The arena lay in ruins, its sanded floor a chaos of cracked stone and scattered rubble, the air heavy with dust and the sharp tang of scorched earth. Rune-etched pillars flickered, their glow dimmed by the haze, while the stone tiers loomed silent, no crowd to fill them. The faculty watched from above, their gazes sharp—Lyra's silver-trimmed gown catching the midday sun, her eyes unreadable, the headmaster's crimson robes smoldering, sparks curling at his fingertips. The God Wand's case gleamed in the corner, its adaptive aura pulsing, a quiet reminder of the stakes driving every heart in the arena.

Kai climbed the tiers, his earth-motif robes dusted with ash and sand, his steps steady despite the fight's toll. The serious edge he'd worn against Sylas was gone, replaced by his usual grin, wide and teasing. "Guess I overdid it," he said, gesturing to the wrecked arena, craters and gouges marking his victory. "Think they'll bill me for this?"

The class erupted, Kael's laugh sharp and loud. "You trashed it, man!" he called, leaning forward, eyes bright. Aiden clapped, his light-motif robes still faintly glowing. "Tore it up, Kai! That was wild!" Lira's hands unclenched, a shy smile breaking through her nerves. "You were… incredible," she murmured, barely audible.

Darius leaned against a pillar, his blue wind-motif robes swaying, a grin tugging his lips. "What was that last move?" he asked, voice low, probing. "You sank the whole arena. That's not just earth magic."

Kai's grin widened, but his eyes glinted, guarded. "Can't spill all my secrets, Dar. Emissary of Gaia's got me on a leash for that one." He winked, dusting his hands, the gesture light but final. Their friendship anchored the moment, Kai's deflection only deepening the mystery of his training. Darius chuckled, shaking his head, pride mixing with curiosity. Kai had grown, his earth control a force that shook the tournament's stakes.

The arena's hum surged, the air crackling as the headmaster stepped forward, his flames flaring brighter, casting long shadows. "Next volunteers!" His voice boomed, a command that silenced the chatter, the runes pulsing in sync with his words. The faculty leaned closer, Lyra's gaze sharpening, her cryptic smile flickering. The God Wand's case glinted, its light a beacon, the air electric with anticipation. The tournament's rhythm demanded more, the next fight ready to ignite.

Darius felt the pull, his ambition stirring, the system's faint pulse urging him forward. He glanced at Kai, who nodded, his grin encouraging. The headmaster's flames danced, his eyes scanning the tiers, waiting for the next mage to step up. The arena's energy spiked, the stakes clear, every heart pounding for the God Wand's promise.

Darius moved before he could second-guess, leaping from the railing with a burst of wind. His body dissolved mid-fall, his blue robes scattering into a swirl of air, his form unraveling into gusts that spiraled downward. The arena's air howled, dust kicking up as he reformed on the floor in a rush of wind, landing in a crouch, his robes settling around him. The gusts faded, leaving him standing tall, his wind affinity a spectacle of control and flair. The runes flared brighter, the ground trembling faintly from the force of his arrival.

The class murmured, Kael's voice cutting through. "Showy bastard," he said, grinning. Aiden whistled, leaning forward, while Lira's eyes widened, her hands gripping her vial. The faculty stirred, Lyra's head tilting, her gaze assessing. The headmaster's flames flickered, a nod of approval in his eyes. "Bold, Darius," he said, voice warm but commanding. "Let's see your strength."

Darius stood, his focus sharp, wind curling faintly around his fingers. The God Wand's case pulsed in his peripheral vision, its power a fire in his chest. He was ready to prove himself, his vow to claim the wand and stop "that" event burning brighter than ever. The arena's hum matched his heartbeat, anticipation thick, his wind affinity poised to carve his name into the tournament's legacy.

Darius stood tall, his blue robes rippling, faint gusts curling around his boots, the air alive with his mana. The God Wand's case gleamed in the corner, its pulse a steady drumbeat, urging him forward. The stone tiers loomed, rune-etched pillars flickering, the faculty's gazes sharp—Lyra's silver gown glinting, her eyes unreadable, the headmaster's crimson robes smoldering with restrained fire. The air crackled, the arena waiting for its next spark.

Before anyone else could move, Lucien leaped from the tiers. His boots hit the ground with a heavy thud, the impact sending a ripple through the sanded floor, dust puffing upward. His black robes, edged with shimmering gold, clung to his lean frame, his presence a storm of intensity that silenced the arena. His eyes, sharp and cold, locked on Darius, their rivalry a living thing, crackling like lightning between them. The runes flared brighter, their glow painting the pillars in stark light, the air tightening with tension. Lucien's mana pulsed, a faint shimmer of power—his Eye of God, unspoken but felt, a weight that made the arena hold its breath.

The students murmured, their voices a low buzz. Kael leaned forward, muttering, "Not this again." Aiden's grin faded, his eyes flicking between them. Lira gripped her vial, whispering, "Their midterm fight… it broke half the training grounds." The memory hung heavy—Darius and Lucien's clash months ago had left craters and shattered stone, a duel so fierce it had cost the academy a fortune to repair. The runes pulsed erratically, as if sensing the brewing storm, the air growing heavy, almost suffocating.

Darius met Lucien's gaze, his wind stirring, ready to answer the challenge. Their rivalry wasn't just personal—it was tied to "that" event, a shadow neither spoke of but both carried. The God Wand's promise burned in Darius's chest, his ambition flaring, but before he could speak, a burst of flame erupted between them.

The headmaster appeared, his crimson robes blazing, fire coiling around him like a living shield. The heat pushed Darius back a step, the air shimmering, the runes flaring red. "No," the headmaster said, his voice a low growl, cutting through the arena's hum. "If I let you two fight like you did during midterms, this place won't survive. I'm not paying for another round of repairs." His flames intensified, licking the air, his tone unyielding. "One of you leaves. Now."

The faculty leaned closer, Lyra's gaze narrowing, her cryptic smile gone. The students froze, the weight of the headmaster's authority pressing down. The arena held its breath, the pillars' runes pulsing in sync with his flames, the air thick with heat and tension. Darius's jaw tightened, his wind affinity itching to surge, but he saw the headmaster's point—another clash with Lucien would be chaos, and the tournament demanded focus, not destruction. Lucien's eyes burned, his hands flexing, but he held his ground, silent, his frustration a coiled spring.

Darius exhaled, his decision made. He stepped back, his body dissolving into a swirl of wind, his blue robes scattering into gusts that spiraled upward. The air howled, dust kicking up, and he vanished, reforming on the tiers beside Kai and Aiden in a rush of air. The arena's energy shifted, the runes calming slightly, the tension easing but not gone. Lucien stood alone in the center, his black robes stark against the scarred floor, his frustration evident in the tight set of his jaw, though his control held, his mana simmering under the surface.

The students reacted, a mix of relief and curiosity rippling through them. Kael let out a low whistle. "Smart move, Dar," he said, though his eyes stayed on Lucien. Aiden nudged Darius, his voice low. "He's itching for you." Lira's shoulders relaxed, but her eyes darted to the arena, wary. The faculty murmured, Lyra's gaze lingering on Lucien, her pen scratching notes. The headmaster's flames dimmed, his eyes scanning the tiers for the next challenger, the arena's hum steadying but still charged.

The sanded floor lay scarred, cracks and scorched patches a testament to the tournament's ferocity, the rune-etched pillars flickering with faint light. The air crackled, thick with mana and anticipation, the God Wand's case pulsing in the corner like a heartbeat, its glow a quiet lure under the midday sun. The faculty watched, Lyra's silver gown glinting, her gaze sharp and unreadable, while the students leaned forward, their whispers a low buzz of excitement and nerves.

A shadow moved in the tiers, and a figure launched into the air. A hybrid mage, their form lithe and avian, descended with a grace that silenced the murmurs. Their robes, shimmering with iridescent threads, clung to a body neither fully human nor beast—wings folded tight, taloned fingers flexing, eyes glinting with an otherworldly sheen. They landed lightly, the ground barely stirring, their enigmatic presence sparking curiosity. The class stirred, Kael's voice low. "Who the hell is that?" Aiden's eyes narrowed, his light-motif robes dimming as he leaned closer. Lira clutched her vial, her breath catching. The hybrid's magic was a mystery, non-elemental, its nature hidden, a promise of something unpredictable.

"Sylith versus Lucien," the headmaster declared, his flames flaring briefly. "Ready yourselves." He raised a hand, counting down, his voice a steady drum. "Three… two… one… Go!"

Lucien faced Sylith, his black robes stark, his cold focus a blade's edge. His gold-edged sleeves shimmered, his mana coiling, the Eye of God's power a faint ripple in the air. The arena's energy surged, runes pulsing brighter, the air tightening as the duel loomed. Sylith's stance was fluid, their wings twitching, their gaze locked on Lucien with a quiet intensity that matched his own. The class held its breath, the arena a powder keg ready to ignite.

Darius watched from the sidelines, his blue robes swaying, his heart pounding. Lucien had grown, his presence sharper, his Eye of God a mystery that burned in Darius's mind. The midterm clash had shown Lucien's strength, but this was different—something new, something honed. Darius's ambition flared, the God Wand's promise fueling his resolve to stop "that" event, the system's nudge a faint pulse in his chest. He leaned forward, eager to see Lucien's power unfold, to measure the gap between them. The arena buzzed, suspense thick, the runes' glow casting stark shadows. Darius's resolve hardened, his turn in the tournament a fire waiting to blaze, the duel's outcome a spark for what was to come.

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