Finally… this day felt like an eternity," John muttered, rolling his shoulders as he stepped into the arena.
Stone walls surrounded the training ground, trapping sound and heat inside. The air felt tense.
"Hello, students!" Olivia Sochera called out. "Today we'll be testing your physical traits."
Her sharp gaze slid toward one student.
"I'll be choosing your sparring partners randomly," she continued, a faint smirk forming, "especially since I heard someone here wants a little revenge."
Vorten clicked his tongue and looked away.
"Vorten Tody vs. Preza Frost.
John Hirozime vs. Indra Flame."
The pairs separated, facing each other across the arena.
Olivia's voice rang out. "Rules are simple. No magic spells. You may only use magic to enhance your physical abilities or create distractions. No special eye abilities."
Vorten's stomach tightened.
That takes away my biggest advantage…
"Three. Two. One. Begin!"
---
John Hirozime vs. Indra Flame
John moved first—but not toward Indra.
Instead, three identical copies of him appeared, spreading out in a loose circle.
Indra clenched her fists. Clones again…
She lunged at the nearest John, swinging hard. The clone vanished on impact.
"Tch!"
Another clone rushed her from the side. Indra blocked, but a real blow followed from behind—John's wind-enhanced strike knocking her off balance.
She tried to gather herself, heat flickering around her arms, but without spells, her movements were stiff.
John didn't rush.
He kept moving. Circling. Pressuring.
Every time Indra turned, a clone was already there.
A final strike sent her to one knee.
"Match decided," Olivia said calmly.
Indra lowered her head, breathing hard. I relied too much on fire…
---
Vorten Tody vs. Preza Frost
Vorten and Preza charged at the same time.
Preza struck first—a sharp kick aimed at Vorten's ribs. He blocked, sliding back across the stone.
She didn't pause.
A punch followed. Then another.
She's not letting me breathe, Vorten thought.
Preza's fighting style was relentless. No wasted movement. No hesitation. Every step forward forced Vorten to retreat.
Normally, he would have seen the openings. Normally, he would have countered perfectly.
But now—
I can't read her timing.
John's voice echoed from the side. "Wow. How ironic. You're getting pressured this badly, and your eye ability is based on pressure."
Vorten gritted his teeth.
Shut up.
Preza feinted left, then swept low. Vorten reacted a moment too late.
He hit the ground hard.
Silence fell over the arena.
"Match over," Olivia announced.
Vorten stared up at the sky, feeling frustrated at the humiliating loss he had suffered
If I could use my eye abilities… no. Excuses won't help.
He clenched his fist.
Next time, I'll win for sure,shouted Vorten.