On their way to Enji's house, they tested their new powers along the road, occasionally firing small orbs of mana into the sky, laughing when one exploded too early.
They talked about everything and nothing—training, food, ridiculous theories about dungeon bosses.
But on the last night before arriving…
Yuma hesitated.
He stared at the fire for a moment before speaking.
"Hey… Enji. Would it bother you to tell me what really happened at your last championship? Ever since I found out, I've been curious."
Enji froze slightly.
His eyes lowered.
"…Alright. It's going to be a bit long. So brace yourself."
And he began.
Flashback
The stadium lights swept across the arena.
Thousands of spectators vibrated with anticipation.
At the center of the field, the announcer raised his microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen… WELCOME to the Grand Final of the Inter-Magic School Tournament!"
The crowd exploded.
"Today… we may witness a historic moment!"
A giant screen displayed a calm face with light-colored hair.
"To my right… representing Solaris Academy…
Undefeated for SIX YEARS…
Elite-level mana control…
A strategic genius…
THE PRODIGY…
ENJI HYÔGA!"
The stadium roared.
Enji stepped onto the field.
Calm. Almost too calm.
No arrogance.
No provocation.
Just focus.
The screen changed.
Another face appeared—sharper. More intense.
"And to my left… newcomer to the region…
Representing Polaris Academy…
Former pillar of his previous school…
Recognized as one of the strongest of his generation…
THE OUTSIDER…
ROWAN WINTERSTROM!"
The crowd split.
Some cheered.
Others doubted.
Rowan entered.
His gaze was electric.
Cold… yet burning inside.
They stood face to face.
Silence.
Rowan smirked.
"So… the famous prodigy."
Enji slightly inclined his head.
"I'm not a prodigy. I just had good teachers."
Rowan's brows twitched.
"Stop."
His tone shifted.
"The strong don't need to pretend they're weak."
Enji blinked.
"I'm not pretending."
"That look… that humility… it irritates me."
The wind crossed the arena.
"If you're strong… own it."
Enji remained silent.
The referee raised his hand.
"Fighters, take your positions!"
They stepped back.
"Three…"
Mana orbs formed around them.
"Two…"
The air crackled.
"One…"
Their bodies tensed.
"GO!"
They vanished.
A collision exploded at the center of the arena.
Orb against orb.
A burst of light.
Rowan fired the first laser.
Enji dodged. Countered.
They closed the distance.
Knee strike.
Block.
Spin.
Throw.
Perfect balance.
The crowd stood on its feet.
"Incredible!"
"They're evenly matched!"
Rowan smiled.
Finally.
Finally, someone who could push him.
He intensified.
His orbs grew denser.
His lasers faster.
He forced the pace.
Enji began stepping back.
For the first time in years…
He was in trouble.
Rowan attacked again.
"Show me your true strength!"
A violent clash.
Enji barely blocked.
His gaze changed.
Something opened.
He released more mana.
His orbs became purer.
More compact.
Sharper.
He stepped forward.
Once.
Then again.
Rowan realized too late.
The rhythm reversed.
Enji analyzed.
Anticipated.
Neutralized.
A laser pierced Rowan's defense.
An orb exploded at point-blank range.
Brutal close combat.
Slam.
Impact.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Enji was absorbed.
Lost in strategy.
Lost in victory.
He no longer saw Rowan.
He no longer saw the arena.
Only trajectories.
Angles.
Openings.
Until—
"STOP!!!"
The referee intervened.
Silence fell.
Enji blinked.
Rowan lay on the ground.
Unable to move.
His body trembling.
Muscles paralyzed.
The entire stadium froze.
Then the murmurs began.
"He went too far…"
"That was excessive…"
"That wasn't a match anymore…"
Enji stepped back.
He looked at his hands.
He didn't understand.
Boos replaced cheers.
"Monster!"
"He could've killed him!"
"That's not talent—that's brutality!"
For the first time…
Enji felt guilt.
He began to leave the arena.
Head lowered.
Then—
A sound.
A struggle.
Rowan stood up.
Trembling.
Held up by sheer will.
"Enji… Hyôga!"
He screamed his name.
The entire stadium held its breath.
"I won't stay down!"
His eyes burned.
"I'll become stronger!"
"And I'll defeat you!"
Present
Enji finished speaking.
Yuma had been completely absorbed in the story.
He slowly stood and looked up at the night sky.
"You know… I can't put myself in your place or feel everything you went through."
He paused.
"But I agree on one thing. If you're stronger than others, then own it. That's who you are."
He exhaled softly.
"My dad used to say something. Men are born to fight. Whether in battle or in life. Win or lose, life keeps moving. And the moment you lose the will to fight… it's like you're already dead."
He scratched the back of his head.
"You get what he meant. There's no point blaming yourself. Just keep living as you are… until you reach the final point of your existence."
Silence.
Tears slowly rolled down Enji's face.
"…Thank you. Hearing that… helped more than you think."
Yuma smiled faintly.
"Don't worry. And if you still don't want to become a hunter… that's your choice. Only yours."
Enji looked up at the sky.
His eyes were different now.
Determined.
"I think we should get some sleep. We have to wake up early tomorrow. We're still a bit far from my house."
"Yeah… I'm exhausted anyway."
They lay down.
But that night…
Enji didn't fall asleep as the same person.
It felt like a rebirth.
End of Chapter 8