sword with one clean motion, as he banged his chest with his weapon and walked towards the combat arena, with anger plastered all over his face.

In contrast, Minerva, his opponent, walked towards the arena with a serene calm on her face, as she did not so much as check the tightness of her bow string.

"Is this a joke, Yu Shen? You send a woman to stand in my way? What, are you too scared to fight me yourself?" Su Yang roared in anger as audible gasps could be heard across the arena at his comment.

Gender discrimination was considered to be a backward practice in modern society, however, with the best fighters across history being mostly men, the bias was hard to erase completely.

"Don’t worry, this WOMAN is more than enough to handle the likes of you, Yang" Yu Shen shouted back from the crowd, as a loud ’OOOO—’ rang from the audience.