Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Challenger from the Top Ten
Morning arrived earlier than most students expected.
The excitent from the previous day’s battle between Aether and Kael had spread across the entire academy overnight. By the ti the sun rose above the tall towers of Skygate Academy, rumors had already reached every training hall, dormitory corridor, and practice field.
So students believed Aether would soon enter the Top Ten Rankings.
Others thought his victory had only been possible because of the battlefield advantage.
And a few were waiting patiently to see him fall.
But inside the academy’s main training grounds, none of those rumors mattered.
Because the next challenge had already begun to take shape.
---
Aether arrived at the central courtyard early, as he usually did.
The Fire Pup walked beside him, flas small and steady.
Unlike many other students who relied on bursts of energy and excitent, Aether preferred calm mornings.
Observation.
Preparation.
Understanding the rhythm of the academy.
But today felt different.
Because as soon as he entered the courtyard, he noticed sothing unusual.
Students were already gathered.
Watching.
Waiting.
Liora, who had arrived a few minutes earlier, noticed it too.
"Well," she said with a small smile, "looks like the academy is expecting sothing."
Aether glanced around.
"Yes."
The Fire Pup tilted its head curiously.
Then—
A voice spoke from the center of the courtyard.
"I was wondering when you’d arrive."
The crowd shifted slightly as a tall student stepped forward.
He had a calm expression and confident posture, and unlike many others in the academy, he didn’t appear arrogant.
He looked... certain.
Liora’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"That’s..."
She didn’t need to finish.
Aether had already noticed the insignia on his uniform.
Top Ten Ranking.
---
The student stopped several steps away from Aether.
"My na is Valen."
Aether nodded politely.
"Aether."
Valen glanced briefly at the Fire Pup.
"So the rumors were true."
The small beast’s flas flickered proudly.
Valen smiled faintly.
"I watched your battle yesterday."
Aether didn’t respond imdiately.
Instead, he asked a simple question.
"Did you learn anything from it?"
Several students nearby reacted with surprise.
Most people would have been nervous speaking like that to soone ranked in the Top Ten.
But Aether’s tone remained calm.
Valen’s smile widened slightly.
"Yes."
He paused for a mont.
"Enough to know I want to test sothing."
---
Instructor Dren suddenly appeared near the edge of the courtyard.
He had clearly expected this.
The other instructors gathered behind him.
Dren spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
"Well then."
"It seems we have our next ranking challenge."
Students imdiately reacted with excitent.
"A Top Ten match already?!"
"This is going to be incredible!"
Liora sighed.
"You attract trouble faster than anyone I’ve ever t."
Aether shrugged.
"It seems to be a pattern."
---
The academy arena filled quickly.
Much faster than usual.
Because battles involving Top Ten students were rare.
And now one of them had personally challenged Aether.
Even so instructors from other training divisions had arrived to watch.
Above the arena, several observers from external factions were also present.
Watching carefully.
Evaluating talent.
---
The battlefield this ti was different from the previous matches.
Instead of ruins or open terrain, the arena had transford into a multi-level training field.
Platforms.
Energy barriers.
Elevated stone paths.
This battlefield favored tactical movent and aerial positioning.
Valen looked around calmly.
"Good."
Aether asked,
"You like this terrain?"
Valen nodded.
"It forces people to think."
Aether smiled slightly.
"Then this should be interesting."
---
The signal for the match was given.
But unlike the previous battles—
Neither side moved imdiately.
Valen observed Aether carefully.
Then he raised his hand slightly.
A ripple of energy appeared behind him.
And a large beast stepped forward.
It looked like a cross between a wolf and a storm cloud.
Its body was covered in dark silver fur, and faint lightning sparks danced along its limbs.
The arena audience reacted imdiately.
"That’s a Thunderclaw Direwolf!"
"One of the fastest beasts in the academy!"
Liora narrowed her eyes.
"This is going to be different."
---
The Fire Pup stepped forward.
Flas flickering calmly.
But this ti—
It did not rush.
Because Aether had already realized sothing.
Valen was not like the previous opponents.
He was patient.
Calculating.
And most importantly—
Experienced.
---
Valen spoke first.
"I won’t attack recklessly."
Aether replied,
"That’s good."
"Because neither will I."
For a few seconds, the arena remained quiet.
Two strategists studying each other.
Two beasts sensing the shift in energy.
Then suddenly—
Valen moved.
But not toward Aether.
Instead, the Thunderclaw Direwolf leapt onto one of the elevated platforms.
Lightning crackled across the battlefield.
Students gasped.
"He’s taking the high ground!"
But Aether did not react with surprise.
Instead, he said calmly,
"Fire Pup."
The small beast imdiately moved to the opposite platform.
Flas trailing behind it like a ribbon of light.
Within seconds, both beasts were positioned on separate levels of the battlefield.
Circling.
Analyzing.
---
Valen spoke again.
"You learn quickly."
Aether replied,
"I prefer not to fight from a disadvantage."
Valen nodded.
"Good."
Then—
The Thunderclaw Direwolf moved.
A flash of lightning streaked across the battlefield.
Its speed shocked the audience.
But the Fire Pup reacted instantly.
Flas burst outward, creating a defensive spiral that blocked the incoming strike.
BOOM.
Lightning and fire collided mid-air.
Energy waves rippled across the arena.
Students stood up from their seats.
"That speed is insane!"
---
But the fight didn’t stop there.
Valen moved again.
This ti, he coordinated directly with his beast.
The Direwolf launched another attack from above while Valen used the battlefield platforms to reposition himself strategically.
Aether noticed imdiately.
"He’s controlling vertical movent."
The Fire Pup dodged another lightning strike, flas igniting along the platform’s edge.
But unlike previous battles—
Valen was constantly moving.
Changing angles.
Testing Aether’s reactions.
---
High above the arena, Instructor Dren nodded slowly.
"This is exactly the fight I expected."
Another instructor asked,
"Who has the advantage?"
Dren smiled slightly.
"That depends on who adapts faster."
---
Back on the battlefield, the pressure was increasing.
The Thunderclaw Direwolf’s speed forced the Fire Pup to focus entirely on defense and positioning.
But Aether remained calm.
Observing.
Calculating.
Because this fight was not about overpowering the enemy.
It was about understanding them.
Valen suddenly appeared on a higher platform and looked down at Aether.
"You’re not surprised."
Aether replied,
"You’re strong."
Valen tilted his head slightly.
"That’s not the sa as surprised."
Aether smiled.
"No."
"It isn’t."
---
Then sothing unexpected happened.
Instead of continuing the defensive pattern—
Aether stepped forward.
The Fire Pup’s flas deepened.
Liora imdiately noticed.
"He’s changing strategy."
Students leaned forward in their seats.
Because when Aether shifted montum in a fight—
Sothing important usually followed.
---
Valen’s eyes sharpened slightly.
"So now you attack."
Aether shook his head.
"No."
Then he said quietly,
"Now I learn."
The Fire Pup suddenly released a controlled wave of fla that spread across multiple platforms.
Not aiming directly at the Direwolf.
But altering the battlefield.
Creating heat zones.
Limiting movent.
Valen’s smile widened.
"I was hoping you’d do that."
Because at that mont—
The Thunderclaw Direwolf leapt into the air with lightning exploding around its body.
The speed was faster than before.
Much faster.
Students gasped.
"That’s a full power strike!"
But Aether’s eyes didn’t widen.
They sharpened.
Because now—
The real battle had begun.
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