The Caelora Grand Colosseum had not yet settled.
The echoes of the previous match still lingered—whispers of light bending thunder, of techniques beyond understanding.
From the contestant stands, a reporter stepped forward.
Riven Hale from Urtz Tribune approached, a floating rune crystal hovering beside him.
"Arven of Voltryn," he began, voice steady. "An impressive fight. Anything you'd like to say?"
Arven remained seated, expression calm.
"I lost. That's all."
A murmur spread across the audience.
Riven tilted his head slightly.
"Voltryn is known for its storm mages. Are you among its finest?"
A faint smile formed on Arven's lips.
"Not even close."
The crowd stirred—
Then—
bzzt—
The broadcast rune flickered.
"—zzzt—we are experiencing—"
krkkk—
The signal cut.
Silence fell for a brief moment.
Most dismissed it as a technical issue.
But Arven did not.
Slowly… he raised his gaze toward the stands.
Someone was there.
Standing.
Still.
Watching him.
That presence alone… was enough.
His body tensed.
"…understood."
Without another word, Arven stood, turned, and returned to his seat. His posture stiff, his hand clenched tightly.
⸻
GONG!
The massive sound echoed across the arena.
Glowing blue letters formed in the sky.
Noah of Aquaris vs Rossie of Orpus
The crowd erupted.
⸻
From the eastern gate, Noah of Aquaris stepped forward, calm as ever.
From the west, Rossie Thayne entered lightly, a small smile still on her face.
"Match… begin!"
⸻
No hesitation.
No testing.
Noah raised his hand.
The air shifted.
Heavy.
Deep.
As if the entire arena had sunk beneath the ocean.
"Abyssal Tide."
Water surged into existence—massive, overwhelming, alive.
It crashed forward instantly.
⸻
"HE'S USING THAT RIGHT AWAY?!" someone shouted.
From the stands—
Sylveras stood abruptly.
"ROSSIE—!!"
Beside her, Brant tensed—
…but didn't move.
"…wait."
⸻
In the arena—
Rossie lifted one hand.
A soft current of wind formed.
A faint glow—
Zephyra appeared.
The wind spirit spun around her, forming a protective spiral.
But—
BOOOOM!!!
Abyssal Tide struck.
The wind was pushed back.
Rossie's body nearly vanished beneath the pressure.
The crowd held its breath.
"It's over…"
⸻
"…that was kinda scary."
Her voice echoed lightly.
She was still standing.
Barely pushed back.
Still smiling.
"…okay, I'll try a little harder."
⸻
The air trembled.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Four figures emerged around her—
Zephyra.
Whiri.
Sylffy.
Vento.
⸻
The entire colosseum froze.
"…FOUR SPIRITS?!"
"That's not a normal contract—!"
High above, several council members leaned forward.
Their expressions shifted.
⸻
Rossie raised both hands.
The four spirits moved in unison.
Wind gathered.
Layered.
Locked.
⸻
"Aerial Sanctum: Fourfold Zephyr."
⸻
A dome of wind formed.
Not just a shield—
but a system.
Rotating layers.
Redirecting pressure.
Absorbing force.
⸻
BOOOOOOM!!!
Abyssal Tide collided—
and split apart.
The water twisted, scattered, lost its dominance.
⸻
"She blocked it?!"
The crowd erupted into chaos.
⸻
Rossie stepped forward.
The wind around her came alive.
Her movement—
untraceable.
Whiri accelerated.
Vento struck.
Sylffy stabilized.
Zephyra controlled everything.
⸻
Noah took a step back.
For the first time.
⸻
"…so this is your true power."
His voice remained calm.
But the air around him changed.
⸻
Water condensed around his weapon.
The royal trident trembled—
shifted—
reshaped.
⸻
Shhhhhkkk—
It transformed.
From a trident…
into a blade.
⸻
The entire arena froze.
"WHAT IS THAT?!"
"HIS TRIDENT—IT CHANGED?!"
⸻
Noah gripped it firmly.
"Abyssal Sword."
⸻
The pressure intensified.
Heavier.
Deeper.
As if the abyss itself had descended.
⸻
Rossie smirked.
"…okay, that's cool."
⸻
They moved.
⸻
Wind and water collided.
Fast.
Violent.
Unrelenting.
⸻
The abyssal blade cut—
the wind bent.
Spirals clashed—
currents devoured.
⸻
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The barrier shook violently.
Protective mages rushed to reinforce it.
⸻
In the stands—
Sylveras clenched her fists.
"…this isn't an exam anymore."
Brant smiled faintly.
"…yeah. now she's serious."
⸻
Back in the arena—
Rossie still stood.
All four spirits active.
But—
her breathing grew heavier.
⸻
Noah remained steady.
Unshaken.
⸻
They stopped.
Faced each other.
⸻
Wind gathered.
The ocean tightened.
⸻
For the first time—
they moved with the same intent.
⸻
The wind screamed.
The ocean answered.