## Chapter 9: One-on-One
The soft vibration of Sylvan's internal chrono-chip pulsed in his wrist.
**\[TIME: 04:30]**
His eyes snapped open.
Rising from his bed, he stretched slightly, feeling the surge of energy coursing through his veins. He moved to the center of his room, sat cross-legged, and began his morning energy control training. His breathing slowed, and the air around him shimmered faintly. Particles of energy danced like fireflies in tune with his heartbeat.
He extended one hand and focused, drawing in the surrounding energies into a single point, condensing and cycling them with increasing precision. Flames flickered for an instant across his skin, and then vanished as he shifted to wind, then to light, then void. His control was tightening.
Thirty minutes passed.
**\[TIME: 05:00]**
Sylvan stood, sharp and ready.
He went to the training chamber because the place where they were staying, the lodge, already had a training chamber. It adjusted automatically to his preferences.
**\[DAILY QUEST: COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING]**
**1. One-Finger Suspension: Incomplete**
**2. 100-Meter Dash + 100 Sit-ups: Incomplete**
**3. 100 Sit-ups: Incomplete**
He exhaled and stepped onto the energy platform.
With a burst of strength, he lifted his entire body on one finger, suspended horizontally in the air. Muscles trembled, but he held the position steadily.
**\[One-Finger Suspension: Complete]**
He dropped, dashed forward in a burst of flame, then wind, covering 100 meters almost instantly. He dropped to the floor and began sit-ups. One after another, the count increased, his core tightening with every breath.
**\[100-Meter Dash + 100 Sit-ups: Complete]**
**\[100 Sit-ups: Complete]**
**\[DAILY QUEST COMPLETED]**
**\[REWARD: 10 ATTRIBUTE POINTS]**
Without wasting a second, he darted into the crystalline shower room, bathing quickly. Steam curled off his skin as the hot water rushed over him.
Then it came.
**\[ALERT: ALL PARTICIPANTS]**
**\[REPORT TO THE WHITE ROOM IN 1 MINUTE]**
His heart skipped. He activated **Flame Dash**.
The corridors blurred around him. He turned corners like wind incarnate, his coat trailing embers.
He reached the gleaming white chamber just in time. Walls of smooth platinum-white alloy reflected every flicker of energy.
Alex Silva was already there, arms crossed, leaning against a pillar of ice he had conjured. Their eyes met. A mutual nod passed between them—recognition, not rivalry.
Sylvan moved to his seat.
Seconds passed.
Then minutes.
People poured into the room, gasping, sliding, teleporting, stumbling. One by one, the count rose.
300,000. 350,000. 390,000.
**\[TIME LIMIT EXCEEDED]**
**\[FINAL COUNT: 400,000 CONTESTANTS PRESENT]**
**\[100,000 DISQUALIFIED]**
Murmurs filled the space.
Then, silence.
The silver-clad referee from before appeared on a raised platform.
"Congratulations," he began, voice echoing. "You are the ones who passed the Elimination Round. But the next stage will not be chaos. It will be precision. It will be intent."
He raised a hand. A colossal holographic screen expanded above the room, displaying two columns:
**\[ROUND TWO: ONE-ON-ONE BATTLE BRACKETS]**
Names began to flash.
**Sylvan Crimson (Fire/Light/Void/Wind/Transformation) VS Alex Silva (Ice/Levitation/Lightning/Wind)**
**Eric Duran (Energy Manipulation) VS Koba Ironsoul (Super Strength)**
**Mira Blazewind (Flames) VS Zane Umbra (Shadows)**
**chapter 10Alina Rayne (Lightning) VS Delton Steel (Earth Manipulation)**
**Tyren Vale (Water) VS Darius Voss (Poison)**
Gasps and excitement buzzed through the chamber.
Top contenders. Top five. Pitted against each other already.
The silver-clad man continued, "Each duel will be held in the Sky-Arena. Defeat your opponent, and you gain rewards based on performance."
The hologram zoomed in.
**\[SUMMONING: SYLVAN CRIMSON & ALEX SILVA]**
**\[STAGE ONE: INITIATING]**
Sylvan's bracelet vibrated. He felt the pull.
In a burst of light, he and Alex vanished, transported to the central arena.
Before him, the vast battlefield awaited, sky-colored energy barriers rising to enclose them.
**\[OPPONENT FOUND: ALEX SILVA]**
**\[DEFEAT REWARD: 20 ATTRIBUTE POINTS]**
Sylvan looked up and smiled.
Across the field, Alex mirrored the expression.
The battle was about to begin.