Today, the entire city gathered in the central square near the Leader's Palace, creating a loud hum in the air. Every resident wanted to share their undoubtedly important thoughts on the event. The crowd sat on a newly created ice tribune, excitedly watching the improvised arena where the Leader's son and a student chosen by the masters were about to fight. After all, events where the whole city could participate didn't happen often, and watching mages battle was always fascinating.
"I see, I see who the Water Masters chose," shouted one of the sharpest-eyed people in the stands, pointing to one side of the arena.
"That's Gozu. I've heard his mastery is especially strong—even a master would need to be serious when fighting him," said a tanned man with rough features, deep in thought.
"Yeah, the masters aren't sparing the Leader's son at all, even though he's the one who stirred up this ss. I just hope he doesn't lose his drive after this defeat," comnted a gray-haired elder with the aura of a man wise with experience.
While the crowd discussed one of the opponents, Gozu strolled casually to the center of the arena, striking a heroic pose as if he were facing not a boy three tis younger than him, but an entire fleet of the Fire Army led by the Western Dragon, Iro, himself. So noticed that soone had grown quite fond of being in the spotlight.
Most of those seated didn't believe a six-year-old boy, who looked more like a full nine years old, could win. People quickly forgot the stir he caused at birth, the miracle he perford for his sister's birth, and the rumors about his water mastery. It's hard to trust re gossip if you haven't seen it with your own eyes.
Then, on the other half of the arena, a beautiful white-haired boy appeared, and the tribune fell silent. Most of the townspeople craned their necks, trying to get a better look at Yuki—after all, this was the first ti many had seen the Leader's son.
"Uh, did the Leader have two daughters?! Why do I see a little girl?" a particularly loud boy shouted, breaking the silence. At this comnt, our main character's eye twitched—or maybe it just seed that way.
As soon as the first whispers began, the stands erupted into chatter, making it impossible to hear anything clearly.
anwhile, Yuki approached his opponent with a bored expression.
The elder tasked with overseeing the fight stepped onto the arena, seeing the participants were ready.
"Dear tribesn, I ask for a mont of your attention," his deep voice bood across the arena. As soon as he finished, the crowd began to quiet down. "Ahem, thank you for the silence. Today, two outstanding water mages will battle here, each defending their interests," he concluded vaguely.
"The rules are simple: only water magic is allowed. The victor is the one who remains conscious. Critical injuries that threaten death result in an automatic loss. Both have the right to surrender. Participants must respect their opponent and show us all your skill," the judge said, moving closer to the center of the arena.
"Do you understand the rules?" the judge asked the water mages. Seeing their synchronized nods, he continued, "Then, as soon as the water sphere I launch explodes in the sky, you may begin."
As the judge stepped away, Gozu decided to chat.
"Heh, kid, apologies in advance for my victory. The masters told to finish you quickly—guess you really ticked them off," Gozu said with a slight smirk. "Don't worry, I won't hit too hard. Maybe you should just surrender? Water magic isn't a toy, you know."
Yuki crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow, and shot him a contemptuous look, which sent Gozu over the edge.
"Heh, you don't want to play nice? Fine, just don't cry afterward," he said maliciously.
As soon as the water sphere exploded in the sky, ti seed to race forward. Gozu had just begun moving to take a stance for better water manipulation when two needles whistled past his face. One grazed his temple, leaving a small bleeding line, while the other nicked the edge of his neck.
Only now did Gozu realize he had been on the brink of death. If the needles had struck closer, he would have bled out. His back was drenched in sweat, his legs stopped responding, and he collapsed to the ground, sitting with a dumb expression as he touched the spots where the needles had struck.
The crowd barely had ti to process what happened before Gozu fell to the arena floor. Their confusion was understandable—the needles had flown at incredible speed. Only warriors and mages had the reflexes to catch a glimpse of the flash of light on the battlefield.
The judge, who was closest, managed to see Yuki's attack and now stared in shock at the boy who had executed such a precise strike, intentionally altering the needles' trajectory.
The Water Masters, seated closest to the stands, had grim faces, though so began to celebrate such a talented student who would undoubtedly train under them.
After the judge recounted the sequence of events, the crowd in the stands also looked at the Leader's son with shock and a hint of fear. One thing was for mages to showcase energy-intensive and flashy moves in battle; another was to use such subtle attacks aid precisely at an opponent's weak points.
Only the Leader's family watched their son with pride and unwavering faith in their eyes.
People approached to help Gozu stand and leave the arena. Still in shock, he followed them without protest. Yuki's victory was undeniable, and everyone understood it.
However, seeing that Yuki didn't leave the arena, still standing with his arms crossed and a senbon made of ice rolling between his white teeth, the crowd, unsure of what was happening, didn't rush to leave either.
"Co on, bro, now beat those old master guys!" a young voice shouted from the first row of the stands. So were about to scold the child for showing such disrespect to the revered Water Masters, but seeing her on the knees of the Leader's wife, Jun, they imdiately pretended nothing serious had happened. Being the Leader's daughter was reason enough to turn a blind eye to her sharp words. Her young age also played in her favor, and offending the daughter of a Water Mage from the Healing Huts, who treated everyone, was simply unwise.
"A year ago, I promised to fight and defeat a Water Master," a clear, lodic voice rang out from the center of the arena. Yuki, who had been standing still, made a shallow bow toward the masters and declared:
"I request a battle with Water Master Izamu."
The crowd, holding their breath as they listened to his words, erupted into a wave of new conversations as soon as he finished.
"Don't be so arrogant, boy. We all acknowledge your talent, and the bet between us is already won by you. Don't try to bite off more than you can chew," said Water Master Izamu, who was neither the strongest nor the least among them.
"I won't take my words back. Let our magic speak for us," Yuki said impassively.
"I think it's ti to teach you a lesson," Izamu said, stepping onto the arena, "and show you what earns us the title of master."
The judge subtly glanced at the Leader, silently asking, "Is everything alright?" Seeing Arnuk's barely noticeable nod, he resud his role as judge.
Seeing no point in further conversation, both mages took their stances. The judge wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, launched a water sphere into the air, and stepped far away from the center, fearing he might be caught in the crossfire.
As soon as the water exploded above the mages, Izamu surrounded himself with a water vortex, providing excellent circular protection against all attacks. This was done just in ti—as soon as the master was fully shielded, two water needles and one ice needle struck the barrier. Unable to penetrate it, they beca lodged within.
Seeing no further reason to fight defensively, the master lifted himself to the top of the vortex with a movent of his feet and began sending heavily compressed water blobs at the Leader's son.
Yuki, seemingly unwilling to waste energy, created ice skates on his feet and began maneuvering around the arena, dodging Izamu's attacks while subtly infusing the icy surface with his energy. As he continued evading the increasing number of attacks—now coming from all four of the master's limbs—Yuki finished infusing the ice. In a single motion, he transford it into steam, which enveloped the entire arena for several seconds.
Unprepared for such a sudden move, the master didn't panic, dropping back into the center of the vortex. When the steam finally cleared, a shocking sight revealed itself: over a hundred pieces of icy weaponry hovered in the air, their tips aid at Izamu.
The Water Master's face turned ashen. If the attack hadn't been so massive, he might have stood a chance, but if all the weapons rushed at him simultaneously, no defense would hold. Rembering the needles from earlier, he couldn't help but marvel at how much energy such small attacks had consud. Yuki's elent seed denser than his own. Put simply, each needle, filled with foreign energy, felt like a full-fledged attack from Izamu himself, requiring ti and a great deal of magic to counter.
Seeing no point in resisting further, Izamu released his control over the water.
"I surrender," his voice echoed over the arena. Looking at Yuki with a complex expression, he continued solemnly, "Our Water Tribe can be proud to have such a strong water conqueror among us. I think your na will be known by all peoples in ti. As one of the masters, I give my recomndation for you to be awarded the title of master."
Arnuk and Jun looked at their son with a sowhat conflicted expression, knowing the Water Tribe was too small for him and would only limit his potential over ti. Yet, even knowing this, they hoped the mont of separation would co as late as possible.
Yui, who had been fidgeting throughout the battle, couldn't hold back any longer. She ran to her beloved brother, sticking her tongue out at the masters seated nearby. Arnuk could only offer an apologetic smile in their direction.
Yuki, picking up his joyful sister, walked toward the masters.
"There's no room for enmity or grudges within one tribe. Let today's duel mark the beginning of sothing new. I'd be glad to exchange experiences with you," Yuki said calmly.
"This kid's sothing else. A year ago, he was eager to learn; now he's offering an exchange of experience. In a couple of years, you'll be learning from him, won't you?" one of the oldest and most respected elders said with a chuckle. "Well, you've earned it. We'll be happy to welco you to our ranks," he added, and all the masters agreed. Having lived so long, they had learned to accept their mistakes and compromise.
On a joyful note, the confrontation between the six-year-old son of the Leader and the group of masters ended. The event was the talk of the town for an entire month, reaching even the farthest tribes of the North Pole. The people, who had been living in stagnation, seed to shed their accumulated snow with this event. The tribe saw in the strong Yuki a future Leader who would lead them to prosperity. The elders still rembered the ti before the war when the capital was bustling with life, the ports always crowded with arriving ships, and the market stalls filled with goods from every corner of the world. And so began the legend of the Conqueror of Elents.
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