Some time had passed since halftime and Axel still had no tickets, which meant he wouldn’t be allowed into the University.

“I need to hurry up and find someone that also doesn’t have a SIN power so I can easily take their ticket,” Axel thought to himself.

While scanning the battlefield ahead, he suddenly heared an explosion echoing in the distance.
Smoke and dust rose into the sky. Axel’s instincts kicked in.

“Non-SIN users should be running away from that. I need to intercept them.”

He sprinted toward the sound, slipping into a narrow alley between two buildings.
A sudden crash form the wall next to him shattered as someone was slammed through it.
Dust filled the air and Axel quickly moved closer.
The figure still layed unconscious. So Axel crouched in order to search for his ticket.

But then something caught the corner of his eye, and he turned toward it.
It was the muscular man again.
He stepped through the hole in the wall.
His presence radiated danger, so Axel took a step back.

With a single motion, he launched his right fist into the unconscious figure.

“He’s my prey!” the muscular man growled, eyes burning with anger.

Axel froze. That guy was already knocked out — why would he punch him again instead of me?
Conflicted, he turned around and sprinted in the opposite direction.

“Oh no, you don’t,” the muscular man roared, smashing the walls on both sides of the alley with sheer force.
The ground trembled and debris began to collapse into the narrow path.

Axel surged forward, sprinting faster as chunks of stone and rubble rained down around him.
Just in time, he burst into a small plaza.
Behind him, the alleyway collapsed and blocking the muscular man’s way.

“Well… that should hold him for a moment,” Axel thought.

But before relief could sink in, the debris shifted — and the muscular man stepped out of the ruins, unscathed.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Axel said, stumbling backwards.

“You ran away earlier, but that won’t happen again,” the muscular man growled while his gaze was fixed on Axel.

He trew a massive piece of rock toward Axel. But he dodged it by moving to the side.
But as he glanced back, the muscular man had already closed the distance between them.
His right arm was in motion, swinging like a wrecking ball toward Axel.

Axel drew the dagger Elaine had given him and tried to block the blow.
With just that single swing, the dagger shattered into pieces.

The muscular man smirked. “A dagger doesn’t stand a chance against my SINISA.”

Axel’s face remained calm. “It seems Elaine gave me a regular dagger.”

He shifted his stance with his left shoulder faced the muscular man — and calmness replaced hesitation.
The muscular man charged with full force, swinging his right arm again.
Instead of dodging back, Axel stepped into the swing.
He ducked and slipped swiftly to the side, twisting his body in a ninety-degree turn.

In an instant, Axel was at the muscular man’s right side — his body completely exposed and unguarded from the swinging punch.
Without hesitation, Axel unleashed a right jab with all his strength. His whole body twisted with the punch, unleashing every ounce of power into that strike.
The punch slammed into the man’s lower ribs.

The muscular man staggered, collapsing to his knees as he gasped for air.
The crowd fell silent. Hector, seated in the stands, whispered with excitement:

"Could that have been his SINISA?"



The muscular man gasped through clenched teeth.

“Wh-what… did you just do to me? You used your SINISA, right?”

“No,” Axel replied calmly. “Just because you have a SIN doesn’t mean you’re not human.”


The muscular man started coughed. “Why didn’t you run… like everyone else?”

“That’s simple, I didn't run is because...” Axel said. “At range, you throw rocks to slow your opponent down, giving you the chance to close in.”


"B-b-but… how did you know when to counter?” the muscular man asked, as his face was turning pale from the pain.

Axel smirked faintly.

"Well… I watched you fight other participants. You always charge with your muscular right arm, and they always try to block it.
So I kept the same strategy at first, making you believe I would always try to block it.
But you should save your str—"

Before Axel could finish his sentence, the muscular man fell to the ground, falling unconscious.
Axel exhaled softly. He should’ve been focusing on his breathing instead of talking.



The sirens sounded again, marking the end of the tournament.

“Time is up! Ladies and gentlemen, that was this year’s Fresh Blood Tournament!” the commentator said with enthusiasm.

“But… as promised, there is a special reward for those who attained more than five tickets.”

Axel collapsed next to the muscular man. He lay there thinking,

Alright… with that muscle head’s ticket, I’m allowed into the University.


The giant screens lit up with the final ranks.

“And now,” the commentator announced, “five candidates will receive special rewards.
First place — the prodigy who defeated everyone in his group: Damian from Group D.
Second place — Sol Sharp from Group A.
Third place — Han from Group C.
Fourth place — Luna Sharp from Group B.
And finally Fifth place,” the commentator continued, “from Group C as well — Axel!”

Axel was shocked when he heard his name. “Wait… what?”
Looked up at the screen. His name glowed brightly among the five highest ranks.

He got up and searched the muscular guy’s pockets.
Inside he found not just one, but seven tickets.
Axel let out a short laugh of surprise

“The names mentioned, head to the stage in front of the arena to receive your prize.”

Axel walked towards the arena. When he arrived, he climbed a set of stairs to the stage.
At the top, four others were already standing in silence, their eyes fixed on a higher platform above them.

Four chairs of gold gleamed under the light, each occupied by a figure of authority.
The air was thick with tension, as if the stage itself was holding its breath.
Axel joined the others, standing beside them and looking in the same direction — without knowing who they were.

With Axel arriving last of the five, the whole stadium fell silent as well, curious about what would happen next.

"As everybody knows," the commentator’s voice echoed through the arena,
"Belmon's captains represent the Empire’s greatest strength — second only to the generals and the Emperor himself."

But this year…

for the first time…

The present four captains will take a disciple. And if they deem the candidate worthy… they will offer them a place at their side.”

The crowd erupted into cheers and excitement.
Axel froze for a moment, shock spreading across his face.

Damn... this isn’t going according to my plan.