The battlefield was already in ruins from Dawson's lightning awakening, Ignis' rampage, and the brutal skirmishes that had left the Crimson boys reeling. Kira and Chris faced each other, muscles tensed, breaths ragged—but before Jayze could fully step in with his blood manipulation, a sharp disturbance cut through the air.
A shadow flickered at impossible speed. Korran appeared, calm but deadly, eyes locked on Chris.
"Step aside," Korran's voice was low, controlled, yet lethal. "Chris… you are not allowed to kill him. That is my right."
Chris barely had time to react. He lunged forward, but Korran moved faster, his blade flashing with unerring precision. In a single, swift strike, Chris was eliminated—falling silently, powerless, the arena floor splintering under the impact of his fall.
Kira's gaze hardened, but there was no time to grieve. Around them, the remaining Sovereignty students—Yuujin, Jayze, Korran, and the others—advanced. Every movement radiated absolute authority and lethal intent. The Crimson boys braced, but the difference in strength was brutal.
Yuujin's Eclipse Null flared, a black halo pulsing with destructive force. Jayze's blood tendrils, coiled and ready, surged like living spears. Korran's strikes were precise, unrelenting, and the other Sovereignty students moved in perfect synchronization.
The Crimson boys tried to mount a defense. Their swords clashed, mana bursts flared, but the onslaught was overwhelming. Every opening was exploited, every guard breached. Within moments, the battlefield became a slaughterground.
One by one, the Crimson boys fell—skill and courage weren't enough. Ard watched in shock, dodging and countering where he could, but even he was forced to retreat as the Sovereignty students combined their assaults with brutal efficiency.
Kira moved with him, defending the only path left open. He met blow after blow, countering with every ounce of technique he had—but the numbers were suffocating. The air vibrated with the impact of strikes, the battlefield fractured further, and the sound of cracking stone echoed like a chorus of despair.
"Kira… we can't hold much longer," Ard gasped, narrowly blocking a strike that could have ended him.
Kira's jaw set. He glanced at the advancing Sovereignty students, calculating, every instinct screaming for strategy over brute force. The only way forward was to survive until he could turn the tide—and for now, that meant fighting side by side with Ard.
As the dust settled from the initial clash, the scene was grim: the entire Crimson Class had been eliminated, leaving only Ard and Kira standing amidst the ruins, bruised, bloodied, and breathing hard.
Yuujin's Eclipse Null pulsed once more, a warning, a threat, a reminder of their overwhelming power. Jayze's blood tendrils slithered closer, ready to strike the final blow. Korran's eyes never left Kira, a silent promise that only he had the right to end him.
The arena was silent for a heartbeat, heavy with tension. Kira wiped blood from his lip, stared at the remaining Sovereignty forces, and whispered:
"So this is what it's like… to be truly outmatched…"
Ard, breathing heavily, tightened his fists.
"We're not done yet," he said, his voice low, determined. "We survive… and we fight back."
The Sovereignty students advanced, their presence crushing, but Kira and Ard exchanged a glance. It wasn't fear. It was resolve.
And the test… was far from over.