[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Allen's Cafe]
Alice's face was concerned looking at Jae. "Your face is practically screaming 'surprise' at ," she remarked, her voice soft as always.
Jae grinned. "Indeed." she chirped. "I just secured the best tutor this academy has ever seen, and for free..."
"Who?" Alice questioned curiosity sparking in her eyes.
"Rel," Jae said proudly. "He's helping us study."
Alice's brow furrowed. Confusion battled with a trace of worry on her face. As Jae excitedly explained her deal – trading her academy bow for study sessions...
Alice interrupted with a slight tremor in her voice, "Did you really give him your bow, Jae? Just for that?"
Alice, normally the picture of quiet composure, was on the verge of an outburst. Jae, however, remained blissfully oblivious.
"Well, you said you wanted to see how he studies up close," Jae scratched her head. "Get a glimpse into his secret thods and all."
Alice felt a flush creep up her neck. "Yes, but not like that!" she flustered.
Jae's smile widened. "Relax, Alice... Think about it. He could help us improve in Dungeon Pathing, Advanced Mana Theory, and even Elental Theory. We just need a little extra push in those areas, you know? And honestly, they're the hardest subjects."
Alice hesitated. Jae was right... but sothing felt wrong.
Was Rel truly a genius, or was there a chance... a chance he was cheating?
"We can figure that out," Jae interrupted her thoughts, tapping her watch. "Got his contact on WhatsApp!"
Alice looked at the flashing screen, her initial confusion changed into full-blown worry.
This wasn't quite the "study plan" she expected. Learning from Rel was one thing, but getting involved in so potentially questionable arrangent by Jae was another entirely.
"Let's learn a thing or two from him," Jae declared, her unusual enthusiasm tenacious.
"Maybe then, you can finally snatch that first-place ranking you were so keen on at the beginning of the year,"
Alice let out a long sigh, a mix of exasperation and resignation. "You can't be serious," she muttered under her breath.
***
{Rel's POV}
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Student Section Stands]
Listening to the roaring crowd almost made deaf, as I entered the student section, My eyes scanned through the entirety of the first years, the collective roar vibrating through the stone. My earlier Incident with Yuka and Julian remained an absurd and unsettling mory.
Sothing seed off about her offering early contracts, especially a shared one. This was absolutely one of her sches, where she'd take 2 students and drop the useless one-off later.
But I'm not stupid obviously... Early guild offers, especially from the top guilds, practically guarantee a future. The heirs, the big nas, they get priority – dungeons, towers, all the action. Yuka had shown the most interest in Jan when it ca to seeing the extent of his potential and in the story he joins Legion New Force after they finish their third year in the academy.
Moving through the seats, I settled far from Bazz, Camilla, Lyra, and Valencia, who'd snagged pri seats. The distance was a bit dodgy, but the view wasn't bad either. Didn't matter. The energy was infectious, bets were flying... And a feeling of regret hit, I realised I had nothing good to eat to enjoy this match.
The thought quickly faded, though. This – witnessing Jan and Louise's battle firsthand – was more enjoyable than any food eaten.
Settling deeper into the seat, I let the crowd's roars wash over , This was it. The main event. The opening scene of the story unfolds right before my very eyes.
But the encounter with the guild leaders was still at the corner of my mind. Why go to ? instead of going directly to Jan?
What did they see in that deserved such an outlandish offer? Maybe it was the hype surrounding Jan, or perhaps they saw so hidden potential in … a potential I wasn't even aware of myself.
pffftt...
The thought made laugh, Potential? I'd never match their level, not in this lifeti.
Shoving the unsettling questions away, I forced my attention to the arena. The announcer's voice bood,
***
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Main Stage]
The stadium roared as Jan and Louise erged. Jan, unfazed, took his place. Across the arena, Louise strode forward, polearm shining in the bright light, an arrogant grin crossing his face. The crowd's frenzy bathed them both, a deafening affirmation of their star power.
As the two stood far from each other Louise broke the silence, his voice ringing clear.
"You don't know how long I've waited for this," he declared, the sadistic edge in his smile widening.
"..."
Jan remained silent, seemingly unmoved by Louise's discernible excitent. Louise continued, his words talking over the deafening crowd,
"Now that everyone is watching, I can finally show them. Show them how you will lose, to be trampled under my feet."
A smirk flashed across Jan's lips ignoring his words from earlier.
"Let's have a great match, Louise."
"...!"
Fury erupted in Louise's eyes. "I'll kill you if you say my first na again," he snarled, the crowd's cheers fading into white noise.
Jan's smile widened, the deliberate informality was on purpose, to piss him off. "Right… my bad."
...
...
As the announcer's voice bood through the stadium, cutting through the mounting noise.
"Welco students, teachers, guild leaders, and dia! This afternoon, we witness a clash between two of the most sensational talents this academy has ever seen... Representing a lineage of power, we have the iconic resemblance of his legendary father – Louise Villerion!"
The crowd's frenzy reached fever pitch as Louise soaked in the adoration, waving grandly as if bestowing blessings upon his audience.
A sharp contrast to his display of confidence, It was evident this fight wasn't just about winning – it held a far deeper, more personal significance.
The announcer's voice bood through the stadium once more.
"And on the other side, a student with blazing speed and incredible power! The record-breaker who shares the fastest victory tis with the very man on this stage, everyone give it up for Jan Ates!"
A wave of applause thundered across the stands. Jan, unmoved by the praise or the remaining murmurs of scepticism.
"If the Fighters are ready, please raise your weapons!" declared the announcer, a ripple of excitent running through his voice.
Jan unsheathed his sword in a smooth motion and raised it in ready. Across the platform, Louise mirrored the gesture, his polearm-axe glowing with an intensity.
"Good!" He paused, savouring the mont before the countdown.
"Then let the tradition begin! Three…"
Silence fell. Neither Jan nor Louise channelled their mana, simply holding their weapons aloft in a deceptively casual stance.
"Two…"
"One… GO!"
DASH!
Louise burst forward, launching himself into the air.
SHAAAAA!
His body soared, as the polearm-axe transford into a blazing cot. Louise's Sword aura and Pure Fla fused, painting the weapon in shades of crimson red, amplifying his attack into an inferno.
WHAMM!
Jan, On the ground, stood still on the spot, imbuing his sword with an aura of his own. his blade pulsed with azure light, the purity of his Light attribute swirling around the steel. A breathtaking difference between his stillness against Louise's blazing descent.
RAHHHHH!
HM!
Jan swung upwards, and Louise struck down, both with the force of their entire beings. A deafening roar echoed through the arena.
BANG!!!!!
The crowd stood on their feet, eyes wide. This was no ordinary clash...
Gusts of wind whipped through the arena, cracks snaking across the platform beneath Jan's feet.
Their blades should have t,
should have CLANGED.
But it never ca.
Their weapons never touched.
The impact of their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the air, the sheer force of their aura and elental attributes created a visible distortion between them.
The platform crumbled beneath the invisible pressure, threatening to swallow them both.
"...!"
___________
To be continued...
___________
Authors Notes:
- Louise's Sword aura colour is Crimson Red
- Jan's Sword aura colour is Gold a mix of Light Blue
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