Light split the arena. For a moment, no one could see.
A roar of thunder followed, echoing through the arena and shaking dust loose from the stands. When the light faded, both fighters were still standing.
Rina's lightning snaked across the floor, forming burn marks in twisting arcs. Her blade hummed with the last flickers of mana. Across from her, Yoo Daehan stood half-crouched, sword raised, his uniform torn at the sleeve and a faint burn marking his shoulder.
The crowd gasped, realizing he'd barely blocked in time.
Daehan smirked through clenched teeth. "Not bad… for a freshman."
Rina's breathing was ragged. "You talk too much."
They charged again—this time faster.Daehan's strikes were clean, sharp, disciplined; each swing carried weight. Rina dodged narrowly, answering with bursts of lightning that threw sparks across the ring.
Steel met electricity again and again, every impact flashing bright. The sound of clashing mana filled the air.
"She's insane!" someone shouted from the crowd. "She's matching Daehan blow for blow!"
Baek leaned on the railing above the instructor's booth. "She's not matching him—she's reading him."
Hyerim grinned. "That's my student for you."
Down below, Rina shifted her footing, eyes focused on Daehan's stance. He was steady, left leg slightly forward—predictable. She stepped in, faint lightning coiling around her ankles. Then she vanished.
A thunderclap cracked the air as she reappeared behind him. Daehan spun, blocking at the last second. Sparks exploded between their blades. The heat shimmered off the ground.
He pushed her back, panting slightly now. "You're pushing your mana flow too much. You'll burn out."
"I know," Rina said, smiling faintly. "So I'll end it before that happens."
Lightning erupted from her body—wild, raw, uncontrolled. The energy spread in sharp pulses, forcing even the referee to shield his eyes.
She rushed forward, each step marked by the burst of a thunderclap.
Daehan crossed his sword horizontally, mana flaring brown and gold as a barrier of earthen energy formed in front of him. Her strike collided with it.
The impact sent a shockwave across the entire arena.
Dust filled the air. Students leaned forward, waiting for the smoke to clear.
Slowly, the haze settled.
Rina stood, chest heaving, her uniform charred at the edges. Her sword pointed down, faint lightning still crackling along the blade. Across from her, Daehan's barrier was shattered completely—his sword buried halfway into the ground beside him.
He dropped to one knee, gasping. Rina's eyes widened. She hadn't realized she'd broken through.
The referee raised his hand. "Winner—Kang Rina!"
The arena erupted. Students jumped to their feet, shouting her name.
"She beat a top-ten swordsman!"
"Lightning wins again!"
"She's going to the semifinals!"
Rina exhaled, the tension draining from her shoulders. She turned toward Daehan and extended a hand.
He laughed breathlessly. "Guess sparks do beat steel."
"Only if you underestimate them," she said.
He clasped her hand, smiling. "I'll remember that."
They walked off the stage together as the crowd continued cheering.
Minjae nearly fell over the railing. "That was insane! Did you see that final hit?"
Jiwoo nodded, eyes still fixed on the ring. "Yeah. She pushed it too far, though. Her mana flow was unstable near the end."
Rina approached, towel around her neck, hair still smoking faintly. "Heard that."
Minjae laughed. "You look like a toasted marshmallow. Still, nice one!"
She smirked. "You're just jealous I lasted longer than you."
"Excuse me? I fought your S-rank friend! Totally unfair!"
"Still lost faster," she shot back.
Jiwoo shook his head, smiling faintly at the bickering. "Good fight, Rina."
She grinned. "Thanks. You're up next, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then don't make it boring."
Above, the faculty booth was buzzing.
Hyerim clapped loudly. "That's my girl! Did you see that control?"
Sanghoon groaned. "That wasn't control. That was reckless!"
"She won, didn't she?" Hyerim fired back.
Baek chuckled. "I like reckless. Shows they're willing to cross the line when it matters."
Kain, arms folded, said nothing for a long while. His gaze stayed fixed on Rina's exhausted but triumphant figure. "Courage and desperation look the same from the outside," he murmured. "Only the result tells them apart."
Baek glanced at him. "And what do you think we just saw?"
Kain smiled faintly. "A spark. Let's see if it starts a fire."
Later, in the locker area, Rina slumped onto the bench. Her mana core still buzzed faintly, her hands trembling from overuse. Jiwoo handed her a water bottle.
"You good?"
"Barely," she said, drinking. "But I'm still standing. That's what matters."
Minjae flopped beside her. "I think the crowd loves you more than the main characters at this point."
Rina raised an eyebrow. "We're not in a story, idiot."
He pointed dramatically. "That's exactly what a main character would say."
She threw the empty bottle at him.
He ducked. "Hey!"
Jiwoo chuckled quietly. The tension around them lightened instantly.
From the loudspeaker outside, the announcer's voice boomed again.
"Next match — Han Jiwoo versus Kwon Daesung!"
Rina sat up immediately. "Your turn."
Minjae whistled low. "Oof. Kwon Daesung—Rank 6, right? The A rank, 3rd class mage?"
Jiwoo tightened his gloves. "Guess I'll find out how strong that makes him."
Rina smirked. "Just don't get cooked alive."
Minjae grinned. "Yeah, man, I already embarrassed myself. It's your turn to carry the dignity of our friend group."
Jiwoo sighed. "That's a lot of pressure for one duel."
"Good," Minjae said. "Now don't mess it up."
Jiwoo stood, exhaling once. His eyes were calm—focused.
Rina watched him go, arms crossed. "He's too calm."Minjae nodded. "Yeah. And that's the scary part."
Back in the arena, the crowd roared again as Jiwoo stepped out under the lights.
The ground still bore the scars of Rina's battle—blackened marks of lightning and mana residue.
Across from him, Kwon Daesung raised his staff. Pale blue mana circled around him like a storm ready to break.
The referee raised his hand. "Han Jiwoo versus Kwon Daesung! Duel—begin!"