The crowd was still roaring behind them when the exit door sealed shut. The hallway lights flickered as Class Zero walked through, their footsteps soft against the polished floor.
Lucian didn’t say anything.
Neither did the others.
The battle was over, but the weight of it lingered in their skin, in the slight ache behind their eyes, in the low buzz of mana still slowly settling down.
They turned the corner toward the dorm wing, and that’s when they saw them.
Blocking the way forward.
No cheers here. No applause.
Dozens of them. Men and women dressed in black, white, chrome, and silk. No uniforms, but you could tell. Suits made for money. Robes tied with old magic. Some wore blades. Some didn’t need to.
Vyn did too. Her eyes narrowed.
Evelyn clicked her tongue. "Here we go."
Reia looked down, jaw tight. Silas didn’t even blink.
The corridor was silent.
Then one man stepped forward.
"You’ve caused quite the stir," he said. Voice smooth. No aggression, but no warmth either. "Class Zero. You’ve just become the most expensive team in the world."
Lucian didn’t answer.
The man smiled. "Hunter Association. We’d like to offer full sponsorship. Housing. Equipment. Freedom of choice. All of you."
Another stepped up before he could finish. A woman in green. Her presence was heavy—arrogant without words.
"My family disagrees," she said. "We’re prepared to offer personal contracts. You will remain Class Zero, but all five will be Verdant-licensed. Exclusive rights. Access to our old archives. Training under direct house supervision."
"Denied," another voice said.
Someone in dark violet now.
They didn’t even make an offer.
They just looked at Lucian like they already knew the outcome.
"Myne house is willing to bid. Twenty million credits per head. A lifetime of immunity and tech support."
Evelyn snorted. "We’re not cattle."
That’s when it turned.
Another woman spoke up—cold and poised.
"Merrin does not trade bloodlines."
Her eyes flicked to Evelyn.
And Evelyn... didn’t say anything.
Didn’t smile. Didn’t scoff.
She just looked away.
Lucian glanced at her.
The silence between them was answer enough.
More stepped forward now.
No words were spoken. Just a nod. Like a silent demand.
Vyn stared back flatly. Said nothing. No change in her face. But her mana pulled tight.
Lucian could feel it.
Another stepped forward. From Caelum.
Reia stiffened. Silas did too.
The man didn’t even look at them. Just looked at Lucian.
"Our family is willing to consider shared custody with the Hunter Association. Two of ours have bonded with you already. It’s only logical we finalize it."
Reia clenched her fists.
Lucian’s voice was quiet.
"You didn’t even look at them."
The Caelum rep paused.
Silas stepped forward, just one pace. "You never did."
The man looked at him now. Like he noticed him for the first time.
"Silas. Reia. You understand what we’re offering here."
"We’re not yours," Reia said.
Lucian moved past them, stepping forward slowly.
"Let me guess," he said. "You all watched the match. And now you’re here."
"We watched more than the match," someone else said from behind.
A woman from the Hunter Association. Younger. Sharp-eyed.
"We’ve been watching since Zenith Week started. You’ve changed something. The way battles are fought. The way people move. It’s not just talent. It’s design."
Lucian raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"And we don’t want it falling into the wrong hands."
More murmurs followed.
Some spoke directly to Evelyn. Some to Vyn. Some to Silas. But all of it was noise. A territorial game.
Lucian didn’t answer any of them.
He looked to his team.
Reia looked tired. But she was standing tall.
Silas had a cut on his cheek, but his eyes were sharp.
Evelyn crossed her arms. Still watching everything.
Vyn... was unreadable. But her mana was flaring ever so slightly.
He turned back to the crowd.
"You all want a piece of us," Lucian said. "But you’re not talking to us. You’re talking to your bloodlines."
Lucian’s voice stayed even. "We fought together. Bled together. We made that win. All five of us. Nobody owns that."
"Be careful, Lucian," someone muttered. "This world isn’t fair."
"Wasn’t asking it to be."
That answer drew a few reactions. Some bitter smiles. Some annoyed eyes. But no one stepped forward now.
They had expected bargaining.
Instead, they got a refusal.
A Thorn rep looked at Vyn again. "You’re one of us."
Vyn tilted her head. "Only when it’s convenient, right?"
The Merrin delegate moved slightly. "Evelyn will return with us when Zenith ends. That was always the plan."
Evelyn turned to Lucian. "I never agreed to that."
The Caelum rep tried again. "Reia and Silas will be welcomed back—"
"Don’t finish that sentence," Reia cut in. "We were never welcomed in the first place."
The Hunter Association stepped forward again. "Then what do you propose?"
Lucian shrugged. "Nothing."
"You refuse all offers?"
"I didn’t say that," Lucian replied. "I said we’re not for sale."
The woman narrowed her eyes. "Same thing."
Lucian gave her a small, tired smile. "To you."
They tried again. Politely. Firmly. Quietly. But none of it mattered.
The five of them started walking.
Right through the middle.
They didn’t need to fight again.
Their presence alone was enough now.
Lucian didn’t look back.
Neither did the others.
When they reached the dorm entrance, Evelyn finally exhaled. "That was fun."
"Shut up," Reia muttered.
Silas rubbed his temple. "If I hear the word ’offer’ one more time, I’m burning someone’s suit."
Lucian glanced at Vyn.
She was staring straight ahead, silent.
"...I won’t go back," she said.
The door closed behind them.
The noise outside died instantly.
Lucian dropped into a chair.
The others slumped where they could.
Just a long, quiet moment.
Finally, Evelyn broke it.
She looked at Lucian.
Lucian didn’t answer right away.
His mind drifted back to the match.
To the people in the hallway.
To Aldric’s eyes watching from above.
To the fact that none of this had even started yet.
He leaned back, eyes half-closed.
"Now," he said quietly, "we wait."
They didn’t ask for what.