After the match, Ashen extended his hand to help Selene up. She accepted with a quiet, "Thank you," and returned to her seat, composed as ever. Ashen followed, his face calm, though beneath the surface, a sense of pride flickered.
In the back row, Levi watched the scene unfold, surprised. 'So, even with only a partial awakening, Selene held her ground against Ashen, who's tapped into half of his physique's power.'
'These physiques are different from mine. Mine enhances strength and speeds up mana core growth, but theirs… Their physiques boost mastery over their own elements and accelerate core development, just like mine. And they each have an element tied to their power, while I don't.'
The crowd grew silent as the announcer's voice echoed through the arena:
"Now for the next match! Levi D. Tempest from the Darkfall Clan versus Lyra S. Ravencrest from the Sphinx Clan."
Levi's name echoed through the arena, cutting through his thoughts. Rising from his seat, he let his gaze sweep toward the front row. There sat Lyra, framed by Ashen and Selene, her expression fierce, eyes flashing with barely contained anger. Her stare locked onto him, and he could sense the anger simmering in her stare. She's still holding onto their last match—irritated because he'd beaten her without breaking a sweat.
But now, there was something new in her expression. Confidence, maybe even a touch of arrogance, as though she believed that her recent improvements, her newly crafted techniques, would be enough to turn the tables. Levi's smirk grew slightly, knowing exactly what she was thinking. Overconfidence, he mused.
In contrast, Levi's lips curved into a playful smirk. There was a certain spark to Lyra's anger that he found entertaining.
Levi strolled toward the stage, running through a familiar wish in his mind: 'Oh, the almighty god of luck, if you're actually out there, just keep the author's attention off of me, so that he doesn't interfere with my work.' It was a long shot, but sometimes hope was all he had to work with.
Of course, just as that thought crossed his mind, a voice echoed in his head—a dead giveaway that the author had, in fact, caught wind of his plans. Levi almost rolled his eyes, a resigned sigh brewing within. So much for wishful thinking.
'Forget it. From now on, there's no god in this world. Even if they exist, I'll just pretend they're fake.'
[Ding, Host, there is a message for you from the Author.]
Levi groaned. 'Ugh, I hate this, but I can't do anything about it. Guess I'll just go with the flow and think about it later. Alright, read me the message.'
The system began, [Hello, this is the author of the world you're in now. I know you must miss me. I'm sorry about that. I've been busy with other things. So, here's a quest for you. As a gift for completing Volume 1 of the novel, I'm releasing the restriction on your Darkness Element until the end of the competition. Afterward, it'll be sealed again. Readers need some excitement, so consider this a little boost for their entertainment. Hope you enjoy it. Bye.]
"Well, looks like the 'author' has finally decided to get off their high throne and give me something useful."
As he is thinking Levi makes his way onto the stage, dismissing his recent thoughts with a huff. The crowd was murmuring, a few anticipating a good match, others with their own doubts, but Levi barely noticed. He cast one last glance at Lyra in the audience. She'd been glaring at him, clearly confident and irritated, as if this would be her grand opportunity for revenge. He almost laughed at that.
Taking his spot, he rolled his shoulders, shaking off any trace of the irritation that had lingered in his mind. "Alright, let's get this over with," he thought.
Like Ashen and Selene, Levi and Lyra walked onto the stage without touching the weapon stand, relying entirely on their elements as their primary weapons. Mastering elements to this level required an intense focus, allowing them to summon and shape their power at will. This level of control was rare, with both Levi and Lyra wielding their powers with a precision that other students couldn't achieve, even through years of dedicated training.
For most, perfecting elemental control took an unimaginable amount of effort—yet for Levi and Lyra, it almost seemed to come naturally. Even for Ashen and Selene, it might take less time, but no one knows why—at least, not until it's revealed from their POV.
Levi stepped onto the stage, his steps steady and deliberate, exuding confidence that only seemed to irritate Lyra further. She was already standing at the opposite end, arms crossed and gaze cold, as if daring him to take this lightly. The moment his feet touched the edge of the arena, she let out a scoff, loud enough for him and the nearby spectators to hear.
"Finally, you decided to show up," she said, her voice laced with impatience. "I thought you might've chickened out."
Levi raised an eyebrow, his mouth twisting into a smirk. "chickened out?" he echoed, as if the thought was absurd. "If anything, it's been a challenge keeping myself entertained while waiting for you to catch up. Last time was…well, let's just say it didn't exactly feel like a fight."
Lyra's eyes narrowed, the spark of challenge brightening in her gaze. "Oh, you're going to regret saying that," she snapped, her tone sharp. "I've been training nonstop since that day, Levi. You're not walking away with another fluke."
"Good," he replied, his tone calm, almost dismissive. She might have the soul of an adult, but her arrogance still felt childish. Levi wasn't one to back down, and he enjoyed the way his words seemed to get under her skin. "Because neither am I. Consider it a gift—the real thing this time."
The crowd around the stage seemed to pick up on the tension, and whispers filled the stands, speculating on the outcome. Lyra, undeterred, took a step forward, her stance widening, one hand subtly shifting as if reaching out for the earth's energy. Her jaw clenched. "You're too cocky, Levi. This isn't just some rematch for me. I'm here to prove that I am stronger than you."
Levi chuckled, shaking his head, unfazed by her words. "Funny. I was just thinking about how much time I should spend defeating you—I'd hate to ruin your reputation."
"Big talk," she retorted, rolling her shoulders. "Just don't disappoint me by falling too quickly."
He gave her a mocking salute, his expression unchanging. "Wouldn't dream of it."