Not just fast, but fluidly, unpredictably.

"Twin Veil Cut!"

My blade became two phantoms, striking his shield from opposing angles simultaneously.

The impact, amplified by my aura, finally made him stagger back a step.

"Impressive," Chris acknowledged, resetting his stance.

"But a shield endures." He slammed his shield down again.

"Earth Spike Gaol!"

Jagged pillars of stone erupted around me, attempting to cage me in.

I used Shadow Swap, blinking onto one of the rising pillars, then leaped off, sword descending towards his head.

"Darkness Canopy!" Chris countered, raising his shield as a dome of pure shadow absorbed my strike.

We were locked in a stalemate—my offense potent but unable to break his perfect defense, his counters disruptive but unable to pin me down.

The crowd was mesmerized. This wasn't a flashy exchange of power; it was a high-speed chess match of feints, counters, and tactical repositioning.

Raffelo Blackthorn, watching from the Bliss Guild's private box, allowed a rare smile. Good. Chris understands the essence of a Knight. Endure. Outlast.

But I knew I couldn't afford to outlast him. My mana reserves, though large, were draining faster due to Aura Dominion. I needed to break through now.

I deactivated Aura Dominion, conserving mana, and created distance. Chris watched me warily.

Then, I focused, drawing on all three of my affinities. Ice. Lightning. And the subtle, warping touch of Space.

Draken began to hum, vibrating intensely.

Frost formed along the blade, crackling with trapped blue lightning and around the edge, space itself seemed to distort, creating a razor-thin, shimmering line of pure severance.

Chris's eyes widened. He recognized the shift, the sheer concentration of power. He braced himself, pouring all his mana into his shield and dark armor.

I inhaled, then exhaled, my breath misting in the air.

"Siekie Ryoku Arts: Form Three - Heaven Splitter… with a twist."

I vanished.

Not Shadow Swap. Not Swift Step. But a blink-step facilitated by Space affinity, crossing the distance instantaneously.

I reappeared directly in front of his shield.

And struck.

The space-warped, ice-lightning infused blade didn't just hit the shield but it phased through the outer layer of dark mana, bypassed the reinforced earth, and struck the core enchantment beneath.

KRRR-CRACK!

A sound like shattering reality echoed through the arena.

Chris's shield, his ultimate defense, fractured down the middle, dark and earth mana erupting outwards in a chaotic burst.

He was thrown back, landing hard, shield fragments scattering around him.

Before he could recover, Draken's tip was at his throat.

[Match Over. Victor: Michael Wilson.]

____________________

[Match Over. Victor: Michael Wilson.]

Silence.

YESSSS!

YAEHHHHHHhhH....!

Then, a roar from the crowd unlike any before. I hadn't just won.

I had shattered an 'impenetrable' defense with a technique no one had ever seen.

Chris looked up at me from the ground, stunned but not resentful.

A slow smile spread across his face.

"…What the hell was that, Michael? That wasn't just swordsmanship."

I offered him a hand up, my own smile faint.

"Let's call it… creative problem-solving."

As we walked off the platform, the holographic bracket updated, solidifying the Quarterfinal matchups.

===============================

Challenge Match

Aurelia Miller vs. Elara Moonshade.

==========================

Quarterfinals Match.

Eric William vs. Selena Veylan.

Aiden Stromfang vs. Maria Frostheart.

Leon Lionheart Vs (??)

Michael Willson vs. (??)

============================

The true battles were about to begin.

_______

The brief intermission between rounds did little to quell the electric tension thrumming through the Grand Colosseum.

If anything, the swift, decisive victories of the Round of 16 had only sharpened the anticipation. The initial culling was complete; now, only eight remained.

Eight names glowed on the holographic bracket, representing the absolute peak of the first-year class – a volatile mix of noble heirs, prodigious talents, and one undeniable anomaly.

The crowd buzzed, louder now, fueled by the spectacle they had witnessed and the promise of even fiercer clashes to come.

Broadcast drones adjusted their positions, focusing tightly on the waiting area where the quarterfinalists gathered.

Millions watched across the continent, analyzing, speculating, betting.

In grand halls and private studies, the heads of Great Families leaned forward, their usual impassivity cracking under the weight of expectation.

This wasn't just a school tournament anymore; it was a proving ground, a stage where alliances were subtly tested and future power dynamics hinted at.

In the waiting chamber beneath the stands, the eight of us stood apart, the earlier camaraderie fractured by the looming confrontations. The air was thick with focused mana and unspoken challenges.

Leon paced restlessly, his hand never straying far from his sword hilt, his gaze distant as he replayed his swift victory and likely visualized his upcoming match against me.

Eric William stood perfectly still near the entrance, a statue carved from arrogance and barely contained fury, his eyes occasionally flicking towards Leon, then me, like a predator sizing up his next meals. Selena and Elara exchanged quiet words, their serene masks firmly in place, though the slight tension in their shoulders betrayed the pressure.

Aurelia was already reviewing data slates, her fingers dancing across holographic projections, likely analyzing her opponent, Elara, down to the minutest detail.

Maria Frostheart leaned against a far wall, alone, her silver hair catching the dim light. Her expression was colder than usual, her gaze fixed on the ceiling as if plotting intricate ice formations or perhaps, intricate strategies.

Her opponent was Aiden, and the contrast couldn't be starker: cold calculation versus unrestrained chaos.

Aiden, meanwhile, was anything but still. He shadow-boxed near the center of the room, lightning crackling playfully around his fists, grinning wildly.

"Maria, huh?" he muttered, throwing a rapid combination at the air.

"Guess I gotta melt the Ice Queen. Should be fun!"

His energy was infectious, but also reckless. He saw a challenge; Maria likely saw an obstacle to be clinically dismantled.

My own mind was a whirlwind. My upcoming match against Leon weighed heavily, a confrontation I knew was inevitable but hadn't expected quite so soon.

But first, the other quarterfinals would play out, offering crucial insights into my potential future opponents.

I needed to watch, analyze, and prepare. My victory over Chris had been decisive, showcasing a new level of power and control, but it had also put an even larger target on my back.

The grand announcement echoed through the chamber, amplified by mana.

_______________________________________

[Quarterfinal Match 1: Aiden Stromfang (Seed #5) vs. Maria Frostheart (Seed 9)]

Aiden let out a whoop, punching the air.

"Showtime!" He bounced on the balls of his feet, radiating pure, unadulterated excitement.

Maria merely pushed herself off the wall, her movements fluid and deliberate.

She gave Aiden a single, cool glance as she walked past him towards her platform, a silent dismissal that only seemed to fuel his grin.

[Stromfang Clan Hold – Training Arena]

Scark Stromfang roared with laughter, slamming his mug down again.

"That's the spirit, Aiden! Show that Frostheart girl what a real storm looks like! No ice can withstand pure lightning!"

His clansmen echoed his enthusiasm, their cheers shaking the hold.

Scark admired Maria's control, a quality his son often lacked, but he believed Aiden's raw, untamed power would ultimately prevail.

Control is good, but instinct wins battles.

[Frostheart Citadel – Ice Throne Room]

Deiman Frostheart watched the screen, his face an impassive mask.

He noted Aiden's unrestrained energy, the chaotic sparks of lightning. Reckless. Powerful, but unfocused.

Then his gaze shifted to Maria as she stepped onto the platform, her aura a calm, freezing mist. Good. Let his storm break against your ice. Show them the true meaning of control.

He analyzed the matchup dispassionately, seeing it not as a fight, but as a test of his daughter's mastery over her element and her opponent.

[The Arena – Aiden vs. Maria]

The virtual environment materialized around them: a vast, frozen lake under a sky filled with swirling auroras.

Jagged icebergs dotted the landscape, casting long, distorted shadows. The air itself was biting cold.

"Perfect terrain for her," Aiden thought, his grin tightening slightly.

He hated the cold, but the wide-open space suited his speed.

[BEGIN!]

Maria didn't move. She simply raised her staff, and the temperature plummeted further.

The surface of the lake around her feet crackled, thickening, frost spreading outwards in intricate, deadly patterns.

Wind, cold and sharp as glass shards, began to whip across the ice.

Aiden didn't wait for her to build her fortress.

"Can't hit me if you can't see me!" he yelled, activating his lightning movement technique.

ZAAAAP!

He became a blur of blue-white energy, skating across the ice at impossible speed, twin swords drawn, aiming to overwhelm her before she could establish control.

"Foolish," Maria murmured. As Aiden closed in, she slammed the butt of her staff onto the ice.

"Frost Nova!"

KRA-KOOM!

A wave of absolute zero exploded outwards from her position.

It wasn't just cold; it was a stasis field. The air itself seemed to freeze.

Aiden, caught mid-dash, felt his lightning falter, his speed dropping drastically as if he were running through invisible tar.

Frost instantly coated his armor, his limbs growing heavy, sluggish.

"What the—?!" he gasped, struggling against the paralyzing cold.

Maria used his momentary weakness.

"Ice Spears!"

Dozens of razor-sharp projectiles formed in the air around her, gleaming wickedly under the aurora lights.

With a flick of her wrist, they shot towards Aiden.

(To be continued)

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