The arena had never been so silent.
Eryon lay motionless on the shattered floor, the heat from his broken flame still rising in wisps from his scorched clothing. Around him, nothing moved—no cheers, no roars, just the stunned stillness of thousands of witnesses struggling to comprehend what they had just seen.
A student had defeated Vaen Solarius.
Not with technique.
Not with pedigree.
But with fire.
The first to move was Kaelen. He rushed to Eryon's side, checking his pulse, signaling immediately to the medical unit. A team of healers stormed the arena floor, casting streams of golden light over the unconscious boy as they carefully lifted him onto a stretcher.
From the balcony, the instructors were in a storm of murmurs and reactions.
"That was a true elemental manifestation," one professor whispered. "Before formal Forging training—how is that even possible?"
"And from someone without clan ties? He's a complete unknown."
"That sword strike—he channeled raw flame directly into it. That shouldn't be possible at his level."
Ardan Dawnmere, silent and stern, had not spoken a word until now. Then, slowly, he exhaled.
"That boy draw with my daughter on the preliminaries. And now he's destroyed Vaen's sword."
Next to him, another instructor turned. "You think it's bloodline?"
Ardan narrowed his eyes. "No. It's instinct. Rage. Will. And something else we haven't seen in decades."
Meanwhile, in the infirmary wing, Alice Dawnmere sat upright in her bed, a soft bandage wrapped around her ribs.
She had awoken minutes earlier and now stared in silence as one of the medical aides relayed the news.
She didn't respond at first.
Then her eyes widened. Her hand moved subconsciously to her sword.
He defeated Vaen?
The memory returned to her, vividly—when Eryon had tossed aside the level-3 beast core she'd offered, saying he didn't need charity, only the call of his own heart.
Now, the flames that lit the arena echoed those very words.
Later that day, Professor Kaelen addressed the academy publicly. His voice, clear and resonant, echoed through the inner walls of every training hall and dormitory.
One match remains. Tomorrow, Eryon Solaris shall face Alice Dawnmere in the final duel.
The announcement sent new shockwaves through the Academy.
Kael and Ryn exchanged stunned glances. The students who had watched quietly all day suddenly erupted into speculation.
And in the infirmary, Alice's lips curved into something between disbelief and curiosity.
So the final battle is between us after all.
Outside, the sun dipped behind the towers of the Academy.
And within its walls, two stars prepared to collide.