The battlefield had been set up differently for the single elimination rounds. The once vast field that the group stage fights were fought in had changed drastically. No large spread of grass, no stone walkways or rivers nearby — just a wide enough area for a full scale brawl.
Team Nox had been given seats closer to the battlefield than the main stands, stone benches set apart for the remaining teams to spectate. Close enough that the sounds of combat would carry clearly.
Lucien sat forward, his elbows resting on his knees.
Regis Valmont and his team occupied the opposite section, only separated by nothing more than an open stretch of stone.
Regis sat with his arms folded, one leg stretched out in front of him, looking bored. His team stood behind him, talking quietly among themselves. Regis looked over toward Lucien for a moment, a small smirk across his face.
Lucien didn't respond, his attention shifted elsewhere when Adrian Veyne stepped onto the field.
Adrian didn't stand tall or wide. He didn't pace around the battlefield or stretch like the rest of his team did. He simply stood there, hands relaxed at the side with his gaze forward. His team adjusted around him without speaking.
Lucien frowned slightly.
'They're strong.'
He couldn't get a read on them, usually he could tell whenever a team would be aggressive or passive. This time he couldn't.
'Adrian Veyne'
Lucien watched the Team Veyne captain purposefully, trying to sense what kind of person he is. He seemed relaxed from the way he presented himself and moved — but the tight formation his team got into without hesitation shows otherwise.
Corin leaned over to Lucien nudging him in the ribs slightly.
"This will be fun to watch."
Lucien nodded without looking over.
Team Arelia walked out soon after. They looked strong too. Not flashy, not nervous — their formation settled just as quickly, movements practiced. There was no obvious flaw.
Lucien shifted on the bench, the stone pressing uncomfortably against his thigh.
"There will be no more objective based matches." The official spoke plainly, his words carrying across the newly formed battle ground.
"To win." He continued, "Incapacitate the opposing team captain or force a surrender."
The horn sounded.
Team Arelia moved first.
Two of them advanced immediately, boots striking the ground as they rushed forward while the other pair split wide. One pushed forward ahead of the others, the air around his legs thickening visibly as he pushed off the ground leaping into the air.
At the highest of his jump, the man twisted mid-air and thrust his palm downward.
The air vibrated as a dense mass of compressed wind left his hand, the ground beneath it fracturing as it flew toward Team Veyne's formation.
Adrian lifted his hand slowly.
Intense white light bloomed outward, expanding from his palm until it wrapped around his entire team. The barrier formed fully in an instant before the compressed air found its mark.
The impact was violent.
The force ripped apart the ground as it collided with the barrier before dispersing. The pressure disappeared as if it had just hit an immovable wall. The barrier didn't budge.
Lucien felt his shoulders tense.
"Did you see that barrier?" Alya whispered toward him.
He didn't reply at first, his eyes still fixated on the battle ahead of him.
"Yeah."
When the dust cleared, Adrian's team stood exactly where they had been before. The barrier fully intact.
The student in the air landed rough a short distance away, his ankle twisting as he skidded across the stone.
The rest of Team Arelia pushed in immediately. One of them surged forward, dragging his hand across the ground as he moved. Fractured stone climbed up his arm in jagged layers, hardening into something closer to a gauntlet than a fist.
He lunged.
The strike connected cleanly, the stone-coated fist slamming into the chest of one of Veyne's teammates, forcing him to stumble backwards.
Lucien's eyes widened.
Their captain, Alexander Arelia stepped forward at last. He simply reached out and closed his hand around empty air. A sword manifested smoothly in his grip, its edge sharp and narrow, light bending faintly around the blade.
He crossed the distance in a straight line and swung.
The blade cut through Adrian's barrier like it wasn't there. White light split apart as the shield dissolved into fragments that vanished instantly.
"No way…" Corin muttered under his breath in disbelief.
Adrian lifted his hand to form another barrier immediately, the bright wall surrounding his team once again.
Alexander swung his sword once more. The barrier didn't split this time — only a chunk dissolved.
"Again!" someone from Team Arelia shouted.
Alexander swung again, pouring all his strength into the cut. The blade let out a screech as it clashed against the barrier. The sword in his hand began to flicker as he struck the wall for a third time.
The barrier held.
The sword in Alexander's hand vanished completely.
"Not now…" He shouted out in disbelief.
Adrian let out a small smile as he walked forward, clicking his fingers together gently. Multiple barriers formed around the area, cutting off any retreat and forcing Alexander into a narrow space.
He tried to punch the barrier, but it didn't work. The barrier kept closing in slowly, the pressure tightening around his body.
Team Arelia slowed. One took a step forward, then stopped. Another clenched his fists, eyes darting between Adrian and the barrier trapping his captain. They all understood the match was over.
Alexander exhaled shakily as he dropped to his knees, his body refusing to continue.
"I concede," he said hoarsely. "Team Arelia concedes…"
The barriers faded immediately.
The horn sounded.
"Victory to Team Veyne."
The crowd erupted into excited cheers, their voices reaching to the furthest parts of the arena.
Corin let out a sharp whistle. "They didn't even knock him out,"
Faye nodded slowly. "He couldn't do… anything."
Lucien stayed quiet.
Across the seating areas, Regis clicked his tongue in dismissal and leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head.
"Hah." He shouted out. "All that build up just to end up kneeling."
He scoffed again. "Everyone's weak. Tomorrow will be easy."
Lucien closed his eyes for a moment and let out a small breath.
'Tomorrow won't be easy.'