The moment the signal was given, neither of them hesitated.
Vivianne and Myrra began casting almost simultaneously, mana gathering rapidly around them. There was no probing, no cautious testing—both chose to seize control from the very first exchange.
To most watching, it was a questionable decision.
Water magic naturally held the advantage over fire magic. That alone placed Vivianne at a disadvantage—especially against someone like Myrra Tempest. She was no ordinary mage: an S-rank talent with an A-rank affinity for water.
The gap between them was negligible.
Which meant the disadvantage mattered.
A radiant blue magic circle formed before Myrra, intricate patterns spinning into place as compressed mana surged at its core. At the same time, a blazing orange circle flared into existence before Vivianne, heat distorting the air as flames coiled tightly within.
Both opened with Tier-3 spells.
"
"
They released their spells in the same instant.
A concentrated jet of water surged forward, cutting through the air with overwhelming force, while a blazing torrent of fire erupted to meet it head-on. The collision was immediate and violent.
Steam exploded outward, obscuring the battlefield in an instant.
For a brief moment, the battlefield vanished behind a cloud of vapor and scattered energy.
Then it broke.
The spells fragmented under pressure, bursting apart into splintered flames and scattered droplets. Residual fragments slipped through—embers grazing Myrra's side, while droplets struck against Vivianne's barrier and skin.
Neither gained ground.
Both stepped back almost instinctively, widening the distance as they began casting again without pause.
This time, neither was allowed to complete their spells cleanly.
Every attempt to form a stronger spell was interrupted midway, forcing constant adjustments. The rhythm broke again and again, turning the exchange sharp and reactive—less about raw power, more about timing and control.
Myrra moved first.
Her chant accelerated, mana condensing far more aggressively as a larger magic circle formed beneath her feet, expanding outward with a deeper, heavier presence.
"
A massive swell of water rose behind her, gathering into a dense, cresting wave before crashing forward with overwhelming force.
Vivianne didn't retreat. Her response came just as fast.
A Tier-4 magic circle ignited before her—brighter, sharper—flames compressing into a single, focused form.
"
The blade of fire shot forward, slicing cleanly into the oncoming wave. Steam erupted violently upon impact as the two forces collided. The sword pierced deep—but rapidly lost intensity under the crushing weight of water.
It wasn't enough to stop it.
But it weakened it.
The remaining surge crashed toward Vivianne, diminished but still dangerous. She reacted instantly, raising a defensive spell just as it reached her.
"
The impact rang out as water slammed against fire. The barrier flickered under the strain before stabilizing, the force pushing her back a step before finally dissipating.
Across the field, Myrra hadn't remained still.
The moment the flaming blade broke through her wave, she shifted position, narrowly avoiding it as it passed, its remaining heat dispersing into the air behind her.
For a brief moment, both stood at a distance again.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
The clash on the field only intensified—and with it, the reaction from the audience.
The stadium roared with excitement, voices rising in overlapping waves as the duel unfolded at a relentless pace. Brilliant bursts of fire and water lit up the arena, steam hissing into the air with every collision, turning the battlefield into a shifting haze of heat and mist.
It wasn't just the power.
It was who stood at the center of it.
Two figures—young, composed, and undeniably beautiful—commanding the field with a presence that held the crowd captive.
"Crimson Rose! Show them what you've got!"
"Myrra! Crush her!"
The cheers split into factions.
Some rallied behind Vivianne, their admiration clear, while others called Myrra's name with equal fervor, their confidence rooted in her lineage and reputation.
High above the arena, within the elevated VIP section, the atmosphere carried a different tone—but no less intensity.
A woman with long blue hair leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed on the battlefield, a faint, confident smile playing at her lips.
"It seems our family's princess will take the win this time." She said smoothly, pride woven into her voice.
Before the words could settle, another voice cut in—sharper, edged with defiance.
"On what basis?" a man replied, his expression tightening as he looked down at the match. "If anything, it's obvious our young miss will be the one standing at the end."
Their eyes met briefly.
Neither yielding.
The Tempest and Scarlet families.
Even here, the rivalry persisted.
What began as composed remarks shifted into subtle barbs, each comment layered with implication, each response just a shade sharper. Their voices remained controlled, but the tension was unmistakable.
Their pride was just as invested as the fighters below.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
On the field, however, the duel had reached a turning point.
The exchanges, once rapid and explosive, began to slow—not in intensity, but in rhythm. The strain was beginning to show.
Their breathing grew heavier.
Their movements, though still precise, carried the faintest delay.
Both had been pushing at a high level since the very start—trading spells, disrupting one another, refusing to give ground. It had been a battle of control, of timing, of endurance.
And now—
The cost was catching up.
Vivianne steadied her stance, her gaze locked onto Myrra as the flames around her flickered—fewer now, but far more concentrated.
Across from her, Myrra exhaled slowly. The moisture in the air gathered once more, condensing as her focus sharpened.
For a brief moment, neither moved.
Finally, without needing words, both resolved to end the battle by unleashing their strongest spells.
Both Vivianne and Myrra stepped back at the same time, widening the distance between them as if by unspoken agreement.
The air between them cleared, the lingering heat and moisture settling just enough to form an invisible boundary—one neither intended to cross until it was over.
Then, they began.
Their chants rose in unison, low at first, then steadily intensifying as mana gathered on a scale far beyond anything they had used before. The atmosphere tightened almost instantly, pressure bearing down across the arena as the barrier shimmered faintly in response.
This wasn't another exchange.
It was the end.
Twin magic circles expanded beneath their feet—vast, intricate, layered with overlapping formations as raw power condensed into form.
"
"
They released their Tier-6 spells at the same time.
Vivianne's magic erupted outward in a violent surge of fire—an expanding inferno that consumed the stage without restraint. The ground cracked under the sheer heat, flames spreading uncontrollably as the battlefield itself seemed to ignite.
It turned the stage into a domain of destruction.
Opposite her, Myrra's spell manifested with equal force.
A massive vortex of water spiraled into existence, towering and unstable. Its rotation warped the air itself, dragging in debris and lingering energy as the crushing force within tore apart anything caught in its reach.
For a moment—
Neither spell rushed to meet the other.
Instead, they took hold of the arena.
Fire consumed one half, raging and expanding without restraint, while the Maelstrom dominated the other, its pull distorting everything around it.
They collided—not in a single instant—
But through the battlefield itself.
From the stands, the sight was overwhelming.
Even Alex, watching from afar, felt the weight of it. His gaze remained fixed on the clash, a quiet breath leaving him as he took in the scale of their control.
Beside him, Elena exhaled softly.
Aurora's voice followed, calm and certain, cutting through the moment before the outcome had even been decided.
"It's over," she said lightly. "The redhead lost."
And then—
It happened.
The Maelstrom surged forward, its rotation intensifying as it expanded into the burning terrain. But instead of resisting the flames, the vortex pulled them inward, disrupting their spread before they could stabilize.
The explosive nature of Blazing Ruin turned against itself.
Its outward force unraveled as the Maelstrom collapsed its structure, dragging the flames into its spiraling core.
The battlefield shifted in an instant.
What had been a raging inferno was torn apart—its heat fragmented, compressed, and extinguished under overwhelming pressure. The fire didn't clash—it was consumed.
Vivianne's expression tightened as her control wavered.
The spell she had unleashed began to collapse, its momentum stripped away as the Maelstrom continued to pull, devour, and erase everything in its path.
Step by step, she was forced back until, in the end—
Blazing Ruin shattered, swallowed whole as if it had never existed.
The outcome was undeniable.
For a brief moment, neither moved. Then Myrra spoke, her voice calm, carrying just enough to reach across the distance between them.
"You weren't the only one who improved."
There was no mockery in her tone—only quiet acknowledgment.
A small pause followed before she added, almost as an afterthought, "Still… it seems all that training paid off."
Vivianne didn't respond.
She let out a slow breath, her shoulders easing just slightly before she turned away. Without another word, she stepped off the field.
Despite the loss, no one saw her as weak.
If anything, the match had only reinforced her standing. Facing an opponent like Myrra—and pushing the fight to that level—left an impression the result alone couldn't erase.
Even those who had rooted against her couldn't deny it.
On the field, Myrra watched her leave for a brief moment before turning as well.
The victory hadn't come without cost.
Her breathing was heavier now, her mana reserves visibly strained. Continuing in that state would be reckless.
Myrra stepped down, choosing to conserve what remained rather than force another battle.
The duel had ended, but the match was far from over.