The arena hums with anticipation, the energy of the crowd palpable as everyone awaits the start of the Battle of the Elementals. The grandstands are packed with spectators—students, staff, and outsiders alike—all eager to witness the cadets showcase their skills. The atmosphere is electric, a blend of excitement and tension, as the competitors prepare to enter the battlefield.
"Yo ho! Welcome everyone! My name is Callie, and I'll be one of your fabulous hosts today, yay!" A girl with vibrant magenta hair tied in a side ponytail bounds across the stage, her enthusiasm almost too much to handle. She waves at the crowd with exaggerated energy, her voice bubbling with excitement.
Beside her, a boy with long seaweed-colored hair that falls to his neck and a pair of thick glasses stands with a much more subdued demeanor. His posture is relaxed, almost bored, as he raises a hand in a half-hearted greeting. "Hello, everyone. My name is Jason, and I'll also be your host for today's 106th annual Battle of the Elementals. We thank you all for coming out so early this morning, and we hope you enjoy the show."
Callie rolls her eyes playfully at Jason's lackluster introduction and then turns back to the crowd, her energy undampened. "Okay, now that the stiff's done talking, let's liven this place up! Are you ready for an awesome show?"
The crowd responds with enthusiastic cheers and applause, feeding off Callie's boundless energy. She twirls and dances around the stage, her infectious enthusiasm spreading through the audience.
"Alright! We've got an awesome event for you all today, where this year's graduate hopefuls are going to duke it out, battle royale style! Of course, no one will be in any crucial danger, but that doesn't mean there's not going to be pain to go around as our cadets mean business. After a boring qualifying round, the fiercest of the cadets will face off, elemental versus elemental—that's where the fun really begins."
Jason seizes his chance to cut in, eager to keep things moving along. "So what do you say we get this thing started? We've got several rounds to get through, and I'm sure no one wants to be here all day. I certainly don't."
Laughter ripples through the crowd, a few whistles and shouts echoing in agreement.
"Okay then, Mr. Sour Puss," Callie teases, nudging Jason with her elbow. "Let's kick things off with our first qualifier: Class F-1, as in Fire, versus Class W-1, as in Water! Each of the two classes of twenty will face off, and the top two from each class will move on to Round 2, for a total of four cadets per element class. That means four each for Fire, Earth, Air, and Water!"
"You don't have to break it down for them like that, Callie. They know already," Jason mutters, clearly irritated by her over-explanation. He then addresses the competitors, his tone more serious. "All participants, please line up at the starting lines and wait for the tone. Fight well but fight safe."
On the field, the two classes face off, the air between them charged with tension and anticipation. On the Fire side, Nik and Noah stand side by side, their expressions a mix of determination and excitement. On the Water side, Mai stands across from them, her gaze focused and steady. To Noah's surprise, Ouran is lined up next to Mai, a sinister grin on their face as they lock eyes with Noah. Their grin widens, a silent promise that they're coming for him.
Mai notices Ouran's unsettling presence beside her and feels a chill run down her spine. There's something about them that feels off, more so now than ever before. Their energy, their demeanor—it all makes her skin crawl.
Ouran catches her staring and smirks, their voice dripping with condescension. "Don't get in my way, and I won't get in yours. Sound like a plan?"
Mai's eyes narrow, her voice cold and unwavering. "Trust me, I won't, because frankly, I don't like you. Just know that if you try to hurt my friends, I'll hurt you." Her words hang in the air, a promise she intends to keep.
Ouran chuckles, clearly amused. "Don't worry, I'm not after your friends. In fact, I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we all get to the finals. So just worry about your own efforts. I'll take care of the rest." Their words are laced with an eerie calmness that only deepens Mai's unease, but she decides to focus on the battle instead, tuning out their unsettling presence.
Noah, having overheard their exchange, raises an eyebrow in suspicion. He's not sure what Ouran's planning, but he knows it's likely not going to be good. His thoughts are abruptly interrupted as the tone sounds, signaling the start of the battle.
Noah's reflexes kick in immediately, and despite his momentary distraction, he's one of the first to spring into action. He lunges at the nearest opponent, his movements swift and precise. His first strike nearly takes his opponent down, but Tahno's warning echoes in his mind, reminding him to hold back. He pulls his punch at the last second, sparing his opponent from serious harm.
"Ouch! The first hit of the competition, and it already looks like that guy's in a lot of pain," Callie's voice echoes over the speakers, her excitement palpable. "Noah's not wasting any time. Guess he's not called the Iron Man for nothing. You're sure to be in for quite a show today, folks, since Noah and the Elite Junsui Task Force Members are fighting today. They're the best!"
Jason, ever the skeptic, scoffs. "Please, don't flatter them, Callie. They're not that spectacular. They just get special treatment."
"Uh oh, sounds like someone's jealous!" Callie teases. "Don't be mad just because you can't be as good as them."
Jason glares at her, his patience wearing thin. "This is not a conversation to be having right now, Callie. We're supposed to be talking about the match."
"Okay, then!" Callie shifts gears effortlessly, her voice rising with excitement. "The battle is getting fierce! There's fire, water, and ice flying all around! It's mayhem!"
The battlefield is a whirlwind of elemental energy, the cadets pushing themselves to their limits. Flames roar, water surges, and ice shards cut through the air as the cadets clash in a chaotic dance of power and strategy. Noah and Nik quickly establish their dominance, their coordinated attacks overwhelming their opponents.
"It looks like we've just gotten our first knockout," Jason notes, his tone deadpan. "Such a shame, there were only two minutes left."
"Well, I guess they'll have plenty of time to get it together for next year," Callie chirps. "Good job though, yay!"
As the battle nears the ten-minute mark, the intensity begins to wane. The cadets are visibly tired, their movements slowing as the strain of the fight takes its toll. Despite this, a few more cadets are knocked out in the final minute, unable to hold on any longer. Finally, the tone sounds, signaling the end of the first round.
The battlefield falls quiet as the remaining cadets take a collective breath, their bodies aching and minds reeling from the exertion. Slowly, the weaker cadets begin to drop out voluntarily, acknowledging their limits. Within moments, only four cadets remain on each side—Mai, Ouran, Nik, and Noah among them. They instinctively pair up with their closest allies, ready for the next phase of the battle.
"Looks like they've decided on their alliances, folks!" Callie announces. "Fire elementals Noah and Nik battling against water elementals Emmy and Kyle, and Fire Elementals Yare and Mike battling against Mai and Ouran! Only one pair from each side can move on, so who's it gonna be, folks? We're about to find out!"
Noah and Nik don't need to exchange words—they've already made up their minds. They focus their attacks on the other water pair, ignoring Mai and Ouran for now. It's an unspoken agreement, a strategy they've silently agreed upon. Their combined power proves too much for their opponents, and it doesn't take long before they've secured their victory.
On the other side, Mai and Ouran work in an uneasy tandem, both understanding that the time for their conflict will come later. For now, they eliminate their opponents with ruthless efficiency, driven by the desire to advance. With the final blows landed, the first battle concludes, leaving only the victors standing.
"Oh boy! There you have it, folks!" Callie's voice rings out, triumphant. "We have our first two pairs of Fire and Water Elementals moving on! It's not much of a surprise, but let's hear it for Noah, Nik, Mai, and Ouran!"
The crowd erupts into applause and cheers, their excitement infectious. The four cadets wave to the crowd as they exit the battlefield, their expressions a mix of relief and determination. As they walk off, they exchange high-fives, the camaraderie of their shared victory momentarily bridging the gaps between them.
But as they approach the council's booth, the cheers are abruptly cut by a new sound—booing. The cadets' smiles falter, and they exchange wary glances, knowing exactly who is behind the jeers. Tahno stands in his seat, booing loudly, a mischievous grin plastered on his face.
"Boring!" Tahno shouts, his voice carrying over the noise of the crowd. "Let's see a real battle out there!"
The nearby spectators give Tahno curious looks, some amused, others confused. The council members shake their heads, clearly disapproving of Tahno's antics, but they say nothing.
"That's one battle down, three more to go for Round 1," Jason announces, seamlessly shifting the focus back to the competition. "So let's jump right into the next match. Now it's…." He continues announcing the next battle, his voice drowned out by the roar of the crowd as they prepare for the next round.
As the four cadets make their way back to their class sections, the weight of the upcoming battles presses down on them. The first round may be over, but the real fight has only just begun. The path to victory is still long and fraught with challenges, but they've taken the first step—and they won't stop until they've claimed their place at the top.