Chapter 33 – S-Rank Duel Part 2
"Even the genius fears me now."
The arena wasn't scheduled.
There was no official announcement.
No instructor.
No permission.
And yet—
It was full.
Students filled every level of the observation platforms, whispers layering over whispers like a storm about to break.
Because everyone knew.
This wasn't just a duel.
This was a verdict.
Aira Valen.
Versus—
Lucien Valtor.
The Devourer.
Against the Genius.
And this time—
No one was underestimating her.
The Hook
"She beat him once…"
"…but this time, he's serious."
"…no holding back."
"And neither is she."
Aira stood at the center of the arena, calm as ever.
Still.
Quiet.
But her presence—
Wasn't.
The air around her felt different.
Denser.
Sharper.
Predatory.
Across from her—
Lucien smiled.
Not casually.
Not playfully.
But with something far more dangerous.
Excitement.
"…I've been waiting for this," he said.
Aira tilted her head slightly.
"…you sound nervous."
A ripple of laughter passed through the crowd—
Then died instantly.
Because Lucien didn't deny it.
"…I am," he admitted.
Silence fell.
"…because I don't know what you'll become next."
The First Clash
No countdown.
No signal.
Lucien moved first.
Faster than before.
Sharper.
His hand lifted—
And the arena exploded.
Fire.
Ice.
Lightning.
Three elements at once.
Not sequential.
Simultaneous.
The crowd gasped.
"…triple casting—?!"
"…he never uses that in normal duels—"
Aira didn't move.
She stepped forward.
Into it.
Devour vs Multi-Element Magic
The fire hit first.
Aira absorbed it instantly.
The ice followed—
Devoured.
Lightning—
Converted.
All within a single breath.
No delay.
No strain.
No instability.
Lucien's eyes widened slightly.
"…that's new."
Aira's lips curved faintly.
"…I've been learning."
Evolution – Combat Prediction
Lucien attacked again.
Faster.
More complex.
Layered spells.
Feints.
Hidden triggers.
But this time—
Aira didn't just react.
She moved before the attacks fully formed.
Dodging.
Redirecting.
Absorbing.
Perfectly.
Lucien froze mid-motion for half a second.
"…you're predicting."
Aira stepped closer.
"…I'm understanding."
Her Devour core pulsed.
Not reacting.
Processing.
The Pressure Shifts
The arena changed.
Not physically.
But emotionally.
Because now—
Lucien was on the defensive.
"…no way…"
"…he's backing up—"
The genius—
Was retreating.
Lucien Escalates
"…fine," Lucien muttered.
His smile vanished.
Completely.
The air around him darkened.
Magic condensed.
Not elemental.
Not clean.
Something deeper.
"…let's see how far you can go."
Forbidden Layer Unleashed
A dark circle formed beneath his feet.
Runes ignited.
The temperature dropped.
"…that's forbidden magic—"
"…is he insane?!"
Lucien didn't stop.
Energy surged outward—
Distorting the arena floor.
Aira's Devour core reacted instantly.
Not calmly this time.
Hungry.
Excited.
"…now that's more like it."
Collision
Lucien released it.
A massive surge of unstable magic.
Not pure.
Not controlled.
But overwhelming.
Aira didn't dodge.
Didn't block.
She stepped forward.
And took it.
Devour – Limit Break
The moment the energy hit her—
Everything went silent.
Then—
Exploded.
Inside her.
Her body tensed.
Her core flared.
For a split second—
It looked like she might lose control.
The crowd held its breath.
"…she can't absorb that—"
"…it'll destroy her—"
Ren's hand tightened slightly at his side.
But he didn't move.
Because—
He knew.
Stabilization
Aira exhaled slowly.
And the chaos—
Stopped.
Stabilized.
Controlled.
Converted.
Her eyes glowed faintly.
"…too slow."
Counterattack
She moved.
Not fast.
Instant.
Lucien barely raised his guard—
Before her hand reached him.
And released everything.
A condensed burst of devoured magic.
Refined.
Perfected.
His own power—
Returned.
But stronger.
Impact
The explosion cracked the arena floor.
Lucien was thrown back.
Hard.
Sliding across the ground.
Silence.
Complete silence.
The Aftermath
Lucien didn't stand immediately.
Didn't move.
Didn't smile.
For the first time—
He looked… shaken.
"…you…"
His voice was quiet.
"…you improved again."
Aira stepped forward slowly.
"…you didn't expect that?"
Lucien laughed.
Softly.
"…no."
He looked up at her.
And for the first time—
There was something new in his eyes.
Not curiosity.
Not excitement.
Something deeper.
"…I underestimated you."
Ren's Subtle Interference
A flicker of movement—
Barely visible.
A shift in the air.
A distortion.
Lucien's next spell—
Misfired.
Just slightly.
Only enough.
Only subtle.
But enough to matter.
Aira noticed.
Of course she did.
Her eyes flickered briefly toward the upper stands.
Where Ren stood.
Watching.
Silent.
Possessive.
Final Clash
Lucien rose slowly.
"…one more."
Aira didn't answer.
She moved.
And this time—
There was no clash.
No explosion.
No spectacle.
Just one motion.
Clean.
Precise.
Unavoidable.
And Lucien—
Couldn't stop it.
The Outcome
He dropped to one knee.
Breathing uneven.
Defeated.
The arena—
Exploded into chaos.
"…she won—"
"…again—?!"
"…that's impossible—"
Even the instructors—
Silent.
Because they understood.
This wasn't luck.
This wasn't potential.
This was power.
Rival Fracture
Lucien laughed softly.
"…so this is what it feels like."
Aira tilted her head slightly.
"…what?"
He looked up at her.
Eyes sharp again.
"…to chase someone."
Silence.
Cliffhanger – The Real Threat
From the shadows—
Unseen by most—
A figure watched.
Still.
Silent.
Calculating.
"…so it's true."
A faint whisper.
"…the Devourer has awakened."
Aira's Devour core pulsed.
Not from the duel.
From that.
Something—
Was watching her.
Something—
Far more dangerous than students.
Aira turned slightly.
Eyes glowing faintly.
Smile sharp.
"…good."
Her voice dropped.
"…then let them come."
Because tonight—
The academy learned the truth.
She wasn't chasing the top anymore.
She was becoming something they couldn't reach.
"Even the genius couldn't stop me… so who exactly do they think can?"