The last match of the first round finally arrived, Terrmomix's match was about to begin.
When Terrmomix took a step inside the combat arena, the atmosphere changed, everyone in the stands fell silent, an uncomfortable silence.
The teachers and students were focused on this match, on that boy who looked different from everyone else.
SIXTY-FOURTH MATCH.
RYU TANAKA VS TERRMOMIX.... BEGIN.
— So you're that boy who... is different from the rest. — Ryu looked at him fixedly with curiosity — It's not your presence... It's you. Your eyes don't reflect any emotion... That's uncomfortable.
Terrmomix didn't lift his gaze from the ground. He didn't say a single word; his katana still remained undrawn. The wind moved his hair softly.
— You're very weird. Why are you like this?
An uncomfortable silence settled in the combat arena.
— Hey, I'm talking to you. Answer me. Or is it that you don't know how to speak?
Finally Terrmomix lifted his gaze, looking directly at his rival with dull eyes — only dark blue eyes.
— Why do you want to fight in these Combats?
— Huh?! What kind of question is that? — Ryu looked at him with determined eyes — Obviously to win, and defeat those idiots from the marks and promises. That's the only way I'll be the strongest of all. — His voice was firm and resolute.
— I understand.
Ryu gritted his teeth, grabbed the hilt of his katana tightly, and slowly drew it.
— And for that, I don't have to waste time on weirdos like you.
Terrmomix said nothing. He didn't draw his weapon. He just kept looking directly at Ryu without moving a single centimeter, which made Ryu even angrier.
— Just seeing you makes me want to hurt you!
Unable to stand the uncomfortable silence any longer, Ryu pushed off the ground with his legs and lunged forward at great speed. His katana swung straight toward Terrmomix's neck.
But Terrmomix blocked it effortlessly with his own katana; he only needed to raise his blade to his side for the two weapons to clash.
Ryu was taken by surprise. Suddenly, a snowstorm began to envelop both him and Terrmomix. Ryu inhaled some of the snow and felt his body freezing from the inside out.
He retreated quickly, feeling as if his lungs were turning to ice. His breathing was no longer normal.
Terrmomix remained expressionless. He lifted his katana and moved it horizontally to the right.
— Ice Technique: Frozen Cathedral — he whispered softly.
Suddenly, a massive cathedral five meters tall, made entirely of ice, formed behind Terrmomix. Its doors swung open, and from within came a blizzard far larger and colder than the one before.
Ryu was terrified at the sight.
— Eagle Technique: Wings of the Great Eagle! — he cried out desperately.
Two wings materialized behind Ryu and began to beat hard, trying to deflect the storm. But the wind was far too strong — the wings were useless, and soon Ryu and the entire arena were swallowed up by the freezing gale.
Everyone in the stands was shocked. Even the teachers; this attack was not normal — it was far more powerful than anything seen so far.
Rika thought to herself:
— That attack... it's comparable to one of Arien's strongest moves... Is he really on the same level as him?
Arien wrapped his arms around himself. His hands were trembling.
— Hey... don't you think it's gotten way colder than it was before?
— You're right... it's freezing compared to earlier — Haruki replied.
From the other side of the arena, those bearing the Marks noticed it too.
Kael narrowed his eyes, watching Terrmomix closely.
— That attack he just unleashed... actually, his whole technique is slowly freezing the stands as well.
Zeik noticed that the walls of the arena were starting to ice over, covered in a thick layer of frost.
— At this rate, everything's going to freeze solid — he turned to Kael — Kael, that attack was incredibly strong, wasn't it? Is it... as powerful as yours?
— It was that strong. If he can keep launching attacks like that, then he really is on my level.
— Someone as strong as Arien and Kael?... Now that's interesting — Liang said with a grin.
The arena remained covered in the storm, but after a few seconds the wind began to die down, and the snow slowly cleared.
Ryu emerged from the blizzard. Parts of his body — his arms and face — were frozen blue. He breathed through his mouth, his breath ragged and uneven.
The storm vanished completely. Terrmomix was still standing exactly where he had been, having not moved an inch, and showing no signs of fatigue whatsoever.
Ryu's katana was beginning to freeze over as well. Gritting his teeth, he charged in to attack again.
— Eagle Technique: Bald Eagle's Deadly Beak!
Ryu leaped high, then dove straight down toward Terrmomix. He gripped the hilt of his katana with both hands, holding it vertically in front of him.
Terrmomix lifted his head to look up at him. He didn't move, he only spoke:
— Ice Technique: Explosive Frozen Flakes.
Thousands of snowflakes appeared in the sky and began to fall at tremendous speed.
Ryu was terrified. Desperately, he raised his katana above his head while still in mid-air.
— EAGLE TECHNIQUE: PROTECTIVE WINGS!
Two giant wings appeared above Ryu, wrapping around him completely to shield him.
All the flakes fell at once and began to explode across the entire arena. The force of the blasts slammed Ryu down toward the ground.
The area was filled with flashes of light and bursts of ice. Ryu huddled inside his wings, terrified — it looked as though his defense wouldn't hold out against so many explosions.
Terrmomix remained impassive, making no further movement. With every flake that detonated, the cold spreading through the stands grew more intense.
Floch was utterly amazed. He had never imagined Terrmomix's power was in a completely different league.
— You are... you are incredible, Terrmomix.
Ryu's wings could take no more, and finally shattered. The flakes began to rain down and strike him relentlessly.
After several minutes, the snow stopped falling, the smoke cleared, and Ryu lay motionless on the ground. The explosive flakes had injured him severely, and he had passed out.
The teacher announcing the matches fell silent for several seconds, as did all the students and instructors.
SIXTY-FOURTH MATCH. FINISHED.
WINNER: TERRMOMIX.
AND SO, THE FIRST ROUND OF COMBATS HAS ENDED. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS.
Medics entered the arena, rushing to cover Ryu with warm blankets to counter the freezing cold. Terrmomix turned and began walking toward the exit.
Every eye in the place was fixed on him. Those with Marks, those with Promises, and all the teachers — they all knew they had just witnessed the rise of a true threat.
Arien smiled with excitement.
— Wow... looks like it won't just be us fighting for first place, will it... KAEL?
From across the arena, Kael watched Terrmomix go with great interest.
— There's someone else who's now on our level. And he's going to be a problem... isn't he, ARIEN?
TO ALL WINNERS: REST NOW AND PREPARE FOR THE SECOND ROUND.
The students stood up from their seats and began to leave. Floch jumped up and ran quickly to catch up with Terrmomix.
He had just exited the arena and was walking down the corridor when Floch reached him.
— Terrmomix! Why didn't you ever tell me you were this strong?!
— Because I don't think I'm especially strong.
Floch grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him lightly.
— You don't think you're strong?! Terrmomix, you just proved you're on the same level as Arien and Kael!
— On their level?... No, I'm not.
— It doesn't matter if you deny it. You just showed everyone you belong right there, and that you can fight for the number one spot.
— ...
Floch threw an arm high in excitement and wrapped the other around Terrmomix's neck.
— Anyway, come on! Let's go get something to eat and celebrate our wins!
Night began to fall. Every student was assigned a room, which they had to share with a partner. Terrmomix and Floch were placed in the same room.