Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Crystal Collapse
The arena trembled.
Not from the earlier destruction of the crystal fortress, and not from the roar of the audience that still echoed around the academy stadium.
This ti, the tremor ca directly from the battlefield itself.
The Crystal Bastion Turtle was changing.
Aether noticed it imdiately.
The glowing patterns on the turtle’s shell were no longer shifting defensively as before. Instead, they were stabilizing into a dense network of crystal veins spreading across its entire body.
Kellan had activated sothing different.
Sothing risky.
High above the arena, several instructors leaned forward.
One of them muttered quietly,
"He’s pushing the turtle into Overdrive."
Another instructor frowned.
"That’s dangerous for a training duel."
But none of them stopped the match.
Because this was the Advanced Academy Arena, where the strongest students tested their limits.
And right now, everyone understood that the duel between Aether and Kellan had already surpassed a normal student match.
---
On the battlefield, Aether narrowed his eyes slightly.
The air felt heavier now.
The turtle’s energy had beco denser — almost suffocating.
Even the Fire Pup felt it.
Its flas flickered slightly as it landed beside Aether.
Aether placed a hand gently on its head.
"Stay focused," he said calmly.
The small beast nodded in response, its flas stabilizing again.
Across the arena, Kellan spoke.
"You forced
further than I expected."
His voice was steady, but there was intensity behind it now.
"This ends here."
The Crystal Bastion Turtle slamd both of its front limbs into the ground.
CRACK.
The arena floor fractured as crystal energy surged outward.
But this ti it didn’t form a fortress.
Instead—
It ford a massive crystalline armor layer around the turtle itself.
Students gasped.
"He turned the fortress into armor!"
"That’s insane defense!"
Liora watched carefully, her expression serious now.
"This is his strongest form."
---
Aether understood imdiately.
The battlefield control phase was over.
The turtle had converted its remaining energy into a final defensive state.
aning the next few minutes would decide everything.
He spoke quietly.
"New strategy."
The Fire Pup looked up.
"Pressure and misdirection."
The flas around the small beast deepened again.
---
Kellan made the first move.
"Crystal Ram."
The massive turtle charged forward with terrifying speed for a creature its size.
The ground cracked beneath it as it moved.
Students in the stands shouted in shock.
"That thing is faster now!"
Aether remained calm.
"Split movent."
The Fire Pup darted sideways at the last mont, narrowly avoiding the charge.
But the turtle didn’t stop.
It turned instantly.
Which ant sothing important.
Its mobility had improved along with its defense.
Aether realized it imdiately.
"So the armor enhances movent too."
---
The turtle attacked again.
This ti with a sweeping strike of crystal energy that tore across the arena floor.
Aether responded instantly.
"Fla Veil."
The Fire Pup released a wave of fire that collided with the attack mid-air.
The explosion sent heat and crystal fragnts scattering across the battlefield.
The audience erupted.
The fight had entered a completely different level of intensity.
---
But Aether was not just defending.
He was watching.
Analyzing.
Because he knew sothing.
Every power had a cost.
And Overdrive abilities usually had a limit.
The question was:
How long could Kellan maintain it?
---
Aether tested the defense again.
"Spiral strike."
The Fire Pup rushed forward, flas forming sharp arcs around its body as it launched several rapid attacks against the turtle’s armor.
Each impact produced a loud tallic sound.
The armor held.
But Aether noticed sothing.
Tiny fractures.
Small.
Barely visible.
But they were there.
---
Kellan noticed it too.
His eyes sharpened.
"You’re persistent."
Aether nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Because persistence was exactly what this battle required.
---
The turtle roared and unleashed a powerful crystal shockwave again.
But this ti, Aether didn’t retreat.
Instead—
He advanced.
The Fire Pup ran directly through the edge of the shockwave, flas protecting it just enough to survive the attack.
Students stood up from their seats.
"He’s pushing forward!"
"Is he crazy?!"
But Aether had calculated the distance carefully.
He knew exactly how much heat the Fire Pup could endure.
---
Then the real clash began.
The Fire Pup and the Crystal Bastion Turtle collided head-on.
Fla and crystal exploded across the battlefield.
For a mont, the entire arena was filled with light.
---
High above the arena, the academy observers were discussing rapidly now.
"That boy’s combat instincts are unbelievable."
"And his control over the Fire Pup..."
"Exceptional."
Another observer added sothing more concerning.
"If he continues growing like this, the lower-world factions will start fighting to recruit him."
---
Back on the battlefield, the clash continued.
The turtle’s armor was still holding.
But now cracks were slowly appearing.
Aether noticed it clearly.
But so did Kellan.
Which ant the next move would be critical.
---
Kellan raised his hand sharply.
"Crystal Collapse."
The turtle’s armor began glowing intensely.
Aether imdiately realized the danger.
"He’s going to detonate the armor."
"Retreat!"
The Fire Pup jumped back just as the turtle released a massive burst of crystal energy in every direction.
The explosion shook the arena.
Several students covered their eyes from the brightness.
When the light faded...
The battlefield had changed again.
The turtle’s armor was gone.
But the creature itself looked even more dangerous now.
Because all that energy had been released at once.
---
Kellan exhaled slowly.
"That was my limit."
Aether understood what that ant.
The battle had reached its final stage.
Both sides had used their strongest abilities.
Now it would co down to skill.
And endurance.
---
The Fire Pup’s flas burned steadily.
Not explosive.
But focused.
Aether spoke quietly.
"Final exchange."
Kellan nodded.
"Agreed."
---
The next mont—
Both beasts moved at the sa ti.
The Fire Pup’s flas spiraled forward like a blazing cot.
The Crystal Bastion Turtle charged with imnse force.
The two attacks collided in the center of the arena.
A massive shockwave spread across the battlefield.
Students held their breath.
The outco would be decided in this mont.
---
Then—
The dust began to settle.
And slowly...
The Fire Pup was still standing.
While the Crystal Bastion Turtle had finally stopped moving.
---
For a few seconds, the entire arena was silent.
Then the instructor overseeing the match stepped forward.
"The winner of this duel..."
"Aether."
The stadium erupted.
---
But for Aether, the fight wasn’t the most important result.
Because as he looked around the arena...
He noticed sothing else.
Several powerful figures from major factions were watching him closely.
And their expressions made one thing clear.
This battle had just changed his position inside the academy.
And possibly...
Across the entire lower world.
---
anwhile, Kellan stood up slowly and walked toward Aether.
There was no anger in his eyes.
Only respect.
"You were stronger."
Aether shook his head slightly.
"We both improved."
Kellan smiled faintly.
"Next ti, I won’t lose."
Aether nodded.
"I’ll be ready."
---
But neither of them realized sothing important.
This duel had already attracted the attention of dangerous factions beyond the academy.
Groups that did not simply recruit talented students.
Groups that tried to control them.
And very soon...
Aether would face enemies far more dangerous than academy rivals.
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