As the fireball shot away from David, the audience held their breath.
Their gazes fell on Theo, who was completely boxed in.
But Theo didn't move.
Not even a step.
Instead, he raised his umbrella.
Water surged forward instantly, forming a broad, spiked shield above him.
The fireball soared through the sky.
It climbed—
Then dropped straight down.
BOOM!
The fireball slammed into the water shield.
The surrounding earth walls shattered instantly, debris blasting outward in every direction.
A shockwave rippled across the arena.
Smoke, dust, and steam clouded the skies.
Silence fell throughout the entire arena.
For a moment… no one could see anything.
Then—
A faint silhouette appeared inside the smoke.
Theo walked forward calmly and completely unscathed.
The water shield was slowly sucked back around his umbrella, returning to its swirling motion.
'That one was quite strong,' he thought, nodding slowly. 'But… nothing compared to things I've faced in the past.'
