The sweltering heat around Heimrill intensified as if the clash with Ren's magical energy stirred a storm to life.
The battle of evanescent barriers would soon begin to erode the ground between them while the two of them barely took a step. They both knew the first to act would be the first to seal their fate.
'Fate has to be taken into one's hands.' Heimrill slammed his spear into the ground, spurning forth geysers jettisoning vicious gases that hissed and gurgled the lava flow as it passed over on its way to Ren.
But while the earth cracked open and wheezed with the notice of its expulsions, nothing of the contents could be seen to him.
'Sleep and submit, This battle is over.' Heimrill watched as the exhausts filled the Arena. Where Ren noticed nothing but the shifting of his surface below him and the gradual swirl of his surroundings.
"He's just standing there...Gladiolus is just asking to be taken out." The members of Class 1B tried to make sense of the sight in front of them but amidst their, confusion Alleiyna silenced their fears even as they lose sight of the battle:
"A lack of sight will not be enough to frighten him. Watch."
The nauseating sensation that was worming its way through his mind would be met by a barrier of clarity, as his watering eyes and searing nostrils instilled in him awareness.
Giving off a pulse of his magical energy, a blast that couldn't even shake Heimrill from his stance, but that wasn't the intention.
'This is taking too long. Perhaps it's due to us being enhanced, that is why it's taking so long to affect him–' His train of thought was cut short by the frightening appearance of silver piercing eyes shining a heavy glow over him.
"How?" Flaring his spear before bracing the shaft for the incoming strike.
Though the hammering blow descending from Ren forced him into the dirt, he was still in the air...an opportunity Heimrill was quick to take advantage of, as he surfed the molten flow by propelling himself with the same gas and forcing Ren back while shrugging off his blow.
A move that occurred in a time so brief that Ren was thrown into the walls before he could even react with any meaningful agency.
The approaching lava flow reclaimed more and more of the Arena, as it seeped towards the mound of rubble, the growing pillar of smoke began to rise after it reached him.
"No time to hesitate." Shifting his stance and gripping his spear with both hands, the intensity of which began creating embers from the heat he was emanating.
He pulled on the shaft giving increased length to the spear that was followed by the expansion of the same intense heat.
Now the heat was swirling around the spear in the growing vortex, Heimrill was struggling to aim it forward even with both hands, needing the force of the geysers propelling him forward to keep steady,
'Ren Gladiolus, I hope that you submit...no...something tells me that was never an option worth considering for you.'
"Apologies but I need to stop you right here–" He expressed as best he could through the screaming heat and winds.
"Soul Art: Strombolian Perun" Thrusting the now growing spearhead forward, the rush of chaos followed suit, ripping past him in a fearsome storm of winds before wrapping itself into a column of force carving a path straight through to the mound of rubble.
"Is...is this safe, it's getting pretty hot over here?" Some of the bystanders in the path of the attack wondered before their clothes burst into flames, prompting a rush from the crowd as they climbed over each other to get away.
"Damnit Reiss, he should've used Runes not Sigils." Ulrich stepped into the path of the tunnel being ripped towards him, he was soon joined by Reven and Dr. Arturion.
They exchanged a few glances before they all moved into position. Each of them carved a particular Rune onto the railings of the stands, summoning a misty veil to spring forth...shooting up from all three points around the Arena.
Once the veil reached a certain height, the edges joined to smother the incoming blast.
The attack rammed into the Arena walls, the barreling tidal wave of magical energy couldn't pierce the walls but the force wasn't dying down, instead, the energy was being forced downwards sending the entire stage into a rumbling fever, though from the teacher's calm demeanor, all seemed to be order...at least enough to not warrant panic.
But Heimrill wasn't one to be deterred, keeping his gaze firmly on the mound,
"Either you'll submit or perish here, Ren Gladiolus–"
His declaration had Alleiyna standing with her hands firmly on the rails, and a heart set alight, though as before she still had her look of intent and an expression demonstrating a desire to grasp at something.
As if almost answering his lady's desire, Ren's sudden appearance was something nowhere was prepared for, which came out of nowhere beneath anyone's notice where the only indication of his arrival came from the thunderous crash that sounded Heimrill's launch into the Arena.
The action left him standing where Heimrill once stood marked with the torn earth in front of him.
While Heimrill lay unmoving, embraced in the dirt that gave way to form the crater around him. The confusion on the stands only simmered at the sight of the sudden disappearance of the fatal assault.
"You honored your word, you didn't hold back. Fortunately, I didn't hold back either." Standing at the ready as he prepared his stance for Heimrill.
"Huh?"
Ms. Yuria would come down from her post, as she came to land, the magma cooled and hardened where she stood. Raising a hand to Ren, she approached the crater, before checking on Heimrill.
Several stifling moments passed while everyone watched, awaiting a verdict, either for the battle to continue or–
"The victor of the third round of the Cross Gardens Tournament is Ren Gladiolus of Class 1B." Ms. Yuria stepped out from the crater before calling out to the doctor to take over.
A simple gesture from him sent the Medical staff into action, while she called to her student to help his opponent out of the crater.
Replying with a simple nod, Ren made his way to the space before helping out the drowsy Heimrill as she stumbled to his feet. Seeing who was carrying his shoulder, the Troscian knight let out a chuckle before congratulating him.
'Hmmm....not a scratch on him. Well, that's unfortunate for me.' The awaking student mused.
"Even after your victory, you still honour me." Heimrill chuckled as they stumbled to where the staff were awaiting them.
The two of them came into the view of a crowd that wasn't really sure how to react to what they were witnessing.
With his free hand, Ren began to strike at his chest, mimicking the Beat. Shocking even Heimrill...who roused the crowd with the starting cry before he mustered the strength to stomp to his beat, and so too did the crowd follow in rhythmic step, celebrating the spectacle, not of strength but of honor.
And very soon the stands would grow to shake, not with terror, but with overwhelming vigor.
"You were right Captain, he's having a blast of a time." Sol said, with a smile, probably caught from Alleiyna herself.
"I'm surprised, you didn't place any bets Reiss." Ulrich returned to his seat as he mocked him.
"There was no point, the match was far too short for anyone to place any bets. And besides...this seems to be the first bout that joined all who were watching in cheers. The betting spirit lost against that display of chivalry." Reiss answered, in an off-handed tone.
"Completely unscathed. He must have been quite the opponent, Rill." Vauntuss exclaimed.
"Seems you were right about him being one of the shifty ones." She added as they went down the stairs into the corridor.
"It should have been clear from the storm of magical energy coming off of him, he may have tried to hide it but the moment he let out that pulse, it became quite plain to see–at least he took that last blow well."
"Scolding him after battle before he even has a chance to tend to his wounds. If you aren't careful, people will begin to think that the chill of your magic runs far deeper." Charlotte's words stopped him for a moment before he saw her expression.
"...I'm not scolding, I'm simply assessing. Ren may have won the battle, but that doesn't make Rill any less capable. The winds today will only howl with pride at the sound of his name." Vauntuss assured her.
"Quite the mouthful, a few words would have sufficed, Erie." She picked up her pace as she was now ahead of him.
"Then…"
"You made us proud, out there." Vauntuss answered with a smile, a rare sight even for the princess.