The crowd roared in excitement, the atmosphere crackling with tension as the last match of the inter-academy tournament was about to begin. Banners waved, cheers echoed, and the arena floor shimmered with residual energy from the previous battles.
Up on the high platform, a stern-faced professor stepped forward, his voice magically amplified across the field.
"This is it," he declared, silencing the crowd in an instant. "The final match. After a grueling set of trials, one-on-one battles, and countless moments of valor, two remain."
He turned slightly, gesturing toward the empty platform where Lumina's finalist had yet to arrive. "Though Lumina Academy's Sera Whitecrest made it to the semifinals, she was grievously injured in her last match. However, due to the overwhelming efforts of her team throughout the dungeon trials, it is only proper that they advance... and now, face the best."
A shadow exploded above the arena.
Gasps filled the air as Zane descended like a fallen star, black wings bursting from his back, rippling with raw energy. He landed on the podium with crushing force, his Shadow Armor flaring wildly, streaks of blue flickering across its jagged surface. The ground cracked beneath his feet.
His eyes locked onto Xander — cold, sharp, unflinching.
"You'll pay," Zane growled, voice deep and thunderous, "for what you did to her."
Xander stood at the opposite end of the field, calm and composed, his light blade resting on his shoulder. He raised a brow, smiling faintly.
"Hmm..." he mused. "Looks like I struck a nerve."
The crowd held its breath.
The tension was so thick it could be cut by a blade.
Then the professor raised his hand, looking between the two titans.