The gates of Arena One opened with a heavy rumble.
The roar of the crowd spilled in like thunder. Flags fluttered, sunlight glinted off metal, and somewhere above, bells rang to announce the start of the day's main match.
Ansh stood at the entrance, the sword Rajyugas had given him resting across his shoulder. The blade gleamed faintly — not magical, but so well-made it hummed softly when it moved through air. Daav fluttered anxiously above his head, his tiny wings beating a worried rhythm.
"Relax, Daav," Ansh said, trying to sound confident. "It's just one fight. I've done worse… I think."
Daav chirped doubtfully.
Across the field stood Dhairav Sen, a senior student and one of Rohan's subordinates. Older, taller, and already forming faint runic marks on his arms — a sign of strong elemental affinity. His feet glowed with brown light as the ground beneath him trembled slightly.
When Ansh approached the center circle, Dhairav smirked.
"So this is the Vice Principal's special student? You don't look like much."
Ansh tilted his head, pretending to think. "And you look like a pile of dirt that learned to walk."
Some in the audience laughed. Dhairav's jaw clenched.
The referee stepped between them. "Match between Disciple Ansh Bharadwaj and Earth Adept Dhairav Sen. No outside help. No familiars. The fight ends when one can no longer continue."
He raised his arm. "Begin!"
The ground exploded.
Ansh barely jumped back in time as spikes of stone shot up where he'd stood. He yelped, waving his arms. "Hey! I wasn't ready!"
Dhairav stomped the ground again. Crack! Boom! A shockwave rippled toward Ansh, splitting the earth open. The crowd gasped as the younger boy stumbled, tumbling sideways.
"Come on, chosen one!" Dhairav taunted. "Show me what Rajyugas sees in you!"
Ansh gritted his teeth and raised his sword. The weight felt strange — heavier than it had during training.
"Fine! You want to see something? Try this!"
He swung. The blade sliced through the air with a sharp hiss, but Dhairav was already gone, moving behind a wall of rock.
"Ha! Missed!" Dhairav mocked. He slammed his palms to the ground — several stone pillars burst up and shot toward Ansh like battering rams.
Ansh rolled aside, dust flying into his face.
"Gah! Who fights with the ground itself?!" he coughed.
Daav squeaked from the stands, flapping nervously, unable to enter the fight due to the rules.
Ashwini yelled from the spectator stands, "Focus, Ansh! Watch his feet!"
Vijay added, "He's drawing energy through the ground — make him move!"
"Yeah, sure!" Ansh shouted back, "You come and make him move!"
Another rock spike narrowly missed his leg.
Dhairav laughed cruelly. "You can't get near me, kid! You don't even know how to swing that thing properly!"
That stung. Ansh's grip tightened on the hilt, Rajyugas' voice echoing faintly in his mind:
"A sword isn't for show. It's for the one moment you choose to protect what matters."
He took a breath. Okay, calm down. Think, Ansh. He controls the ground. So… no ground, no power.
His eyes darted to the field — patches of uneven dirt, loose rocks, and the shallow cracks Dhairav had already created.
An idea sparked.
Ansh started running in circles, slashing at random spots. Dhairav watched, frowning.
"What are you— scared?" he mocked. "Running away already?"
But with each swing, Ansh kicked dust into the air, clouding the field. He could barely see himself now — a thick haze covered half the arena.
"Try hiding, it won't work!" Dhairav raised his hands, summoning a shockwave. "Earth Collapse!"
The ground quaked — but instead of hitting Ansh, it hit empty air.
"What—?"
Through the dust, a faint glint appeared — the edge of Ansh's sword.
He'd used the haze to close in.
"Surprise!" Ansh shouted, bursting out of the dust cloud.
Dhairav barely lifted his arm, forming a small wall of earth — clang! The strike hit, sparks flying as the sword scraped the stone.
The shock of impact numbed Ansh's arms, but he didn't back down. He swung again and again, forcing Dhairav backward.
"You said I couldn't get close!" Ansh yelled. "Now I'm too close!"
Dhairav snarled and shoved his hand forward — Earth Pulse! The wall erupted, blasting Ansh away. He hit the ground hard, rolling across the dirt, his shirt torn and cheek bleeding.
Ashwini gasped. "Ansh!"
He coughed, groaning. "Ugh… that hurt…" Then, despite the pain, he grinned. "But I'm not done."
He stood, shaking dust from his hair. The blade gleamed, trembling slightly in his hand.
"Come on, sword," he whispered. "Let's show him what we can do."
Dhairav stomped the ground again — dozens of sharp rock spikes rose in a circle, trapping Ansh.
"You're finished! Earth Dome!"
The spikes bent inward, forming a deadly cage. The audience murmured in shock — even Ashwini and Vijay looked worried.
Ansh's eyes darted around the shrinking prison. He raised his sword and slashed once — nothing. The rocks didn't break.
"Think, Ansh!" he muttered, panic rising. Then he spotted it — the base of one spike wasn't fully formed, a crack running down its center.
He drew a quick breath, leapt, and stabbed downward.
"Haah!"
CRACK! The spike split — the pressure of the dome broke unevenly, creating an opening. Ansh dove through it, rolling out just before the rocks collapsed behind him.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Dhairav's eyes widened in disbelief. "You—!"
Ansh didn't give him time to finish. He charged straight ahead, yelling.
"NOW!"
Dhairav raised both hands, summoning a wall again — but Ansh slid across the dirt, using the dust as cover. The moment the wall appeared, he changed direction, running along its edge.
He jumped, twisting midair, and brought the sword down with every ounce of strength he had left.
CLANG!
The impact shattered the wall's upper edge and sent a shock up Dhairav's arm. His defense cracked.
Ansh landed, panting, then pivoted and thrust the blade forward — hitting Dhairav square in the chest. The air whooshed out of him.
He fell backward, stunned.
The referee raised his hand.
"Winner — Ansh Bharadwaj!"
Silence hung for half a breath — then the stadium exploded in noise.
Cheers, shouts, and clapping filled the air. Daav shot into the sky, chirping wildly and twirling sparks in celebration.
Ansh dropped to his knees, chest heaving. His sword was chipped, his face smeared with dust and sweat, but his grin was pure victory.
Ashwini rushed down, eyes shining. "You did it!"
Vijay grinned. "I can't believe you actually used your brain."
"I always use my brain!" Ansh protested. "It just… takes time to warm up."
Daav chirped in agreement — or maybe mockery — no one could tell.
From the crowd's upper seats, Rohan watched, expression dark. His jaw tightened as he muttered, "Lucky brat. Let's see how long that luck lasts."
Ashwini caught sight of him and leaned toward Ansh. "I think Rohan's even angrier now."
Ansh just smiled, lifting his sword slightly. "Then he should practice more. I'm just getting started."
The referee's flag lowered. The arena emptied.
Ansh stood quietly for a moment, staring at his sword — Rajyugas' sword, faintly reflecting the sunset.
For the first time, it didn't feel heavy.
It felt like it belonged in his hands.
He looked up at the sky.
"Did you see that, teacher?" he whispered, smiling. "I didn't lose control… I won fair and square."
Daav landed softly on his shoulder, nuzzling his cheek.
Ansh chuckled. "C'mon, let's go find something to eat. Winning's hard work."
The two walked off together — one small boy, one fiery bird — both unaware that this simple victory would soon lead to much greater battles ahead.