Chapter 468: The Student Council Hunt (III)

Gray adjusted his sleeves one last time before following the Student Council member toward the courtyard.

The young demon walked with his chin raised, evidently satisfied with how things had turned out.

He had already begun explaining the rules of the arena to Gray, although Gray only listened with half an ear while thinking about the breakfast he had left behind.

’If this takes too long, I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare something else. Perhaps roasted dragon meat this time.’

He was still considering the possibilities when something caught his attention.

Two Student Council members were dragging a struggling demon down a hallway.

The poor fellow had his arms restrained behind his back, and his face was red with anger as he struggled against their grip.

"LET GO OF ME! I TOLD YOU I DIDN’T WANT TO JOIN!"

"Then you should’ve thought about that before refusing an official challenge," one of the council members replied without even looking at him.

"You’ve lost your chance to settle this in a proper duel. Now stop struggling and save yourself some embarrassment."

"I NEVER AGREED TO FIGHT YOU!"

"Keep shouting. Perhaps someone will come and congratulate you on your wonderful decision."

Gray watched the scene pass, his eyebrows rising slightly.

He continued walking for several steps before turning toward Scarlett, who had followed them out of the dining hall, seemingly unwilling to miss the coming spectacle.

"Princess, I have a question."

Scarlett glanced at him.

"Only one? How fortunate. Go ahead."

"Why are we going to an arena when those fellows are dragging students around the hallway? Couldn’t we settle our duel right here? It would save us a considerable amount of time, and I might even return to my breakfast before the food gets completely cold."

Scarlett looked at him as though he had said something ridiculous.

"Do you intend to fight while sitting at the dining table next time as well?"

"If the circumstances permit it, why not?"

"Unbelievable."

She sighed and gestured toward the two council members who had just disappeared around a corner with their captive.

"That student most likely refused to acknowledge the challenge properly and attempted to escape. The council members are allowed to subdue students who refuse to cooperate, although they still have to follow the academy’s rules when doing so."

Gray nodded thoughtfully.

"So they can fight in the hallways, but they prefer the arenas when someone accepts a duel?"

"More or less. The academy has designated arenas for official matches, and the registration system records the participants, verifies their eligibility, and activates the appropriate protective formations. When both sides accept a formal duel, the academy usually transfers them to an available arena. It prevents students from destroying classrooms, dormitories, and other buildings during their little disputes."

Scarlett paused, then gave him a pointed look.

"At least, that’s the theory. Some students still manage to cause considerable damage even with the protective formations in place."

Gray smiled.

"How reassuring. I was beginning to worry that the academy had no interest in preserving its buildings."

"The academy cares about its buildings considerably more than it cares about the students who destroy them."

"Then I suppose I’ll try not to damage anything too expensive."

Scarlett’s eyes narrowed.

"Gray, you’re not planning to destroy the arena, are you?"

"Of course not. Why would I do something like that?"

"Because whenever you say something reassuring, I find myself becoming more worried."

Gray chuckled and turned back toward the council member walking ahead of them.

"Well, I suppose there’s no harm in following the proper procedure. After all, I wouldn’t want to give the academy another reason to investigate me."

Scarlett muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like a complaint about her own poor judgment.

Gray pretended not to hear it.

The main arena was already crowded when they arrived.

The Demon Academy possessed several training grounds and smaller battle arenas, but the main arena was an enormous structure reserved for official matches, major examinations, and events that attracted the attention of the academy’s staff.

Its circular outer walls rose several dozen meters above the surrounding grounds, while tall black pillars supported a translucent barrier that shimmered faintly beneath the crimson sky.

Inside, multiple combat platforms floated above the central floor; each one was surrounded by a separate formation that prevented attacks from reaching the audience.

The largest platform occupied the center of the structure, its dark stone surface marked with countless old scars left by battles from previous generations.

Gray glanced around as they entered.

There were students everywhere.

Some stood along the upper balconies, watching the ongoing matches through the transparent barriers.

Others crowded around the registration desks, waiting for their turns or discussing the results of duels they had already witnessed.

Several groups of Student Council members were stationed near the entrances, selecting their next targets whenever an opportunity presented itself.

The atmosphere was far more lively than Gray had expected.

A massive screen floated above the central platform, displaying the names of the students currently fighting, their cultivation ranks, and the results of completed duels.

Every few moments, another name appeared before vanishing from the list of upcoming matches.

A thunderous impact suddenly shook one of the smaller platforms.

BAAAM!

A black-haired demon was sent crashing into the protective barrier.

The formation flashed, swallowed the impact, and threw him back onto the platform, where he landed on his backside with a dazed expression.

His opponent folded his arms.

"Do you surrender?"

The fallen demon stared at him for several seconds before raising one hand.

"I surrender! I surrender! Just don’t hit me again!"

A notification appeared above the platform, and the defeated student’s name vanished from the combat list.

Gray watched the scene with mild interest.

’So the council is wasting no time.’

The Early Ruler leading Gray stopped beside the registration desk and presented his silver badge to the attendant.

"I want to register a duel under the Hunting Week rules. The opponent is a first-year student named Gray."

The attendant looked up.

"Full name?"

"Gray," Gray answered before the council member could speak.

The attendant paused, looked at him, and then glanced toward the council member.

"Only Gray?"

"That’s what he told me," the man replied, sounding increasingly irritated.

The attendant gave a tired sigh.

"Fine. Gray, first-year student. Cultivation rank: Early Emperor Realm. Opponent..."

He turned toward the council member.

"Kaedran Voss, Student Council member, Early Ruler Realm."

Kaedran nodded proudly when his name appeared on the registration display.

The attendant continued entering the information before looking up at both of them.

"This is an official duel under the rules of Hunting Week. The victor will be recorded, and if the challenged student loses, provisional recruitment will take effect immediately. Do both participants accept these conditions?"

"I accept," Kaedran answered without hesitation.

Gray glanced at the attendant.

"Does this mean I get to return to breakfast if I win?"

The attendant stared at him.

"...Yes."

"Wonderful. I accept."

Kaedran’s expression twitched.

"Could you stop talking about food for five minutes? You’re fighting a senior member of the Student Council, not participating in some sort of cooking competition!"

Gray looked at him with mild surprise.

"Why? Does the Student Council dislike food?"

A few nearby students burst into laughter.

Kaedran’s face darkened.

The attendant, who had likely dealt with far too many overconfident students during previous Hunting Weeks, refused to react.

He pressed his hand against the registration crystal, and a series of silver runes immediately spread across its surface.

[Official Duel Registered.]

[Participant One: Gray.]

[Rank: Early Emperor Realm.]

[Participant Two: Kaedran Voss.]

[Rank: Early Ruler Realm.]

[Battle Conditions: Nonlethal.]

[Recruitment Consequences: Active.]

[Combat Arena: Main Arena, Platform One.]

Gray glanced at the display.

’Nonlethal. That’s convenient.’

He had no intention of killing a Student Council member over something as trivial as a duel.

Apart from the unnecessary attention it would bring, there was little reason to create a grudge with an organization that might prove useful to him in the future.

Defeating Kaedran was enough.

The attendant stepped aside.

"Your assigned platform is ready. The transfer formation will activate shortly. Please remain still and avoid using any abilities until you have arrived."

Kaedran crossed his arms.

"Try not to embarrass yourself, freshman. Once we’re inside, there’s no escaping the outcome."

Gray looked at him and smiled.

"I wouldn’t dream of escaping. I’m looking forward to this."

For some reason, that answer made Kaedran even more irritated.

Before he could respond, the silver runes beneath their feet began to glow.

VMMMMM!

A circle of light spread across the floor, wrapping around both combatants.

Gray felt a brief pull on his body, similar to the sensation of stepping through a spatial gate, and the surroundings blurred.

In the next instant, the registration area disappeared.

They reappeared in the center of the main arena.

A vast cheer rose from the surrounding stands as the new duel appeared on the floating display.

Students who had been watching other matches immediately turned their attention toward the central platform, while several spectators leaned forward after noticing the difference between the two participants’ cultivation ranks.

An Early Emperor against an Early Ruler.

It was hardly a fair match on paper.

However... Gray wasn’t an ordinary Early Emperor.