Novel's Extra: I Awakened The Strongest Physique From The Start

It was the third day of the competition. The second-year students were fighting today.

Unlike the first-year students, the second years were lower in number, and they all had a fixed ranking, so they didn't need a battle royal.

The top 30 students from the second year were the participants.

The energy in the coliseum was still high with the audience filling their seats and watching the matches go on, but as the matches progressed, a sense of impatience began to creep into the crowd.

"Man, this is nowhere near as exciting as yesterday," a spectator grumbled, slumping in his seat. "Half of these fights end before they even start!"

His friend nodded, arms crossed. "And the ones that don't? They drag on forever. It's just a lot of posturing and staring before one big move decides the whole match."

Indeed, the second-year students, while undeniably powerful, lacked the raw unpredictability of the first-years.

They were also geniuses just like the other students of Originveil, but they weren't... exciting.

Their battles often boiled down to one overwhelming move or an absurdly prolonged standoff where neither side wanted to make the first move.

The first few matches were quick eliminations.

In some cases, one fighter surrendered outright, recognizing a gap in skill that wasn't worth pushing against. Others were outmatched, the fights concluding within seconds.

It became a pattern—either an instant finish or a sluggish exchange of blows that tested the audience's patience.

"Look at that," another spectator sighed as a match ended with one fighter knocked out before they could even cast a spell. "That's the fourth one today. What's the point of showing up if you're just gonna get clapped instantly?"

Yes, not all the matches were disappointing, but even the best ones struggled to match the sheer intensity of the first-year battles.

There was a refined precision to the second-year combatants, but that very refinement made many of the fights predictable. Strategy overshadowed raw excitement.

"Yesterday's fights were way better," someone muttered. "At least there was tension. First-years fight like they have something to prove. These guys fight like they already know the outcome."

As the day continued, so did the match. People still watched, waiting for something exciting to happen, and soon, murmurs began to spread through the stands—not about the tournament, but about something happening outside the coliseum.

"Did you hear?" A voice whispered among a small cluster of spectators. "There have been strange people roaming around the city."

"Yeah, I saw a few myself. They don't look like they belong here. They're too quiet, always watching."

"I heard someone say they're looking for something. Or someone."

The tournament should have been the main topic of conversation, but more and more people seemed distracted by this peculiar rumor. The tension in the air wasn't from the fights—it was something else, something unseen yet present.

These rumors were reported to the authorities as well, but nothing seemed to have come out of it. The suspicious people turned out to be citizens going about their daily routines.

With no leads, the case was soon shut down.

"Hey, forget about that for a second," one of them nudged his friend, changing the topic as he had heard those rumors were just rumors. "Looks like the last match of the day is about to start."

The attention returned to the battlefield, but an unshakable sense of unease about something in the background remained.

As the day went on, the matches continued. Although it wasn't that great, this was also part of the competition and needed to be concluded.

The people in the audience were living in the present but were more excited about tomorrow's match, as the fourth day looming ahead was when they would see the 'Maneater' in action again.

............................

Meanwhile, in one of the private chambers within the student council building, a small but significant gathering was taking place.

The 'Maneater', Alex Drakathor, sat at the head table, his sharp, blue eyes scanning each individual before him.

The chamber was dimly lit by a few floating magical orbs, casting soft shadows on the grand oak table where four individuals, other than him, sat.

To his right sat Zahara, his lover and the rulekeeper of the student council. Her arms were crossed, her deep crimson eyes watching Alex and Mira, a knowing light flashing past her eyes.

Mira was sitting on the other side of Alex, and despite her expression being blank as ever, she seemed happier today.

Just the way she sat closer to Alex, her eyes never leaving him, told many things, and Zahara, who already knew why Mira was so clingy, just smiled inwardly.

Across from them sat Gurrak, the golden goblin, and the treasurer of the student council. His golden-skinned fingers drummed against the table, his sharp teeth barely visible beneath his thoughtful expression.

Next to him was Aelora, the beautiful half-sylph—someone who had an ambiguous relationship with him.

Then there was Aerenion, the elven prince, his expression contemplating as he still didn't know why he was here.

He came here upon Alex's invite, but looking at how he had called others and not just him, he could tell that there was something he had to discuss.

Yes, he could've just held this meeting in the council hall like always, but it was understandable why he called them in his chamber.

'Theron and Fenna have something going on with them.'

This was something every member of the council had noticed by now.

Theron had been irritated for some reason, while Fenna didn't attend the meetings with the excuse of preparing for the competition.

So, with both male and female presidents of the student council absent, Alex's decision as the only vice president was understandable.

Creak.

It was then that the door of Alex's chamber opened again, and Rodeus, the last member of the student council, entered the chamber while rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

"I was a bit late, wasn't I?" Staring at Alex, he smiled apologetically. "My bad, man."

Alex, in reply, just shook his head. "It's fine. Take a seat."

Rodeus did what he was asked for, taking a seat, and Alex, with a deep breath, leaned back slightly, his fingers interlocked. "I assume you've all heard the rumors?"

"The strange people lurking around the city?" Zahara quipped, resting her cheek against her palm. "Yeah, it's been making rounds among the students too. But it's just paranoia, isn't it?"

Aelora sighed. "The authorities already investigated and found nothing. Just normal citizens."

"Or well-disguised intruders," Aerenion added, his tone slightly more serious. "We can't completely ignore the possibility."

Gurrak frowned, taking Aerenion's words into account as he spoke, "If they were enemies, they would've attacked by now. Or at least done something."

Mira, as usual, remained silent, her eyes flickering toward Alex as if waiting for his thoughts.

He exhaled, shifting his posture forward and placing his elbows on the table. "That's what concerns me the most," he said, his voice calm but unwavering. "If they were truly just bystanders, then it would've been fine, but I feel something more at play here. It smells like trouble to me."

The room fell into silence.

Zahara's expression had turned serious by now. "Didn't we already take care of all the suspicious people in the academy?"

She could clearly remember the time when Alex had made a list of suspicious people in the academy and eliminated them, making the academy safe from the terror attacks.

So, how could there still be some fishy people left?

Alex, hearing her words, replied with a shake of his head. "Evil never dies, Hara. If we kill one, another would rise."

He had realized it some time ago.

No matter how many of those he knew would bring trouble he killed, more would replace them.

The incident Zahara was talking about was none other than Alex clearing out the plots that were supposed to make the protagonists stronger.

By facing trials, the protagonists grow, but Alex always eliminates those trials before they can turn into EXPs for the protagonists. He was never fond of having his enemies grow stronger.

Now, however, things were changing. Variables and people that were never supposed to be in the plot were now appearing, so other than being cautious, there was nothing else he could do.

Aerenion, realizing the meaning behind Alex's words, frowned. "Are you saying something major is going to happen?"

Alex's gaze darkened slightly. "I'm saying it already is."

The air in the chamber grew heavy. Each member present knew that Alex wasn't the type to make baseless claims. If he was taking this seriously, then they had no choice but to do the same.

Mira finally spoke, her voice steady. "What do you want us to do?"

She was a secretory by rank—not someone who would be included in these types of meetings—but since she was someone all of them liked, she was included, and her words were heard as well.

"For now, we watch," Alex answered. "We don't alert the students yet, and we don't cause unnecessary panic. But if these people are really here for something... then the moment they make a move, we'll be ready."

A solemn look appeared on Zahara's face as she nodded. "Alright. I'll increase the security."

Aelora and Gurrak exchanged glances, nodding slightly, while Aerenion just sat in his spot with a thoughtful look.

Mira, on the other hand, watched Alex, her unwavering trust in him evident in her eyes.

She was participating in the competition, but if Alex were to ask her to leave, she wouldn't think twice about it.

The tournament might have been the event of the year, but now, it was clear that something much bigger was brewing beneath the surface.

The student council was preparing to face whatever was going to come at them, but was it possible? That was something only time will tell.