Just as Darius's sword hovered mere inches from Aryan's neck, the air shifted.
WHOOSH!
A sudden gust of wind tore through the arena, swirling like a raging storm.
BAM!
Before Darius could react, a powerful surge of energy slammed into his arm, sending his sword flying from his grip. The blade spun through the air, tumbling end over end.
CLANG!
It crashed onto the stone ground several meters away, skidding with a high-pitched screech before coming to a stop.
Darius staggered backward, his face contorted in shock and disbelief. His once smug expression quickly morphed into one of anger as he clutched his arm.
"What the—?!" Darius snarled, turning to see who dared interfere.
The disciples watching from the sidelines gasped, their attention snapping to the source of the attack.
Standing at the edge of the arena was a young girl, her hand still raised, shimmering with faint traces of water and wind energy.
Her long, flowing hair—blending soft hues of blue and green—cascaded down her back, symbolizing her elemental traits. Her striking sea-green eyes were locked onto Darius, their calm intensity revealing the immense power she wielded.
It was Isha Aeron.
Aryan, still kneeling on the ground, struggled to stay conscious. His heart raced, every beat echoing in his ears as he stared up at the figure who had just saved him.
His vision blurred, but he recognized the graceful silhouette of Isha, standing protectively in front of him.
Relief washed over him, but it was quickly overtaken by exhaustion. The searing pain in his body felt like a distant memory now, his consciousness fading with each shallow breath.
"Isha…" Aryan murmured weakly, his amber eyes fluttering shut. With his last ounce of strength, he let out a breath. "Thank you..." And then, everything went dark.
Isha rushed to Aryan's side the moment he fell, her graceful movements a blend of urgency and precision.
Kneeling beside him, she placed her hand on his chest, her fingers glowing with a gentle, healing light.
Water and wind energy surged through her hands and into Aryan's battered body, weaving a delicate balance between healing and restoration.
His pale complexion began to regain its color, and the shallow, ragged breaths he took gradually steadied.
Within moments, the once dire look on Aryan's face softened, his body no longer looking like it was on the verge of death. Isha's healing abilities were remarkable, a testament to the strength of the Aeron family.
But Darius's growing rage couldn't be ignored.
"You…" he growled, his voice dripping with venom. "You dare interfere with my fight?"
Darius's eyes narrowed, his frustration bubbling over into outright fury. Isha had stolen his moment of triumph, and that was something he couldn't tolerate.
"This was none of your business, Aeron!" he snapped, his voice rising in anger.
"I was doing the academy a favor by removing this piece of trash!" He spat the words with venom, glaring down at Aryan's unconscious form. "That useless runt has been stuck at the Initial stage of the mortal tier for three years. He doesn't belong here."
Isha didn't flinch under Darius's harsh words. Instead, she stood up slowly, her sea-green eyes locking onto him, unwavering.
"I won't let you hurt him anymore, Darius," she said calmly, her voice carrying an unshakeable resolve.
The two stood in silence for a moment, the tension between them thick and heavy.
Darius's eyes burned with anger, his hands curling into fists as his patience wore thin. He had always hated how Isha remained so composed, no matter the situation. Now, she had interrupted his victory, and the rage seething within him threatened to explode.
"Enough!" he roared, summoning his sword back to his hand with a swift motion.
SHING!
The blade reappeared in his grip, glowing with the familiar aura of metal and earth energy.
The ground beneath Darius trembled as he channeled his power through the weapon, the air around him growing heavy with the pressure of his elemental force.
"You think you're better than me, don't you, Aeron?" Darius snarled, taking a step toward her. "Always acting like you're so righteous. You want a fight? Fine. Let's settle this right here!"
Isha remained calm, but the energy around her began to stir. Water and wind swirled together, forming an ethereal mist that surrounded her, glimmering in the sunlight.
"I'm not afraid of you, Darius," she said quietly, her gaze steady and firm. "But if you think I'll stand by while you attack my friend, you're wrong."
The arena crackled with tension as the two warriors faced off. Darius's sword gleamed with malice, his grey eyes filled with violent intent, while Isha's calm aura belied the immense power she held within.
The disciples standing on the sidelines exchanged anxious whispers, their eyes darting between Darius and Isha.
"Aeron and Ironhart… They're from two of the Seven Great Families."
"Yeah, Darius Ironhart… his family's known for their mastery of earth and metal elements. He's at the Initial stage of the warrior tier now."
"Isha's from the Aeron family. They control water and wind. She's been called a genius in both elements since she was a kid."
"Her talent is scary. I heard she has an additional wood element on top of that."
"And Aryan Agni… He's from the Agni family, right? They're one of the Seven Greats too."
"Yeah, they specialize in fire and lightning elements. But Aryan's been stuck at the mortal tier for years now… no progress."
"Still, the Agni family has a reputation. Their warriors serve directly under the royal family."
Aryan's family, the Agni, was once known for their unparalleled mastery over fire and lightning. The Agni family was one of the most prestigious in the kingdom, often entrusted with the protection of the royal family.
However, Aryan, the heir of such a family, had been stuck at the Mortal tier for years, unable to awaken the true potential of his bloodline. Many wondered whether the glory of the Agni family would end with him, yet his perseverance remained unshaken.
"Agni, Aeron, and Ironhart—all in one arena? This is insane."
The disciples' concerns were valid. Both Isha and Darius had reached the warrior tier of cultivation—an impressive feat for their age. The sheer energy emanating from their auras caused the very air around them to hum with tension.
It felt like the ground itself might shatter under the weight of their power.
Darius's grip tightened around his sword as he took a fighting stance, his muscles coiled and ready to strike.
"If you want to protect that useless runt, then show me what you've got!" His voice dripped with arrogance, his blade raised high, gleaming with metallic energy.
On the other hand, Isha remained composed, but her body shifted into a stance of readiness.
Water and wind swirled around her, her long, soft blue and green hair flowing with the currents of her power. The intensity in her sea-green eyes didn't waver for a moment.
The entire arena seemed to hold its breath as the two prepared to clash, their energies surging with such force that it was almost tangible.
The watching disciples could feel the weight of the confrontation in their bones. It was as if the very air around them had become charged with electricity, the tension so thick it threatened to snap.
But…
Just as their auras reached their peak, and it seemed inevitable that a devastating fight would erupt—
"Enough!"
A booming voice echoed across the arena, carrying the weight of authority and command.
The force of the voice cut through the tension like a blade, immediately halting the clash that was about to unfold.
Darius and Isha both froze, their auras instantly retracting as the authoritative figure made their presence known.
The watching disciples quickly bowed in respect, their previous whispers silenced in an instant.
The intense atmosphere of the arena shifted, the looming battle cut short by the timely intervention.
Despite the threat of violence having passed, the weight of the moment still lingered in the air, a reminder of the sheer power that both Darius and Isha wielded.
As the dust settled, all eyes turned to the figure who had stopped the impending clash.
The watching disciples couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and tension as the situation diffused, the storm that had been brewing dissipating in an instant—at least for now.