Next, two boys stepped forward. One was tall, with piercing blue eyes, his aura crackling faintly with electricity. He was Indra, prince of the Himalayas, and his master was Tapan, retired Upper Guardian and advisor to the royal family.
He winked at the girls.
"You look exhausted. Need a hand to the rest area?"
Maya's eyes narrowed. "No. I can walk myself."
Indra chuckled, shoulders relaxed. "Suit yourself. But don't say I didn't offer."
The second boy stepped forward calmly, bowing. "I am Sun, student of Master Tapu. It is an honor to fight here."
The crowd held its breath as the Seven Sage Gurus leaned slightly forward in their thrones.
First Sage Guru: "So both of them possess powers granted by the Devtas."
Fourth Sage Guru: "Oh… this is going to be interesting."
Seventh Sage Guru (calm, almost divine smile): "We agree."
Suddenly, Sun fired the first attack—a blazing fireball hurtling toward Indra. The boy with lightning-charged fists slammed his hand into the ground, sending a chunk of stone shooting upward, blocking the fireball.
Lightning spears materialized in his hands. He threw two spears at Sun while charging forward with two more gripped tightly. Each step sparked and cracked the arena stones beneath his feet.
Sun slammed his hands together. A wall of molten lava erupted, melting the incoming lightning spears. But before anyone could blink, Indra appeared directly in front of him.
"You're too slow. Like a sloth," Indra said casually, swinging a lightning spear.
Sun reacted instantly, firing a counter-fireball—only for Indra's spear to slice it clean in half. The impact exploded into sparks and dust, blinding the audience for a moment.
Suddenly, Indra was pushed backward, sliding across the arena stones. Sun stood firm, holding a spear of pure fire, his eyes blazing with focus.
"So you countered my lightning spear… with a fire spear. Impressive! Looks like you finally got fired up," Indra said, spinning his lightning spears with deadly precision.
"Show me what you've got. Here I come!"
"Time to get serious," Sun growled, and the two clashed with the force of storms and infernos.
Their auras ignited, transforming them before the audience. Lightning danced around Indra like a storm god. Flames swirled around Sun like a miniature rising sun. The ground shook, dust rising in waves, as two warriors, empowered by the Devtas themselves, prepared to clash again.
Indra stood, lightning wings crackling behind him, electricity arcing across his arms. Sun raised his hand, summoning multiple mini fire suns swirling above him like planets.
"Indra… I'll finish this quickly," Sun said, sending them crashing toward his opponent one by one. Each impact shook the stadium, sparks flying.
Indra dashed through them, lightning ripping the air. "Nice fireworks!" he called, spinning midair and kicking a fire orb away like a volleyball.
Sun slammed his palm to the ground. A volcano-like eruption burst upward.
"Surya Astra — Inferno Lotus!"
A giant fiery lotus bloomed behind him. Its petals detached, shooting at Indra like flaming blades. The audience panicked, stepping back as sparks rained down.
Indra smiled, unshaken. "Now it's time to stop fooling around."
A massive lightning circle formed beneath him. His eyes glowed sky-blue, pupils sparking like miniature storms. Thunder clouds appeared above the arena, crackling with raw energy.
"Vajra Astra — Storm Emperor Mode!"
Lightning wings burst out behind him. Even the Seven Sages leaned forward.
Fourth Sage Guru: "Ah… he awakened it."
Seventh Sage Guru (serene, calm smile): "As expected."
Sun unleashed the Inferno Lotus, petals rushing like meteors. Indra flew straight through them.
"Vajra Chakra!" he shouted, spinning a circular blade of pure lightning. It sliced through every flaming petal, explosions of sparks and embers filling the air.
Sun's eyes widened. He barely managed to raise a fire shield, but Indra broke through, appearing directly above him.
"Too slow again," Indra said, smirking.
On the other side of the stadium, a boy with a bow whispered to another:
"I need to prepare my arrow for my battle."
Devi frowned. "But the fight isn't over yet."
"This fight is already over. Indra is going to win," the boy with the bow said calmly.
Maya raised an eyebrow. "How can you be so sure?"
"Look at his eyes," the other boy replied. "Sun has already accepted defeat. The fight is over."
The boy with the bow smiled faintly. "Impressive. I look forward to our fight. I hope you will not do what Sun did."
Indra gathered all the lightning in his right arm. Thunder roared.
"FINAL MOVE! — Heaven-Splitting Thunder Punch!"
He punched downward, releasing a colossal fist of lightning that covered the entire arena in a blinding flash.
When the blast ended, the arena was quiet—smoke and sparks drifting through the air, the crowd stunned into silence.
The battle had ended, but the war of the Devta warriors had only just begun