King Eldran and the seasoned complete ethereal warriors regarded Vito Fool with somber, conflicted expressions. The tension was palpable until Norton broke the oppressive silence.
"Once the King of Ancient Landel Academy team and the second place of the inaugural Interacademy Ethereal Combat Tournament," Norton began, his voice laced with a mix of reverence and caution. "Vito Fool, the Immortal Husk... his name had faded from memory, but the power of his ethereal arm has always lingered in my mind."
Kael Franklin exhaled deeply, lost in the echoes of the past. The realisation that the "student" competing in the arena below was older than himself left him awestruck.
In the SIGMA Academy preparation area, the focus was less on Vito's identity, and more on his actions. "Brilliantly executed, just as planned," Leon Ermy remarked, a rare smile gracing his usually stern face. "But we can't afford to get complacent. We need one more win to secure our place in the final round."
Vito acknowledged the praise with a nod, his wounds already healing under the mysterious influence of the "Tree of Flowing Era." Yurien and Gideon exchanged a celebratory fist bump, their contributions crucial to the victory.
"I'm up next, right?" Albert Eldran's voice was even deeper than usual, filled with resolve.
Leon affirmed with a nod, "Albert, Cloudy, Mia, and Ruby."
Albert turned to Cloudy, but his initial anticipation quickly dimmed as he noticed Cloudy's attention elsewhere. Their unresolved conflict hung heavily in the air, neither willing to be the first to apologize.
"Three supports?" Shun's voice carried a note of doubt. "Shouldn't we save some for the fourth round?"
Leon, spinning the bracelet on his wrist, responded lazily.
"Jaylen's power surpasses all the other supports combined."
...
As the students ascended the staircase leading to the arena, their faces were always etched with unwavering determination. None more so than Albert Eldran, prince of Lordrixis. This was the moment he had longed for his entire life.
"I'll prove to you all." he silently vowed.
He took note of the four Haven Royal Academy students on the opposing side, each bowing slightly in recognition of his royal status.
A handsome, black-haired boy spoke first, his voice smooth and composed. "Brendon Harper."
"Rose Remoria," announced the girl beside him, her striking resemblance to her esteemed mother unmistakable.
"Kaysa Clarendon," the next girl added, her voice friendly and unassuming.
"Harold Yellow," the chubby boy declared with a peculiar smirk.
"Albert Eldran." The crowd fell silent, a collective gesture of respect for the prince.
"Cloudy Adaires."
"Mia Hart."
"Ruby Nicolas."
"Third round of the Interacademy Ethereal Combat Tournament Finals, commence!"
Ruby and Mia immediately unleashed their ethereal arms, directing their power towards Albert. As the formidable aura surged within him, Albert gracefully ascended into the air, harnessing the wind element.
Brendon Harper casually adjusted his uniform before materializing a sting-shaped sword in his hand. A massive black wing sprouted from his back, signaling the onset of battle.
With a thunderous explosion, rock pillars erupted from the ground, entrapping the Haven Royal Academy team. As the sole damage dealer for his team, Albert knew that every move had to be executed flawlessly.
A massive fireball formed above his arm, crackling with bolts of lightning. The arena echoed with deafening blasts as he hurled the fireball toward the seemingly idle opponents.
The ensuing explosion obliterated the rock pillars, but as the smoke cleared, the Haven Royal Academy students were nowhere to be seen. Yet, everyone knew the fight was far from over.
A colossal cloak materialized out of thin air, shielding the four students from even a speck of dust. Brendon smiled at Albert before launching himself at the prince with terrifying speed, his sword aimed directly at Albert's head.
Below, Kaysa withdrew a bouquet of flowers, their intoxicating scent rapidly filling the arena. Rose followed suit, summoning enormous tentacles from the ground, which trailed behind Brendon in a relentless pursuit of their target.
Albert braced himself, channeling the earth element into his arm to block Brendon's strike. Kaysa's ethereal arm momentarily disrupted his concentration, but Ruby's crimson moon swiftly brought back his urge to defeat his opponent.
With a powerful outburst, Albert's rocky arm shattered, sending Brendon and the tentacles flying backward. Brendon struggled to regain focus, his senses dulled by Cloudy's celestial music, which left him feeling disoriented and detached.
Brendon sighed, then decisively pierced his sword through one of Rose's tentacles, causing his ethereal arm to glow with renewed vigor.
Blue particles converged on Albert's hand, a beam of water charged directly at Brendon. But Brendon was undaunted by the attack. Almost twice as fast as before, he charged towards Albert without hesitation.
Although Brendon's sword only grazed Albert's arm, the prince's face contorted with pain. With a roar, Albert sent bolts of lightning surging through the water beam, electrocuting Brendon in an instant.
Brendon nearly lost his balance, but after a brief pause, he struck another tentacle with his sword, triggering an eerie regeneration of his wounds.
Preoccupied by the tentacles' attacks, Albert missed his chance to halt Brendon's rapid healing. His arm now appeared withered and lifeless, drained of blood by Brendon's ethereal arm.
Brendon's sword, which grew stronger with every drop of blood it absorbed, now drew its sustenance from Rose's tentacles. Not even Leon had anticipated this strategy.
As Albert found himself ensnared by another tentacle, he watched in alarm as Brendon charged at him once more.
Instinctively, Albert formed layers of rock as a shield. But just as Brendon was about to strike, Harold's cloak enveloped him, and he vanished, reappearing on the ground with his sword aimed directly at Cloudy Adaires.
"I apologize for my discourtesy, fair lady," Brendon said, his voice tinged with regret. Though he detested the idea of harming a woman, Cloudy's music had been a persistent thorn in his side.
Just as Brendon prepared to deliver the blow, the air around Albert erupted, reducing the tentacles to dust. Wind surged beneath Albert's feet, propelling him toward Cloudy at a speed even greater than Brendon's.
With only a thin layer of rock shielding his arms, Albert intercepted Brendon's strike, taking the blow meant for Cloudy.
But the rock was too thin, and Brendon had grown too powerful.
Brendon's sword pierced through Albert, its glow intensifying as it siphoned the blood from Albert's heart. He withdrew the blade, panting from the exertion.
"Dear Prince, this was not meant to be the denouement of this skirmish," Brendon murmured, his voice laced with disappointment and disbelief. With Albert defeated, the battle's outcome was all but certain.
In the preparation area, Leon erupted in fury. "WHY?!"
"When his sword was about to strike Cloudy, that was the perfect moment to counter!"
"Norton Es could've restored Cloudy, like he always does!"
"Why did you throw the match like that?!"
"Answer me! Stupid goddamn prince!"
The students had never seen Leon so enraged before. His demeanor had always been either indifferent or mildly irritated, but never had veins bulged on his forehead—not even when Vito betrayed him during the previous test.