A coliseum of monumental scale stretched before them, its towering walls etched with ancient runes that faintly glowed, humming with protective enchantments. Massive, shimmering barriers wavered in the air, barely visible but undeniably powerful—an invisible curtain shielding the audience from what was about to unfold. Above, banners of red, blue, and gold flapped in the wind, bearing the Kuoh Academy crest. The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of excitement and nervous energy as students filled the spectator stands alongside stern-looking proctors, who sat like statues of judgment.
Kiyoshi stood near the edge of the combat grounds, his grey eyes drifting across the vast battlefield. The arena floor was composed of hardened earth, smooth and polished but scarred from countless battles past. Shadows of past victories and defeats seemed etched into its surface. The seats vibrated faintly from the cheers of spectators who had already chosen their favourites.
"Pretty impressive, huh?" Manjiro's voice broke through the tension, his hands tucked lazily into his pockets. He stood beside Rajieru, who had an undeniable glint of excitement in his gaze. "Bet some of these guys think they're big shots. You'll see a lot of egos on display today."
"It's not about egos," Celosia murmured, her soft voice steady despite the tension. "They're watching for control. For restraint."
Manjiro tilted his head. "Control, huh? Wonder how many of us are going to mess that up."
Before anyone could respond, a sharp voice echoed across the coliseum. One of the proctors, a tall figure clad in black robes, stepped forward to address the crowd.
"Welcome to the Combat Assessment. Each of you will showcase your abilities in single matches, evaluated on strength, control, and ingenuity. Fights end when a participant yields, is incapacitated, or the proctors intervene. Students, step forward when your name is called. Let the matches begin! Oh, almost forgot: if you're injured, you'll be healed, so don't hold back."
"Zoltan Harker. Sanae Hiragi. Step into the arena.
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"Zoltan vs. Sanae"
Zoltan strode into the arena with an easy, almost theatrical swagger, his white hair catching the sunlight. The glint of his black ear piercings and the red blazer he wore gave him a strangely regal, rebellious air. He adjusted his blue tie as if he were preparing for a banquet rather than a fight.
Across from him, Sanae entered with steady steps, her posture straight and composed. Her purple hair, tied tightly into a neat bun, complemented her no-nonsense demeanour. She gave Zoltan a curt nod.
"Let's have a good match," she said, her voice calm yet determined.
Zoltan smirked, brushing his bangs aside with a hairpin.
"Oh, I intend to. Try to keep up, would you?" His tone was light, almost playful, but a glint of mischief sparkled in his red eyes.
The proctor raised his hand.
"Begin!"
The match started in a blur. Sanae shot forward with explosive speed, her mana flaring around her like a violet flame. Zoltan, still standing casually, flicked his wrist, and small sheets of paper materialized in the air, glowing with faint white runes.
"Shikigami Formation."
The paper sheets folded into sharp-edged creatures—small birds, snakes, and spiders—that darted toward Sanae like a swarm.
Sanae's eyes narrowed. She veered left, a mana-boosted kick shattering several paper creatures mid-air, her movements fluid and powerful. The remnants fluttered harmlessly to the ground.
"Is that all?" she challenged.
"Hmm, not quite," Zoltan replied, grinning.
The fallen paper scraps twitched. Before Sanae could react, they exploded in puffs of white smoke, concealing Zoltan from view. Sanae skidded to a halt, scanning the smoke with her mana-enhanced senses.
"Tricks won't save you!" She shouted.
She charged into the smoke, her fists raised, ready to strike—only for Zoltan's voice to echo faintly around her.
"Shikigami Bind."
From beneath her feet, paper snakes sprang up, winding around her arms and legs. She gasped as the enchanted bonds tightened. Zoltan emerged from the thinning smoke, his smile smug.
"Got you."
But Sanae's response was a glare of pure resolve. Her mana surged violently, cracking the air with its intensity.
"Mana Burst!"
With a shout, she broke free, shreds of paper scattering like ash. She lunged toward Zoltan in a blink, her fist aimed squarely at his chest. Zoltan barely sidestepped, eyes widening as her punch grazed his shoulder.
"Oh, you're strong," he muttered, a mix of respect and amusement.
Zoltan pivoted, releasing more Shikigami into the air, this time folding them into razor-edged birds that circled menacingly. Sanae exhaled sharply, sweat beading on her forehead. Despite her strength, Zoltan's constant misdirection wore her down.
"Not enough," she murmured to herself before charging forward again.
Zoltan's red eyes narrowed.
"Final Formation."
His Shikigami spiralled together, forming a colossal bird with glowing wings. It screeched as it dove toward Sanae, forcing her to use every ounce of strength to evade its strikes. The crowd gasped at the sheer size of the summon.
Sanae gritted her teeth. She rushed straight toward the bird and Zoltan behind it, aiming to break through the final barrier.
Zoltan held his ground, waiting. As Sanae closed the gap, a paper seal appeared beneath her feet—a trap she hadn't seen in her blind charge.
"Checkmate," Zoltan said softly.
The seal flared, pinning her in place just as the Shikigami bird swooped over her head, stopping inches from impact. The proctor raised his hand.
"Match over. Zoltan wins."
The crowd erupted into applause.
Sanae sagged slightly, breathing hard. Zoltan approached her, offering a hand.
"You're relentless," he said with genuine admiration. "Most people fall for my tricks much earlier."
Sanae took his hand, standing tall despite her loss.
"I'll do better next time," she replied, smiling faintly.
Zoltan grinned. "I'll look forward to it."
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"Manjiro vs. Rin"
The crowd's cheers were still echoing as the proctor's voice rang again.
"Next match: Manjiro vs. Rin!"
Manjiro stepped onto the field, rolling his shoulders as though shaking off a nap. His white hair glimmered, and his ever-present smirk sent a ripple through the crowd. "This better not take long. I skipped breakfast."
Rin entered next, her demeanour quiet but focused. Her greenish skin stood in contrast to the brown ponytail that framed her face. She adjusted her gloves, her expression calm.
"This should be fun," he drawled, his white eyes glancing lazily at Rin.
The proctor raised his hand once more.
"Begin!"
Manjiro wasted no time. He leapt back, pulling a gleaming bow of light into existence, his fingers already nocking an arrow of pure mana. He loosed it in one fluid motion, the projectile streaking toward Rin like a comet.
But Rin was faster than she looked. She flicked her hand, and a wall of thick roots shot up, absorbing the blow with a loud thud.
Manjiro whistled. "Not bad. You like playing defence, huh?"
He fired again—this time in rapid succession. Arrows exploded into bursts of light, striking with enough force to crack the stone. Rin, however, moved with precision, weaving thicker vines to form shields and launching whip-like roots toward him in retaliation.
Manjiro dodged effortlessly, flipping backward with a smirk. "Come on, is that all?"
Suddenly, the vines erupted from the ground beneath his feet, coiling around his legs. Manjiro's smirk vanished. "Uh-oh."
Rin's expression remained calm as she raised her hand, more roots shooting toward him to trap him completely.
But Manjiro wasn't done. He snapped his fingers, and his arrows detonated where they had landed earlier—small bursts of energy ripping through the field. The force disrupted Rin's vines, freeing him as he somersaulted away.
"See? I knew you'd fall for that," Manjiro teased.
Rin scowled, sending her vines into a frenzied attack. They lashed out toward him from all sides, trying to overwhelm him.
Manjiro raised his bow, his eyes narrowing as he focused. A single, brilliant arrow of condensed energy formed in his hand, glowing white-hot.
"Sorry, Rin," he murmured.
He loosed the arrow, and it streaked forward with blinding speed. Rin's vines raced to intercept, but the projectile pierced through them all, grazing her shoulder before dissipating harmlessly.
The proctor raised his hand. "Match over! Winner: Manjiro."
Manjiro lowered his bow with a cocky grin. "Told you I was hungry."
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"After the Matches."
The arena was alive with cheers and chatter as students rushed to discuss the fights. From the stands, Kiyoshi watched quietly, his washed-grey eyes flickering with curiosity.
Zoltan plopped down next to him, tossing his blazer over his shoulder. "What do you think so far, kid?"
Kiyoshi didn't answer immediately. He watched Manjiro exit the field, hands behind his head, while Rin tended to her wound. Finally, Kiyoshi muttered softly, "Everyone's strong."
Zoltan grinned. "Yeah, and it's just the first round. Things are only going to get more interesting from here."
From across the arena, another figure watched Kiyoshi carefully. Ardyn, standing tall and silent, narrowed his crystalline blue eyes.
To Be Continued...
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