The roar of the crowd still echoed across the Caelora Grand Colosseum.
Light from the magical dome shimmered across the arena, reflecting like fractured glass—beautiful, yet tense. Dust from the previous match still lingered faintly in the air, as if the world itself was holding its breath.
Then, glowing letters formed in the sky.
Noah of Aquaris vs Drestan of the Western Sea Guild.
⸻
Contestant Area – Elara
Elara sat quietly on the stone bench, facing the arena.
Only a few candidates remained now.
The atmosphere had changed—quieter, heavier.
Beside her, Lurk stood with his arms crossed.
"This won't take long," he said flatly.
Elara didn't respond.
Her eyes were fixed on the arena—on Drestan.
There was something about him…
Something she couldn't explain.
⸻
Western Stands – Sylveras & Brant
Sylveras leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowed.
"…that one," she muttered.
"The way he moves… it's off."
Brant glanced at the arena while chewing his bread.
"The one fighting Noah?"
Sylveras nodded.
"I don't know… but that's not normal magic."
Brant smirked faintly.
"Instinct, huh? That kind of feeling's usually right."
⸻
The Match Begins
GONG!
Noah moved first.
He raised his hand calmly.
The air shifted—
condensing, flowing, forming a massive current of water.
"Abyssal Tide."
The water didn't come from anywhere—
it simply existed.
Deep. Heavy. Alive.
The entire arena felt like it had sunk into the bottom of the ocean.
⸻
Drestan – Something Awakens
Drestan didn't step back.
He took a deep breath.
Slow.
Heavy.
Then—
his skin shimmered.
Thin scales appeared along his arm.
His eyes flickered—just for a moment—
like something ancient had awakened inside him.
⸻
First Clash
The wave crashed forward.
BOOM!
Drestan raised his arm.
The impact hit—
and held.
The sound wasn't magical—
it was like steel resisting the weight of the sea.
The crowd erupted.
"He blocked it?!"
Drestan slid back a few steps…
…but he didn't fall.
⸻
Council – Neravos Notices
Above, Neravos slowly stood.
His gaze sharpened.
The aura within him stirred.
"That mana…"
A voice within him whispered.
"I know it."
Neravos narrowed his eyes.
"Dragon magic…"
Silence.
"Raelgryn."
For the first time—
his expression changed.
"…where did that boy obtain the power of a dragon?"
⸻
The Pressure Rises
Noah adjusted his stance.
The water around him shifted—
denser. Sharper.
"Abyssal Current."
Spirals of compressed water surged from all directions.
Drestan endured it.
But his breathing grew heavier.
The air around him changed—
dry.
Burning.
⸻
Climax – Flame vs Ocean
Noah raised both hands.
All the water in the arena gathered.
It expanded.
Rotated.
A massive vortex formed—
like a living ocean.
"Abyssal Tide — Full Flow."
The pressure alone made the audience shiver.
⸻
Drestan lowered his head.
Then—
he opened his mouth.
Air was pulled in.
The temperature spiked instantly.
The crowd froze.
"What is he—?!"
⸻
Then—
RAAAHHHH!!
Flames erupted.
Not ordinary fire.
But a dragon's breath—
raw, violent, alive.
"Dragon Breath!"
⸻
THE COLLISION
Water and fire met at the center of the arena.
BOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!
Steam exploded upward.
A white cloud engulfed the entire colosseum.
The barrier trembled violently.
The audience stood in shock.
"THAT'S INSANE!!"
"FIRE VS THE OCEAN?!"
⸻
A Scene Carved Into Memory
Within the steam—
two forces pushed against each other.
A massive vortex of water
against
a roaring stream of dragon fire.
The sky turned white.
The arena vanished in mist.
⸻
The Result — The Ocean Prevails
Slowly—
the flames began to falter.
Drestan's breath weakened.
The scales on his arm cracked.
Noah remained standing.
Calm.
Stable.
Unshaken.
Then—
CRASH!!
The Abyssal Tide swallowed the Dragon Breath whole.
Drestan was thrown back violently.
⸻
GONG!
"Winner: Noah of Aquaris!"
⸻
The Crowd's Reaction
Silence.
For a brief moment.
Then—
the loudest eruption of cheers yet.
The entire colosseum rose to its feet.
"I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT!"
"DRAGON FIRE VS THE SEA?!"
⸻
Neravos — A Shift in Interest
Neravos did not sit.
His eyes remained locked on Drestan.
"No doubt…"
"That was true dragon breath."
The voice within him murmured.
"Raelgryn's trace… still exists."
Neravos spoke quietly.
"…how interesting."
For the first time—
he was genuinely intrigued.
⸻
Sylveras
In the stands—
Sylveras stared silently.
"…that's not human."
Brant smirked.
"Now you see it."
⸻
Fenrath — The Hunt Begins
Elsewhere—
Fenrath was already moving.
Not watching.
Not waiting.
Tracking.
"…I know you're here."
His steps were calm.
Certain.
Predatory.
⸻
The Shadow — Aware
Behind a pillar—
fine particles of dust began to swirl.
The figure shifted its gaze—
not toward the arena—
but toward Fenrath.
"…that was fast."
A thin rift opened.
A cold voice echoed from within.
"Interference?"
The figure replied softly.
"An old hunter."
"Too sharp."
Fenrath drew closer.
The air grew heavy.
⸻
Brief Confrontation
"Show yourself."
Silence.
Then—
WHOOSH!
Scorching dust exploded outward.
"Gh—!"
Fenrath shielded himself instantly.
The particles burned—
his eyes, his senses.
When his vision cleared—
the presence was gone.
⸻
Closing
Below, the crowd continued to roar.
Unaware—
that something far darker had entered…
…and left.
In the arena—
a battle had ended.
In the shadows—
another had just begun.