Chapter 202 — Elizabeth I

[Challenge Arena - Mafia Section]

The Mafia members gathered in a tight cluster, their voices low but urgent as they watched Damian and Elizabeth face off on the platform.

"Why is Elizabeth challenging Boss?" Marcus asked, his usual drinking-induced relaxation replaced by genuine concern. "Is she against us too?"

Edrin shook his head, his expression thoughtful rather than worried.

"No. It isn’t that Elizabeth is against Boss. She’s just... bored."

The others exchanged confused looks, complex expressions showing they didn’t understand.

"Bored?" Selena repeated, her twin daggers hanging at her sides. "What does that mean?"

Edrin sighed, crossing his arms.

"Elizabeth has never been defeated in this Academy. Not even once. She’s so strong now that even Gareth – who we just watched get demolished – doesn’t hold a candle to her.

And mind you, she’s only in her third year. She still has a whole year left before graduation... So Boss showing strength strong enough to pose her a challenge, must have riled up her fighting spirit."

The weight of those words settled over the group, every Mafia member’s face becoming serious.

They knew Damian was strong. They had watched him destroy Nobles, fight Demons, survive portals and run at one hundred times gravity...

But they also knew Elizabeth Murdock was a monster in her own right.

Ariana spoke up casually, though her eyes never left the arena.

"Why are you guys so worried? Even if Boss loses, nothing changes the fact that in his first year he became the strongest student just below the President. That’s natural considering her rumored talent."

Zavier, whose demeanor had become notably more serious since his parents’ deaths, continued her thought.

"You know... we’ve been so used to Boss doing impossible things that we never actually considered his talent rating.

He’s just an S rank talent achieving the impossible through sheer guts and immense hard work."

Silence fell across the group as that realization hit home.

’Indeed. Damian was just an S rank talent.’

Not SS rank like Micheal Thorne, Leonard Ashford or Iris Langsten. Not the rumored SSS rank that Elizabeth supposedly possessed.

But just S rank. The same as Edrin, Ronan, and Lysa.

And yet... he’d surpassed every Noble in the Academy through nothing but brutal training and actual combat experience.

****

[Challenge Arena - Noble Section]

The Noble students had their own discussions happening, their perspectives colored by very different concerns.

Micheal Thorne stood with Leonard Ashford, Adrian Murdock, and Iris Langsten, forming an impromptu gathering of the Academy’s strongest Noble talents.

Ruby Fray approached with her characteristic cynical energy, her dark pink hair catching light as she smirked.

"Well, well. Looks like our leader Micheal is officially out of the council. If Elizabeth had included your name in that bet alongside Gareth, Liam, and Arielle, it would have saved your position. But apparently she doesn’t care about keeping you around."

"Sigh..."

Micheal said nothing, just sighed heavily, his golden eyes tracking the two fighters on the platform.

Leonard and Iris turned their attention to Adrian, their expressions showing genuine confusion.

"Why does Damian never go against you?" Leonard asked directly. "Even now, he didn’t remove you from the Council. When everyone else was getting beat up or purged, he never found anything wrong with you specifically. Why?"

Adrian looked back at them with an expression suggesting he was observing complete idiots.

"Are you all serious right now? From the very start, I told you – Damian isn’t simple. I even told you my sister specifically warned me not to make enemies with him. Why the fuck would Damian have any problem with me when I never stood in his way?"

Understanding dawned on Leonard and Iris’s faces as memory returned.

Adrian had warned them. Multiple times. He had told them Elizabeth saw something in Damian that made him dangerous to antagonize.

If only they’d listened.

Victoria White, her white hair pulled back practically, looked at Adrian with curiosity.

"What do you think about this fight? Who wins – Damian or your sister?"

Adrian answered without hesitation.

"Of course my sister."

Victoria looked skeptical.

"You always seem to take Damian’s side on things. Are you being biased because Elizabeth is your sister?"

Adrian’s expression didn’t change.

"Damian is a freak. But so is my sister. They’re both monsters in different ways. But in a straight fight? Elizabeth has too many advantages given her age."

Victoria looked toward the arena where Seraphina had arrived to serve as judge, processing Adrian’s assessment.

’He’s never been wrong about these things. Not even once...’

****

[Challenge Arena - Combat Platform]

Damian stood completely relaxed, his hands in his pockets, smiling at Elizabeth with genuine interest.

"You’re at A- rank now, aren’t you?"

Elizabeth’s smile widened, and she released her Aura.

Purple energy exploded outward from her body, the sheer density and pressure making even distant students stumble backward.

Gasp

The crowd gasped collectively, shock rippling through thousands of watching students.

"She’s A- rank?!"

"In her third year?! No fourth-year is at A- rank!"

"That’s... that’s professor-level strength!"

Several professors in the audience exchanged glances, their expressions mixing pride with concern.

’What a monster! She’s already strong enough to teach at the Academy. And she has more potential still waiting to be unlocked.’

Nathan Brock leaned toward Seraphina.

"Your student is terrifying. You realize that, right?"

Seraphina’s smile showed pride.

"Of course. Why do you think I took her as my personal disciple?"

Indeed. Seraphina has taken Elizabeth as her disciple. There was no one more suited to teach Elizabeth in this Academy than her.

Professor Seraphina stepped onto the platform, her S+ rank presence commanding immediate silence.

"This challenge will follow standard rules. Combat continues until surrender or incapacitation. Intentional lethal force is forbidden. Do you both understand?"

"Yes."

Both fighters acknowledged simultaneously.

"Begin!"

Elizabeth didn’t move from her position. She simply raised one hand and curled her finger in a "come here" gesture, her expression showing complete confidence.

Boom

Damian shrugged and exploded forward, his C+ rank speed creating a sonic boom as he closed the distance.

His fist shot toward Elizabeth’s face with enough force to shatter it completely without any mercy.