The arena was filled with dust and smoke.

The students stared, frozen.

One voice broke the silence.

“Hey… the barrier broke…!”

Another shouted, “Look! The smoke’s clearing!”

The dust thinned just enough that the crowd could finally see the two figures inside.

Jiwoo lay flat on the ground, unconscious, sword a few steps away.

Kang Hyunwoo was still up, but barely — one knee down, breathing hard, sweat dripping from his chin. His right hand trembled, ...