After Lucian and Vyn stepped off the stage, their battle still echoing in the roaring crowd’s memory, the crystal screens flickered again. The golden tally table appeared above the arena, names shuffling silently under the morning sun that now hung high above the academy dome.
Athena walked forward, her boots clicking softly on the cracked stone stage. She raised a hand, her sharp violet eyes scanning the glowing table above.
"Next match," her calm voice boomed through the speakers, silencing the rumbling crowd.
The names stopped spinning.
The table flickered once more, then settled.
"Silas vs Evelyn," Athena announced.
A murmur spread like a breeze across the stands.
"That’s the muscle guy, right? Against her?"
"She’s from Class Zero too... but I’ve never seen her fight."
"She’s the Merrin girl. They say she’s really kind."
"But this is Silas. She’s gonna get crushed."
Evelyn stood slowly, brushing invisible dust off her black and crimson uniform skirt. She exhaled softly, feeling her heart hammer against her ribs. Her legs felt light. Almost trembling. But as she walked past Lucian, his calm gaze met hers.
He didn’t say anything.
Didn’t nod. Didn’t encourage.
Just watched her with that quiet, unspoken trust in his eyes.
She stepped onto the stage, the cracked stone warm under her shoes. Across from her, Silas rolled his shoulders, his massive arms bulging under his short-sleeved uniform. He grinned at her, wide and friendly.
"Don’t worry," he said, his gravel-deep voice echoing across the silent arena. "I’ll try not to break you too bad."
Evelyn smiled softly.
The arena lights flickered as Athena raised her hand.
Silas charged like a living wall, each footstep cracking the stone. Evelyn didn’t move. She closed her eyes.
His fist swung down toward her head, wind screaming around his knuckles.
A blinding flash of white lightning tore through the stage. Silas’ fist slammed into empty air, a thunderclap exploding in its wake. Evelyn reappeared five meters to his left, her red hair drifting around her face as faint arcs of electricity crawled across her arms and legs.
"...Lightning Descent?" he muttered, shocked.
Evelyn didn’t answer. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her body vanishing again in a snap of thunder. She reappeared behind him, her palm slamming into his back with a jolt of voltage that made his massive frame stiffen for half a second. Before he could turn, she flickered away again, appearing above him mid-air.
[Lightning Descent – Full Burst]
She dropped, her heel crackling with electricity as it struck his shoulder like a bolt from heaven. The impact forced Silas to one knee, dust exploding outward.
The crowd gasped in unison.
"Holy shit... she’s fast!"
"That’s Lightning Descent... but how...?!"
Athena watched silently, one eyebrow raised, her eyes flicking briefly to Lucian in the stands. He was leaning forward, elbows on his knees, his gaze locked on Evelyn.
Silas roared, his aura exploding outward in a white surge. He spun upward with a wide backhand, but Evelyn flickered away before it connected, reappearing near the edge of the stage. She exhaled softly, static drifting from her lips like faint smoke.
Silas grinned, wiping blood from his nose with his thumb.
"Not bad... not bad at all."
He slammed his foot down, cracking the stage beneath him. His muscles swelled under his uniform, veins bulging like steel cords as his aura deepened to a harsh white glow.
[Enhanced Condition – Overdrive Mode: Surge Breaker]
He launched forward again with raw speed, his fist a blur. Evelyn raised her hand, her mana flickering pale blue for a split second. A shimmering dome of translucent energy appeared in front of her just as his punch connected.
[Replicated Skill: Mana Barrier]
The impact rippled across the barrier like a stone thrown into still water. The shield cracked, then shattered, but it slowed Silas enough for Evelyn to move. She twisted sideways, lightning crawling across her thighs as she flickered behind him again.
She pressed two fingers against his exposed neck.
[Replicated Skill: Nerve Disruptor Pulse]
A faint burst of mana sparked from her touch. Silas froze mid-punch, his entire left side locking up instantly. Evelyn jumped back, her breathing quick, sweat dripping down her neck as she raised her hands again.
The arena lights flickered as her aura deepened.
Lightning crackled across her entire body, bright white arcs snapping through the dusty air. The crowd gasped at the sight—her red hair drifting upward with static, her eyes glowing faint violet-blue under the flickering energy.
Silas grunted, forcing himself to stand despite his half-paralysed state.
"You’re... really strong... Evelyn..." he growled, his voice trembling under the locked nerves.
She tilted her head slightly, her hair falling over her glowing eyes.
In a blink of thunder, she reappeared in front of him, her palm pressing gently against his chest. The lightning flared bright enough to blind the front rows for half a second. Silas gasped, his massive body stiffening before he collapsed backward onto the cracked stage with a heavy thud, steam drifting from his chest as arcs of residual electricity crawled across his arms.
Silence fell across the arena.
Evelyn stood there, her breathing ragged, her arms trembling as the lightning flickered and died across her skin.
Athena raised her hand slowly.
"Winner: Evelyn Merrin."
The crowd erupted into screams, chants, and wild applause. Some called her name, others just shouted in disbelief.
"That was insane...!"
"She beat Silas with pure speed and technique...!"
"Was that... Lightning Descent?!"
Evelyn turned, her legs feeling weak under her. As she stepped off the stage, she met Lucian’s gaze in the stands. He was smirking faintly, his eyes half-lidded as always.
She smiled softly, the adrenaline still burning warm under her skin.
And as she walked past Athena, the instructor spoke quietly, only loud enough for her to hear.
"...Good work, Evelyn."
Evelyn bowed her head slightly without a word, her bangs falling over her eyes as she returned to her seat, her heart still racing with the quiet thrill of something she hadn’t felt in a long time—
The screens flickered again for the next match.
But the students didn’t stop whispering her name, long after she sat down under the glowing arena lights.