Moris collapsed.

Not staggered.

Not thrown back. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He simply dropped—like a switch had been turned off.

His body hit the floor with a dull thud.

Silence followed.

The twins who had been laughing moments ago froze, dread crawling up their spines. Their faces drained of color as they stared at Moris’s unmoving body.

"...Just One punch and moris is down that’s a first time it ever happened to him." one of them whispered.

Julia’s eyes were locked onto Arthur.

Her breath caught slightly.

’I barely followed that strike...’

Her fingers curled unconsciously.

’Just what kind of F-ranker is he?’

She exhaled slowly, eyes sharp.

"That punch knocked out an E-rank Tier-1," Julia said quietly. "Someone already standing at the edge of D-rank."

She shook her head faintly.

"That’s not normal."

"That guy is really something."

Aaron, on the other hand, was grinning ear to ear.

"Hah!" he said proudly. "That’s my first friend, alright!"

The onlookers murmured among themselves, shock rippling through the crowd.

To understand why—

One needed to understand the Tier System.

From F-rank to SSS-rank, every Rank is divided into three Tiers.

Tier-3 — Initiation.

The moment one steps into a Rank.

Power exists, but it is unstable—control is poor and energy is wasted without training and refining it properly.

Tier-2 — Advancement.

Power has settled.

Strength, technique, and aura are balanced, allowing efficient and reliable use of one’s abilities.

Tier-1 — Apex.

The absolute peak of the Rank.

Power is fully mastered, and the individual stands directly before the breakthrough to the next Rank.

A Tier-1 individual is fully prepared to ascend.

Moris was exactly that.

An E-rank Tier-1.

And Arthur—an F-ranker—had knocked him out in a single strike.

Arthur turned his head toward the twins.

His red eyes were calm.

"Do you also have something to say?" he asked.

The twins stiffened instantly.

They raised their hands in surrender.

"N-No, sir!"

"Nothing at all!"

Arthur nodded once.

"Good."

He turned away and started walking toward the hotel.

Then—

A presence blocked his path again.

Yuna stood in front of him, eyes sharp and probing.

"How did you do that?" she asked.

Arthur stopped.

"Do what?"

Yuna’s gaze hardened.

"Don’t play dumb," she said. "If you really are an F-ranker like you claim—"

"Even if you used a skill to boost speed and power," she continued, "you should not be able to exceed the total power cap of your Rank."

She stepped closer.

"But you did."

"You knocked out an E-rank Tier-1—someone on the verge of breaking through to D-rank."

Her eyes narrowed.

"That shouldn’t be possible."

She studied him closely.

"There’s something abnormal about you."

Arthur tilted his head.

"Maybe," he said casually, "you just don’t know how to teach."

"That’s why he couldn’t dodge."

"It’s as simple as that."

Yuna’s eye twitched.

Her aura flared faintly.

"Watch yourself, arrogant brat," she said coldly. "Do you even know who you’re talking to?"

Arthur resumed walking.

"I don’t know," he replied over his shoulder.

"And I don’t care."

"So goodbye."

He didn’t stop.

Didn’t look back.

Arthur had barely taken ten steps when a familiar voice shouted from behind.

"Hey, Arthur!"

He stopped and turned, already tired.

"What is it now?" he asked.

Aaron jogged closer, hands waving a little too enthusiastically.

"Do you have any plans to join the Celestia Academy?" he asked.

Arthur blinked once.

"Not right now," he replied. "But I’ll think about it."

That was all he said.

He turned around and continued walking, disappearing without another word.

Aaron scratched the back of his head, watching him go.

"...He really does whatever he wants."

Julia stepped beside him, her gaze lingering on the direction Arthur had left.

"Do you think he’ll join?" she asked.

Aaron shrugged.

"Who knows? That guy’s weird."

He glanced at her.

"But why are you asking?"

Julia’s eyes narrowed slightly, thoughtful.

"He might become a strong rival in the future."

Aaron raised an eyebrow, teasing.

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Yes," Julia said simply.

Her gaze shifted.

Yuna was still standing there, arms crossed, a smile lingering on her lips—one that hadn’t faded since Arthur walked away.

Julia hesitated, then spoke.

"After all... Miss Yuna personally asked him to become her disciple," she said slowly. "That was the first time she ever did that."

"And he rejected her."

Julia let out a quiet breath.

"I think he knew exactly who you were. And yet he still refused."

She shook her head faintly.

As yuna said without a himt of dissapointement..

"If it were anyone else, they would have jumped at that opportunity without hesitation."

"But he didn’t."

"That alone shows how confident he is in becoming strong on his own."

Yuna’s smile widened slightly.

As julia said"Maybe you’re right. That guy has a strange aura to him."

Yuna’s eyes gleamed.

"That kid is definitely hiding something."

"And I’ll find out what it is."

"No matter how long it takes."

She turned her head toward Julia.

"I’ve also changed my mind," Yuna said calmly. "I will teach you."

Julia froze.

"...What?"

"I’ll take you as my disciple," Yuna continued. "I’ll show that arrogant kid exactly what kind of opportunity he just threw away."

"And one day," she added, her grin sharp, "I’ll make him beg me to teach him."

Julia’s eyes widened.

Her breath caught.

She dropped into a deep bow immediately.

"I won’t disappoint you!" she said, voice trembling with excitement.

Yuna nodded.

"I hope so."

Julia straightened and looked at Aaron, smiling.

"Looks like you getting kidnapped had some merit after all."

Aaron recoiled.

"Hey! That’s rude!" he protested. "I could’ve died!"

Julia laughed softly.

"Relax. I’m just kidding."

Soon after, Aaron and Julia departed with their guards, boarding their airship. Yuna raised a hand in a lazy wave as it lifted into the sky.

When they were gone, silence returned.

Yuna turned her gaze back to the empty space where Arthur had stood.

"Arthur..." she murmured.

"I’ll make sure to remember that name."

"And I’ll wait."

"For the perfect opportunity."

-----

Meanwhile—

Arthur was back in his room.

A box of fried chicken sat open on the table, steam rising invitingly.

He cracked his knuckles.

"Finally," he muttered. "Peace."

He grabbed a piece—

And froze.

A sudden chill crawled down his spine.

His shoulders stiffened.

"...What the hell was that?" he whispered.

He looked around the room.

Nothing had changed.

No presence.

No sound.

Arthur frowned slightly, unease lingering.

’...I really don’t like this feeling.’

Still, he shook it off, sat down, and took a bite.

But somewhere far away—

A battle maniac smiled.