Kaiser, who had witnessed everything from start to finish, did something rarely seen of him.
He smiled.
It was not a smile of warmth, nor of simple approval—but one edged with interest. With recognition.
He was impressed. More than that… he was intrigued.
His gaze remained fixed on Ayumu.
As the match concluded, Ayumu inclined her head politely, preparing to step aside.
But before she could—
A figure dropped from above.
Kaiser landed effortlessly in the center of the court.
A ripple of shock spread instantly through the hall.
"...Amazing," he said, his voice low, almost amused. "Young White Magis… never have I seen such talent."
Visil froze in place.
What is he doing?
Kaiser took a step forward, his gaze fixed entirely on Ayumu.
"Why don't you fight me next?"
A hush fell over the arena.
From above, Vesta let out an irritated sound. "The boy that lizard chose seems to have a rather unpleasant temperament as well. How fitting."
Ayumu looked at Kaiser quietly.
Then, she bowed slightly.
"I may not be a worthy opponent for Lord Kaiser… if I may, I would like to refuse."
A faint irritation crossed Kaiser's expression.
"Do not be so humble, young lady," he said. "I know what I saw. You are more than capable."
His eyes sharpened.
"Fight me."
"What are you doing, Kaiser?!" Visil's voice rang out, unable to contain himself. "Do not even think of hurting my sister!"
This was unlike him.
Kaiser, who was always composed, distant—now stood with something closer to excitement flickering beneath his calm.
Almost as if he had found something he had long been searching for.
Ayumu remained still for a moment.
Then—
"If Lord Kaiser insists… then so be it."
A small smile formed on Kaiser's lips.
"Good."
"This will be a controlled exchange," one of the examiners quickly announced. "Both parties are to select only one weapon. This is to assess combat skill—not lethality."
Before Kaiser could move, a presence stirred behind him.
A dark shimmer rippled through the air.
Azhdar.
Kaiser's spirit manifested, reducing itself into a smaller form before flying upward and perching near the emperor's balcony.
"We shall see which Magis stands above the other, won't we… Vesta?" Azhdar's ancient voice echoed with amusement.
Vesta narrowed its gaze. "Your master would not last two minutes against my Ayumu, you pitiful lizard."
Azhdar hissed. "Careful, bird. You speak too boldly."
The two ancient beings began bickering openly, their voices layered with centuries of rivalry.
Visil sat between them, utterly exasperated.
He felt less like an emperor… and more like someone forced to babysit two ancient, quarrelsome beasts while their masters prepared to clash.
Kaiser stepped forward and selected his weapon.
Not a blade, but a wooden sword.
A silent concession—he understood Visil would not tolerate even the slightest harm to Ayumu. Deep down, he does not wish to hurt her either.
Moments later, Ayumu returned to the arena.
This time, she did not carry her pole.
Instead, she held a slender rattan stick.
No thicker than a finger. Light. Flexible. Almost unimpressive.
Kaiser frowned slightly seeing her choice of weapon.
"Are you looking down on me, young lady?"
Ayumu shook her head gently.
"Never, Lord Kaiser."
A strange awkwardness settled over the arena.
The examiners exchanged uncertain glances.
Then, unable to bear the silence any further, one of them raised his voice sharply—
"Begin!"
Kaiser moved first. A sudden burst forward—fast, precise.
But Ayumu vanished.
In the next instant, she reappeared behind him.
Kaiser stopped to turn back and then laughed.
"Hah! How interesting… photokinetic movement. The same principle Lord Ivny once used."
"Yes," Ayumu replied calmly. "I channel my light magic to accelerate my body."
"Then it must be exhausting," Kaiser said, his tone sharpening. "Let us see how long you can maintain it."
Darkness stirred around him.
His shadows began to spread—crawling across the ground like living entities, expanding, stretching, filling the space.
They narrowed Ayumu's movement.
Restricted her landing points.
Forced her into tighter and tighter positions.
Kaiser struck. Again. And again.
Each swing of his wooden blade landed precisely where she would appear—leaving her with barely a fraction of a second to react.
The pressure mounted.
Ayumu's breathing began to falter and her movements slowed.
She was reaching her limit.
Kaiser saw it and he pressed forward.
The shadows surged once more as he lunged in for a decisive strike.
But—Ayumu moved.
Not away but forward.
She reappeared low, beneath his extended arm. Sliding into his blind spot.
In one swift motion, she struck—driving a precise thrust of the rattan stick right beneath his armpit, at the first few ribs of his ribcage.
Silence.
Kaiser froze. His body locked in place. He could not move.
Not a single muscle responded.
Ayumu exhaled sharply, her strength finally giving way as she sank lightly to the ground, breathing heavily.
She was exhausted.
The arena fell into stunned silence.
No one understood what had just happened.
Not even Visil.
Kaiser… immobilized?
By a single strike?
Kaiser struggled to move his arm.
Then his head.
A low grunt escaped him as he realized his body was not responding properly. He tried to force movement through sheer will, lifting his other hand to compensate—but it was slow, uncoordinated.
And that frustration only grew.
"Hahahahaha!"
Vesta's laughter rang out loudly, deliberately provoking Azhdar.
The great phoenix flapped its wings slightly as it perched, clearly amused at the sight.
Azhdar's master—beaten by a girl younger than him by several years.
From the opposite side, Azhdar roared in irritation.
"Quiet, you loud abnoxious bird!"
And just like that, the two ancient spirits erupted into argument once again, their bickering echoing through the hall.
Visil, meanwhile, remained frozen in the middle of it all, utterly exhausted by the chaos unfolding around him.
--------------------
Back in the arena, Ayumu gathered what little strength she had left.
Slowly, she pushed herself upright.
Kaiser was still partially immobilized, his body locked in place by the disrupted flow of his nerves.
Ayumu stepped forward and reached out.
With careful precision, she pried open his fingers one by one, releasing his grip on the wooden sword.
The moment she finished—His body relaxed and control returned.
Kaiser exhaled sharply.
"What… what was that?! A spell?!"
Ayumu panted lightly, steadying herself.
"No…" she said between breaths. "I just poked your nerve—haa…"
She paused, trying to regain composure.
"It's a medical technique I learned… haa… acupressure. It temporarily disrupts muscle control… haa…"
Her explanation trailed off.
And then—she fainted.
Kaiser reacted instantly. He caught her before she hit the ground.
For a moment, he simply stood there, holding her.
Up close, he could see her clearly now.
White hair. Pale skin.
A face so delicate it almost felt unreal—too pure, too fragile, as if she did not belong in a battlefield at all.
Something unfamiliar stirred in his chest.
The silence was broken by the crowd erupting into cheers.
Excitement, disbelief, admiration—all blending together as they processed what they had just witnessed.
A match like this… none had expected it.
Kaiser gently lowered Ayumu to the ground.
And in that exact moment—
He was suddenly kicked squarely in the back by Emperor Visil.
"Stay away from my sister, you creep!"
Kaiser stumbled forward slightly, completely stunned.
"…What?"
From above, Azhdar landed on his shoulder, wearing a deeply dissatisfied expression.
To lose against a young girl in such a manner…
And worse—
To the master of Vesta, his long-standing rival.
It was humiliating.
A disgrace!
Azhdar let out a sharp hiss.