Day One of the Dawnforge Tournament had already shaken the stadium twice.
Astra Noire's overwhelming victory in the morning.The roaring cheers that still echoed through the air.The shockwaves from her meteor feat still hanging over the entire Academy.
And now—
As the sun dipped slightly westward, signaling the second match of the day…
The announcer's voice thundered across the arena:
"Second Match — Rain Lancelot vs Cero Vale!"
The crowd erupted instantly.
Hero Class Rank 4 vs Auxiliary Cadets Rank 1.
Water vs Barrier.Calm grace vs Quiet brilliance.A match no one could predict.
◆ ◆ ◆
Pre-Match Tension
Rain stepped onto the platform, her blue hair flowing like a quiet river, her expression serene but sharp.
Behind her, her classmates cheered:
Roger waved frantically."RAIN! Freeze him! But, uh… politely!"
Bam grinned."Show him why you're Rank 4!"
Raze simply offered a nod."You can win this."
Rain smiled softly.
Across the arena, Cero Vale walked up — a lean, shy boy with messy brown hair and soft eyes.He bowed deeply to Rain.
"I… apologize in advance if my defense becomes overwhelming."
Rain blinked."You don't need to apologize before a fight."
He rubbed the back of his neck."It's a habit."
Despite his awkwardness, everyone knew the truth:
Cero Vale was terrifying when he got serious.
In any other academy, he would enter Hero Class easily.His Nexas — Barrier Construct — was powerful, flexible, and extremely hard to counter.
The tension thickened.
The referee raised his hand.
"Begin in 3… 2… 1— START!"
◆ ◆ ◆
The Arena Freezes
Rain thrust her hand forward.
Water spiraled around her, forming several liters at once — the maximum she could currently summon.
With a flick of her wrist—
SHRRRING!
It all crystallized into dozens of small, dense ice spheres — each one hard as steel.
The audience murmured:
"She condensed them instantly!""Her ice control is insane!"
Rain unleashed the barrage—
FWISH! FWISH! FWISH!
Cero reacted instantly.
He raised both palms.
BOOM—!!
A massive translucent barrier erupted in front of him, taking the full brunt of the icy bullets.
They shattered harmlessly against his shield.
Rain narrowed her eyes.
As expected.
Cero stepped forward, lifting his hand again.
A second barrier snapped into existence—
and slammed Rain backward.
She slid across the arena floor, boots scraping.
"Rain!!" Roger yelled.
Cero spoke softly, almost apologetically:
"My barrier can push with force equal to its density.
I can't attack… but I can repel."
Rain stood, breath steady.
"You're strong."
Cero's cheeks flushed slightly.
"Thank you. But… I'm not done."
◆ ◆ ◆
Cero's Counterattack
Cero raised both arms.
DOOM—!
A semicircle barrier formed behind Rain.
Her eyes widened.
It pushed—Hard.
Rain was hurled toward the ring's edge.
The crowd gasped.
"He's forcing a ring-out!""That's how Auxiliary Cadets fight — efficiency over flashy power!"
Rain skidded across the arena floor—
But before she crossed the boundary—
She stomped her foot—
CRRRRRRK!
A spike of ice erupted from beneath her, forming a tiny pillar—
A foothold.
But not just a foothold—
She shaped it instantly—
Into a floating platform.
A condensed ice pad that hovered using her Hardwater manipulation, giving her a low, imperfect but functional flight.
The audience exploded.
"RAIN CAN FLY!?""No—she's creating her own platform!""That's genius!"
Cero stared, stunned.
"What…? You can do that… at your level…?"
Rain exhaled softly.
"I can't truly fly.But I can stay in the air long enough."
She raised her hand.
Her floating ice pad spun her around like a dancer.
Water formed behind her.
Then—She condensed it again.
This time—
One large sphere.Dense. Heavy. Deadly.
A mini glacier compressed into a projectile.
Cero swallowed hard.
"That's… not good."
◆ ◆ ◆
Final Clash — Frost vs Barrier
Rain hurled the condensed ice boulder.
Cero slammed both palms outward.
BARRRRRRIER—!!
A massive barrier dome erupted to block the attack.
The two forces collided—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
Ice cracked.Light bent.The arena shook.
Cero grit his teeth as fractures spider-webbed across his barrier.
"I… can hold… I can—"
Rain whispered:
"Break."
Her ice platform launched her downward like a hammer from above—
She punched the ice boulder mid-air—
SHATTER—!!!
Fragments fired like bullets into Cero's weakening barrier.
CRAAAAACK—!!!
The barrier exploded.
Cero's eyes widened—
Rain landed, sliding forward—
She flicked her wrist—
THWACK!!
A final condensed ice sphere tapped Cero in the chest.
He stumbled…
Lost his footing…
And fell backward out of the arena boundary.
The bell rang.
"Winner — Rain Lancelot!!"
◆ ◆ ◆
Aftermath
The stadium erupted.
"RAIN WON!!""That final attack was insane!""She used her ice platform so well!"
Cero stood up, brushing dirt from his uniform.
He approached Rain with a small smile.
"You were incredible.
Even my strongest barrier… you broke it."
Rain nodded politely.
"You forced me to use my best technique. Thank you."
Cero bowed deeply.
"You deserve Hero Class Rank 4."
Roger jumped onto Rain like an excited puppy.
"RAIN!! YOU WERE AWESOME!! That flying thing—TEACH ME!"
Rain laughed softly.
"I don't think you can freeze water, Roger."
Bam slapped Cero's shoulder.
"Dude, you nearly won. Respect."
Raze smiled a little.
"That was a smart adaptation, Rain."
Rain looked at her classmates — at their pride, their cheers, their joy.
For the first time in a long time…
She felt seen.
◆ ◆ ◆
And thus, the second match of Day One ended with another exhilarating victory.
Astra Noire and Rain Lancelot both advanced—
Setting the stage for a Dawnforge Tournament that was already burning hotter than anyone expected.