Early Morning
Bobby stirs from his sleep, the morning light gently brushing his face. He slowly sits up, wincing slightly from the pain still lingering in his body. His gaze falls on his hand.
A flash. A memory.
Fire and wind — erupting together.
Bobby (thinking): "I had this kind of power all along… then why didn't I know it? Why couldn't I use it until now? And how was I able to use it at that moment?"
He sighs deeply, fingers curling into a soft fist.
Bobby (thinking): "Haa… I should think about this later. First, I should leave before anyone notices me."
Moving quietly, he tiptoes toward the door. As his hand touches the knob—
Ryn (softly): "So… you're leaving, huh?"
Bobby freezes. He turns back, unsure what to say.
Ryn (gentle but firm): "That's fine. You can leave. I won't stop you. But remember this, Bobby... you're always welcome here."
Bobby (softly): "...Thanks."
He steps out.
Upstairs, Garron Blaze stands at the window, watching the boy leave, silent and thoughtful.
️ Resonance Camp Grounds — Later That Day
The sky is overcast. Tension crackles in the air like lightning waiting to strike. The amphitheater is packed — villagers murmuring, uncertain.
Two unfamiliar figures stand silently in the center. The clan leaders say nothing. No names are announced.
Villager 1: "Who are they? They're not from any of the clans!"
Villager 2: "Yeah, I haven't seen them before."
Villager 3: "Hey, I think they're the forbidden kids."
Villager 2: "What?! What are forbidden kids doing here?"
Villager 1: "You're new here, right? Every year, the village guards, with permission from the clan leaders, hold two secret tournaments outside the village. The winners — two kids aged 11 to12 — get a chance to fight here. If they win today, their names and their families are erased from the forbidden list."
Villager 3: "Not only that. The winner gets to stay and earn full rights. Even the one who loses can stay — but both must prove their loyalty to the village."
Villager 2: "But isn't that dangerous? Letting two forbidden kids into the heart of the village?"
Villager 1: "It can be. But the guards do full background checks. If there's even a single red mark, the kid doesn't get in."
The murmurs fade as the duel begins.
Elyse stands poised, cloaked in midnight blue. Her silver eyes shimmer faintly. Shadows coil at her feet, alive — whispering.
⚡ Joran, cloaked in jagged iron, his fists sparking with static. The ground trembles as he takes each step forward.
Joran: "You shouldn't be here, shadow-walker. This land isn't yours."
Elyse (smirking): "Nor yours, stone-breaker. Yet here we stand."
The bell tolls.
In an instant, both launch forward.
Elyse vanishes into shadow. Joran charges, slamming his fist into the earth — cracking stone.
→ Joran: Thunder Lance Strike — a devastating upward strike.
→ Elyse: Shadow Veil Strike — ghost-like strikes from all sides.
Their fists meet mid-air, the force rippling through the clearing.
Spectator: "I can't even follow their movements!"
Glow Clan Leader: "That speed… it's unreal."
Lian (watching, jaw clenched): "They're both… fast. But it's more than that. They're fighting like they have something to prove."
Joran (panting): "You've got skill. But I'm not about to lose to someone who hides in shadows."
Elyse (grinning): "Then stop chasing my shadow… and face me."
They move again, this time faster, fiercer. Each blow leaves traces of shadow or sparks behind.
Lara (arms crossed, eyes narrowed): "That girl... she's not just controlling shadows. She's dancing with them."
They both stop at one point and take quick breaths in and out. And then, they begin to use their most powerful moves.
→ Elyse: Dusk Phantom Bind — a cyclone of shadows that traps the target.
→ Joran: Storm Fang Barrage — a focused lightning projectile.
Shade (softly): "That spiral… she's bending shadow into form. That's not technique — that's instinct."
They rush forward — power rising — attacks about to collide—
⚡ BOOM!!
A crackling bolt of energy tears through the ground between them, shaking the arena.
Both are flung backward.
Standing in the dust cloud is a towering figure.
⚡ Tero Volt.
Villager (shouting): "It's Tero!"
Tero (booming): "That's enough! This battle is to show your strength — not to kill each other."
The crowd gasps. Silence falls.
Kael (frowning, analyzing): "The timing of that interference… he didn't just stop them. He measured their limits. He knew when to act."
Joran (furious): "You had no right! I almost had her!"
Elyse (angrily): "We didn't need your help. This was our fight!"
Tero (coldly): "If either of your attacks had landed... the ground would be soaked in blood. You want to prove yourselves? Then learn to stop before you destroy everything around you."
Vine Clan Leader: "He's right. They went beyond control. That was no longer a match — it was a war."
Marin (quietly, thoughtful): "But still… the way they moved. The way they committed. That was more than rage. That was desperation."
Some villagers cheer. Others whisper uneasily.
The clan leaders exchange wary glances.
Joran (gritted teeth): "This isn't over."
Elyse (calm but burning): "Next time, no one will stop us."
They walk away from the center — heads high, pride bruised but intact.
Tero (to the crowd): "Remember this fight. Not for its power… but for its lesson."
The crowd watches them go.
The duel ends.
But in its aftermath — the embers of something greater begin to stir.
Outside the Camp — Moments Later
A few villagers stroll outside the camp for fresh air. Bobby, walking nearby, hears voices and pauses behind a tree.
Villager 1: "Hey, that battle was so intense, right? If Tero hadn't stepped in... we would've witnessed something incredible."
Villager 2: "Yeah, and those two... they kind of looked like that boy from yesterday, didn't they?"
Villager 1: "You're right. Now that I think about it..."
Bobby (startled): "Looked like me...?"
He rushes back into the camp, eyes scanning frantically — but he doesn't find them. The next match is about to begin.
One of the clan leaders steps forward and announces:
Clan Leader: "Rhea."
She enters calmly. A guard approaches.
Guard: "Pick your opponent."
Rhea looks around for a moment, then speaks clearly:
Rhea: "I forfeit my match."
Gasps echo through the amphitheater. The audience murmurs. Even the clan leaders exchange stunned glances.
Lara (shocked): "What...?"
Marin (confused): "Why would she...?"
Rhea glances toward her father and remembers—
Eryx (Rhea's Father) (gentle): "Rhea, can you do something for me?"
Rhea: "Of course, father. What is it?"
Eryx (Rhea's Father): "I want you to forfeit your match."
Rhea (surprised): "What? But why, father? Everyone from my class is participating. Why not me?"
Eryx (Rhea's Father): "I know how much this means to you. But trust me. This is for your own good. Just this once... listen to me."
Rhea (quietly): "Fine… I'll do it."
Back in the present, Rhea walks off the field, composed.
Marin rushes over.
Marin: "Why did you forfeit? Did something happen?"
Rhea (calmly): "It's nothing. We fight here to prove ourselves. I have nothing to prove. Besides... it'll get tough from here. Who knows what comes next."
Marin (suspicious): "You're hiding something. I know you. You're always ready to fight."
Rhea (smiling lightly): "You're overthinking. Just let it go. Come on, let's go sit with the others."
They walk off together — but the doubt remains in Marin's eyes.
The guard steps forward and addresses the crowd:
Guard: "This round is complete. The next round will begin after one week."
Villager 1: "What? One week? That's unusual. Why now?"
Villager 2: "I think they're planning something new."
Villager 3: "Who knows. Come on, let's go."
Guard: "Tomorrow, we will announce the candidates for the second round."
Villager 1: "Then, we should definitely come tomorrow."
Villager 3: "But why? We know who will be there, right?"
Villager 1: "This time, we had two forfeits — one by a village leader and one by Tero. So, it's kind of interesting to see who they'll select next."
Villager 2: "If you look at it that way, it does sound exciting."
Villager 3: "Then it's settled — we'll be here tomorrow."
Villager 1 and 2: "Yeah."
End of Episode 9.
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