The air above the academy training ground was heavy, electric.
Students, teachers, and nobles had gathered from every corner, whispering rumors and speculations.
Two geniuses were about to clash, and everyone knew this fight would echo through the academy for years.
Kaze stepped forward, his hammer glinting ominously in the sunlight.
His eyes burned with a cold precision, every movement sharp, controlled.
Ketlos didn't hesitate. He drew his 3rd-grade sword, the steel humming faintly, resonating with the aura of his Meridian Opening mid-stage cultivation.
His sisters—Mayra, Louisa, Elena—and even Lyra watched from the grandstands, faces tense, anticipation radiating from them.
This is it, Ketlos murmured to himself.
I accept your challenge. Let's see who's the stronger one.
The crowd murmured. Some shouted for Kaze.
Others for Ketlos.
In the back, Lilly, daughter of the academy leader, adjusted her seat, her eyes bright with excitement.
At the edge of the arena, two other figures observed silently:
Diyanma and Kairo. Kairo's golden eyes flickered in the shadows, a faint, evil smile tugging at his lips.
Just wait, he thought. Let the tournament run its course.
I'll make perfect use of both of them.
The moment the signal was given, Ketlos charged, sword blazing with a sharp, red glow.
Kaze raised his massive 3rd-grade hammer, and a deep vibration echoed as they clashed midair.
Slash met hammer with a deafening crash.
Kaze pushed Ketlos back, forcing him several meters away.
The crowd gasped at the shockwave that rolled across the arena.
But Ketlos wasn't done.
With fluid, predatory movement, he vanished from sight—reappearing behind Kaze.
He swung his sword, aiming for a lethal strike.
Kaze twisted and dodged, rolling forward, only to counter with a devastating technique: The Giant Hammer.
The hammer materialized, massive and dark, hovering in the air, swinging downward like the weight of the heavens.
Ketlos barely pulled back, eyes narrowing. He focused, channeling his energy into a single, brilliant slash.
The Beam Strike.
A blinding streak of light erupted from his sword, slicing through Kaze's hammer in midair.
The massive hammer shattered into fragments, scattering sparks and force that made the audience recoil in awe.
Even Kaze's cold eyes widened, unspoken admiration flickering in the corner of his expression.
Yet he did not yield.
Kaze gritted his teeth, gripping the remnants of his hammer.
His aura intensified, the ground beneath him trembling with his energy.
Ketlos, sensing the challenge, launched himself again, moving at incredible speed, faster than the eye could follow.
As Kaze swung to block, Ketlos vanished once more, appearing directly behind him, sword raised with precision.
The clash created an explosion of energy, forcing Kaze back several meters, dust swirling around him like a storm.
Interesting, Kaze muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing, assessing his opponent.
He countered instantly, swinging the hammer with a force meant to obliterate, yet Ketlos met it head-on.
Both unleashed the full extent of their cultivation, sending a massive shockwave roaring through the arena.
Dust, debris, and energy sparks filled the air so thickly that the audience could barely see the two silhouettes locked in combat.
The ground cracked, the air shimmered with power, and a low, almost primal roar echoed across the stands.
No one dared move closer.
Some shielded their eyes.
Even the teachers at the sidelines were tense, whispering in awe and concern.
These two were not merely fighting—they were reshaping the very atmosphere around them.
Ketlos' sword glowed bright red.
Kaze's hammer pulsed with a deep, dark energy.
Their attacks collided again, and again, each strike shaking the air, each move more furious than the last.
The crowd could only watch, hearts pounding, as Meridian Opening mid-stage cultivators displayed combat the likes of which had rarely been seen.
The arena was filled with dust, shockwaves, and power surging so violently that it felt like the sky itself trembled.
Two geniuses—one relentless, one unyielding—had become a storm of destruction, leaving everyone to wonder: Who will emerge victorious?
And in the shadows, Kairo watched. Smiling faintly, golden eyes glinting.
Perfect. he thought. Let them finish. I'll harvest the aftermath.