He blitzed forward, low to the ground, energy cracking beneath his feet with every step.
Arjuna gasped. "Fast—!"
He raised Gandiva to block just in ti as Karna reappeared with a full-force strike, bow against bow. The two clashed, locked in close range now.
Thump!
Karna elbowed him.
As Arjuna stumbled back, Karna jumped and gave a round spin kick to him.
Arjun flew to the back and fell out of the Arena.
"Damn it." He punched the ground, looking at the sky.
Karna spoke his final words to Arjuna. "You excel at archery, but being a warrior ans you have to be perfect. You cannot depend on one weapon."
"The victory goes to Karna. And the Takshashila Academy"
"Karna" "Karna" "Karna" "Karna" "karna"
The crowd cheered for the boy with humble beginnings who still managed to defeat the royal prince in front of the whole city, proving his talent and potential.
The arena had barely cooled.
The dust from Karna and Arjuna's clash was still settling when the next nas echoed like a bell across the battlefield.
"Next Match, The Duo: Do you now send your participants?"
Cheers rumbled like distant thunder as two figures stepped onto the battle platform, Indraketu, a boy with dark bronze skin and piercing yellow eyes, holding a staff adorned with charms. And beside him, Vajramukh, tall and muscular for his age, with a sharp jaw and glowing tattoos etched on his arms.
From the other side, Beowulf, the captain looked at the siblings. "Azrael, Eon, you are up."
Rael and Eon jumped onto the other side of the arena, side by side, looking completely calm.
anwhile, their opponents raised their hands, summoning their Arcana spirits.
"Co out, Vrishabha"
From Indraketu's side, the ground trembled—and a massive silver bull, snorting mist, stomped into the arena. It had four eyes and tal plates running across its back.
"Heed my Call, Khandavara"
From Vajramukh's hand, a gleaming sword rose into the air, dancing with fla. It humd like it had its own voice, hungry.
The crowd leaned in, excited as the countdown began.
5… 4… 3… 2… 1
BANG!
Leaping onto the top of his Arcana spirit, Indraketu shouted, "Go!"
The bull charged, hooves crashing like thunder.
anwhile, Vajramukh sprinted beside it, his flaming sword releasing more intense flas than usual as he poured his soul energy into it.
On the other hand, Rael had his hands in his pockets and was watching the scene. Eon also crossed her arms with a smirk on her face.
"What the hell are they doing?" Bheema furrowed his brows.
"This match is already as good as over, junior," replied Beowulf.
"Hmm?" As Bheema looked at the team captain, Beowulf replied. "There is a reason why those two are selected as a duo. If you and I team up, it is 10 plus 10. If they team, it is 10 multiplies 10."
Just as his words were finished, the opponent students pair reduced the gap to almost 10 ters.
Rael finally gave a glance to the side. Eon nodded silently and whispered. "Freeze."
As her eyes glowed, everything was frozen in the surroundings.
Not in the sense of freezing of ice, but frozen in ti.
The world stopped moving, and only Rael and Eon could move. Of course, there are so people in the audience section who could resist a bit, but it is only their eyes that were moving.
In its mid-charge, the bull froze in the spot, front hooves hovering inches above the floor.
Vajramukh's forward dash halted mid-air, his sword was also locked in motion.
Rael cracked his knuckles. "My turn."
With his soul energy enveloping his body, he charged forward in a blur.
In one flash, he reached Vajramukh and drove a fist into his stomach—CRACK!—sending the boy's body flying like a sack of bricks.
In the next second, he leapt, flipped in the air above the bull, and delivered a bone-snapping roundhouse to Indraketu's temple.
And Ti resud.
BOOM.
No one, even those boys, understood why, but they were just seen flying in opposite directions, falling out of the arena bounds.
The crowd went utterly silent. Dead silent.
"What the…"
"What just happened?"
"One mont, they were there, and the next mont they were out?"
"Since when did that boy appear on the bull?"
Then gasps broke out. People started murmuring.
The proctor froze with his hand mid-air, and also seed shocked.
Up in the higher spectator seats, among so powerful known experts and hooded entities, several voices whispered in sync: "Ti manipulation…"
anwhile, Rael was seen just standing atop the frozen bull's back, arms folded.
Right then, the bull roared, scarlet aura enveloping its body as if it was about to get berserk. Its four eyes turned red.
Without warning, it threw its body, trying to toss Rael off in rage.
Rael jumped high several ters. He then twirled mid-air and raised his hand. "Co to , Tezca." His Arcana Spirit appeared in his hands.
A massive black scythe, twice as tall as him was raised above his head. Rael grasped it mid-air.
"Return to your cage, you damn cow."
SHWOOOOM!
With one clean swing, the scythe cut through the bull's neck.
Its head hit the floor, then cracked like glass.
The bull shattered into a thousand fading wisps of light.
Its soul was gently pulled back into its master's mindscape, now unconscious outside the ring.
The crowd went silent for a mont once again.
Then the proctor, barely collecting his voice, lifted his hand.
"Match over! Victory—Azrael and Eon of Team Celestials!"
Eon strolled casually across the floor as Rael dropped beside her. *Tap* They high-fived without looking at each other, then walked off like it was just another morning drill.
In the distant stands, far from the frontlines, one boy watched with glowing golden eyes. He looked just like Rael but more like a gentle soul. As if he is a counterpart, Rael likes to wear black shit and pants. He prefers white or bright colors.
His lips curled into a faint smirk.
"Rael, Eon, you really are flawless together. I can never get into that gap, do I?"
Then his gaze darkened slightly, glowing gold and violet now.
"But you're too reliant on one another, whether it is physically or emotionally. It's your strength and also your weakness. Break the rhythm, and you both fall. Anyway, I should atleast say Hi, I guess."
After a while;
Upon the platform, the proctor's voice rang one last ti as the team battle is also over.
"Final Score: 2 to 1. Victory goes to—Heavenly Academy's Team Celestials!"
A mild cheer erupted from one side of the crowd, though the other half sat still, stunned by how things had ended. So had expected flashier spells in the team fight, others had hoped for a twist, but in the end, the Celestials had closed it out with cool, efficient precision. No extra movents or intense fight. It was a smooth battle.
To be honest, apart from Karna, no one from the Takshashila academy even put up a proper fight or even impressed the crowd.
The team began their slow walk out of the arena's western gate, battle-hardened, slightly dusty, but very much undefeated.
Yudhisthira was already going over the match stats in his mind.
Bheema was grinning like a lunatic.
Arjuna rubbed his ribs silently. Karna's final punch had left a dull ache he hadn't yet ntioned. Not to ntion, the sour loss hurt him a lot. In his mind, everyone perford well, apart from him.
Rael and Eon walked at the front, chatting with each other as if they were the only two in their world.
Then, just as they passed the gate, mbers of Team Celestials halted their movents as their eyes fell upon students who montarily blocked their. path.
A small cluster of students in dark crimson coats with platinum trim, standing near the marble staircase, like they were waiting. The air around them was heavier, more refined, a higher class of warriors.
Eon's steps faltered a bit as she called aloud. "Hey, Raphael!"
From the group stepped out Raphael, looking just like Rael, but he doesn't have the innocence or rebelliousness of Rael. His face is calr and seems a bit like soone who has experience in the real field.
He gave a faint smile. "Hey, Brother, Sister."
Rael blinked once. "What do you want?" Raphael never calls them brother and sister. He just calls them by nas, usually.
"Nothing, just here to appreciate you for the win," Raphael replied lightly. "But, your team has a lot of holes. Only you two had proper teamwork. Others just feel like a bunch of solo experts."
"Why do you care about our team?" Beowulf frowned, stepped forward.
"It's nothing." Raphael shrugged. "I'm just looking forward to fighting my brother again. But we are in different divisions. So, if you lose, we can't fight again."
"You seem to have so much confidence, Raphael." Rael scoffed, crossing his arms. "Based on the current bracket. We'll only face you if we reach the finals."
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