The air inside the Amphitheatre crackles with anticipation. Stone benches rumble beneath the excited murmurs of clan's folk, students, and leaders.
The last match still lingers in the crowd's minds.
A robed elder from the Tide Clan steps forward,
He reaches into the vessel, then raises a slip of parchment.
Cade (Tide Clan Leader): "Kael Zephyr."
"Kael Zephyr."
From the Gust Clan section, Kael rises—poised and precise. He walks to the centre of the arena like a breeze before the storm.
Eyes narrow, he points across the crowd of young fighters.
"I choose… Marin Flow."
Gasps ripple through the Amphitheatre.
Water vs. Wind.
Two masters of flow. One fluid. One airborne. Everyone leans forward.
Marin steps onto the field with silent grace, eyes locked on Kael's.
The referee raises a hand.
"Begin!"
—
☁️ Kael immediately lightens his stance, letting the wind swirl at his ankles.
Marin opens with confidence—
→ Aqua Serpent Coil — fluid arcs of water whip toward Kael from both sides.
He pivots, countering with
→ Tempest Blade Rush — a dispersing shield of slicing gusts that redirects the attack harmlessly.
The crowd gasps in unison.
Spectator 1: "They're reading each other already!"
But Marin doesn't pause.
She steps in—eliminating Kael's ranged advantage.
→ Tidal Crescent Dance — she twists low, sweeping his feet while her elbow drives upward.
Kael stumbles back, barely blocking with a raised forearm.
Kael (thinking): "She's forcing close quarters… clever."
He exhales, creating distance with a burst:
→ Sky Vortex Fang!
A wide concussive gust fires forward.
But Marin was ready.
In that same moment, she unleashes
→ Aqua Fang Gate — a condensed vortex of spiralling water, spinning inward like a drill.
The two techniques collide—but the water pressure breaks through.
Kael is caught off guard.
BOOM.
He's blasted backward, crashing against the base of the stone seating wall—just beneath the clan leader balcony.
The shockwave rattles the lower seats. Dust clouds rise.
Silence.
Kael groans. His fingers twitch. He tries to push himself up, arms trembling.
But the force of the attack… his spine shakes. His vision spins.
He grits his teeth—struggling—
But collapses again, unable to rise.
Instructor (stepping forward):
"Winner—Marin Flow!"
The crowd erupts.
Marin steps toward him slowly, offering a hand.
Kael blinks through the blur. She kneels down instead and offers a gentle smile.
Marin:
"You know… we should train together."
Kael (smiling faintly, still breathless):
"…Yeah. I'd like that."
The medics begin lifting Kael gently onto a stretcher, but his pride remains intact.
Even in loss—he didn't give in.
—
The arena resets.
As the dust clears, the next clan leader steps forward: the Spark Clan's head.
His fingers curl around the selection stone. A spark dances across its surface.
Jolt (Spark Clan Leader) speaks:
"Lara Blaze."
A ripple of recognition moves through the stands.
Wearing a crimson mantle with gold-threaded trim, Lara Blaze steps into the arena—calm, focused, burning with silent confidence.
She had hoped to fight Marin, to witness Aqua precision up close.
But Marin had just finished her match.
Her gaze falls on another Water Vein wielder across the line—Rize.
"You."
Rize, less known but disciplined, steps forward nervously.
Referee: "Begin!"
Rize immediately begins forming resonance sails. Water gathers.
But—
BOOM!
→ Blaze Fang Strike.
Lara ignites into motion, jetting forward like a comet of flame.
Her foot connects with a concussive, blazing strike—sending Rize flying across the arena.
He crashes into the wall—hard. Unconscious before he even hits the ground.
⏱ The match ends in under two seconds.
Silence.
Then—
"THAT'S MY GIRL—!"
The voice echoes across the amphitheatre—loud, proud, and unmistakably from the viewing balcony.
All heads turn toward Garron Blaze, clan leader and Lara's father, who just cupped his hands around his mouth.
Lara freezes mid-victory pose.
Her entire face flushes crimson.
Lara: "D-Dad…"
Laughter erupts across the stands.
Even the clan leader's chuckle.
The applause follows naturally—respect for both her strength and the moment.
—
Two duels.
Two warriors—Marin and Zara.
Different approaches. Different victories.
But both send a message to the others:
The Fire still burns.
The Tide still flows.
And the winds have yet to rise again.
In the far archway of the arena… Bobby watches.
Silently.
Measuring.
Preparing.
His time is coming.
---
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