The arena pulsed with heat, the ground a jagged mess of molten pools and fractured stone, the air thick with steam and the sharp tang of scorched earth. Aiden's light-motif robes glowed like a beacon, his stance loose but ready, his grin fierce. Renn stood opposite, his ochre robes smoldering, magma tendrils coiling around him, his eyes burning with unyielding resolve. The stone tiers loomed, their runes flickering, the faculty's gazes—Lyra's among them—locked on the duel. The God Wand's case shimmered in the corner, its promise fueling the chaos.

Aiden moved first, his body dissolving into a cascade of light. He split into multiple parts, each fragment a glowing silhouette that darted across the arena, their forms flickering like stars. The air crackled, the arena lighting up with flashes as each part unleashed Radiant Strikes—sharp beams of light that sliced through the haze, aimed at Renn from all angles. The beams struck the ground, blasting small craters, the earth sizzling where they hit. One silhouette lunged, its strike grazing Renn's shoulder, singeing his robe. Another fired a beam that carved a furrow near his feet, the arena trembling. The assault was relentless, Aiden's light parts weaving a chaotic dance, their speed disorienting, the air alive with their glow.

Renn countered, his hands sweeping wide, summoning Magma Tendrils. Molten streams erupted from the ground, lashing out like whips, each one searing the air. The tendrils aimed for Aiden's light parts, striking with precision, the ground bubbling as they missed, molten splashes scarring the earth. One tendril grazed a silhouette, dispersing it in a burst of sparks, but another took its place, Aiden's real body hidden in the fray. The arena's air roared, steam rising where magma met light, the ground cracking further under the strain. Renn's defense was a fortress, his tendrils weaving a protective net, but Aiden's assault kept him on edge, the outcome anyone's guess.

The fight tightened, Aiden's light parts circling faster, their beams converging. Renn stomped, his Magma Tendrils thickening, lashing wildly to catch the real Aiden. The air hissed, the arena's earth now a patchwork of glowing rock and ash, the pillars shaking from the impacts. It could go either way, the duel a storm of light and fire, each strike shaking the arena's core.

Renn's eyes narrowed, his mana surging, the ground trembling beneath him. He thrust his hands forward, a Magma Lash erupting, a single, massive tendril that cut through the haze. It aimed for a light silhouette, but Aiden's real body flickered into view, caught off-guard. The lash grazed his side, molten heat searing his robe, the impact sending him staggering. The arena's air flared with heat, a scorched line marking the ground where he stumbled. Aiden caught himself, his grin faltering, pain flashing in his eyes. He steadied, light pulsing brighter, but the hit landed hard, the air thick with the scent of burned fabric.

Aiden's breath hitched, his hand brushing the singed robe. He realized a durability battle would drain him faster—Renn's earth-fire mana was built for endurance, his magma aura a wall Aiden's speed couldn't outlast. The ground bubbled, Renn's tendrils reforming, ready to strike again. Aiden's light parts flickered, their attacks slowing, the arena's chaos a blur of heat and glow. He couldn't keep this up forever; his mana was finite, Renn's defense relentless. The duel hung on a knife's edge, the air vibrating with tension, the outcome still anyone's game.

Aiden's eyes hardened, his grin returning, fierce and determined. He'd bet it all on one move, a surge to break his limits. He planted his feet, the arena's ground cracking under his stance, his light-motif robes glowing brighter, mana converging around him. The air hummed, a low vibration that grew into a roar, his body radiating light that outshone the sun. The arena's heat seemed to fade, the steam parting as his mana surged, a pulse that shook the ground. The faculty leaned forward, Lyra's gaze sharpening, the headmaster's flames flaring as he raised a hand, summoning a barrier of fire and light to shield the onlookers.

Darius watched, his heart pounding, realization hitting. He'd written this in his story—a moment when mages hit their ceiling and broke through, entering a new realm. Not a wide leap, but a first step toward godhood, a state where magic and will fused into something new. Aiden was there, his mana surging beyond its limit, his light form becoming something else. The arena's air crackled, the ground trembling, the barrier glowing as Aiden's power spiked, the duel poised to shift.

This was Realm Break, and it could change everything.

Aiden's body blazed, light surging through him like a storm, his form splitting into more parts, each one brighter, faster, a constellation of glowing silhouettes that darted across the arena. The air crackled with his mana, the stone tiers vibrating as the light parts unleashed Luminous Nova—explosive bursts of light that detonated on contact, each one a blinding flash that scorched the ground and shattered Renn's magma tendrils. The novae exploded in rapid succession, the arena lighting up like a starfield, the heat from Renn's magma absorbed and reflected back as searing beams. Aiden's voice echoed from the parts, his tone cocky but strained. "Haven't fully got control of this yet," he called, his light forms weaving through the steam. "But it should be enough to show you a piece of what I've got the hang of. Try your best not to go down too quick!"

Renn's eyes widened, his ochre robes smoldering, but he moved with grounded fury. He slammed his fists into the earth, summoning Magma Sentinel—a colossal figure of molten rock rising from the ground, its form armored with hardened lava, fists swinging to smash Aiden's light parts. The sentinel's strikes shattered a light silhouette, steam exploding outward, but Aiden reformed instantly, his other parts countering with piercing beams that chipped at the sentinel's armor, molten shards flying. The arena shook, a stone tier cracking from the impact, dust mixing with the steam. Renn adapted, the sentinel's arms morphing into Lava Whips, curling to lash at the light forms, each whip exploding into fiery shards on miss, scorching the ground further. Aiden's parts dodged, their speed enhanced in Realm Break, light trails lingering like afterimages, confusing Renn's aim. One part struck the sentinel's core with a nova, blasting a chunk of lava away, the air hissing with heat.

Renn pressed, his Magma Sentinel roaring as it reformed, its body now flowing like liquid rock, adapting to Aiden's speed. He channeled Earthfire Eruption, the ground beneath Aiden's parts bubbling, magma jets bursting upward to trap them. The jets hardened mid-air, forming spiky barriers that blocked paths, the arena's surface now a maze of molten spikes and craters. Aiden's light parts split further, each one launching novae that exploded against the barriers, shattering rock in bursts of steam and sparks. The air grew thicker, visibility dropping, the ground trembling with each explosion. Aiden conserved his mana, his splits shorter, his assaults precise, aware that Realm Break drained him fast. He didn't want to winded before facing others; this mode was his trump card, but it had limits.

Renn's sentinel charged, its massive fists slamming down, the impact sending shockwaves that cracked the arena's edges. Aiden's parts evaded, reforming behind to strike the sentinel's back with a concentrated nova, blasting a hole through its chest, lava spraying. Renn grunted, sweat beading on his brow, but he held firm, the sentinel regenerating with bubbling magma. He countered with Infernal Quake, stomping to send seismic waves laced with fire, the ground splitting into fissures that spewed flames. Aiden's light parts flickered, the waves disrupting their cohesion, one part dissipating in a burst of sparks. The arena's pillars trembled, dust raining from the tiers, the faculty's expressions tense. Aiden reformed, his voice echoing. "You're tough," he said. "But let's see how you handle this."

Aiden pushed harder, his Realm Break surging, his light forms multiplying, each one unleashing novae that hammered Renn's sentinel, chipping away at its armor. The explosions lit the arena like daylight, the ground quaking, molten shards flying. Renn's eyes narrowed, his mana flaring as he merged with the sentinel, his body sinking into the molten rock, emerging as a hybrid giant, his arms extended into massive lava hammers. The hybrid charged, hammers slamming down, the impact blasting craters and sending steam geysers upward. Aiden's parts dodged, their beams piercing the hybrid's form, lava spraying, but Renn's regeneration was relentless, the arena now a hellscape of fire and rock.

Aiden's mana burned low, his forms flickering. He realized a prolonged fight would exhaust him first—Renn's earth-fire endurance was a wall he couldn't outlast. He'd bet on one final move, a surge to end it. Light gathered in his core, his body glowing blindingly, the arena's air vibrating. He launched Nova Convergence—all his light parts merging into one massive burst, a explosive light wave that slammed into Renn's hybrid form. The impact shook the arena, stone tiers cracking, dust and magma flying. Renn's form shattered, lava spraying, his body tumbling out, scorched but conscious. He raised a hand, conceding, his voice hoarse. "Enough."

The arena settled, steam clearing, the ground a ruin of craters and cooled lava. Aiden stood victorious, his light form fading, his grin wide but weary. The faculty applauded, the headmaster's flames flaring in approval. The students buzzed, Kael's voice loud. "That was insane!" Darius watched, his heart pounding, Aiden's growth a spark that fueled his own ambition.

The tournament's challenge loomed larger, but his resolve held firm.

The arena's air settled, the scorched earth and molten pools cooling, steam drifting like ghosts. Aiden, his light-motif robes dimming, strode to the crater where Renn lay, offering a hand. "Up you go, big guy," he said, his grin wide but warm. Renn gripped his hand, pulling himself up, his ochre robes singed but his laugh booming. "Haven't been pushed like that in a while," Renn said, dusting off ash. "We gotta duel again sometime, light show."

Aiden chuckled, clapping Renn's shoulder. "Your defense was nuts, man. Held up like a fortress. But that speed? Gotta work on it. Can't wait to see you top that peak, though."

Renn smirked, shaking his head. "Keep talking, speedy. I'll catch you next time." They walked back to the sidelines, shoulder to shoulder, their camaraderie cutting through the arena's tension. The stone tiers buzzed with the class's chatter, Kael's voice loud with a "Nice one!" while Lira clapped, her nerves easing.

The faculty stood, their silhouettes sharp against the runes' glow. Lyra stepped forward, her silver-trimmed gown catching the light, her voice clear. "Aiden, your Realm Break was exceptional. A true step toward mastery." The headmaster nodded, his crimson robes flaring with flame. "Remarkable growth," he said, his tone commanding. "Renn, your resilience was formidable. Next match!"

The arena hummed, anticipation spiking, the God Wand's case glinting in the corner. Darius watched, his heart steady, Aiden's breakthrough a spark igniting his own drive. The faculty's praise echoed, the headmaster's call sharpening the air. The tournament's stakes burned brighter, Darius's ambition unwavering, his vow to claim the wand and rewrite his story pulsing strong.

The arena buzzed, students shifting, eyes locked on the center where the next fight would unfold. Darius leaned against a pillar, his blue wind-motif robes swaying, his mind racing. Aiden's victory showed what was possible, but the path to the God Wand was brutal, each mage a challenge. He felt the system's faint nudge, his focus sharpening, the weight of his vow to prevent "that" event heavier than ever.

The runes pulsed, the air charged with suspense, his turn looming. He wouldn't falter, not with the tournament's prize so close, his ambition a fire ready to face Lucien or anyone else.

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