The next day came fast. By the time the crowd filled the coliseum, the morning sun had barely cleared the towers. The air buzzed with noise—students shouting, instructors watching from above, the arena floor pulsing faintly with traces of mana.
"First match of the day!" the announcer called, voice echoing.
"Kang Rina versus Seo Yuri!"
Excitement rolled through the stands.
Rina stepped onto the arena floor. Sparks danced faintly across her arms, her uniform sleeve burned slightly from her earlier warm-up. Across from her, Seo Yuri cracked her neck, smiling confidently.
"Rina, right? Heard you're quick with lightning," Yuri said, tapping her staff on the ground. "Let's see if you can keep up."
Rina tilted her head. "We'll see."
The referee raised his hand. "Begin!"
Yuri moved first—no hesitation, no warmup. A bolt of pure white lightning split the air, hissing as it slammed into the ground where Rina had just been. The flash lit up half the arena.
Rina rolled sideways, boots sliding against the dirt floor. Another strike followed instantly—then another. She blocked one with a mana barrier, but the force sent her sliding backward several feet.
"Fast," Rina muttered under her breath, adjusting her stance.
"Too slow already," Yuri said with a grin.
Mana crackled around her arm, gathering like liquid fire. She swung her staff, releasing an arcing wave of light that tore across the floor.
Rina dashed forward through the smoke—her steps trailing faint sparks. She ducked under the wave, lightning flickering around her fingertips.
Their bolts collided midair, bursting in a deafening crack.
Students flinched. Even the referee took a step back.
"Not bad for a first-year," Yuri said, smiling wide. "But this isn't enough."
Rina didn't respond. She slammed her palm to the ground—electric current shot forward like a silver snake, crawling under the dust. It reached Yuri's feet and erupted in a sharp blast.
Yuri jumped away just in time, flipping midair before landing.
"That trick won't work twice!" she shouted.
"Good thing I've got more than one," Rina replied, sparks crawling across her arm again.
The two clashed again and again—bolts crossing, heat washing over the spectators. The smell of ozone filled the air. Neither side backed down. Rina's attacks were clean, focused, built from long hours of control drills. Yuri's, on the other hand, were wild and destructive—each one shaking the field.
From the stands, Minjae was leaning halfway over the railing. "Rina! Don't lose I bet all of my month worth allowance on you!"
Students near him laughed. Even Rina smirked faintly before ducking another bolt.
Yuri pressed forward, sending a streak of lightning overhead. Rina raised a shield—one, two, three impacts—until the barrier cracked, then shattered under the fourth. The shockwave threw her to one knee.
"Still standing?" Yuri called out, her voice echoing through the smoke. "You're tougher than you look."
Rina stood, breath heavy, one side of her hair singed. "I don't quit easy."
"Good," Yuri said, smiling. "Neither do I."
They clashed again—light and thunder filling the arena. Each bolt was faster, sharper. Every time Rina blocked, Yuri's pressure grew. It was like trying to stop a storm with bare hands.
Rina's vision flickered. Her arms trembled from the overload. Then, for just a second, she closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
Her aura shifted.
The faint sparks turned into razor-thin streaks of blue light that curved smoothly across her arms. The air stilled—the noise faded. Then she moved.
To the crowd, she vanished.
A flash—then another. Every step left behind a burst of electricity. Her speed wasn't normal—she'd compressed her lightning inside her body, amplifying her reflexes.
Yuri turned too late.
Rina appeared right in front of her, palm glowing white-hot.
"Too close," Yuri muttered, raising a barrier made of mana.
The blast shattered it instantly.
Yuri flew backward, skidding across the ring, her staff clattering away. Dust and smoke covered half the floor. When it cleared, Rina stood still, chest heaving, her hand still faintly smoking.
The referee raised his arm. "Winner—Kang Rina!"
For a heartbeat, silence. Then the entire arena roared.
"She beat a second-year!"
"First-year lightning duel—no way!"
Minjae jumped so high he almost fell over the railing. "Let's go! That's my friend!"
Rina exhaled, shoulders relaxing as she let the lightning fade from her skin. Her whole body ached, but her lips curved slightly. Across the ring, Yuri sat up, brushing dust off her uniform, then chuckled softly.
"Guess first-years aren't all weak after all," she said.
Rina extended her hand. "Good fight."
Yuri took it and grinned. "Next time, I'll bring extinguisher."
They laughed before walking off together toward the exit.
Up in the observation deck, the instructors watched the replay screens.
Hyerim slapped the table. "That's my girl! See that counter spell timing?"
Sanghoon sighed. "Show-off. Elemental Division's taking revenge in the next round."
Baek leaned back with his arms folded. "Her form's messy but her instinct's sharp. She'll grow fast."
Soomin nodded. "Looks like our top six are slowly shaping up."
Baek's gaze lingered on Jiwoo's name, still waiting on the bracket board. "Not all of them yet."
Kain, quietly observing behind them, smiled faintly. "Soon."
Down below, Rina sat on the bench, gulping down water. Lightning still crackled faintly around her fingertips, refusing to fade completely. She glanced up toward the stands, spotting Jiwoo watching silently from the shadows.
Minjae was waving like a maniac, yelling something she couldn't quite hear. She smirked.
"Your turn, Jiwoo," she whispered.
Then she leaned back, closing her eyes as the crowd roared for the next match to begin.