The Adventurer's Guild arena buzzed with raw energy, a wide-open battlefield where the air shimmered with the promise of magic and the scent of scorched earth. Adventurers filled the stands, their eyes bright with eagerness, their murmurs a steady hum of anticipation. At the center of it all stood Selena Ashford, her black hair swept back into a tight ponytail, her petite frame radiating a quiet confidence. Her sharp smile cut through the tension, her posture relaxed yet poised, a calm before the storm. Opposite her, Lilith, the guild's seasoned evaluator, stood with an air of unshakable authority, her staff glowing faintly in her grip. The referee raised his whistle, its shrill note slicing through the noise, and the battle began.
Lilith struck first, her voice low and steady as she chanted an incantation. "Ice Spears!" she called, summoning a barrage of glistening icicles that launched toward Selena with lethal precision. The spears gleamed under the arena's torchlight, their tips sharp enough to pierce stone.
Selena didn't flinch, her fearlessness unshaken. "Flame Ball!" she countered, her voice ringing out as she hurled orbs of fire from her palms. The ice and flame met in a thunderous explosion, a burst of steam and light that rocked the arena. The crowd gasped, leaning forward as the mist swirled, veiling the combatants.
Lilith's voice emerged from the haze, tinged with intrigue. "Impressive, Ashford. No incantation for that spell?"
Selena's smile sharpened as she wove her next move. "Storm Fang Spear!" she chanted swiftly, a crackling lance of lightning materializing in her hands before streaking toward Lilith with blinding speed.
Lilith's eyes widened, caught off guard by Selena's rapid incantation. "Barrier!" she shouted, raising a shimmering shield just in time. The lightning spear crashed against it, sparks flying as the barrier held firm.
"Watch your ground, Mrs. Lilith," Selena said, her tone playful but her gaze piercing. As she spoke, the earth rumbled beneath Lilith's feet, massive stone fists erupting from theќ
The ground split, and jagged hands of rock reached for Lilith, their rocky fingers clawing toward her. Lilith dodged with a twist of her body, her barrier flickering as she blocked the assault. A sharp shard grazed her right hand, drawing a thin line of blood. She winced but kept her composure. "Very impressive," she said, her voice steady despite the injury. "But these tricks won't do anything to me." She raised her staff, her incantation swift. "Tempest Veil!" A colossal storm roared to life around her, its winds howling as she stood at its center, directing the gale-force tempest toward Selena.
Selena sprinted backward, her heart pounding as the storm's fury tore across the arena. Lilith's voice rang out, taunting. "Afraid the storm will kill you? Don't worry—it won't."
But Selena's mind raced, her instincts sharp. She leaped upward, calling on the wind element to lift her. "You know, Mrs. Lilith," she said, her voice cutting through the storm's roar, "every attack has a weakness. And it seems you didn't notice yours." With a daring grin, she plunged into the heart of the tempest, her hands crackling with energy. "Lightning Arrows!" A volley of electric bolts shot toward Lilith, their paths wild and unpredictable.
Lilith's barrier flared, absorbing the arrows effortlessly. "Playtime's over, kid," she said, her tone turning cold. She slammed her staff into the ground, her voice commanding. "Inferno Burst!" A wave of searing flame erupted, its heat so fierce it charred half the arena, leaving the ground blackened and smoking.
Smoke blanketed the battlefield, the crowd holding its breath. In the stands, Haruto leaned forward, his voice tight. "Selena's holding her own against her very well. Her quick thinking is amazing."
Renjiro's eyes narrowed, his tone measured. "I know Selena's strong, but she's up against a well-experienced mage. Mrs. Lilith is blocking every attack like it's nothing."
Takeshi clenched his fists, peering through the haze. "Well, you need to prepare every way to fight a mage. Look—the smoke's clearing!"
Selena stood revealed, her breath heavy, her barrier flickering around her. A faint burn marked her arm where the inferno had grazed her, but she was alive. She met Lilith's gaze, her voice firm despite the pain. "You're very strong, Mrs. Lilith."
Lilith's smile was faint. "Why are you just standing there? Attack me, Ashford."
A murmur rippled through the stands. "Is she really fifteen?" one adventurer whispered. "I only reached this level in my early thirties. She's on a different level."
Selena's hands glowed with a soft, golden light as she summoned a sword of pure radiance, its edge shimmering with power. Lilith's brow arched. "Fighting me in short range is useless, Ashford."
"Let's see," Selena replied, her grin fierce. "Wind Burst!" she whispered, vanishing from sight in a blur of speed. She reappeared behind Lilith, her light sword slashing toward the evaluator's neck.
Lilith's barrier surged, the sword clanging against it with a resonant hum. "Very good decision—attacking the blind spot at the neck," Lilith said, her voice calm. "But someone like me has faced tricks like this before." With a flick of her wrist, she summoned an icy hand, its massive fingers seizing Selena in a frigid grip.
"Accept your defeat, Ashford," Lilith said, tightening the hold.
But the air around Selena grew warm, the temperature climbing. "It seems you noticed," she said, her eyes gleaming. "Did you forget I have the fire element?" Flames licked at the ice as she chanted, "Fire Storm!" A vortex of fire roared to life, its destructive heat melting the ice and forcing Lilith to leap back, her barrier wavering.
Lilith's eyes widened as water pooled at her feet, the ground shifting beneath her. "What's happening?" she shouted, then paused. "Wait—are you using three elements at the same time?"
In the stands, Takeshi's eyes widened. "Renjiro, is that possible? Controlling three elements?"
Renjiro scratched his head, thoughtful. "It's possible, but it takes experience, a calm mind, and a higher core level."
Haruto's gaze stayed fixed on Selena, his voice soft with awe. "Maybe Selena isn't the most experienced, but she's more talented than anyone. She's something special."
Selena stepped forward, her voice steady. "Yeah, just using water, earth, and fire. I used fire to distract you, then combined earth and water to drown you. Maybe you'll accept your defeat now."
Lilith's smile was sharp. "Who, me? Accepting defeat?" The air grew frigid as she raised her staff, freezing the water at her feet into a solid platform. "Ice Spears!" she called, launching a volley toward Selena with swift precision.
Selena couldn't react in time. She closed her eyes, bracing for impact—but the spears halted inches from her face, stopped by the referee's command.
"Match concluded!" the referee bellowed.
Lilith approached, her expression warm. "Very impressive display of your ability, Ashford."
Selena bowed, her smile genuine despite her fatigue. "Thanks for the appreciation."
Lilith turned to the crowd, her voice clear. "Selena Ashford is awarded B rank!"
The stands erupted in protest. "B rank at fifteen? That's unacceptable!" one adventurer shouted.
Malric, a grizzled swordsman evaluator, stepped forward, his tone sharp. "It's the perfect rank for her. Stop your jealousy—complaining won't change it."
The crowd fell silent, subdued. Selena walked back to the stands, her steps light despite her injuries.
Haruto grinned as she neared. "B rank? That's great, Selena!"
Renjiro chuckled, teasing. "If he were here, he'd throw a party right now. Luckily, he's not."
Haruto raised an eyebrow. "You hate him that much?"
Himari and Yuki exchanged puzzled glances. "Who's 'he'?" Himari asked.
Renjiro and Haruto froze, caught off guard. Takeshi and reina leaned in, curious. "Yeah, who is he?"
Haruto's grin turned mischievous. "You guys don't know? We're talking about Selena's boyfriend."
Yuki, Himari, and Takeshi shouted in unison, "What? Selena has a boyfriend?"