"It doesn't necessarily matter what someone's Inheritance is. What you should take from them are the fundamentals that help you grow: drive, determination, and discipline. Or even something physical, like swordsmanship or raw combat prowess." Storm said.
This was the first time Scar had seen Storm since their last duel. Scar had headed to the third arena right after his personal daily workout: 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats. Julien and Purple, though, claimed they had something to attend to first.
Scar braced himself to watch these analyses alone, but moments after he sat down in the stands, Storm joined him.
"We are rivals. That means we grow together. If you're not strong enough to challenge me, then I won't grow either." Storm added, wearing a smile that clenched his eyes shut.
Scar exhaled.
Thinking it through, Storm wasn't wrong. He could do flash steps now, even if they weren't as effective as Storm's, and he could manipulate the Blessing around him to make his presence more threatening. Their last encounter had made him stronger.
"So… do you think I stand a chance now? I've gotten a lot stronger since our last duel. Give me a few more matches watching you, and I might actually scare you." Scar said, looking too casual for his own words.
Storm furrowed his brow.
"Hmph. A Tier-7 taking on a unique Daywalker and Amell? I thought it was a rumor. And your flames… they don't behave like ordinary fire. Setting entire buildings ablaze at your level? I suppose you're more troublesome than I expected."
Storm locked eyes with Scar. He frowned.
"That's as far as you go, boy. Victory isn't within your reach. You wouldn't survive a single volley from me at full strength. Be patient… I'll make the difference between us painfully clear shortly."
Scar smiled.
He'd always known he couldn't win, at least, not like this. But he was there on a mission, despite his head already throbbing from fatigue. He needed to learn the key to wielding his flames more effectively. Hours ago, he'd nearly passed out from exhaustion simply because he couldn't control his dark flames.
But at the moment, he'd learned one thing: he was too cocky and smug for his own good.
"Storm, Storm… you really love dramatic speeches, huh? I held my own without my Inheritance before. Now that I've got flames? I should probably apologize in advance to your eyebrows."
Storm didn't talk much; instead, he began teaching Scar what he could learn from the current duel. It seemed like too much care from someone who was supposed to be his rival, but honestly, aside from Storm's intolerance for people not addressing their shortcomings, Scar actually liked him quite a bit.
…soon, Storm was called to the field for his duel. He didn't say much, didn't throw a tantrum, or toss out any cocky words like Scar would have.
Instead, he walked steadily onto the field, radiating calm and absolute confidence. His blonde hair moved gently in the breeze, his bearing was effortlessly poised, and his light skin shimmered as if touched by a pale moonlight.
Scar grew attentive.
Everything about Storm was so simple. Truth was, when they fought, Scar had been so concerned about survival that he never noticed how gentle Storm's presence was.
But then he understood something. Unlike what Arthur taught them about using the Blessing to threaten, Storm used it to convey assurance and hope instead. The kind that made anyone believe everything would be okay as long as he was around, even when the situation seemed hopeless.
Scar's mind went wild a little.
Using the Blessing to threaten was a strategic move that, if executed correctly with enough emotion behind it, could make anyone believe he was stronger than he actually was.
Storm's approach, however, didn't deal in such lies. It told the truth. He was confident he would win and didn't need lies to make that possible.
The moment the fight began, Scar realized something.
Storm's opponent was a speedster too, but unlike Storm's sprint, this girl's ability let her dash forward, accelerating to overwhelming speed in an instant.
Yet, Storm's calmness never wavered. There was a touch of elegance and pride in his stance, and with his confidence, it seemed he could see what the girl intended before she even moved.
Before the match could progress any further, Scar was lost in his own thoughts.
"What am I supposed to learn from this? Elegance? Confidence? How does that help me burn a few dummies?
"No… that's not it.
"It's awareness.
"I need to understand the situation I'm in, every movement, every opening, and approach it the right way. There's always a weakness. One blind spot. If I can see it before they do… that's my win."
His thoughts had barely concluded when Storm began demonstrating exactly that principle.
The girl's explosive speed meant she needed far more precision than most, the violent forces she experienced demanded exceptional control to remain effective against opponents.
A single strike was all Storm needed. The arrow punched through the girl's shoulder, and she plummeted to the ground.
"Ha! He'd definitely win if I fought him now."
Storm's victory was announced, and immediately every gaze lifted to the upper stands. Two dozen students in crimson uniforms stood watching, their collective presence creating an eerie tension throughout the arena.
Scar's eyes narrowed slightly.
A dark-haired student led the group, a prominent scar marking his neck. Scar recognized him at once. Joel, from Alpha Academy.
Back when Scar, Purple, and Julien had fought Amell and the Danger-level threat Daywalker, Joel and some teammates had been around. In fact, there'd been a brief confrontation between them before the main battle even started.
Joel's hatred for the Supreme Academy ran deep. What they'd done to someone he loved had earned them a death sentence, he'd promised to kill some of them during the Epic Competition, just a month away. Even now, his face contorted with disgust as he surveyed the Akumas below.
"What's his issue? Did he come all this way just to remind us he doesn't like us?" Scar scoffed.
Storm joined him immediately and spoke:
"The Supreme Council brought them over. They're here to watch the strongest among us duel, a ritual they enforce every year to prepare for the competition."
Scar didn't care about Joel's vendetta. What he hated was the way Joel looked down on them. Joel reminded him of Adisa somehow, maybe because of the scar, or maybe because of the same arrogant attitude.
"Damn it… great, just what I needed, getting paired with this guy in the competition. I'd kill him."
Storm looked confused by Scar's words for a moment.
"Don't underestimate him. He's among their top students, and it won't be simple. The one I'm most interested in seeing… is Amber Rover, the Sun Phoenix's daughter. Or the recent queen of Durban."
"The queen? Amber?"
Royal families still existed, but they were mostly a diminished thing in this world. Some legislative power remained in their hands, though not enough to compete with the High Court or Supreme Council.
A few kings and queens had found their way into those institutions, which was the closest most of them got to real influence. Scar had never encountered any of them. Not a single one, not even the king of Barbados.
But then it didn't matter. They might all die on the day of the Epic Competition anyway.