Orhan and Roy enter the ring with smiles on their faces.
"Good luck, buddy!" Roy says with a smile.
"Same to you," Orhan replies, smiling back.
Orhan and Roy change their posture into fighting stances and wait for the instructor to say start.
Now that I think about it, I never asked Roy how his Aether power works, and he never explained it either, Orhan thinks. I only know the name—Creator-type Aether power.
"What do you think, who will win this fight?" one student asks another.
"I think Roy will win easily. That Orhan guy doesn't look that tough," another student replies.
"Start!" the instructor shouts.
Orhan raises his hands toward Roy and shouts, "Mystical Fire!"
A white flame covers Orhan's hands and shoots toward Roy at incredible speed—but something stops the fire midair.
What was that? How did those flames stop in midair? Orhan thinks. It's like a shield or something, but I can't see anything like a shield.
"Hey, Orhan! That was a massive fire attack!" Roy shouts. "But it's not powerful enough to even scratch me!"
"That was just a warm-up move!" Orhan replies.
"Let's see if this warm-up changes anything or not," Roy says confidently.
"Fury Blast!" Orhan shouts while jumping toward Roy.
Orhan's entire body turns into fire as he activates Fury Blast. Flames burst from his hands and feet.
FWOOOSH!
The pressure from the flames supports Orhan in the air for a few seconds. He clasps one hand over the other, compressing the fire into a dense sphere, then fires it forward.
Roy narrowly dodges the attack with a high jump.
BOOOOM!
The condensed fireball slams into the ring floor, destroying a large portion of it.
"What the hell… he destroyed Mivo Stone?" the instructor thinks. "Even A-Class superheroes struggle to scratch it."
The fight continues as Orhan watches Roy suspended in the air, shocked.
What!? He can jump this high? What the hell is his real power? Orhan thinks. I need to focus on the match, or I'll lose.
"Hey Roy, how are you doing these things?" Orhan asks.
"Oh, you mean gadgets?" Roy replies. "I create them with my power and my mind."
"Now that you know my Aether ability, I hope you can fight me like a real opponent," Roy continues, equipping two massive gauntlets onto his arms.
What do these gauntlets do? Orhan thinks. I'll have to figure it out. Oh right—I can use the power I unlocked to defend myself and see what kind of attack he uses with those gauntlets.
"Orhan, here I come!" Roy shouts.
Roy charges forward and launches a flurry of boxing-style attacks.
"Raaaagh!"
"Fire Shield!" Orhan shouts.
WHOOM!
Flames surge around Orhan's body, forming a blazing shield. Roy's attack slams into it—but fails to break through.
"Wow! He covered himself in fire!" a student exclaims. "Mike, can you use your Aether like that?"
"I can only use normal attacks," Mike replies. "But how is he using Flame King–level techniques?"
So that's a fire shield, Roy thinks. Now he's using his power defensively, huh? Fine—now I'll show you why Creation-type Aether is stronger than you think.
Think, Orhan, think, Orhan tells himself. I have to stop him from using his gadgets. Maybe a Fire King attack will do the work.
Orhan charges forward, clenches his fist, and punches Roy.
"Fire King!"
Roy attempts to block with an invisible shield—
CRACK!
The shield shatters under the impact.
Roy activates his jumping shoes and barely dodges, but the corner of his T-shirt catches fire. He quickly pulls out a small sphere, which unfolds into a water gun.
HISSSS!
The flames are extinguished.
That attack was too powerful! Roy thinks. He broke my invisible shield with just one attack. His attacks are not on Flame King's level, but still, they are not to be taken lightly.
"Nice attack, buddy!" Roy says, impressed.
Damn! He dodged again, Orhan thinks. But now his shield is broken—and with this, he can't block anymore.
"Hey Roy, now dodge this!" Orhan shouts, launching Fury Blast midair.
Roy dodges—but a second white flame slams into him.
"Aaagh! What was that attack!?" Roy screams out in pain.
Orhan had tricked him—using Fury Blast to force Roy into the air, then striking him with Mystical Fire where he couldn't dodge.
"Roy got hit for the second time!" a student says in surprise.
"Until now, only Arya was able to defeat Roy. Can this special entrant defeat him?" another adds.
"So what do you think, buddy? Did my attack hurt you?" Orhan asks.
"It hurts," Roy admits, "but I still have some tricks up my sleeve."
Roy pulls out his water gun and aims it at Orhan.
"A water gun?" Orhan scoffs. "Now you want to play with water?"
"Orhan, remember what we said yesterday—never judge a book by its cover," Roy says. "Maybe we won't gain anything by winning this match, but I won't let you think you made a weak friend."
"Same goes for me," Orhan replies. "I'll prove you didn't make one either."
"Stop talking, or I'll cancel this match and punish both of you!" the instructor shouts.
"Water Gun—Jet Bullet!" Roy yells.
SHHHHOOOT!
Suddenly, Orhan feels dizzy.
What's happening? Why is everything spinning? he thinks. Wait… why does everything look slow? I can see the water bullet!
"Woah!"
Orhan dodges it instinctively.
For a second, everything was slower than a snail, Orhan thinks. If that bullet had hit me, I would've lost.
Orhan leaps forward and fires Mystical Fire at Roy.
"Shield!" Roy says in a hurry.
A shield materializes from thin air.
Roy blocks the attack—but—
"Aaaagh!" Roy screams as the normal shield struggles to withstand Mystical Fire.
I need time to recreate the invisible shield, Roy thinks. It takes two minutes—and I need full focus.
Orhan rushes forward and punches Roy square in the face.
"Wake up, bro! This isn't your bedroom," Orhan says sarcastically.
"Ptu!" Roy spits on the ground.
"I was just thinking about how to defeat you without hurting you badly," Roy says with a smile.
Roy isn't an easy opponent, Orhan thinks. He's tougher than those monsters. I need a plan.
"Time out!" the instructor shouts. "Both of you, get out of the ring and come here!"
Orhan and Roy leave the ring and approach the instructor.
"I'll talk to both of you later," the instructor says with a mysterious glare. "Now—Match No. 27. Arya and Milen, enter the ring to spar!"
"Hey, why did the instructor call them over?" Milen asks Arya as they enter.
"I don't know," Arya replies. "But for now, let's focus on our match."
"Look, it's Arya. He looks so cool when he fights," a girl student says to another.
"Hey Arya, how can you fight me without your slingshot?" Milen asks.
"Don't worry. My power doesn't need a slingshot," Arya replies with a slight smile.
"Fight start!" the instructor shouts.
Milen vanishes instantly.
"You're using that trick again," Arya says with a sigh and a smile.
"Shadow Room!" a voice echoes.
Black shadows surge across the ring, forming a cube that traps Arya inside.
"Black cube? What kind of power is this?" one student asks another.
"I think I saw a similar ability somewhere," another student replies.
"So, Arya, what do you think about my new power?" the voice asks.
"Oh? You unlocked your second Aether power, huh?" Arya says calmly.
Arya forms blue energy at his fingertip and closes his eyes, sensing movement.
A shadow attacks from above.
Arya bends fluidly, dodges, and fires the blue energy.
"Aaagh! What the hell was that attack!?" the voice cries.
The shadow cube dissolves.
Everyone sees Arya pointing his glowing finger at Milen's head.
"Surrender," Arya says calmly.
"Fine! I surrender," Milen replies in frustration.
"Aaaah!" a girl student screams in excitement. "I knew Arya would win this fight like a cool superhero."
After sparring every student treated by nurse.
"This sparring session is over. You may return to your classes," the instructor announces.
Then he looks at Orhan and Roy.
"But you two—stay here."
Chapter:7 Ends.