Chapter 233: Array Master - 1 Chapter 233: Array Master - 1 "Ladies and gentlemen! We have our first match of Tier-1 students!"The moment the Host’s voice boomed across the arena, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers. "But!" The single word cut through the noise like a blade. The cheers died instantly, replaced by tense silence. "Our first-ranked fresher can be considered a dark horse—because he wasn’t in the top 10 from the start, not even in the top 50, not even in the top 500, and not even in the top 5000!" Gasps rippled through the stands. "Yes! He is a student with a Life Talent, originally ranked 6000th at registration. And yes—he exploited a loophole in the system to rise to first place!" The Host’s grin widened. "Now the question is—do we have the real deal here, or just a fluke? Because, as you can see, the students who climbed into the top 10 through sheer trials don’t look very happy about this newcomer." The Host paused deliberately as the ring gates slid open with a groan and the students appeared. "And now, let us welcome our current 8th-ranked student with 56,780 points—Lyra Noctis!" As her figure emerged, the arena exploded once more. A stunningly beautiful girl walked onto the ring, instantly stealing every gaze. Bright blonde hair shimmered under the arena lights, and her fitted dress accentuated her curves without hindering movement. Just her presence made the boys drool openly while the girls scoffed in annoyance. A sleek silver sword rested naturally in her grip, perfectly proportioned to her body, paired with light silver armour that guarded her vital points without sacrificing agility. "And now!" the Host roared, voice rising again. "The genius who broke the system and scored 5,500,000 points in a single go—let’s hear it for Tavian Gridfall!" Orange hair tied into a single long braid swayed lightly as Tavian appeared. His fair complexion, slim yet honed physique, noble attire, and focused, unyielding eyes made it immediately clear—this was not someone who had stumbled to the top by luck alone. He carried himself with calm intent. The most striking piece of equipment in his possession was a black metallic, body-length staff. Its upper end curved into a distinct ’C’ shape, within which a radiant, tiny kite-shaped orange crystal floated, pulsing faintly like a living heart. The rank of the equipment was so high that Leo’s system reacted instantly, projecting its details before his eyes. Gridfall Array Staff Rank: Peak Yellow Tier Type: Equipment Forger: Peak Blacksmith Roderick Gridfall The staff greatly smooths mana channelling, reducing resistance and loss during array activation. It provides passive Mind Protection, shielding the wielder from mental interference, illusion backlash, and array feedback up to Peak 5-star. During prolonged use, the crystal releases a gentle Mind-Clear effect, sharpening focus and easing mental fatigue. Designed for precision over raw force, the Gridfall Array Staff enables faster array deployment, improved stability, and real-time corrections. It is capable of storing 5 preset Advanced-level formations for instant deployment at the cost of mana, demanding strong mental fortitude from its wielder. This was the highest-level equipment Leo had ever seen. Even Leon, seated beside him, could sense its rank without relying on any system. "That’s at least a Yellow-Tier piece crafted by a Peak-level Blacksmith," Leon muttered, eyes narrowed. "Gridfall... I can’t recall that name." "Are such high-level equipment even allowed?" Leo asked quietly. "Doesn’t that give the rich an unfair advantage?" Leon snorted softly and shook his head. "No one is rich or poor in a fight to the death. There’s only dead or alive." Then his tone turned serious. "And equipment alone doesn’t win fights. The user has to bring out its full potential. With unpredictable beasts roaming the world, even high-ranking equipment becomes useless in the hands of someone who lacks the genius to wield it. Sometimes, it’s far better to fight barehanded than to rely on unfamiliar gear that restrains your instincts." Leo nodded slowly. The battle began. Lyra Noctis raised her hand—and summoned her beast. Skreeeeee! A piercing screech tore through the arena the instant the beast materialised, sending shivers through the audience. Stormripper Raptor (Pseudo 3-star) – Super Bloodline The massive beast stood nearly 6 meters tall on powerful hind legs, its smaller forelegs tipped with sharp, glinting claws. Metallic feathers coated its entire body, reflecting light like polished steel, while static electricity crackled and danced across its form. It was unmistakably a lightning-type beast. The Host’s eyes sparkled with excitement. "And there it is! The signature beast of the Noctis family! This alone proves that Lyra Noctis may very well be the heir candidate!" The raptor didn’t wait for any praise. The moment its gaze locked onto Tavian, it bolted forward like a lightning strike, leaving thin arcs of electricity snapping in its wake. But— "Stormripper, stop!" Lyra shouted. The beast halted abruptly, skidding to a stop mid-charge. Its head jerked sideways, confusion flashing in its eyes. Only then did everyone realize—it wasn’t facing Tavian at all. It had been rushing diagonally across the arena. A massive golden array had silently unfolded beneath the ring, rotating slowly with intricate symbols glowing along its edges. "Illusion..." Lyra muttered under her breath. Tavian gave her no time to recover. "3-star Astral Chain Binding Array!" He slammed the lower end of his staff against the ground. Instantly, 3 glowing magic circles flared into existence around the raptor in a triangular formation. Thick, radiant orange chains of projected energy shot forward, snapping toward the beast. Sensing danger, the raptor leapt high into the air, its body crackling violently with electricity. Mid-flight, it twisted sharply and redirected itself straight at Tavian. "3-star Earth Defense Array!" Once again, Tavian struck the ground. A large circular formation spread beneath his feet, symbols locking into place. From the array’s edge, a towering wall of earth surged upward just in time. BOOM! CRASH! The raptor slammed into the wall, stone and debris exploding outward as it reeled in a brief daze. But Tavian had no moment to breathe. Lyra burst forward, electricity buzzing violently around her legs, her figure blurring as she started to close the distance in an instant. "3-star Distortion Array!" The straight line of lightning rushing toward Tavian suddenly warped. Space twisted, and the attack reappeared at his side just as Lyra slashed through empty air with her blade.