The cheers still thundered across the grand square.
The dust from the fallen Black Dragon hadn't even settled, yet the air was already burning hotter than ever.
People chanted in waves: "Kyran!", "Thunderstrike!", or"The boy with no medium!"
His name spread like wildfire, stirring curiosity and awe throughout the capital.
Down below, Kyran's team returned to their temporary resting area.
Soren grinned ear to ear, patting Kyran's shoulder.
"See that? I told you, we'd get the whole arena's attention!"
Kyran smirked faintly, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"We're only at the beginning, Soren. Don't celebrate too early."
Leaning on her staff, Lyra nodded in agreement.
"Right. That Black Dragon was just a juvenile. We've got far worse ahead. But… at least today, we proved that we can fight as one, didn't we?"
Aria said nothing.
She simply watched Kyran, silent and composed, her gaze holding thoughts no one could read.
Meanwhile, Mira was trembling like a leaf: "Thank goodness we survived… Those things were terrifying!"
Lyra chuckled and gently patted her head: "It's alright now, Mira. It's over."
Before the mood could settle, the booming voice of the magical announcer echoed through the arena: "Everyone's feeling the heat, aren't they? Because things are about to get even hotter! Please welcome Team Damian von Rozen (8★) from the Northern Dominion, alongside the remaining teams for this round!"
A group of five entered the battlefield.
At the front was a tall, blond young man in a crimson cloak embroidered with a noble crest. His teammates followed closely behind, each radiating power and confidence.
Kyran quietly observed them, eyes narrowed. Every stance, every swing, every motion, he memorized them all.
If fate allowed, he would one day counter every one of their moves with flawless precision.
His teammates, too, watched intently.
Damian raised his sword.
With one sweeping arc, a dozen Thunder Tigers fell like grass before a scythe.
The crowd erupted again, screaming his name, the air buzzing with comparisons between Damian and Kyran.
"A formidable opponent," Soren muttered under his breath.
And Damian wasn't the only one. Other teams began to show their strength as well.
One team of mages froze an entire pack of wolves with their ice magic.
Another, a knight and a priest riding a white steed, shattered obstacles as if the wind itself obeyed them.
Each performance only tightened the tension.
The path to becoming an Imperial recruit clearly wasn't paved with roses.
Then came the next summon, a Calamity-class beast.
The sheer pressure of its aura made the entire coliseum hold its breath.
"No way… A Calamity-class creature?!" Soren gasped.
Lyra's eyes gleamed with intrigue. "Whoever even touches its fur will be a legend."
And then… The world darkened.
A bolt of thunder, black as ink, descended from the heavens, swallowing the beast whole.
When the light faded, the Calamity-class hawk lay lifeless, smoke rising from its charred feathers.
The crowd went dead silent.
Even the holy knights on the upper stands froze, eyes wide in disbelief.
A tall young man with jet-black hair and blood-red eyes calmly sheathed his magic sword, his face composed, lips curving into a faint, eerie smile.
"And that was Everen Fredrick, from Team Damian von Rozen," the announcer declared, his voice trembling.
"A wielder of ninth-star lightning magic!"
"Ninth-star?!" The audience exploded into chaos.
Kyran's expression darkened. Something's off about him…
"Ninth-star lightning shouldn't be enough to kill a Calamity beast outright," Lyra murmured: "It would take at least a tenth or eleventh…"
Soren frowned: "Then why isn't he the team leader?"
Aria finally spoke, her tone quiet but firm: "He's hiding his true power."
"You mean… he's masking his rank?" Soren asked.
"Most likely," she replied, eyes narrowing: "But why?"
Everen bowed politely to the audience but the moment he did, a suffocating chill spread through the air.
Even his grace felt dangerous.
Then he raised his hand.
A platinum ring shimmered into existence above his palm, just as waves of lesser monsters suddenly surged onto the field.
Before anyone could react, black fire erupted around him, devouring everything in its path.
In three seconds, the creatures were nothing but ashes.
"That's… both lightning and fire magic?!" Lyra's voice shook.
Kyran, Soren, and Aria stood speechless. They knew then, this was an enemy unlike any other.
"H-he's terrifying…" Mira whispered, clutching her pillow-like sleeves.
Even the holy knights above exchanged uneasy glances.
Everen smiled gently, as if what he'd done was nothing worth mentioning.
But when his crimson eyes flickered toward their section, Aria froze.
Her heartbeat stumbled, an instinctive warning that something about him was wrong.
"That concludes the qualifying round!" The announcer's voice rang out again, quivering with excitement.
"The following six teams will advance to Round Two, where head-to-head battles begin!"
He listed the names:
1st – Team Damian von Rozen
2nd – Team Mike Lilton
3rd – Team Kyran
4th – Team Sharian Lethial
5th – Team Kelly Charm
6th – Team Ranga Headster
"Two days from now, we'll meet again for the next stage! Congratulations to all teams that passed!"
The arena erupted in cheers once more.
But Kyran's heart grew heavy.
There were too many powerful contenders and if he wanted to win, he'd have to climb even higher.
As the sun dipped behind the imperial skyline, the contestants were escorted to their designated campgrounds.
Rows of tents filled the field, lit by flickering magic lamps.
The air smelled of sweat, medicine, and steel, a mix of exhaustion and anticipation.
Kyran's team was assigned a spacious tent for five.
The moment Mira dropped her bag, she flopped face-first onto the bed with a dramatic groan.
"Finally done! I thought my heart was gonna jump out!"
Soren laughed as he loosened his armor: "But hey, we did it! If we keep this up, we'll be in the top twelve easily!"
Lyra sat on a stool, carefully wiping her staff clean.
"Celebrate later in two days, the duels begin. One mistake, and we're out. Only twenty individuals will become official recruits. Stay focused."
Soren pouted: "You're way too strict sometimes… it's scary."
Kyran chuckled but didn't reply. He listened quietly, the tension still lingering in his eyes.
Then Aria, calm as ever, spoke up: "We still don't fully know each other's strengths. Since the next round is a team battle, let's share our abilities tonight."
Everyone's silent.
Then Mira's hand shot up immediately.
"Me first! I'm illusion-type. I can heal and enhance speed, but close combat isn't my thing. My defense, though, is pretty solid!"
Soren nodded. "Yeah, I noticed."
He crossed his arms, his grin returning: "I'm a close-range fighter. I've got holy fire magic, but I rely more on muscle and sword skill. I can break defenses and draw attention. But…"
He sighed: "I lose patience easily. If the fight drags on, I lose focus."
Lyra tapped her staff on the floor: "I wield storm magic. I can control the battlefield—shields, area control, stalling enemies. My flaw… sometimes I lose focus and fall for traps."
Aria spoke next: "I'm ice-type. Long range, fast, accurate. I can monitor the field and warn others of danger. But if someone gets too close… I might not react fast enough."
Finally, all eyes turned to Kyran.
He hesitated for a moment before answering: "I don't use a medium like you do. My lightning magic is raw speed, burst, destruction. I can end fights quickly. As for weaknesses…"
He looked down: "I haven't found one yet."
Everyone let out an impressed "oooh," and laughter soon filled the tent.
After a long day of tension, that small moment of warmth brought them closer together.
Night deepened.
Outside, the camp buzzed faintly with noise from other teams. Inside, the five of them drifted into sleep except for Kyran.
He lay awake, eyes on the tent ceiling, the image of Everen Fredrick's crimson gaze replaying in his mind.
That look cold and piercing sent a chill down his spine.
If we ever meet in battle… I'll crush him, he vowed silently.
Outside, the night wind howled, carrying the faint scent of blood.
Darkness fell, and someone smiled as if waiting.