The atmosphere in the examination area was electric. The crowd buzzed with excitement as Alan and Brod prepared for their duel. Most of the onlookers were rooting for Brod, their cheers echoing his name. After all, Brod was the heir of the Kyle family, a powerhouse known for its immense resources and influence. His rare flame ability, combined with the backing of his family, made him a favorite to become one of the continent's strongest awakeners. For many in the crowd, aligning themselves with Brod was a chance to secure a brighter future.
Alan, however, remained unfazed by the crowd's bias. He stood calmly, his expression unreadable. The noise and chaos around him seemed distant, as if he were in a world of his own. His focus was entirely on the battle ahead, and he had no intention of letting the crowd's opinions distract him.
The referee stepped forward, raising his hand to signal the start of the match. The crowd fell silent, their anticipation palpable. With a sharp motion, the referee brought his hand down and declared, "Begin!"
The moment the match started, Brod unleashed his flame ability with full force. Flames erupted around him, swirling and roaring like a fiery tempest. The heat was intense, and the crowd gasped in awe at the sheer power of his attack. Brod's flames were not ordinary—they were the mark of a rare, high-level ability, and their destructive potential was evident.
Brod had already undergone his first awakening, which had granted him spiritual abilities. Combined with his newly awakened flame powers, his attack was a force to be reckoned with. He launched the flames toward Alan, his face twisted in a confident smirk. He was certain that this attack would overwhelm his opponent.
But Alan didn't flinch. As the flames surged toward him, he simply raised his hand and made a casual swiping motion. In an instant, the roaring flames were extinguished, leaving behind nothing but a faint wisp of smoke. The crowd fell silent, their cheers replaced by stunned silence. Even the referee looked shocked, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
On the podium, where the influential figures of the continent were seated, whispers began to spread. Karl Leo, a representative of the Leo family, leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he observed Alan. "That's a mentalist ability," he murmured, "but I can't sense its level. Quite interesting."
Beside him, Jennifer Stewart of the Stewart family nodded in agreement. "He's quite talented," she remarked. "Even without formal training, his control over his powers is impressive. I guess he's not as useless as the rumors suggest."
Jain Kyle, Brod's father, snorted dismissively. "Let's see how long he can stand against my son," he said, his voice laced with arrogance. The others on the podium fell silent, unwilling to engage in an argument with the head of the Kyle family.
On the ground, Brod recovered from his initial shock and glared at Alan. "Do you think just because you extinguished my attack, you can stand against me?" he sneered, his voice dripping with mockery.
Alan raised an eyebrow, his expression calm. "Did I say that?" he replied, his tone almost bored.
Brod's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. "Okay, then," he said, his voice hardening. "It's my turn now." With that, he took a step forward, his flames reigniting around him.
But before Brod could launch another attack, Alan moved. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from his original position and reappeared behind Brod, who was standing 20 meters away. The movement was so fast that no one in the crowd—or even on the podium—could react. Alan flicked his finger against Brod's back, and the force of the impact sent Brod flying through the air like a kite with a broken string.
The entire sequence happened in less than a millisecond. By the time the crowd realized what had happened, Brod was already sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. The silence that followed was deafening. No one had expected Alan to win so decisively, let alone with such ease.
On the podium, the influential figures were equally stunned. Karl Leo and Jennifer Stewart exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of shock and admiration. Jain Kyle, however, was seething. His face was red with anger, and his hands clenched into fists. He had been so confident in his son's abilities, and now Brod had been humiliated in front of everyone.
Among the onlookers, two individuals were particularly shocked. The first was Alan's mother, Rossy. She had always known that her son was special, but she had never imagined he could be this powerful. The second was a figure clad in black, hidden in the shadows. This person was Lucy's bodyguard, appointed by her teacher to protect her. As one of the legendary Divine Frost awakeners, Lucy was highly favored by her teacher, who had assigned one of her strongest subordinates to guard her.
The bodyguard's eyes narrowed as he observed Alan. Even he, with his immense power and experience, had been unable to track Alan's movements. This was a development that needed to be reported to his master immediately. He slipped away from the crowd, disappearing into the shadows to relay the information.
As for Alan, he stood calmly in the center of the examination area, his expression unreadable. The duel had given him a better understanding of his powers. He had always known that his abilities were immense, but now he realized just how much control he had over them. With a single flick of his finger, he had defeated Brod, a powerful awakener with a rare flame ability. The experience had been enlightening, and Alan felt more confident than ever in his abilities.
The referee stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly as he announced the result. "The winner is Alan Johnson!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, their earlier bias forgotten. Alan's display of power had won them over, and they now saw him in a new light. His family rushed to his side, their faces filled with pride and relief. Even Lucy, who had always been protective of her brother, looked at him with newfound respect.
As the crowd began to disperse, Alan took a moment to reflect on what had just happened. The duel had been a turning point, not just for him, but for everyone who had witnessed it. He had proven that he was far from useless, and his potential was limitless.