The academy training room echoed with the soft hum of flowing energy.
Anna twirled her staff once before tapping it against the stone floor. Glowing blue orbs of water rose around her, hovering like obedient spirits.
Koya stood opposite, gripping Ikua's arm tightly. Her stance was low, back arched, every muscle coiled like a spring ready to snap.
Anna exhaled slowly, centering herself.
"Go!"
Koya exploded forward in a blur. Anna flicked her wrist—three water balls shot out in rapid succession. Koya dodged left, then right, spun low, and closed the distance in an instant. Without hesitation, she swung Ikua's arm in a devastating arc.
A wall of water surged up, blocking the strike with a thunderous crash. Koya didn't stop. She attacked from a new angle—left, right, forward—repeating the pattern with relentless speed. Each blow met another rising water wall, the impacts sending ripples through the air.
Koya lunged again. Anna slipped aside at the last second, dropped low, and swept her staff sideways. A pressurized wave of water slammed into Koya's side, hurling her to the ground.
Koya lay there for a moment… then burst out laughing.
"You always make all my training look useless," she said, sitting up with a grin.
Anna settled beside her, a small smile on her lips. "Quite the opposite, if you ask me."
Koya tilted her head, confused.
"After giving my all, Ikua's arm didn't even react a little," Anna continued quietly. "I'm not even a threat."
Koya stared at her, then perfectly mimicked Anna's calm tone. "After giving my all… we both know you barely used ten percent of your power."
Anna fell speechless for a couple of seconds. Then she stood up, brushing off her uniform. "Let me go get us something to drink."
She walked toward the side exit, shaking her head with a quiet laugh.
From the opposite entrance, a figure slipped in. A thick scarf covered most of her face, and she moved like someone trying to avoid being noticed—shoulders hunched, steps quick and silent. The moment she spotted Koya, she froze.
Koya noticed her immediately and stood, offering a calm, friendly smile. "Oh, hey Lira."
"Hey, Koya…" Lira's voice came out steady but shaky. "Sorry, I thought no one was here. I'll just go."
"Why leave?" Koya asked, walking over. "You're clearly here to train. Besides, you're my Flow Bound partner. It's actually perfect timing—we can train together."
Lira's body stiffened. She gripped her scarf tighter, head bowing slightly. "Umm… Koya, there's something I want to ask you."
"I'm listening."
Lira hesitated, then forced the words out. "Have I… held you back at all in the Flow Bound? I'm only asking because that's what I've done my whole life—holding people back." She bowed deeply. "Sorry for holding you back."
Koya blinked, concern flickering across her face. "Okay, let me answer that first. The answer is no. You haven't held me back at all. In fact, you're the reason we've made it this far."
Lira lifted her head slowly, tension easing from her shoulders. She didn't speak—just stared, a fragile calm settling over her.
Koya's voice stayed gentle. "What did you mean by 'holding people back all your life'?"
Lira's fingers twisted into the fabric of her dress. "I'm the third daughter of the Rinna family… and the weakest one. Even my two younger siblings are stronger Flow users than me." Her voice cracked slightly. "My siblings always make fun of me. My parents never stop them. They call me names, make me feel useless… irrelevant."
Tears welled in her eyes. She wiped them away quickly.
"Sorry, I overshared. I'll leave—"
"No, wait." Koya cut in softly. "I know exactly how that feels. Being looked down on because you're weaker—or in my case, because you have no power at all." She let out a calm laugh. "The best thing people like us can do is push past our limits and prove every hater wrong."
A gentle breeze swept through the training room, carrying away the heavy air of worry and sadness.
Lira looked at her steadily. "Koya… your item. Is it really Ikua's arm? I saw how it gave you that boost against Kelly."
"It's not the real thing," Koya answered, a hint of nervousness slipping into her tone. "The boost is temporary—it comes with the weapon. The Spirit Elder gave it a special blessing just for me, to help with my… flowlessness."
Lira nodded. "Okay. Sorry for asking. I was just curious."
"No big deal." Koya smiled, thinking to herself, Thank you, Golden Guardian, for that excuse.
Just then, Anna returned, carrying three chilled drinks. "Sorry I took so long. Ran into Gilbert, and he was being Gilbert."
She noticed Lira and brightened. "Oh, Lira! Guess the three of us are training together today."
Lira paused for a heartbeat, then offered a calm smile. "Yeah… that's our best option."
The Next Day – Golden Arena
The massive Golden Arena buzzed with life. Thousands of spectators—nobles in their private boxes and low born packed into the stands—filled the air with excitement and anticipation.
Inside, the four Elders sat in their elevated seats. The top six academy students had their own section. Those eliminated in earlier rounds watched from another. And in a reserved area, the six remaining contenders waited, tension crackling around them.
The Golden Guardian stepped onto the central stage. The entire arena shook with roaring cheers. She waited patiently until the noise died down, then raised a hand for silence.
"Welcome, people of the Golden Globe… to Flow Bound Round Three!"
The crowd erupted again.
She raised her hand once more, and quiet fell.
"Congratulations to everyone who has made it this far. And to those who fell in previous rounds—" The arena seemed to hold its breath. "—it doesn't mean you're weak or unworthy. It simply means you still have more to learn… and plenty of room to grow stronger."
The Golden Guardian smiled beneath her mask.
"They've said it. Now… let the Flow Bound Round Three begin!"
A massive board flashed to life above the stage.
First Match:
Meriosa & Harry vs. Melly & Nelly
The four contenders stepped onto the arena floor.
Meriosa walked forward with predatory confidence, claws already extended. Harry followed a step behind, head slightly lowered.
Melly and Nelly moved side by side, both radiating calm assurance.
Meriosa's eyes locked onto them like a hunter spotting prey. A faint smirk played on Melly's lips.
The horn blared.
Begin!
Meriosa vanished in a burst of speed.
Melly flicked a finger. Mid-air, right in front of him, Meriosa froze solid—encased in thick, glistening ice.
The entire crowd shot to their feet, stunned into silence before exploding into gasps and murmurs.
How is this possible…?
The ice cracked violently. Meriosa shattered free with a roar, landing lightly on her feet, claws gleaming under the arena lights.
"I knew I'd need more than that against you," Melly said, still smiling calmly.
Meriosa charged again, claws slashing in a furious storm. Melly dodged effortlessly, weaving between strikes with unnatural grace. Their movements blurred—too fast for most eyes to follow. Scratches and gouges appeared on the arena floor and walls as if by magic. The crowd could only catch flashes: silver claws slicing through the air, bursts of flame, the sharp crack of forming ice.
Meriosa pressed harder, her attacks growing wilder. She feinted left, then struck right with both claws. Melly slipped aside at the last moment and countered with a palm strike. A wave of freezing energy exploded outward. Meriosa twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the blast, but the cold still numbed her left arm.
"Not bad," she growled, shaking off the frost.
Melly didn't reply. Instead, he flicked his fingers again. Suddenly, Harry—who had been trying to circle around for support—froze solid where he stood, encased in a thick layer of ice before he could even react.
The entire arena jaw dropped.
"If you want to fight, then stop running and face me properly," Melly said, his voice calm and almost friendly.
Meriosa's lips curled into a snarl, grew furious. "Hmm in what way was I running!"
She launched herself forward at blinding speed, claws extended like deadly blades. Melly met her head-on. The arena floor trembled with every clash. Claw met fist in a series of explosive impacts that sent shockwaves rippling through the air. Sparks of ice and tiny embers flew wherever their powers collided.
The spectators were on the edge of their seats, hearts pounding. Even the Elders leaned forward, eyes narrowed in focus.
Meriosa's claw finally connected, raking across Melly's shoulder and drawing a thin line of blood. The crowd erupted in cheers.
"Impressive," Melly said, wiping the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand. His smirk never faded. "I guess it's time to stop holding back."
He stretched out his hands. Flames erupted from his fists and spread rapidly across his entire body, forming a blazing suit of fire armor that roared with intense heat. His eyes burned bright orange, flickering with raw power.
In a blink, he was gone.
He reappeared directly in front of Meriosa, moving at a speed that left afterimages in his wake. A huge grin split his face as he drove a flaming fist toward her chest.
Meriosa barely blocked it with crossed claws, the force pushing her back several steps. The heat singed her sleeves and made the air around them shimmer.
From the contenders' waiting area, Koya watched with wide eyes, her grip tightening on Ikua's arm.
A triple flow user… but how? First ice, then fire, and now speed. Melly… what are you?
Meriosa stared at the flaming figure before her with pure fury, claws raised and ready for the next clash.
To be continued…