When morning came to the Golden Aegis Guild Academy, the Holy Arena of Solara gleamed beneath the divine sun — a colossal structure engraved with radiant holy runes.
The stands overflowed with nobles, guild members, and students. Each kingdom had come to witness history.
Among the crowd sat Kaelen, Rein's young disciple — silent, anxious, his hands clenched tight as his eyes fixed on his teacher below.
From the high watchtowers, the Guildmasters took their seats, while the S-Class Captains stood poised as solemn witnesses.
This was the duel the world had awaited — the first of its kind since the founding of the Five Great Kingdoms of Aethelgard.
Rein Silvarn and Ravien Drayne stepped into the arena.
Though their ideals clashed, both had come resolved — ready to fight until death itself bore witness.
Then came the voice of the holy herald:
"By decree of the Grandmaster of Solara — this duel shall decide the honor between Frostveil and Ignis. Let the goddesses bear witness!"
The runes etched into the floor blazed to life, while the S-Class mages raised towering barriers of divine light around the arena.
Up in the gallery sat Lilith, mischievous and unbothered, her legs crossed, a sweet roll in hand.
"Hm. It's starting," she said with a sly grin.
"Begin!" shouted the Holy Knights.
At once, Ravien released his aura — searing and furious, burning through the air until the arena itself trembled.
The heat surged. The ground cracked beneath his feet.
Across from him, Rein stood in silence, remembering the letter Lilith had given him:
"Win — and I will grant your wish."
His final hope to reclaim his sister's soul rested upon this battle.
Without flinching, he summoned his own power — cold and sharp, a blizzard born of conviction.
Cheers erupted across the arena as fire and frost clashed — splitting the air, dividing the very climate itself.
Then Ravien charged.
His fist, blazing with flame, drove straight for Rein — but the Frostveil warrior caught it with a wall of ice, sliding backward before countering with jagged shards of frost.
Ravien met them with a storm of flaming strikes, melting each one mid-air.
Rein dashed forward. His frost-coated fist slammed into Ravien's abdomen with thunderous force.
Ravien stumbled back — only for Rein to follow with a Glacial Slash, a cutting wind of ice that grazed Ravien's cheek and tore through his shoulder armor.
"Hmph. Not bad," Ravien muttered, spitting blood. "But if that's all, Frostbite… you're nothing."
"You talk too much," Rein replied coolly. "That'll be your downfall."
"We'll see!"
Ravien conjured hundreds of small fireballs — each the size of a marble — circling him like a swarm of burning comets.
"Try dodging this!"
They shot toward Rein in all directions, faster than bullets. One struck his back mid-dodge — the explosion shook the entire arena.
Rein coughed blood. He realized dodging was futile.
He formed a sword of pure frost, cutting through the barrage as he advanced step by step.
Seeing this, Ravien forged his own weapon of flame.
Their blades met with a sound that split the heavens.
"Come on, Rein! Give me everything you've got!" Ravien roared.
They clashed faster than the eye could follow — every strike releasing shockwaves that rippled across the stadium.
When cold steel met fire, explosions bloomed. The arena was a war zone — ice and fire devouring one another.
Then, in a blur, they broke apart —
and Ravien froze. His legs were bound in frost.
"You—!" he growled, forcing mana downward, melting the ice through sheer rage.
Flames exploded around him once more.
Rein didn't move. He simply raised his hand — calm, unshaken.
"You rely on brute force," he said coldly. "That's why you'll never surpass me."
"Don't lecture me, Frostveil brat!"
Ravien lunged again — a whirlwind of red-hot fury. His sword tore through the forming frost around him.
But when his blade struck, it met nothing.
Rein had vanished.
"What—?!"
A whisper echoed behind him.
"Here."
Ravien turned —
and Rein was already there, his sword drawn back to strike.
The world shifted.
The arena darkened. The cheering crowd fell silent.
The runes on the floor dimmed, replaced by floating sigils of frost.
The air grew heavy — time itself slowed to a crawl.
"This… isn't real—" Ravien gasped, his breath turning to mist.
"You're inside my domain," Rein said.
Ravien looked down. His legs were frozen again — but this time, the ice shimmered like mirrors, reflecting countless images of Rein surrounding him.
Each reflection raised its sword.
"Illusory Frost Domain: Hall of Mirrors."
Ravien slashed wildly, his flames tearing through illusions that shattered into mist — but every strike drained him.
His mana flickered. His flames dimmed.
"Damn you!" he shouted. "You think you can trap me in an illusion?!"
Rein's voice echoed from every side.
"This isn't an illusion."
The mirrors turned crimson, reflecting distorted images of Ravien — laughing, burning, mocking.
"You're weak, Ravien."
"Your fire's fading."
"Ignis will fall because of you."
Ravien roared, unleashing a massive explosion that shattered the domain.
When the smoke cleared, Rein was already before him.
Calm. Silent. His eyes glowing with icy blue light.
They clashed again — one final strike.
Their power shook the heavens.
"Enough games," Ravien growled.
Flames erupted from his entire body — molten red, consuming everything around him.
The ground beneath his feet melted.
The Guildmasters gasped.
"No… it can't be," Kareen Frostbane whispered. "That technique—!"
Master Rogar laughed thunderously.
"Now you understand! No one can defeat my son — not when he wields the Forbidden Form: Dragon Inferno!"
Behind Ravien, a dragon of molten magma took shape, roaring with apocalyptic fury.
"Rein! You've earned my respect. You pushed me farther than anyone ever has. But this is where it ends!"
Rein, though shaken, stood his ground.
He had seen the power of a true Chief Captain — and he would not run.
"If I must die," he whispered, "then I'll die fighting — for my sister."
He pressed his palms together. The temperature plummeted.
Frost coiled at his feet, forming a vast blue circle of runes.
"Forbidden Lost Sacred Ice: Judgement!"
The Guildmasters stood in alarm.
"Rein! Stop!" Kareen shouted. "That spell will take your life!"
Rogar closed his eyes.
"Your student is worthy, Kareen. A warrior who's willing to die for his conviction… deserves respect."
Their gazes met — silent understanding passing between two masters, not as rivals, but as equals.
"From the Ignis Empire," Rogar said quietly, "you have our respect."
Tears fell from Kareen's eyes — freezing before touching the ground.
She knew this would be Rein's last stand.
A colossal blade of frost emerged from Rein's magic circle, towering and divine.
"Ravien," Rein called out, voice steady. "You're powerful — far more than words can describe. But I'll give everything I have. Whatever happens next—thank you."
Ravien smirked, his tone softening.
"That doesn't sound like you… but likewise."
Kaelen's tears fell as he cried out, pride and awe shining through.
"Captain! Win! Win for your sister!"
Both warriors raised their weapons one last time.
And then they charged.
The sky split apart. Fire and frost collided in a final, world-shaking explosion.
The light consumed everything.
When the smoke cleared—
Rein was on his knees.
His blade shattered into mist.
His breath came weak, his eyes dull yet peaceful.
Across from him stood Ravien Drayne — his armor cracked and scorched, his aura fading, but still standing.
Barely — but victorious.
Silence blanketed the arena.
From the stands, the Guildmasters rose.
"That boy…" Guildmaster Seren whispered. "He faced a Chief Captain — and forced him that far."
Elyndra of Verdant Dawn closed her eyes, whispering a silent prayer.Rogar exhaled with pride.Kareen lowered her head, her lips trembling.And in the shadows, beneath his hood, Lucien of the Black Sun Guild opened his eyes — glowing faintly like dying embers.
"Rein…"
Her tear fell — freezing before it reached the ground.
From the ranks of the S-Class Captains, Cyran, Eira, and Elyra stood silent.
"He shouldn't have pushed himself that far," Eira whispered.
"And yet," Cyran muttered, "he did."
No one spoke.
Not even the wind dared move.
Ravien staggered forward, leaving a trail of embers.
Their eyes met — not with hatred, but recognition.
Rein looked up, smiling faintly.
"Go on," he said quietly. "Take my life."
"your name and face will never be forgotten" ravien said quietly
Ravien raised his sword.The flames burned once more — crimson and final.
The Guildmasters tensed. Master Kareen turned away.
And as Ravien brought the sword down—
The world went dark.
Every rune in the arena dimmed to black.
The divine barrier dissolved.
An unnatural chill swept across the air — not from ice, but from something older, hungrier.
A malicious laughter echoed through the void — low, jagged, crawling into every soul that heard it.
"Heheheh… how touching."
Gasps filled the stands.
S-Class Captains drew their weapons.
"What is this presence—?!" Seren shouted.
The sun's light vanished.
Only shadows remained.
Then came a voice — smooth, ancient, venomous.
"My apologies…"
"...but that soul is mine."
Rein's shadow twisted behind him — stretching unnaturally, writhing, alive.
The air cracked like shattered glass as a dark sigil formed beneath him — demonic, pulsating with blood-red light.
Ravien froze. His flames died.
The Guildmasters stood in silence.
Then came the voice again — mocking, delighted.
"Let's not ruin the fun too soon."
The entire arena shook.
The darkness swallowed everything.
And above the chaos, Lilith smiled — serene, certain.
The one she'd been waiting for… had finally come.
To be continued…