The sun shone high in the sky, bathing the arena in golden light as the spectators filled the stands, eager to witness the long-awaited duel. At the center of the battlefield, Mia and Silvarya stood face to face, their auras radiating intense power.
Mia was the first to move. She raised her hand, channeling her energy, and unleashed a Wind Blade that sliced through the air at incredible speed. Silvarya, with calm precision, countered instantly with a Water Blade, the two attacks colliding with a thunderous explosion.
The impact sent shockwaves through the arena, shaking the ground beneath them. A thick mist rose from the clash, enveloping the battlefield and obscuring the view. The crowd, electrified by the display of power, erupted into cheers and applause.
The Shrouded Battlefield
Mia, realizing the potential danger of Silvarya's hidden movements, quickly conjured a Wind Tornado to disperse the mist. The air cleared in moments, revealing the battlefield once more. But Silvarya was nowhere to be seen.
A split second later, Silvarya appeared behind Mia, casting Earthen Bindings. Stalwart roots reinforced with stone erupted from the ground, ensnaring Mia and pinning her in place.
Without hesitation, Silvarya launched her powerful spell: Marine Tempest. A swirling vortex of water and magic crashed down on Mia, triggering a massive explosion that fractured the arena floor.
Breathing heavily but confident, Silvarya turned her back, heading toward the referee, sure that the fight was over.
Mia's Awakening
Just as the referee was about to declare Silvarya the victor, an immense white aura erupted from the place where Mia had fallen.
The crowd fell silent, their gazes locked on the crater at the center of the arena. Mia emerged, unharmed, glowing with radiant light. She stretched nonchalantly, a sly smile playing on her lips.
"You're really strong, Silvarya," Mia said, her tone almost playful. "But unfortunately for you, this fight is over now."
Her white aura intensified, creating a crushing pressure that made the spectators tremble in awe.
From the stands, Alaryc observed with sharp eyes, his expression darkening.
"She's awakened," he muttered to himself.
An Unstoppable Offensive
In a flash, Mia charged at Silvarya with incredible speed. Before Silvarya could react, Mia used Earthen Bindings, trapping her opponent with the same spell she had used earlier.
"It's over," Mia declared.
She followed with Falcon's Breath, a powerful blast of wind that hurled Silvarya to the far edge of the arena.
Despite Mia's clear advantage, Silvarya refused to surrender. But her movements were slowing, her energy clearly waning.
Mia smirked, seeing this as an opportunity to end the fight. "Let's finish this," she said, raising her hands.
Mia invoked her ultimate spell: Judgment of the Heavens. A massive dome of air descended upon Silvarya, trapping her in an unyielding prison of energy.
The Call of Alaryc
Silvarya, exhausted and unable to move, dropped to her knees. She closed her eyes, accepting her defeat.
In her mind, doubts crept in: I'm not strong enough. I'll never catch up to Alaryc.
But just as she was about to surrender, Alaryc's voice boomed from the stands.
"Silvarya! Remember your training!"
His words sparked a memory in Silvarya's mind. She recalled Alaryc's teachings during their sessions together: "The key to mastering your element is to become one with it. Feel it, don't force it."
Inspired, Silvarya opened her eyes just as Mia's Judgment of the Heavens descended upon her.
Silvarya's Awakening
A tremendous explosion shook the arena, blinding the spectators momentarily. When the dust settled, a radiant blue aura emerged from Silvarya's position.
Mia stepped back, stunned.
"That's impossible…" she whispered.
From the stands, Alaryc's lips curled into a small smile. Freya, sitting beside him, remarked softly, "She's awakened."
Silvarya stepped forward, her eyes glowing with a unique brilliance—a mix of light blue and hazel. Her aura was serene yet overwhelming, signaling that she had transcended her former limits.
A Legendary Battle
Empowered by her awakening, Silvarya unleashed a series of devastating spells, each one more powerful than the last. Mia, though still confident, began to struggle against the relentless assault.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats, cheering wildly with each exchange of attacks.
Sensing that the battle had gone on long enough, Mia decided to end it.
"Eye of the Typhoon!" she shouted.
A massive typhoon spiraled into existence, consuming the entire arena in its ferocious winds.
Silvarya, unshaken, tapped into her newfound strength and cast a spell she hadn't even known she possessed: Primordial Deluge.
A vortex of water imbued with ancient energy erupted, tearing through Mia's typhoon and crashing down upon her with unstoppable force.
Silvarya's Victory
The resulting explosion was so immense that it left the arena trembling. The spectators held their breath as the dust settled, revealing Mia lying unconscious, unable to continue.
The referee hesitated for a moment before raising his hand and declaring, "The winner of this battle is… Silvarya!"
The crowd erupted in thunderous applause, celebrating the epic duel they had just witnessed.
Silvarya, weary but triumphant, turned toward Alaryc in the stands. She smiled and gave him a thumbs-up, signaling her success.
Alaryc returned the smile, his pride evident. He watched as Silvarya, overwhelmed by exhaustion, collapsed. Leaping from the stands, he caught her before she hit the ground.
"You gave a brilliant fight, Silvarya," he whispered.
The Rankings
Hours later, as the sun dipped below the horizon, the day's matches came to an end.
The commentator announced the kingdom rankings:
1- Castille
2- Aurelith
3- Solaria
4- Necrosia
5- Luminara (eliminated after losing all their matches).
Alaryc, satisfied with the results, suggested that his friends return to their dormitories to rest.
A Visit to the Infirmary
Before leaving, Alaryc made his way to the infirmary to check on Silvarya.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she replied with a weak smile. She asked him about the rankings, and they chatted for a while.
As the night grew late, Alaryc stood to leave.
"It's getting late. Rest well, Silvarya," he said softly.
"Good night, Alaryc," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
A Night of Rest
Back in his dormitory, Alaryc found Jake already fast asleep.
"Good night, Jake," he murmured before lying down in his own bed.
Freya, her voice gentle in his mind, whispered, "Good night, Master."
"Thank you, Freya," Alaryc responded before drifting off to sleep.
Thus ended a day filled with emotion, battles, and the awakening of new powers.