Kael shot forward—his figure blurring like a streak of flame. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Yu, sword flashing toward his head.
Yu barely ducked in time. A few strands of his hair fluttered away as the blade sliced through the air with a deafening whoosh, sending a powerful gust that rippled across the arena.
There wasn't any time to think. Yu's body moved on instinct—ducking, weaving, twisting just ahead of Kael's relentless strikes. The air whistled with every swing, blades slicing so close that strands of Yu's hair fluttered to the ground.
A flash here. A blur there.
Steel and Qi collided in a deadly rhythm, each impact echoing across the arena.
Yu was keeping up—barely—but just as he began to read Kael's pattern, his opponent suddenly leapt back, boots scraping against the scorched floor.
"Huh?" Yu blinked, lowering his stance slightly—then froze.
A deafening hiss tore through the air.
From behind Kael, a Crimson Basilisk surged forward, its scales glowing like molten metal, eyes blazing with predatory focus. Fire coiled within its throat, swirling into a brilliant inferno ready to erupt.
"Buddy!" Yu shouted, but there was no time.
The Basilisk's jaws opened wide—and the world turned white-hot.
Yu dove sideways just as a torrent of flame ripped through the ground where he'd been standing. The blast left the arena floor glowing, molten cracks spreading like fiery veins.
"Damn it—he baited me," Yu hissed, coughing through the smoke.
Kael's laughter rang across the battlefield.
"What's wrong, junior? Too hot for you?"
Before Yu could reply, Buddy spread his wings with a thunderous roar. Lightning burst from his claws, meeting the Basilisk's fire head-on. The explosion lit up the sky—flames and electricity twisting together in a storm of red and blue.
For a heartbeat, the entire arena went silent.
Then the commentator's voice boomed overhead, thrilled and breathless:
"WHAT A STRIKE! Lightning clashes with flame—neither side giving an inch! Class 11-C versus Class 12-A is heating up!" the commentator exclaimed.
While that was going on the other side, the battle between Chi and Arin was on equal footing — at least, that's how it appeared to the onlookers.
Chi's mastery over water and wind flowed in harmony, his movements calm and fluid. Opposite him, Arin's Celestial Balance Roots — a blend of light and wind — shone with radiant precision. When their energies collided, it wasn't chaos; it was serenity turned into power.
The clash between them looked less like a fight and more like a dance of balance, as if two elements were in perfect rhythm with the world itself. Waves of shimmering water met blades of light, scattering sparkles through the air like falling stars.
Arin's dual sword technique complemented his roots perfectly — every strike swift as a gale, every motion glowing faintly with divine brilliance. Chi countered with seamless transitions, turning each attack into an elegant curve of flowing water and compressed wind.
Both stood unwavering, their expressions calm — two prodigies locked in a silent test of control and understanding rather than brute force.
Liora burst through the swirling winds, her silver fur flashing like lightning. In the blink of an eye, she vanished—then reappeared behind Arin's Spirit Hawk. With her ribbon drawn taut, she slashed forward, the strike slicing through the air like a sword.
But just before the blow could land, the Spirit Hawk dissolved into particles of light. The attack cut through nothing but air.
A beat later, the hawk reformed several meters away, its feathers glowing with sharp radiance. It let out a piercing cry and launched a barrage of spiritual feathers, each one slicing through the air like a blade of light.
Liora roared, the sound blending with the rush of wind as the glowing feathers shot toward her.
"Liora—veil!" Chi commanded.
In response, the runes beneath her paws flared to life. A swirling dome of water and wind formed instantly, each feather striking against it with bursts of steam and light. The air shimmered under the force of every impact.
Arin narrowed his eyes. "You've improved."
Chi smiled faintly through the chaos. "And you've been slacking."
The barrier shattered as the last feather hit, and the two bonds charged again—silver and blue light crashing into a storm of energy at the center of the arena.
Arin too, with his core qi now fully active, moved with a calm yet overwhelming precision. His aura flared — wind and light intertwining in perfect harmony. With a swift motion, he released a burst oBefore Chi could recover, Arin was already in motion — his body a blur, gliding like a streak of light. His dual blades crossed in a devastating arc aimed straight for Chi.
The clash echoed once… then silence.
And just like that — the battle was over.
On the other side, as the smoke cleared, Yu and Kael were still locked in fierce combat.
Yu's body gleamed beneath a molten armor forged from earth and magma, the ground beneath him glowing red-hot. Sparks danced with every breath he took. Beside him, Buddy roared, wings spread wide, magma veins pulsing in rhythm with Yu's heartbeat.
"Well… I should hurry up too, then," Kael murmured.
In the blink of an eye, the world around them shifted — darkness swallowed everything.
Yu's vision faded into nothing but a heavy void, the crowd, the arena, even Buddy's roar — gone.
Only a faint glimmer of silver core qi shone ahead, a calm, deadly light cutting through the dark.
"Buddy—stay close!" Yu called out, but his own voice sounded distant.
From within the darkness, flames coiled around Kael's blade — crimson threads weaving like serpents of destruction.
Then came a blinding slash — fire and shadow as one.
The armor shattered.
Buddy's protective wings folded over Yu, shielding him from the worst — but even then, the power sent both crashing to the arena floor.
The darkness faded.
Only Kael stood tall, his sword lowered.
The match… was over.
The crowd erupted in cheers, the entire arena trembling under the roar of thousands.
"Oh my god! Young ladies and gentlemen—what a spectacular match!" the commentator shouted, his voice almost lost in the chaos. "It may have been short, but that power… that intensity! These young boys—no, these geniuses—have showcased strength that's anything but ordinary!"
He took a deep breath, eyes wide with disbelief. "To think that at such a young age, they've already reached this level of mastery… this is the future of our academy, right before your eyes!"
The applause and shouts only grew louder, echoing through the massive arena as Yu slowly got back to his feet, Buddy standing protectively beside him, and Kael offered a respectful nod.
All four of them lay in the infirmary, each hooked up to minor recovery arrays glowing faintly blue. The scent of healing herbs filled the air.
Despite their bruises and exhaustion, the mood was cheerful.
Arin leaned back on his pillow, smiling. "Don't worry. When we were your age, we were still figuring out how to—" He stopped himself mid-sentence, then chuckled. "...Well, actually, I probably shouldn't say that."
Kael shot him a look. "Eww, dude, don't make me sound like an old man reminiscing about his youth."
Yu groaned from the next bed. "Honestly, you already sound like one."
Chi smirked faintly. "And you definitely fight like one."
"Hey!" Kael sat up, pretending to be offended, then winced as his back cracked. "Okay, maybe I deserve that."
Arin laughed quietly. "It's good to see you still have energy to talk after that duel."
"Barely," Yu said, looking toward Buddy and Liora resting peacefully near their beds. "But… it was worth it."
Chi nodded, his tone soft but full of resolve. "Next time… we won't lose."
Arin's eyes softened. "Good. That's exactly what I wanted to hear."
Kael grinned. "Then it's settled. Rematch next time you juniors think you're ready."
The room burst into quiet laughter, the heavy tension of battle finally fading away—
leaving only warmth, respect, and the faint spark of rivalry.
Outside, the evening sun dipped low — the end of one trial and the quiet start of another.
when the two returned home that night… a little surprise was waiting for them.