Projectiles close up on them.
Lira ran to the front. Slammed her fist on the ground, huge wall rose--- harden--- blocks the projectile.
Lira struggled but managed to hold. The wall blocked the projectile but crumbled afterwards, rising dust that swallowed the entire arena. Glowing orbs created by the Light elder flew around giving the crowd visuals on what's going on.
Lira stood up, trembling, staggering, blood dripping from her nose, warm as it touched her lips---- wiped off the blood with her left arm.
Koya rushed in hands on Lira waist, assisting her, helped her stand straight.
"Are you okay?" Koya asked.
Lira body trembling. She calmed down, tightened her fist.
"Yeah I'm okay... Let initiate the plan" Lira replied.
Koya noded.
Julius walking in the dust, head turning.
"Hey ladies... Are you alright?... Hope the answer is no..."
Dust covered everywhere, he could barely see what's beside him.
From the side koya flew towards him, Lira vines supporting her.
Slams IKUA's arm on Julius, Julie force field blocked the attack, sparks flied from the impact.
"Obviously... The force field is always on him.." koya thought.
Julius sends a projectile at her. Lira vines pulled her back into the dust.
"Advantage... He can't attack when the force field is up" she thought.
Lands, looked at Lira, both noded, dive back into the dust.
Julius wondering around.
"Hiding won't save you ladies"
Koya appeared in front of him.
"Who said we were hiding..."
Swings IKUA's arm at him, force field blocks.
Julius smirks. Created a projectile.
"Are you just stupid or what....!?"
Shot at koya---- Lira Vines pulled her away. For just a brief second, the force field dropped--- from behind, Lira attacked and it connects.
Julius stunned...
Koya landed, smirks.
Lira vines pushed her towards Julius again.
Lira Vines attacked, force field blocked, koya attacked as well, same result. Both kept pressing---- Ikua's arm kept slamming the force field---- Lira vines kept doing same.
Julie can't attack in anyway and Julius can't win the fight for them by just standing around. So he created dozens of projectile, shot all at once, flying towards all directions, giving them no chance to attack.
Lira pulled Koya away, vines pulled her into the dust. Rose walls shielding herself.
Julius shot projectiles at Lira moving vines, trying to take down koya.
Before the last projectile was fired and force field back up, Koya appeared behind him, takes a deep breath, grip tighten on Ikua's arm, swings with all her might. Julius turned got a glimpse of her, no time to create a projectile. Koya knocked him to the ground.
One clean strike and he was out cold.
Julie couldn't attack on her own so the match was called off.
Horn blew.
Winners.
"Koya and Lira!"
Crowd erupted in cheers. The nobles jaw dropped, surprised, a flowless low born defeated two of their own, first Kelly and now Julius...
Koya walked off the stage.
Anna gives her a big hug.
Excited and beyond happy.
The arena was still vibrating with cheers when the boards flashed the next pairing.
"Final match of Round Two: Ra'an & Jacob versus Henry & Bless!"
The crowd's roar deepened—anticipation thick enough to cut. Henry stepped forward first, iron glove sparking with every flex of his fingers. Bless followed—hands in his pockets, red hair catching the light, red eyes glowing faintly amid the chaos. He looked relaxed. Too relaxed.
Ra'an walked out with purpose. Jacob trailed behind, chains already coiling around his fists like living serpents.
Ra'an's eyes locked on both opponents. No smirk. No taunt. Just focus.
The horn blew.
Begin.
Ra'an stepped once. Light energy—visible only to him—flared across the ground in a dozen glowing circles around Henry and Bless. He vanished.
Bless moved faster.
He slit his wrist with a small knife—blood dripped. He slammed his palm to the dirt.
A hex circle erupted beneath Ra'an—glowing crimson, formed from the falling blood. Ra'an reappeared mid-teleport—floating above the circle, body rigid, unable to move.
Bless smirked. "That was close."
Henry charged—iron glove cocked. Jacob's chains lashed out, wrapped Ra'an's legs, yanked him down. Ra'an hit the ground hard, panting.
"I wasn't fast enough," he thought.
Bless is the first and only blood-flow user in the academy—one of the rare few who are both attack and support flow users. His blood can form weapons, traps, poisons. Ranked number 10, not because he lacked power, but because control had always eluded him. Until now.
A spear coalesced from the blood on his arm—long, sharp, dripping. He and Henry rushed forward together.
Bless swung at Ra'an. Ra'an teleported—gone. Jacob couldn't dodge in time. Henry's iron fist connected—clean, heavy—pushed Jacob back several steps.
"I take Ra'an," Bless said. "You Jacob."
Henry nodded.
Ra'an reappeared—stepped again. More circles flared. None close to Bless. His blood traps surrounded him like an invisible cage—any circle Ra'an tried to form near him crumbled before it could solidify.
Bless charged—spear thrusting. Ra'an teleported, dodged. Creates more circle none could reach. Bless kept attacking, swinging his staff where ever Ra'an appeared, none connected Ra'an was to fast. None could attack, teleportation to fast, blood shield impenetrable.
Both stoped, looking at each other, breathing heavily.
"Oh dorm buddy your magic circles won't give you an edge in this fight" Bless said with a calm focus look on his face.
"The only one who knows how my flow truly work, of course he uses it against me" Ra'an thought
Bless charged forward.
Ra'an stared at his item
"No... Not the time to use it.."
Bless swing.... Ra'an disappeared. Bless spun—fist swinging, blood pouring from his wrist. Ra'an appeared again—too close. A single drop of blood splashed Ra'an's cheek.
Bless smiled—calm, almost gentle. He tightened his fist.
Thud.
Ra'an's heart stuttered. A sudden, massive pressure crashed through his body—like every vein had turned to fire. He dropped to his knees. A scream tore from his throat—raw, agonized, like something was eating him from the inside.
"Blood poisoning," Bless said quietly. "Anyone my blood touches feels what you're feeling right now. Unbearable pain. It's over, dorm buddy."
The crowd went silent—stunned, frightened. Ra'an's scream was the only sound in the arena.
His body went numb. Vision blurred. He looked up—saw his father in the family section. The look on his face: total disappointment.
Jacob was losing ground against Henry—iron punches cracking chains. Bless raised his spear again.
Everything slowed in Ra'an's eyes.
Then echoes.
"How is this possible!… You're a total disappointment… I would've hanged myself in shame if I didn't have your brother, and you're my only son."
His father's voice—cold, repeating, looping.
"Why can't I just be the best and make him smile my way?" Ra'an thought. "Why must I be reminded of how great my brother is… No more… I'll and must surpass him."
"Seconds from now, Ra'an," Bless said. "It's over."
Ra'an's body started glowing—staggering light. He forced himself to his feet.
Bless's eyes widened. "Impossible."
The glow brightened. Bless's poison cracked—shattered like glass. Ra'an's voice was low, trembling with determination and anger.
"I must be number one."
In a blink, he was in front of Bless—energy exploding outward, shattering every invisible trap in a ring around them. Bless couldn't raise a finger.
Ra'an's fist tightened. Punched—all his might. The blow cracked Bless's jaw, sent him flying backward into the barrier wall.
Ra'an turned—yellow glowing aura pouring from his body. He appeared in front of Henry—no hesitation. One punch. Henry dropped—knocked out cold.
The crowd detonated—cheers so loud the arena shook.
Ra'an stood breathing heavily. The aura faded. He looked down at his hands—still trembling.
His father stared from the stands—stunned.
The horn sounded.
"Winners: Ra'an & Jacob!"
The Golden Guardian rose from her seat. The noise began to settle.
"Round Two concludes," she said. "Rest. Reflect. The next stage approaches."
People began to file out—excited, chattering, already arguing over who would win it all.
In the competitors' stand, Cal leaned against the railing, arms crossed.
"Okay… Ra'an just entered a whole new level of scary," he said with a calm smile.
Koya looked at him—studied his face for a moment.
"You seem okay," she said. "You okay, right?"
Cal shrugged. "Yeah. The defeat hurt a little. But Ben was a really tough opponent. It made me realize I need to put in more effort. Become stronger."
Anna snorted. "Are you saying you're going to be serious for once in your life?"
Cal shot her an annoyed look. Koya laughed—quiet, calm.
From behind, a familiar voice.
"Koya."
They turned.
Immira stood there—smiling softly, eyes warm.
Koya's face lit up. Happiness flooded her. She, Anna, and Cal rushed forward—big group hug.
"You made it!" Koya said, voice thick with excitement.
"Of course I did," Immira replied, calm and homely. "Was here yesterday, but an urgent matter came up and I left before seeing you guys."
Koya hugged her tighter.
"Enough… don't kill an old lady with too much affection."
They all laughed.
Immira cupped Koya's face gently.
"So happy to see how much you've grown. Stronger than ever. I'm more than proud of you… including you two."
Cal and Anna smiled—happy, warm.
Later.
The rest room beneath the arena was quiet—dim lamps casting long shadows across stone walls, benches worn smooth from years of use, the faint smell of sweat and healing herbs lingering in the air. Mirrors lined one wall, reflecting empty space.
Ra'an stood alone in front of one.
His body still trembled—small, involuntary shakes. Breathing heavy. Sweat slicked his hair. His reflection stared back—jaw clenched, eyes burning.
"Stop it, Ra'an," he muttered to himself. "This is nothing."
He looked harder at the mirror.
"I'll have to surpass even this. Become stronger."
To be continued...