Horobi looked at Mio and Liora with a faint smile.
"Heh… so you finally made it here."
A low cracking sound echoed as he stretched his fingers.
Crack.
Crack.
"I've worked hard to reach this point too… so come at me with everything you've got."
Liora cracked her fingers in response.
"We worked harder than you."
Mio nodded.
"So, Horobi… show me your strength."
She pointed toward Mare's direction.
"Today, we'll prove we don't depend on you."
Ahh!!
Mare rects.
Raii raised his hand.
"Match… begin."
Both teams rushed forward.
Horobi smiled slightly.
"Alright then… prove it."
The entire arena knew the truth—
Horobi could defeat Team 2 alone.
Gasps filled the air.
Liora moved first.
She rushed toward Horobi at high speed.
"Handle the others!" she called out.
She knew—
Mio alone was enough.
Flames gathered around Liora's hand as her serpent appeared beside her.
"Haah—!"
She fired.
Whoosh!
Horobi easily stepped aside.
"…Too slow."
Water spheres formed in the air around him.
"Haaah!"
He launched them toward Liora.
Liora's eyes widened.
She reacted instantly—
and barely dodged.
"Too fast…!"
Her thoughts raced.
He's stronger than before… after fighting Tua and Linksan…
I can't handle him alone…
Elsewhere—
Mio dominated.
A massive sphere slammed toward Danzo.
"Ahh—!"
He couldn't dodge.
Mio closed the distance instantly—
Bam!
A punch to the face.
Bam!
Another to the stomach.
Danzo collapsed.
"Sorry, Horobi… I'm out…"
Mio turned calmly.
"Who's next?"
"I am."
Loki stepped forward.
Mio rushed in.
A kick landed straight into his stomach.
"Wahh—!"
Spikes erupted from the ground.
Chaos spread.
Hozu got caught off guard—
and was thrown out of the ring.
Suddenly—
a massive sphere shot toward Mio.
Her eyes widened.
"Too close—!"
She barely dodged.
"Impressive… Erish," Mio said.
"But I'm not here to play."
"Switch," Liora called.
"Horobi is yours."
Mio smirked.
"Obviously."
Horobi chuckled.
"…You two really are different."
He vanished—
and appeared in front of Mio.
Too fast.
Mio reacted instantly—
Clang!
Their attacks collided.
Dark magic surged as she tried to drain his energy.
They exchanged blows without pause.
At the same time—
Liora overwhelmed Erish.
Her serpent struck from behind.
Patt!
Erish fell to her knees.
Liora finished her with a kick.
The battlefield shifted again.
Wind blades formed in the air.
Horobi launched them—
Whoosh!
Mio froze.
Too fast… I can't move—
"Mio!"
Liora stepped in—
countering instantly.
Mio raised an earth wall.
Boom!
The attacks collided.
Smoke filled the arena.
When it cleared—
only four remained.
Horobi.
Jimmi.
Mio.
Liora.
A perfect 2 vs 2.
Silence fell.
Then—
they moved.
Mio and Liora split from both sides.
Horobi moved first—
toward Mio.
He grabbed her arm—
and threw her toward Liora.
Mid-air—
Liora adjusted.
Fire gathered.
"Haaah—!"
She fired.
At the same time—
Mio launched a dark sphere.
Horobi blocked Liora—
but—
he didn't see Mio's attack.
Hit.
"Ahh—!"
The impact landed.
Gasps erupted.
"Good job," Liora smiled.
Horobi stood still.
Blood trickled down.
Then—
he smiled.
"Haha… not bad."
The fight resumed.
Faster.
Stronger.
Liora's sword shattered.
Mio was running low on mana.
Then—
they looked at each other.
A silent signal.
The atmosphere changed.
The wind stopped.
Silence spread.
Dark aura overflowed from both of them.
"What… is that…?"
Raii narrowed his eyes.
The mana felt identical.
Like it came from the same source.
"Fire magic—"
"Wind magic—"
"Hell Flame… Massive Tornado!"
For the first time—
two spells merged into one.
The entire arena trembled.
They fired.
Horobi stared.
"…So strong."
"…Too fast."
He tried to move—
but couldn't.
I need to do something—
Suddenly—
a massive dragon appeared.
Abyss.
A beam shot forward.
Boom!!
The attacks collided.
The arena disappeared in smoke.
When it cleared—
Abyss stood before Horobi, shielding him.
Liora and Mio struggled to stand.
Horobi was burned—
but smiling.
He gave a signal.
Abyss moved.
With one powerful motion—
both Mio and Liora were pushed out of the ring.
Raii's voice echoed.
"T-The winner is… Horobi—"
"…Team 1."
Silence.
Then—
cheers.
Raii laughed.
"I thought I had one top student…"
"…but I was wrong."
"I have three."
Mio and Liora approached Horobi.
"You're insane…"
"…but that's why we love you."
They blushed.
Horobi smiled.
"You two… were amazing."
"That spell… what was that?"
Healers arrived and restored them.
Raii raised his voice again.
"The group battle phase is over."
"Class battles will begin in three days."
"You're dismissed."
Horobi looked at Mio and Liora.
"Let's go."
Mio smirked.
"Yeah… we're not rivals anymore."
Liora blushed.
"Shut up… we're still at school!"
Laughter echoed.
When I fight them…
it feels strange…
like something deeper—
A clash… between lovers.