Rovric drew his sword back.
The fla around the blade tightened, shrinking closer to the edge.
The heat didn’t spread wildly anymore. It beca focused. Heavy.
He took a slow breath.
"Now," Rovric said, eyes locked on his opponent, "take this."
He shifted his stance, one foot forward, shoulders squared.
"[Blazing Sever]."
Rovric swung.
The fla sword cut through the air in a wide arc, and a crescent of compressed fire peeled off from the blade.
It didn’t scatter or roar. It stayed tight, sharp, and spinning as it flew straight toward the Solmira mber.
The air rippled slightly as it passed.
The Solmira mber’s eyes widened.
"What..."
He felt it imdiately.
The pressure.
His instincts scread.
He slamd his feet into the ground and raised both arms.
"[Light Barrier]!" he shouted again.
Layers of light stacked in front of him, glowing brighter as sunlight poured down to reinforce it.
The barrier humd, vibrating as it pushed back against the incoming slash.
The crescent of fire struck.
For a brief mont, the barrier held.
Cracks spread across its surface.
"No!" the Solmira mber gritted his teeth, forcing more mana into it. "Hold!"
The crescent kept pushing.
The first layer shattered.
Then the second.
The Solmira mber coughed as the impact slamd into him, his arms shaking violently.
"Damn it...!"
The final layer broke.
The fla crescent tore through, smashing into his chest and sending him flying backward.
His body rolled across the arena floor before stopping near the edge, smoke rising faintly from his robes.
The crescent dissipated the instant it passed him.
Silence fell over the arena.
Rovric lowered his sword.
The fla vanished, leaving only the tal blade in his hand. He exhaled slowly and rolled his shoulder once.
"That’s it," he said calmly.
The Solmira mber lay on the ground, coughing, chest rising unevenly.
He tried to push himself up, but his arms failed him.
Sorien stepped forward imdiately.
"That’s enough," he said, raising a hand. "This match is over."
A murmur spread through the stands.
"He broke through [Light Barrier]..."
On the God Gym side, the reactions were instant.
Rynor laughed. "Hell yeah!"
Rynar nodded once. "Clean hit."
Dahlia crossed her arms, smiling proudly. "Nice finish."
Garion watched Rovric closely, then gave a short nod.
"Good," he said. "Very good."
Rovric turned and walked back toward his side, sword resting on his shoulder.
As he passed the twins, he smirked. "One down."
Rynor grinned back. "Don’t get cocky."
Across the arena, Sindral stared at the scorched floor in silence.
He didn’t blink.
The heat marks were already fading, but the image stayed burned into his mind.
Around him, the other Solmira mbers were quieter than before.
So clenched their fists. Others avoided looking at the arena altogether.
They all understood the sa thing.
The fighter who had just been defeated wasn’t weak.
He was about the sa level as the rest of them.
That realization sat heavy in the air.
Sindral exhaled slowly and stepped toward Sorien.
"Sir Sorien," he said, lowering his voice, "it seems I underestimated them... far too much."
Sorien didn’t look surprised.
"I told you," he replied calmly.
Sindral frowned, frustration clear on his face.
"If we continue like this," Sindral said, "the rest of our mbers will lose as well."
He hesitated, then straightened.
"I want to step in," he said firmly. "Just once."
Sorien glanced at him. "You’re certain?"
Sindral nodded. "Yes."
He clenched his fists. "Please. Tell him."
Sorien studied Sindral for a mont longer, then nodded.
"Very well."
He turned and raised his voice toward the opposite side of the arena.
"Sir Garion," Sorien called out, "may I speak with you for a mont?"
Garion looked up from his disciples and nodded. "Sure."
He walked forward without hesitation.
The two t at the center of the arena, sunlight falling evenly between them.
Sorien didn’t waste ti.
"It’s like this," he said. "The remaining mbers I brought are roughly the sa level as the one you just defeated."
Garion listened quietly.
"If we continue with standard matches," Sorien continued, "the outco is already clear."
He paused, then spoke plainly.
"So to end this more efficiently, I’d like to propose a change."
Garion raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
"One final match," Sorien said. "One on one."
He t Garion’s eyes.
"My strongest mber now... against your strongest."
A murmur rippled through both sides of the arena.
On the God Gym side, heads turned imdiately.
Garion didn’t answer right away.
Then he smiled.
"Sure," he said easily. "The faster it’s done, the better."
Sorien nodded. "Good."
They stepped back to their respective sides.
Sindral took a slow breath as Sorien returned.
"...Thank you," Sindral said quietly.
Sorien replied calmly, "Don’t lose."
Across the arena, Garion turned to his disciples.
"Well," he said, "you heard that."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Eyes sharpened. Backs straightened. The playful mood from earlier vanished.
Valtor stepped forward first, a wide grin on his face.
"I’m the strongest," he said confidently. "So I go."
Seira imdiately frowned.
"And who decided that?" she asked coldly. "Move. I’ll go."
Rynar took a step forward as well. "Let handle it."
Clara clicked her tongue and leaned sideways, arms crossed.
"Rynar," she said, shaking her head, "without your twin, you’re not as strong."
Rynar shot her a glare. "What did you say?"
Clara shrugged. "You’re a dual fighter. You shine when Rynor’s there."
Rynor frowned too. "Hey."
"That’s just facts," Clara replied cheerfully.
Rynar and Rynor both scowled.
Valtor laughed loudly. "Hahaha! Looks like everyone wants the spotlight."
Seira ignored them all, her gaze fixed on the Solmira side. "...Stop wasting ti."
Garion raised one hand.
"Enough," he said.
The voices stopped imdiately.
He looked over them one by one. Valtor’s confidence. Seira’s cold focus. Rynar’s burning pride. Clara’s sharp judgnt.
Then his eyes settled on one person.
"Dahlia," Garion said. "You go."
The group froze.
Valtor blinked. "Eh?"
Seira narrowed her eyes slightly but didn’t object.
Rynar clenched his fists.
Dahlia herself paused, surprised.
Garion continued calmly, "He’s been watching you."
Dahlia followed his gaze.
Across the arena, Sindral’s eyes were locked onto her.
He hadn’t looked away once.
"...It seems," Garion added, "he’s been waiting for you."
Dahlia smiled slowly.
"So that’s how it is," she said.
She stepped forward, rolling her shoulders once, her movents relaxed but confident.
"Okay then," Dahlia said. "I’ll take it."
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