The countdown timer hanging above the center of the arena was a big.
05:00.
The numbers shifted with a heavy hum, dropping instantly to 04:59.
To the thousands of people watching in stunned silence from the rows, five minutes was nothing. But down on the broken, sand-covered stone of the ring, surrounded by the eight remaining top first-years of the academy, Leo knew five minutes was a long time.
Do not push the Energy Siphon, Leo reminded himself, his jaw tight. He remembered too well what happened last time he pushed his bloodline too hard — the cracked core, his body eating itself from the inside, and Seris having to stab him just to stop the explosion.
Let the body adapt. Just hold on.
The leftover light power from Arthur's earlier hit was still buzzing under his skin, but his healing and mana generation were fighting back, slowly fixing the small tears in his muscles and trickling power back into his core.
