Theo's POV
The arena felt heavier now.
My shoulder throbbed with every movement, and the cut along my side burned whenever I breathed too deeply. A small trail of blood stained my uniform.
But I was still standing.
Across the arena, Lucian Draeven watched me calmly.
Lightning crackled faintly around his arms.
"You're tougher than I expected," he said.
I didn't respond.
Instead, I focused on controlling my breathing.
Water gathered slowly around my hands again, thin streams forming in the air.
Lucian tilted his head slightly.
"Still planning to fight?"
"Of course," I said.
He smiled faintly.
"Good."
The lightning around him suddenly intensified.
The sparks became brighter… louder… more violent.
Students outside the arena began whispering nervously.
"…Wait."
"Is he going to use it?"
Lucian rolled his shoulders once.
Electricity crawled across his arms like living energy.
"I didn't think I'd need this in an evaluation match," he admitted.
"But you surprised me."
The air around him trembled.
Then lightning exploded around his body.
CRACK
The arena lit up with blinding light.
Mana surged outward in violent waves.
Even the barrier around the arena flickered.
Lucian's golden eyes glowed faintly as electricity coursed across his entire body.
"Storm Overdrive."
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"That's his trump card!"
"He's using it already?"
Professor Drayke watched silently from the sidelines.
0
Lucian looked at me again.
"Let's finish this."
Then he disappeared.
Too fast.
My eyes struggled to follow him.
I barely managed to pull water around my body just as Lucian appeared beside me.
His lightning-covered kick slammed into my defense.
BOOM
The water shield shattered instantly.
The impact launched me across the arena.
My body slammed into the stone floor.
Pain exploded through my ribs.
For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
Get up.
I forced myself to stand again.
My legs trembled slightly.
Across the arena, Lucian stood calmly, lightning roaring around him like a storm.
He looked surprised.
0
"You're still standing?"
I wiped blood from my lip.
Water gathered weakly around my hands again.
"I'm not done."
Lucian sighed softly.
"You're really stubborn."
Then he moved again.
Lightning streaked across the arena like a bolt falling from the sky.
I compressed every drop of water I had left.
Spinning.
Pressurizing.
Condensing.
Lucian rushed forward.
At the last moment—
I fired.
A compressed stream of water shot toward him like a spear.
Lucian dodged slightly.
But this time—
It was faster.
The water struck his shoulder.
CRACK
Lucian slid backward several steps.
The arena froze.
A small tear appeared in his uniform.
For a brief moment…
Silence filled the training grounds.
Students stared in shock.
"…He hit Lucian again."
"Is this guy serious?"
Lucian slowly looked down at the damage.
Then he looked back at me.
For the first time since the duel began—
His expression changed.
Not amused.
Not relaxed.
Focused.
"You're dangerous."
Lightning exploded around him again.
Before I could react—
He was already in front of me.
His fist struck my chest.
BOOM
Everything went white.
Pain tore through my body as the impact sent me flying backward.
I crashed against the arena floor.
My vision blurred.
I tried to move.
But my body refused.
Footsteps approached.
Lucian stood over me, lightning slowly fading from his body.
The instructor's voice echoed through the arena.
"Match over."
"…Winner. Lucian Draeven."
The barrier slowly lowered.
The crowd remained silent.
Lucian looked down at me for a moment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"You almost had me."
He turned and walked away.
Around the arena, whispers slowly began spreading.
"…Did you see that?"
"The Class D student almost beat Lucian."
"Who is that guy?"
My vision faded as the voices blurred together.
The last thing I saw before everything went dark…
Was Professor Drayke watching me carefully.
As if he had just discovered something important.