The giant crystal screens flickered, casting rippling light over the roaring crowd as the countdown appeared in the air.
A deep, resonant gong echoed through the arena.
Silas launched forward instantly, his massive boots cracking the stone stage under him with each thunderous step. Dust exploded around his legs as he closed the distance in less than a second, his fist pulled back, veins bulging under his wrist wraps.
Reia didn’t flinch. Her eyes glowed faint gold as delicate circuits of mana spread across her temples, shifting like fine threads weaving a tapestry.
[Telepathy – Combat Mind Link Active]
[Enhanced Intellect – Prediction Threads Initiated]
She sidestepped at the last second, her movement so precise it was almost mechanical. Silas’ punch slammed into empty air, creating a shockwave that sent dust and gravel flying outwards. Before he could recover, Reia flicked her wrist upward, slamming her palm into his rib with surgical accuracy.
Silas grunted as the impact forced the air from his lungs. He twisted his torso, swinging his elbow around like an iron club. Reia bent backwards, the blow missing her nose by a hair’s breadth, and kicked off the ground with an elegant pivot.
[Calculation Field – Weak Point Lock-On]
Her foot lashed out, striking the inner tendon of Silas’ left knee. The massive boy’s leg buckled for half a second. That was all she needed. She twisted mid-air, grabbing his collar, and used his own staggering weight to flip herself over his shoulder, landing lightly behind him.
Silas roared, his aura flaring as his muscles swelled visibly under his uniform.
[Enhanced Condition – Physical Amplification: Surge Mode]
He turned, sweeping his arm in a wide backhand. Reia jumped back, but the air pressure alone knocked her off balance. Silas charged again, swinging both fists down like twin warhammers.
Reia crossed her arms in front of her, activating a flicker of telepathic shield to absorb the brunt of the impact. The ground beneath her cratered, cracks spiderwebbing across the stage. The students watching gasped as dust shot up around Silas like a volcanic eruption.
Athena watched from the stage edge, arms folded, eyes sharp and unreadable.
Lucian narrowed his eyes from the stands. "She’s reading him too easily. He’s going to get angry."
Sure enough, Silas slammed his foot down, the mana around him surging into a dense white aura. His muscles expanded further, the seams of his uniform groaning under the strain.
[Enhanced Condition – Overdrive Mode: Limit Breaker]
"Stop dodging!" he roared, his voice echoing across the arena.
He blurred forward with raw speed, the ground cracking under his feet. Reia’s eyes flickered gold rapidly as her mind processed every micro-movement, every angle of his charge. She stepped aside, his fist grazing her hair. She twisted under his arm, her fingers brushing his exposed side.
[Calculation Field – Nerve Disruptor Pulse]
A faint spark of mana burst from her touch. Silas’ body froze mid-motion, his enhanced muscles locking up from the precise neural disruption.
"Got you," Reia whispered.
She jumped back, raising her hand to finish it—
But Silas roared, his aura erupting with violent force. The disruption failed as his muscles forced through the paralysis. He spun, backhanding her with an open palm. The blow caught her across the shoulder and chest, sending her flying across the arena. She rolled, coughing, her eyes wide as blood dripped from her lip.
Students gasped in unison. Evelyn leaned forward in her seat, worry etched across her face.
Reia forced herself up, her left arm trembling. She readjusted her wrist brace, her golden circuits flickering weakly as her breathing came ragged.
Silas stomped forward, each step heavy and furious. "You... are too damn fast," he growled.
Reia didn’t answer. Her eyes flickered gold one last time as her circuits pulsed brightly.
[Calculation Field – Overclock]
[Telepathy – Neural Hijack Attempt]
She stepped forward, palm outstretched, aiming to overload his neural signals completely. Silas swung his fist downward with all his force, his aura blazing white.
Their attacks collided.
For a split second, the stage went silent.
A shockwave erupted outward as Reia was thrown back, sliding across the cracked stone. Silas staggered forward, his knees buckling as the neural hijack partially triggered, short-circuiting his muscle coordination.
Both stood panting, bodies trembling from exertion.
Athena raised her hand.
The drones activated around the stage, deploying barrier fields to separate them as medics rushed forward.
Silas dropped to one knee, his arms shaking violently. Reia collapsed onto her hands, breathing hard, sweat dripping down her chin onto the dusty stone.
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.
"Winner: Draw," Athena announced, her voice echoing across the arena. "Both combatants are unable to continue."
Students screamed Silas’ name. Others called out for Reia. The screens flickered with replays of her perfect dodges and his monstrous blows.
Lucian smirked faintly from the stands. "Not bad."
Evelyn watched quietly, her fingers curled tightly around her skirt.
Vyn tilted her head, expression unreadable. "They both held back."
Lucian nodded once. "Yeah... they did."
The arena lights dimmed slightly as the names on the table shuffled again, glowing on the giant screen.
Athena’s voice echoed cold and clear.
"Next match. Lucian Black vs Vyn Thorn."
The arena fell silent for half a breath.
Then the crowd erupted into a storm of screams, gasps, and cheers.
Lucian stood up slowly, his eyes half-lidded, his shadow long under the glowing light. Vyn rose beside him, her grey robes drifting like silent smoke around her ankles, her black hair falling over her eyes as she stepped forward without a word.
"Guess it’s my turn," Lucian said softly, rolling his shoulders back.
Evelyn looked up at him, worry in her gaze. "Be careful."
He smirked faintly, walking past her with his hands in his pockets. "Always am."
The crowd’s roar grew louder as he jumped lightly from the stands to the cracked stage floor, landing without a sound.
Across from him, Vyn stepped onto the stage, her mana already swirling faint violet around her fingers.
And as they faced each other under the blazing arena lights—