The sun was high in the sky, flooding the arena with brilliant light.
Two figures faced each other, motionless.
On one side, Miyu, a warrior with a sharp gaze, her elegant figure enveloped in a white, almost angelic aura.
On the other side, Yusuke, a fighter with a powerful body, covered in a dark and vibrant aura.
Their katanas were raised, glinting in the daylight.
The wind blew gently, stirring Miyu's hair, but neither opponent moved.
Silence reigned in the arena, a silence heavy with expectation.
Yusuke (thought): "All year we have been equal. But today I will prove who is the best."
Referee: "Start!"
Immediately, the atmosphere changed.
Yusuke and Miyu disappeared from their position all at once, moving at an inhuman speed.
Their katanas clashed in a burst of light and shadow, sparks flying everywhere around them.
The metallic noise echoed in the arena like thunder.
They quickly separated, each falling back to their original position, but this time their breathing was faster, adrenaline coursing through their veins.
Miyu: "I expected no less from you, Yusuke."
She smiled slightly, then dashed towards him again, her blade leaving a trail of light behind her.
Yusuke narrowly blocked the attack, staggering back from the force of the impact.
He immediately counterattacked, his black katana projecting a dark flame, which surged towards Miyu.
She leapt into the air, dodging the attack with grace, then launched herself onto an invisible platform of aerial magic to dive at him with her sword raised.
Yusuke: "I knew you would do that!"
At the last moment, he dodged her assault with a smirk, letting Miyu hit the arena floor, creating a shockwave that shook the stands.
Pieces of stone flew into the air under the power of the impact.
Without wasting a moment, Yusuke focused his energy.
The ground beneath his feet began to crack, black flames surging all around him.
He raised his right hand towards Miyu.
A gigantic column of black fire erupted from the ground and rushed towards Miyu. She reacted quickly, folding her hands in front of her.
A light barrier appeared just in time, blocking the devastating flames.
But the intensity of Yusuke's flames made the barrier crack under the pressure.
Miyu's forehead was covered in sweat, her muscles tense as she focused all her strength into maintaining the protection.
Miyu (thought): "I won't last long like this…"
Suddenly, she opened her arms, dispelling the barrier and letting the pillar of fire come dangerously close to her.
But before the flames reached her, she teleported behind Yusuke, striking with her katana diagonally.
Yusuke just had time to turn his body, receiving a superficial cut on his right shoulder.
Blood flowed lightly, but he didn't waver.
Yusuke: "Not bad…"
They separated again, each observing the other intently. The energy in the air was palpable, almost electric.
Miyu (thought): "He's stronger than I imagined, but he hasn't seen me at my full potential yet."
She clenched her katana in both hands, and her white aura intensified, becoming brighter.
Miyu: "I didn't expect such a close fight!"
Yusuke: "Stop making fun of me! All year we have been at the same level, and I know that, like me, you are not at your best!"
Yusuke: "So how about we fight 100% to see who is the best?"
Miyu: "If you care that much about losing then it's okay!"
In a burst of rage and power, both opponents screamed at the same time, their voices echoing across the arena, merging with the aether emanating from their bodies.
Their howls, full of determination, seemed to vibrate the air, like a clash of opposing wills ready to explode.
— Activation !
Miyu's left arm as well as her katana were suddenly engulfed in white flames. These flames, pure and luminous, surged down his arm, sparkling with an almost divine intensity.
They wrapped around the blade of his katana, transforming the steel into a sword of blazing light, each movement creating a brilliant brilliance, capable of cutting through the darkness.
Miyu's blade began to glow intensely, lengthening and transforming under the effect of her magic.
The katana now looked like a celestial sword, made of pure light.
Wings of light energy appeared behind her, lifting her slightly off the ground.
Yusuke (thought): "Impressive…"
A smile stretched across his face.
He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating his energy in turn.
Yusuke's black aura intensified, swirling around him with increasing power.
The dark flames, as if animated by his will, rose up his arm, devouring every inch of skin until completely engulfing him.
They then propelled themselves onto his katana, enveloping the blade in black fire that crackled with sinister intensity, transforming the weapon into a veritable vortex of burning darkness.
His katana also transformed, lengthening and becoming more massive.
The blade, black as night, seemed to absorb the light around him, leaving only an eerie void in the air.
His eyes glowed with a reddish glow as he prepared for the next phase of the fight.
They stared at each other for a moment, then everything exploded.
Miyu and Yusuke rushed at each other with lightning speed.
Their blades collided in a detonation of energy, creating a shockwave that shook the stands. The spectators were dazzled by the brilliance of light and shadow that mixed in the arena.
Yusuke: "Don't underestimate me!"
He pushed Miyu backwards with a heavy blow, then immediately followed up with a series of rapid blows, each accompanied by dark flames.
Miyu parries every attack with absolute precision, her energy wings allowing her to move nimbly through the air.
Miyu: "Dodge that!"
She brandished her celestial katana and struck the ground with divine force.
A wave of pure light crossed the arena, heading towards Yusuke.
The latter reacts instantly, planting his katana in the ground.
A black energy barrier erupted from the ground, blocking Miyu's light wave.
But the power of the attack caused the barrier to crack, and a small part of the light passed through, hitting Yusuke in the side.
He gritted his teeth, ignoring the pain, then counterattacked by creating shadow spears which he threw straight at Miyu.
She dodged the first spear by spinning through the air, but the second struck her in the shoulder, sending her to the ground with a violent jolt.
Miyu grunted in pain, but she rolled to the side, narrowly dodging a third spear that crashed where she had been a moment ago.
Miyu (thought): "No way to lose!"
She jumped up, her eyes burning.
His wound was bleeding, but that only fueled his determination.
She launched herself into the air again, then stretched her hand toward the sky.
The sky above the arena suddenly darkened, and then a ray of heavenly light fell directly on it.
His form flared with light, his wings becoming even more imposing.
Her speed increased exponentially, and she lunged at Yusuke with increased power.
Yusuke, seeing the attack coming, took a step back, gathering all his energy into his katana.
His katana glowed, black flame surrounding the blade as he prepared his counterattack.
The two fighters collided again, this time with such violence that the ground beneath their feet cracked.
Their auras mixed together, creating a maelstrom of light and darkness in the center of the arena.
For a moment, they stood frozen, their blades crossed, each struggling to gain the advantage.
Yusuke: "Give it all you've got, Miyu!"
Miyu: "I won't do less!"
They each let out a war cry, releasing all the energy they had accumulated.
A flash of light and shadow erupted, sweeping the arena in a massive shockwave.
When the light faded, Miyu and Yusuke were on their knees, exhausted, their katanas still in hand, but both too weakened to continue.
They looked at each other, panting, each respecting the other's strength.
Referee: "The fight is over! It's a draw!"
The spectators burst into applause, amazed by the display of strength and technique of the two fighters.
The day was coming to an end, but the spirits in the arena were still boiling.
The stands echoed with the excited murmurs of the spectators, all fascinated by the succession of intense fights that had just taken place.
Every student at the Academy had given their best, fighting hard and determinedly, in the hopes of being one of the few selected for the celestial summons.
The last particles of aether still floated in the air, remnants of the powerful magics used during the tournament.
The arenas were marked by cracks, craters, and traces of flames, witnesses to the fierce efforts deployed by the young fighters.
The energy that had enveloped the academy throughout this extraordinary day slowly began to dissipate, as if the world itself was taking a break from so much emotion.
The students, still out of breath, struggled to catch their breath after having delivered everything they had in these epic duels.
Some of them had faces marked by defeat, others displayed discreet satisfaction despite the crushing fatigue.
The academy's healers were busy around the most injured fighters, ensuring that no one left the arena without receiving the necessary first aid.
In the center of the large hall, the Academy Director stood tall and imposing.
His gaze roamed the assembly with a certain solemnity, as if he measured the weight of the day in each of the exhausted but brilliant looks of the students.
Beside him, the teachers exchanged quiet whispers, discussing each student's performance, weighing their final decisions.
Director: "Quiet, please."
His voice, calm but powerful, cut through the hubbub of the crowd.
Immediately, silence fell over the arena, everyone feeling that the crucial moment had arrived.
The students stood up, despite the pain and fatigue, listening anxiously.
Director: "Today, you all showed admirable courage and strength. Selection for heavenly summoning is not simply a matter of victory or defeat, but of surpassing oneself. You have demonstrated your ability to surpass yourself, to adapt, and above all, to never give up, whatever the difficulties."
His gaze lingered on certain students, who lowered their eyes, intimidated by this implicit recognition.
Director: "But as you know, only a few of you will be chosen to represent the academy. The celestial summons is an honor reserved for the best, for those who, beyond their physical and magical abilities, possess the strength of mind necessary to meet the challenges that await them in Kinokawa."
Every word he spoke seemed to weigh like an anvil in the air.
The students looked at each other nervously, each wondering if they would be one of those whose names were called.
Hopes mixed with doubts.
The names of those selected were finally announced, one by one, each name resounding like a clap of thunder in the room.
Each student called forward slowly, their minds filled with both pride and relief, but also with the awareness that this victory was only a first step.
Some students, on the other hand, remained motionless, their faces marked by palpable disappointment.
But even in this defeat, there was a spark of will in their eyes. They knew this was not the end of their journey, but simply a new starting point, a chance to improve and come back stronger.
Miyu and Yusuke, although their fights ended in a draw, had each demonstrated exceptional potential.
The tension between them seemed to ease a little as they locked eyes, mutually recognizing the strength they had revealed.
With a simple nod, they shared a silent promise: this confrontation was only the beginning.
Kurayami, meanwhile, exhausted after his own battle, looked at his comrades with new determination. Despite his initial doubts, he felt ready to face the future, no matter what the celestial summons had in store for him.
This tournament had been a test, a necessary ordeal to awaken in him forces that he did not even suspect.
The last rays of the sun penetrated through the large windows of the room, illuminating the faces of those selected.
The atmosphere was charged with a strange serenity, as if time itself had slowed down in this solemn moment.
Director : "You who have been chosen, prepare yourselves. The road ahead of you will be long and strewn with pitfalls. But remember, it is in the darkest times that the light shines brightest."
With these words, he turned on his heel, letting the echo of his voice resound in the great hall.
The students began to disperse, some silently jubilant, others pondering the rest of their journey.
The air, however, seemed lighter, as if a huge weight had been lifted from everyone's shoulders.
Thus ended the selection for the Celestial Summons, an ordeal marked by epic duels, intense rivalries, and the promise of an even greater future.
Those who had triumphed knew that their real challenge was only beginning.