The arena felt… empty.
Rows of seats stretched high, but most of them were empty. Only a few students sat here and there, talking softly, not really interested.
No cheers.
No hype.
Just silence.
At the center, the announcer looked down at his paper and spoke in a dull voice.
"Next match…"
His voice echoed in the quiet arena.
"…Nico Vance versus Alex Ravenor."
A few students looked up.
"Who are they?" "Don't know…" "Probably a boring fight…"
From the left gate—
A boy walked in slowly.
Nico Vance.
His steps were light. His face was calm, almost bored. His fingers moved a little, like he was playing with something no one could see.
Threads.
Thin, invisible threads.
From the right gate—
Heavy footsteps echoed.
Alex Ravenor.
Each step felt strong. He didn't look at the seats. He didn't care about the people.
His eyes were only on Nico.
Both of them walked to the center.
They stopped.
Facing each other.
The silence grew deeper.
Nico gave a small smirk.
"No one came to watch us."
Alex replied in a flat voice.
"Good."
A short pause.
Then the announcer raised his hand.
"Start."
No loud shout.
No excitement.
Just one word.
And the fight began.
Nico moved first.
His fingers flicked.
Suddenly—
Sharp threads shot forward, cutting through the air.
Alex reacted fast.
He slammed his foot on the ground.
Mud rose up in front of him like a wall.
The threads hit it and cut deep lines, but the mud didn't break. It just moved and held.
Nico's smile grew a little.
"Let's see how long you last."
His fingers moved again.
This time—
Threads spread everywhere.
Around Alex.
Above him.
Behind him.
Like a trap slowly closing.
Alex saw it.
He's trying to control everything…
Without waiting—
Alex stomped the ground harder.
The arena floor changed.
The solid ground turned soft…
Wet…
Then it started sinking.
A swamp.
One of the students in the stands sat up.
"…Oh."
Nico's foot slipped for a second.
That was enough.
Alex raised his hand.
A giant mud arm burst out from the ground—
Trying to grab Nico.
But—
Nico was gone.
Threads pulled him up into the air, attaching to walls and edges.
He looked down at Alex.
"Too slow."
His hand closed.
In an instant—
Threads wrapped around Alex.
Arms.
Legs.
Body.
They tightened fast.
Alex grunted.
The threads cut into his skin. Small lines of blood appeared.
The arena was silent.
Even the few students stopped talking.
Nico slowly raised his hand.
"Struggle."
The threads pulled tighter.
Stronger.
Alex's body shook a little.
For a moment—
It looked like he was trapped.
But then—
He took a deep breath.
Calm.
The ground under him moved again.
Mud climbed up his legs.
His chest.
His arms.
Covering his whole body.
A thick layer.
The threads tightened more—
—but now—
They hit hard mud.
Not skin.
Nico's smile faded a little.
"…Nice."
Alex looked up.
"You talk too much."
Then—
He slammed both hands into the ground.
The whole arena shook.
Mud spread everywhere.
The clean floor disappeared.
Everything turned into a messy swamp.
Nico's threads lost balance.
They couldn't stay steady.
For the first time—
He lost control.
Alex didn't stop.
He pushed his hand forward.
A huge wave of mud rushed toward Nico.
Nico reacted fast.
Threads cut through it—
But more mud came.
It didn't stop.
It kept coming.
Nico jumped back, using threads to pull himself away—
But suddenly—
He stopped.
His leg—
Was sinking.
He looked down.
The swamp had caught him.
Alex looked straight at him.
"Got you."
Nico clicked his tongue.
"Tch."
His fingers moved quickly.
More threads shot out—
Cutting the mud—
Pulling him free.
He escaped.
But Alex was already there.
A giant mud hand rose behind Nico—
And slammed down.
Nico barely dodged.
He flipped in the air and landed far away.
But something felt wrong.
His threads…
Weren't cutting as well.
The mud was too thick.
Too wet.
It slowed everything down.
He's changing the field…
Nico's eyes became serious.
"Fine."
He raised both hands.
Threads spread everywhere again.
This time—
Even more.
The whole area was filled with invisible lines.
"Now try moving."
Alex stepped forward—
—and instantly felt it.
Threads wrapped around him again.
Tighter than before.
Sharper.
They cut through parts of his mud armor.
Blood came out again.
Nico closed his fist.
"End."
The threads pulled hard from all sides.
Alex's body strained.
The armor started breaking.
Cracks appeared.
It looked like he might lose.
Then—
Alex smiled.
A small, calm smile.
"…You made one mistake."
Nico frowned.
"What?"
Alex lifted his foot—
And slammed it down with full force.
The ground exploded.
Not just the top layer—
Deep mud came up.
Heavy.
Thick.
Strong.
Everything around them got swallowed.
The threads started breaking.
One by one.
Nico's eyes widened.
"No—!"
He tried to pull himself away.
But there was nothing to grab.
Everything was mud.
Everything was sinking.
The swamp pulled him down.
Slowly.
His legs disappeared.
Then his waist.
He struggled—
But it was useless.
Alex walked toward him.
Slow steps.
Calm face.
Like he already knew the result.
Nico was stuck.
Only his upper body was outside.
Breathing hard.
Tired.
Alex stopped in front of him.
"You're strong."
Nico gave a small laugh.
"…Yeah. You too."
Alex raised his hand.
A sharp mud spike formed.
Pointing at Nico.
"Match over."
Silence filled the arena.
Then—
"Winner… Alex Ravenor."
No loud cheers.
Just a few claps.
But the fight—
Was anything but boring.
Nico looked at Alex and smiled a little.
"Next time… I won't lose."
Alex turned away.
"I'll be ready."
And in that quiet, empty arena—
The one who controlled the ground itself…
Stood as the winner.