The crowd was silent. The tension was thick.
Kaelius and Drake stood across from each other, the arena floor between them crackling slightly with the remnants of lightning.
"Begin!" the referee called.
In an instant, Kaelius dashed forward like a streak of light.
Drake smirked, tossing one of the glowing rings in his hand. A string trailed behind it, humming with electricity. Kaelius twisted mid-run, barely dodging the spinning ring. But just as he regained his footing—whizz—the ring curved back toward him.
Kaelius flipped over it smoothly, landing with a slight skid—only for another ring to land in front of him. Lightning burst from it in a shockwave.
"Mirror Magic… Plane Mirror!" Kaelius shouted, slamming a hand into the ground. A shimmering mirror formed under him just as the lightning erupted. He bounced off it, landing in a safer spot, panting.
"That was close…" he muttered.
Drake chuckled from across the field. "You were just lucky." He gave a tug, and the ring zipped back into his hand like a boomerang.
Kaelius narrowed his eyes. "I can't use Transparency... His field of lightning will fry me the moment I vanish. I'll need to fight from range."
Before he could act, Drake leapt high into the air. "Planning something?" he shouted, diving down with a slash.
Kaelius rolled away, the ground splitting from the impact. "Mirror Magic… Reflect Refrain!"
Mirrors popped up in the air, angled carefully. From each mirror, beams of light shot out—zig-zagging between surfaces, bouncing toward Drake.
Drake's eyes darted, analyzing the angles. He rolled sideways and flung his two rings low—they buzzed through the air, shattering every mirror one by one.
Kaelius stepped back, still focused. But as Drake lunged toward him again—
A mirror formed behind Kaelius. He smirked and stepped back into it—vanishing.
Drake froze mid-swing, eyes darting around. Silence.
Suddenly, a mirror rippled into view behind him.
Drake turned—
Slash!
He hurled his rings at it. CRASH! The mirror shattered into shards, raining down like starlight. But in the reflection of one of the fragments—
Kaelius smiled.
"Mirror Magic… Fractured Judgement!"
From each falling shard, ghostly hands burst out—grabbing Drake midair, locking his limbs in place.
Another mirror appeared in front of him. Kaelius leaned halfway out of it, dagger in hand. He held the blade to Drake's neck, just enough to draw a thin line of blood.
"Will you surrender… or should I finish it?"
Drake gritted his teeth, then let out a shaky breath. "I give up…"
"Winner: Kaelius!" the referee declared.
The crowd erupted.
Kaelius stepped up into the stands, calm as ever. "That was easier than I expected."
Edlias grinned. "You really outdid yourself there."
Callista raised an eyebrow. "You're bleeding."
Kaelius winced slightly. "Yeah… his lightning tagged me when he broke the mirror."
Callista placed a hand over the wound. "Hold still."
He smiled faintly. "Thanks."
The referee's voice echoed again. "Next match—Gareth Vortigen versus Richard Ace!"
Arthur glanced toward Gareth. "I don't know much about that guy… He's always distant."
As Gareth walked past, Callista called out, "Good luck!"
He barely turned his head. "There's no need."
Arthur blinked. "Even cold to his own sister?"
Gareth scoffed. "Mind your business. It'll help you live longer."
Arthur pointed at him. "Hey—!"
But Gareth was already walking away. Arthur clenched his fists, frustrated.
Callista sighed. "Don't bother. He never listens."
Seraphina nodded. "He's like a tightrope. Always on edge."
Arthur grumbled. "With that attitude, he better win."
---
The match began.
Richard held his sword high. "Slice—Sorazanmai!" Wind circles swirled around his blade as he charged.
Gareth parried the blow effortlessly. Their blades clashed in a spark of steel.
"Won't you release your blade's true form?" Richard shouted.
"You're not worth it," Gareth said coldly.
Richard growled. "Don't underestimate me!"
He jumped back and spun his sword, summoning gusts of cutting wind. "Wind Magic… Wind Circles!"
The slicing winds raced toward Gareth.
He weaved between them, deflecting with minimal movement. Calm. Focused.
From the stands, Arthur leaned forward. "Why won't he use his Shinsei state?"
Callista replied, "He hates short fights. If he uses it, the match is over."
Arthur blinked. "So his blade's that powerful?"
Back in the arena, Gareth and Richard exchanged more blows—fast, fierce. But Gareth's face showed only boredom.
"This battle is meaningless," he said.
Richard stepped back. "What?"
"You're not pushing me. I haven't even drawn out my blade's true state. That just proves you're weak."
"Then fight me seriously!" Richard shouted. He spun his blade, unleashing a final wave of wind slashes.
Gareth dodged them easily, sending one flying back.
He looked to the stands—his father sitting silently.
"Sorry, Dad. I wanted you to see a real fight."
Richard snarled. "Don't get cocky—I haven't shown my true power!"
"There's no need for that," Gareth muttered. "You're not worth the effort."
Richard lunged—
Gareth sighed.
"Scatter… Senbonzakura."
His sword dissolved—petals of soft pink scattered into the air.
Richard froze mid-step.
SLASH.
Dozens of cuts appeared across his body. Blood sprayed.
He collapsed.
Silence.
The referee hesitated. "…Winner: Gareth Vortigen."
Everyone stared.
Arthur blinked. "What just happened?! His blade never touched him!"
Callista frowned. "I've never figured out how his sword works…"
Seraphina stepped forward, arms crossed. "Those petals are the blade. They're micro-blades—too small for the human eye to track."
The crowd gasped.
Callista turned. "How would you even know that?"
Before she could finish, Gareth spoke. "You did well… understanding my blade."
Arthur's jaw dropped. "Micro-blades…? That's insane."
The referee's voice broke the awe:
"The next match line up ! Selene vs. Dren Volkan!"
Lyra hugged Selene. "Good luck!"
Arthur smiled. "You got this."
Selene looked at him, cold and distant. "Just because they're warming up to you doesn't mean I will."
Arthur chuckled. "Then I'll just give it time."
Selene blinked in surprise, then walked away without another word.
Lyra leaned in. "She's always like that."
Selene entered the arena, eyes narrowing at her opponent.
"Let's begin."