The forest was alive with movement. Birds screamed, leaves shredded, and the ground trembled as dozens of students clashed for dominance. Sho Ardenthal and Liyana Larethia moved like shadows, their combined presence almost invisible until strikes landed with lethal precision.
Ahead, the elite team they had spotted earlier emerged — two older students with coordinated swords and elemental magic. Their card glowed fiercely, marking them as highly skilled and dangerous.
Sho whispered, "Stay close. We can't let them outmaneuver us."
Liyana smirked, her hair brushing lightly against her cheek. "Lead the way, darling. I'll watch your back."
With a flash, Sho activated Blink, vanishing and reappearing behind the left flank of the elite team. His sword swung, cutting through the air with precise force. At the same time, Liyana moved like liquid shadow, dodging magical blasts effortlessly. Every movement she made seemed playful, yet calculated — a deadly dance.
Sho: "Got their attention!"
Liyana: "Perfect. Now watch."
With a graceful motion, Liyana sent a controlled burst of fire magic, low level for her true power but enough to force one of the elite students to stumble backward, revealing a gap. Sho charged through, his sword glowing with mana-infused strikes, slicing through the opening and claiming their first card.
But the fight wasn't over. The second elite student recovered quickly, casting a binding spell that ensnared Sho's legs. The earth around him cracked as roots emerged, trying to immobilize him.
Liyana's eyes narrowed. "You're not touching him!"
With a smirk, she unleashed a wind slash, tearing through the roots and freeing Sho. The elite student's eyes widened in shock. Who were these two?
Sho countered with a combination of sword and magic, every move measured to disable without overusing mana, his strategy showing the sharp mind of someone who planned three steps ahead.
Liyana, still smiling, flicked her wrist. "Don't fall behind now." She executed a series of spinning kicks and light magical strikes, keeping the second elite student off balance while teasing Sho, "Careful, darling, or you'll miss all the fun!"
Sho's cheeks flushed but he focused, cutting through the student's guard, forcing them to drop their card. One team eliminated, card claimed.
Meanwhile, across the forest, other students noticed the duo. Whispers spread:
"That's Sho and Liyana… they're taking down elite teams effortlessly!"
"How are they moving like that?!"
Even the monitors outside were impressed. Professor Chroma's hand tightened around his clipboard, noting their synergy, strategy, and timing.
The elite team regrouped, but the ground shook violently. A second elite pair emerged, their combined magic creating a storm barrier that forced Sho and Liyana to adjust. Sho blinked again, dodging a direct magical strike, while Liyana casually yawned before casting a low-level fireball, perfectly timed to interrupt the enemies' casting.
Sho shot her a look. "You're not taking this seriously!"
Liyana tilted her head with a sly grin. "I'm serious enough. Trust me, you'll see when needed."
The clash intensified — swords clanged, magical bursts illuminated the forest like fireworks, and strategic positioning became crucial. Sho and Liyana coordinated seamlessly: Sho took the calculated offensive, Liyana exploited openings, teasing and rizzing him even mid-combat, making the scene fun, romantic, and chaotic all at once.
As the last seconds of the skirmish drew near, the second elite team's card was snatched. Sho caught it in a swift maneuver, leaving both enemies incapacitated.
Liyana smirked, brushing off imaginary dust. "Not bad for a warm-up, don't you think?"
Sho, catching his breath, grinned. "Yeah… but the day is just starting."
Above the treetops, the observers' screens displayed: multiple eliminations, first few card captures, and a clear rising dominance of Sho & Liyana. The battle royale had just begun, and the forest was already ablaze with strategy, power, and playful rivalry between the duo.