The arena rose from the earth like judgment itself.
Stone platforms lifted into the air.
Massive rings hovered overhead.
Barriers of Astral Energy sealed the space, trapping every student inside.
"Phase Two… Combat Trials."
Names ignited across the sky.
"One-on-one."
"No interference."
"Win… or fall."
Trey cracked his neck.
"…Man, this school don't believe in easing people in, huh?"
⚔️ Match 1: Roach vs Darius Stone (Capricorn)
Roach stepped forward, dragging his feet.
Across from him stood a giant.
Darius Stone.
A Capricorn.
His gravity war-hammer scraped the ground, each movement making the arena tremble.
"…You look small," Darius said.
Roach shrugged.
"…You look like you skip leg day and let gravity do it for you."
GO.
💥
The hammer slammed down—
Gravity crushed the arena.
Roach dropped instantly—
Face-first into stone—
Bones creaking.
Muscles shaking violently.
"…Yo—this is illegal—"
Darius walked forward slowly.
Each step heavier than the last.
Roach tried to stand—
CRACK
His arm bent wrong.
"…Aight… we hurting now…"
Darius swung again—
Roach rolled—
Barely—
The impact shattered the ground—
Fragments tore into his back—
Blood spread.
Roach spat.
"…Okay… bet."
🌿
His gauntlet expanded—
Stone climbing his arm—
Muscles locking—
He forced himself up—
Against crushing gravity—
"…I ain't built like y'all…"
He roared—
Charged—
Darius increased pressure—
Roach's legs buckled—
But he didn't stop.
"…but I don't quit!"
He slammed into Darius—
Both hit the ground—
Roach mounted him—
And started slamming his head down—
Once—
Blood.
Twice—
Crack.
Three times—
Teeth shattered.
Roach grabbed the hammer—
And drove it into Darius's chest—
BOOM
Silence.
Darius didn't move.
Roach stood—
Arm hanging limp.
Back bleeding.
"…Yeah… I need a nap."
❄️ Match 2: Mia vs Kael Strix (Sagittarius)
Mia stepped forward.
Calm.
Still.
Across from her—
Kael Strix.
A Sagittarius.
His astral longbow burned with light.
Trey leaned forward slightly.
"…Don't lose."
Mia didn't answer.
But she heard him.
GO.
⚡⚡⚡
Arrows fired instantly—
Mia moved—
Barely—
One sliced her cheek—
Another pierced her shoulder—
Blood dripped.
She didn't flinch.
Kael smirked.
"…Too slow."
More arrows—
Faster—
Mia spun—
Ice forming—
Shattering—
An arrow struck her side—
She staggered—
Trey clenched his jaw.
"…Move…"
Mia exhaled.
The temperature dropped.
Frost spread across the arena.
Kael slowed.
That moment—
Was enough.
Mia surged forward—
❄️🌊
Water erupted—
Freezing instantly—
She slammed into him—
Trident striking—
Ice exploded—
Kael flew—
Crashing into the barrier—
Spitting blood.
Tried to stand—
Failed.
Mia turned away.
Trey exhaled.
"…Yeah… she cold."
Pause.
"…In both ways."
She glanced at him.
Just briefly.
Then looked away.
🪞 Match 3: Momo & Koko vs Ren & Riku Vale
The twins dropped in.
Smiling.
Across from them—
Ren Vale.
Riku Vale.
Gemini.
Twin blades ready.
"Let's see if you can keep up," Ren said.
Momo laughed.
"…You're already behind."
GO.
Clones filled the arena.
Illusions layered over reality.
But the twins didn't hesitate.
Mirror-blades flashed—
Cutting through copies instantly.
Ren broke through—
Slashed Momo across the ribs—
Blood sprayed.
She paused.
Then smiled wider.
"…That hurt."
Koko's expression dropped.
Cold.
They moved together—
Perfect.
Riku attacked—
Koko blocked—
Momo slipped behind—
Slash—
Deep across his back—
He screamed—
Collapsed.
Ren panicked—
Attacked wildly—
Too slow.
Both twins struck—
Blades crossing—
Blood burst from his chest—
He dropped.
Silence.
"…We like this place," Momo said.
"…Yeah," Koko added.
"…It's fun."
🦂 Match 4: Smoke Virex vs Alric Voss (Leo)
Smoke stepped forward.
Chain dragging.
Across from him—
Alric Voss.
A Leo.
His sunblade burned with blinding heat.
"…You look like trash," Alric said.
Smoke smirked.
"…You talk too much."
GO.
🔥
Alric exploded forward—
Blade blazing—
Smoke dodged—
Chain snapping—
Wrapped Alric's arm—
Poison surged—
Alric burned it away—
"…Pathetic."
He attacked again—
Faster—
Blade carved across Smoke's chest—
Blood spilled.
Smoke smiled.
"…Good."
The chain snapped again—
Wrapped Alric's leg—
YANK—
He dropped—
Smoke leapt—
Drove the sickle down—
Alric rolled—
Countered—
🔥🔥
Explosion—
Smoke was thrown back—
Burned—
Bleeding—
Silence.
Then—
He stood.
"…Now it's fun."
The chain darkened.
He rushed—
Relentless—
Wrapped Alric completely—
Poison flooded—
Alric screamed—
Burning it—
But not fast enough—
Smoke stepped in—
And drove the blade into his shoulder—
Blood burst.
Alric collapsed.
🔥 Final Match: Trey vs Lucien Vale (Libra)
Trey stepped forward.
"…Guess it's my turn."
Across from him—
Lucien Vale.
A Libra.
His floating astral scales shimmered with controlled energy.
"…You disrupt balance," Lucien said.
Trey blinked.
"…Man, I just got here."
GO.
⚖️
The air distorted—
Trey moved—
SLAM
He hit the ground instantly.
"…What—?!"
Pressure.
Precise.
Crushing.
"I redistribute force," Lucien said calmly.
Trey tried to stand—
Failed—
Blood ran from his nose.
He got thrown—
Slammed into a pillar—
Stone shattered—
Blood spilled.
Mia stepped forward slightly.
"…Get up…"
Trey laughed.
Low.
"…Nah…"
🔥
Fire ignited—
Exploded—
He stood.
"…I don't get your power…"
He rolled his shoulders.
"…but I don't need to."
He rushed.
Pressure hit—
He forced through it—
Skin tearing—
Muscles straining—
But he kept going.
Lucien's eyes widened.
"…Impossible—"
Trey broke through—
Grabbed him—
Slammed him down—
BOOM
Then—
Punch.
Another.
Final.
Lucien went limp.
Silence filled the arena.
Trey stood—
Bruised.
Bleeding.
"…Yeah… I'm tired."
Mia stared at him.
Longer this time.
He noticed.
"…What?"
She looked away.
"…Nothing."
The instructor stepped forward.
"…Phase Two complete."
His eyes locked onto Trey.
"…You're not normal."
Silence.
Trey shrugged.
"…I've been told that."
Above—
A voice whispered.
"…The forbidden one…"
"…has begun."