Melios Drimdess's Point of View
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Based on the information I gathered during the student analyses here, Kaiser Mendoris is one of the most powerful students at the academy. The second and third most powerful students are about to face off. Given the students' enthusiasm, they all seem to think the fight will be evenly matched...
"Guys, give us a memorable show, it's your turn!" the professor shouted, his voice booming.
The students turned to each other, nervous murmurs sweeping through the crowd. Some tried to predict the outcome of the battle.
"Do you really think Kaiser stands a chance against a Sendaris?" one of them said, doubt shadowing his face.
"Shouldn't Anos be the one wondering if he can actually compete with Kaiser?" another retorted, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. Eyes met, and the air seemed to thicken with palpable tension, the uncertainty weighing heavily on the scene.
"Oh my, the battle will be titanic," added another. Everyone seemed to anticipate a titanic clash... but no one could guess how Anos would win. I don't have all the details on Kaiser's abilities, but I think knowing Anos's is more than enough.
" 'Ketsurei: First Quarter Opening,'" Anos announced at the start of the combat. As with Zyriel, his chakra production and the power of his chakra-based techniques were multiplied by 25. A fine, incandescent red aura surrounded him.
"What!? He's already activating his Ketsurei!?" I said, surprised but calm.
"He doesn't want to make the mistake of underestimating Kaiser," Miss Erina remarked.
Kaiser, with his piercing gaze, slightly lowered his head. I was about to understand why he was called the son of the Scourge Lion. The arena floor began to shake, stones levitated beside Kaiser before disintegrating mid-air. Golden, pointed marks spread from the back of his right hand to his cheek. His already gold eyes began to glow, and a brutal outburst of his aura shook the arena, sweeping the wind away from him, cracking the ground beneath.
The Metaryons, fascinated by such power, couldn't help but cheer. "Go Kaiser!!! You're going to win this match!!!"
"Go Kaiser!!" screamed girls from all races.
"Can you really beat a guy like this?" Miss Erina asked Areyos Orionis, looking quite surprised.
"Ha, it happens, yes, but that's because I know him inside out," he answered with a smile. Kaiser prepared lightning in his hand, but Anos was quicker and launched his attack first.
" 'Kuro: Morbid Mist,'" he said. A violet mist spread rapidly towards Kaiser. Miss Erina, recognizing this technique as poison, instinctively took a step back. Areyos seemed to notice.
"It's a simulation, don't worry," he said reassuringly. Miss Erina looked at him, both surprised and confused.
"How did you--!? Did you do research on me!?" she asked, trying to keep her composure. The idea that someone as powerful as Areyos Orionis knew her weakness made her uncomfortable. But Areyos reassured her.
"I found out by chance while trying to learn more about Valtor by asking Barrios. The conversation inevitably led to discussing your father and what happened before you were born," he said, looking at her with compassion before turning away. "But you're lucky; with my air and water bending, I'll ensure no toxic gas or liquid gets near you as long as I'm around," he said, smiling.
"Can you give me your word you won't use this against me?" she murmured. Areyos looked at her for a few seconds before replying.
"I give you my word that I'll find a way to eliminate your weakness. As for you, make sure you stay alive until then," he promised.
Miss Erina was momentarily frozen before responding. "Tch, of course, I'll stay alive, who do you think I am?" she said, turning her gaze away, slightly embarrassed. Seeing her, she was probably touched by Areyos's words, even if she tried to show otherwise. But at the same time, knowing her, she has trouble trusting others' promises. Her interactions with Areyos Orionis are at least warmer than with Mr. Kayn.
Anyway, the fight continued; Kaiser propelled flames forward, consuming the poisoned mist, then jumped high into the air, raised his right arm, and launched a gigantic attack.
" 'Giant Meteor,'" he said, a Ki ball at least 20 meters in diameter forming above his hand. He then hurled it towards Anos.
" 'Shiro: Steel Skin,' " Anos said, a very thin gray aura enveloping him. This metal-type affliction significantly increased physical resistance. Anos didn't stop there; he launched a technique that no one could have anticipated. He extended his arm towards the attack, and to everyone's surprise, a green magic circle appeared before him.
" 'Mana Wall'," he said, calm and nonchalant.
The students couldn't hide their astonishment. "He masters mana too!?" some exclaimed.
"Their ability to assimilate and use all energy systems at once is a considerable advantage in combat," others said.
The Ki meteor crashed into the magic wall, followed by an explosion of Ki. Without waiting, Kaiser propelled himself towards Anos. Unexpectedly, Anos flew as well, propelled by his flames, towards Kaiser. This reaction left no one indifferent.
"He's not planning on confronting such a powerful Metaryon in close combat, is he!?" Yoko exclaimed.
"He's probably going to attempt a last-minute move; Kaiser might be aware of this," Areyos said analytically. The marks on Kaiser's arm lit up, indicating extreme Ki concentration. His forearm was covered in golden aura surrounded by luminous energy particles, characteristic of Ki, ready to strike with ten times the impact of a meteorite thanks to the overcharge mode.
"Anos has a plan; I don't know what, but he surely has one," Zyriel murmured.
"'Shiro--'" Anos began to announce his affliction before being interrupted.
"No plan, confront him," said Klaus Varray strongly, who until then had remained silent, drawing everyone's attention, including the professor's. Barely had we time to be surprised when Anos showed us another ability.
In front of the curious and troubled eyes of all, like Kaiser, Anos's forearm was covered in a golden aura surrounded by bright particles...
"The Ki!!?" Areyos exclaimed, his voice barely audible in the intensity of the moment. Anos's and Kaiser's fists collided in an explosion of raw power. The impact created a shock wave so violent it pulverized the entire arena, sending debris flying in all directions. The surrounding forest was swept away, trees uprooted and shattered, flying hundreds of meters.
A wave of blinding light illuminated the sky, and spectators were instantly transported to a mana platform, suspended in the void. Mana fragments shimmered in the air, like remnants of a battle that had transcended the limits of simulation.
The avatars of Anos and Kaiser, saturated with energy, began to glitch, their figures flickering under the power's effect. Space seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their confrontation, as both fighters slowly retreated, the fractured ground spreading like a chaotic labyrinth between them. A palpable tension permeated the atmosphere, each spectator holding their breath at this spectacle, torn between terror and wonder.
"Professor, is this normal?" Kaiser asked, looking at his glitching hand.
"You've overloaded the magical simulation," he replied, surprised himself.
"Are you serious, professor!?" Sorey exclaimed.
"You're not telling me they're more powerful than the Phoenix King!" an aegyl exclaimed.
"Of course not, there's a fundamental difference between the celestial simulation and that of other systems. Although the celestial is infinitely more powerful than other energy systems, it's paradoxically the easiest to simulate when interacting with them. Its absolute nature allows it to annihilate all data from lower systems at the moment of interaction. That's why the Phoenix King's celestial flames instantly vaporized Arwyna's magical barrier, her two summons, and herself in one attack. It's like multiplying a number by zero: no matter how large the number, the operation is simple when you master the basics of multiplication," explained the professor, eyes fixed on a small magical screen, fine-tuning the simulation parameters.
"But in this case, there's no celestial involved. The simulation must account for the raw power generated by both fighters, their speed, as well as the intensity and repercussions of the impacts to accurately replicate the confrontations. But Anos and Kaiser have far exceeded what the simulation can handle, causing the glitch," he added, tapping the screen. The glitches affecting Anos's and Kaiser's avatars disappeared immediately, and the arena reconstructed with almost perfect fluidity.
"I've increased the simulation's power; you can go all out now," the professor shouted.
"Understood, professor," said Kaiser, then looked at Anos. "You master the four energy systems. That's impressive," he said to Anos.
"And you're the first Metaryon to withstand the power of my punch without breaking your bones; that's impressive, but it'll take more than that to win," Anos replied nonchalantly. His chakra becoming uncontrollable, he was about to launch an extremely destructive attack.
" 'Ranmei: Death Storm,'" he said, a violet mist materializing in the air, degrading everything it touched.
"I remember that Ranmei. Anos used it to turn an entire city into a ghost town," I murmured.
"What was the name of the city?" Areyos asked, his attention piqued.
"Crimsonfall," I answered, slightly surprised by his hearing. He probably masters sound as well, given his developed airbending.
"I see, and do you know why he did that?" he asked next.
"I know, but I don't give out information for free."
"It's okay, Melios, tell him what he wants to know," Miss Erina intervened. I was right; this man was important to her.
"Alright, Miss," I first replied to Miss Erina, then answered Areyos. "It was the billionaire Marlow Moore who asked him to do it so he could conduct experiments undisturbed. In exchange, the Sendaris received a phenomenal amount of Nemesis. But all the city's inhabitants died instantly."
"What!? He eliminated an entire city's population just for weapons!?" Yoko murmured loudly.
"Yes, Sendaris are generally not good people, with a few exceptions."
"I see," said Areyos, resting his piercing eyes on Anos. While we were talking, Kaiser had protected himself from the poison by creating a fire aura around him. "You won't get me like that. 'Kuro: Azure Dragon,'" he launched, and a gigantic blue-flame serpent dragon emerged from his fist, charging angrily at Anos, who protected himself with a magic wall. The azure dragon pierced the magic wall effortlessly and exploded in a blazing flash of fire, the heat lingering after the flames dissipated, turning the ground and walls red.
"Wow, incredible! What heat!" the students exclaimed.
"The ability of blue flames is fascinating; their Super multipliers make combustion incredibly efficient," the professor declared, his enthusiasm evident in his gestures.
"What do you mean by 'Super multipliers'?" Yoko asked, intrigued.
"Well, to simplify, Super multipliers are multipliers that increase the value of other multipliers," the professor explained with a mischievous smile.
"Multipliers... that act on other multipliers!?" the students exclaimed, shocked.
"Exactly! Take blue flames for example: they have their own multiplier, which can reach a maximum of 10. This means they multiply normal flame multipliers by 10. Take Kaiser's normal flames. Thanks to his exceptional firebending, they already have a base multiplier of 10, instead of 1 for standard fire. When he uses blue flames, the blue flame multiplier combines with that of his normal flames. Result: their power is multiplied by 10, then again by 10, to reach 100 times that of normal fire."
"So, if his normal flames can produce a temperature of 1,000°C, with blue flames, that temperature rises to... 10,000°C?" Yoko said, eyes wide.
"Exactly!" confirmed the professor.
"Professor, I'm not sure I understand everything," Sorey admitted, frowning.
"How do these multipliers really work?"
"Let's go back to basics. Remember our class on stats, specifically attack and defense systems?" the professor began, capturing everyone's attention. "To simplify these two terms, let's use multiplier of attack and multiplier of defense."
"Ah, that makes things much clearer than the previous terms," Erina agreed with a smile.
"And why didn't you use these terms before?" Areyos asked.
"Good question. It's simply because the same power doesn't necessarily have the same multiplier depending on the energy system used. Plus, some energy systems, like Ki, or other super energy systems, don't use elements but rather more flexible mechanisms based on pure energy. You'll learn more with Shiki."
"Professor, is that why my plant magic is less powerful than my plantbending ?" another student asked.
"Yes. If you've used your plantbending more, its Chi multipliers have developed faster than those of your magic. This directly affects your elemental attack power. Your power of plants is more efficient when you use Chi rather than Mana energy system"
"Thaleus might have been too lazy to train all his systems. That's probably why he invented chakra, with its incantations capable of channeling elemental multipliers regardless of the system used," Areyos speculated with a smile.
"It's not impossible; he was indeed quite lazy," the professor confessed, amused, before continuing.
"The multiplier of attack is the capacity your energy systems have to multiply the attack power of your abilities without expending more energy for it. The ability multiplier of defense, on the other hand, divides the damage you receive from an ability. The more you use a power, the more your system gets used to that power, and the more the multiplier of that power increases. For example, normal fire without training has an attack multiplier of 1. But Kaiser, thanks to years of training, has a multiplier of 10 on his normal fire. This means with 100 units of energy drawn from his chi reserve, he can produce flames at 1,000°C instead of 100°C."
"And with 1,000 units of energy, he reaches 10,000°C?" Sorey guessed, looking perplexed.
"That's correct indeed," the professor responded, smiling. He continued his explanation, "Now, regarding the blue flames, know that they are part of a group of elements called 'super elements.'"
"Super elements?" Yoko repeated.
"Yes. These elements are known for possessing their own multiplier called Super multipliers, which, as I explained, multiply the multipliers of ordinary powers to reach prodigiously high power. Violet flames, violet lightning, and black lightning, along with certain crystals, are also part of this group of super elements."
"Amazing, I think I need to double my training; violet lightning fascinates me," Areyos confessed.
"That's a good idea! Mastering super elements is a lethal weapon in a warrior's arsenal. Imagine if Kaiser activates his blue flames. Their multiplier of 10 is multiplied by the multiplier of his normal flames. This brings the total power of his blue flames to 100 times that of ordinary fire."
"Incredible," murmured Zyriel.
"But that's not all," added the professor with a mischievous grin.
"What do you mean, that's not all?" asked an elf, captivated.
"Kaiser also has a very high elemental defense. Suppose his ability multiplier of defense against fire chi is also at 10. This means the damage from fire chi he receives is divided by 10. For example, if you spend 1,000 units of energy to attack him, it would only inflict 100 units of damage, and he would barely feel a heat of 100°C, which is nothing even for a Metaryon child."
"What?! He's super resistant to fire then!" exclaimed the human student.
"Exactly. That's why facing Kaiser with fire chi is almost pointless unless you have an immense energy reserve," concluded the professor.
"So, to summarize, the multiplier of attack for Kaiser's fire chi is 10 thanks to his training, and his blue flames increase this multiplier to 100. With only 100 units of energy, he can produce flames at 10,000°C," Sorey concluded, summarizing what he had understood.
"Exactly. Kaiser is a perfect example of what your abilities can become with enough training. But don't forget, defense is equally important: you'll need to expend a lot of energy to overcome his natural resistance to fire," the professor insisted.
The students remained silent, shocked by Kaiser's immense power.
"And in case you haven't realized it yet," added the professor with a proud look, "I present to you Kaiser Mendoris, son of the strongest man in the world."
The murmurs died down. All eyes were fixed on Kaiser, who effortlessly manipulated those devastating blue flames. Even Zayren Versalys seemed frozen in astonishment, realizing for the first time the vast gap that separated them.
Suddenly, Kaiser and Anos stopped and stared at each other. Their health gauges hadn't decreased; each unable to breach the other's defense. The poisonous gas had finally evaporated due to Kaiser's flames reaching up to 80,000°C. The ground was glowing red-hot, steam literally coming from the ground and walls. The 'Heat' affliction left by Kaiser's 'Azure Dragon' on the arena floor finally disappeared.
"You're tough, that's for sure," said Kaiser, crossing his arms.
"You too, but I'm afraid I'll have to end this fight with the next attack," said Anos. The students looked at each other, anticipating the worst.
Anos raised his arm into the air, and a dark blue magic circle, slightly turning purple, as large as the one used to summon Ardentis, the Phoenix King, materialized in the sky.
"Oh no, a summon!!!" Yoko exclaimed, terrified at the thought of another being like the Phoenix King appearing.
"Oh no, don't count on that," said Kaiser, pulling out Skybreaker, General Barrios's axe, from his signet ring and charging at Anos. Anos erected a magic barrier around himself and continued his summoning.
"O king with a thousand shimmering feathers," he began, the wind rising violently, but Kaiser suddenly stopped in midair, supported by his flames.
"Guardian of the winds and master of time, you whose gaze pierces the veils of destiny." Anos continued. Kaiser backed off, a smile on his lips. This reaction slightly intrigued Anos, who nonetheless continued his summoning. The sky darkened into a dark gray, reminiscent of a storm.
"Cross ages and skies, awaken in your eternal splendor. King Peacock, Azuryon, come and dance on the thread of eternity, so that the universe bows before your majesty!" he finished, the wind calmed down, the enormous magic circle shone brightly before disappearing. Confusion took hold of us, unable to understand what had just happened. Kaiser, with a mysterious smile, didn't miss laughing at the situation.
"Well then, where's your bird?" said Kaiser, mocking.
"Huh!? What just happened!? Did the great Azuryon reject Anos's call?" Zayren exclaimed.
"Although Azuryon can only be summoned at night, he always made an exception for Anos. So why refuse now?" Zyriel murmured.
"I'm sorry, Anos, but your bird was shot down this weekend by a mysterious spear," said Kaiser, his piercing gaze, a smile on his lips.
"Shot down, you say!?" Anos exclaimed, shocked.
"And yes, it was consumed instantly by a spear surrounded by violet flames. You'll have to find something else if you want to beat me."
"A spear surrounded by violet flames!? That's the work of the Prodigy Assassin, Kayn Shelter," Zayren whispered loudly.
"Shhh! Don't speak so loud," Zyriel retorted in a whisper.
"I see..." said Anos, disgusted.
Kaiser charged at him, infusing lightning into Skybreaker. Like Kayn Shelter with magias, I think Barrios also restricted Skybreaker's power, fearing it would ruin Kaiser's experience. Being able to manipulate the celestial too early would make battles far too easy. Anyway, Anos created another magic barrier, this time reinforced by Ki. A green barrier surrounded him, emanating a slight yellow aura. Kaiser launched another technique just before impact.
" 'Shiro: Strength,'" he said. This earth-type affliction tremendously increased the user's strength. His boosted strength, Kaiser quickly pivoted, Skybreaker drawing circles of lightning before its blade shattered Anos's barrier.
"Wow! Go Kaiser!" the female students cheered, all amazed.
"'Shiro: Speed,'" Anos launched and quickly dodged Skybreaker's path. A lightning blade split the ground in two, at the same time as Anos's magic barrier shattered like glass. Anos retreated with a flash before repositioning himself. Suddenly, Anos's health gauge dropped to 82%, then a large wound crossed his body diagonally, blood spurting out.
"He didn't dodge it!?" Yoko was astonished.
"That's impossible, I saw him dodge it!" Keldo affirmed.
"He dodged Skybreaker indeed... but not Kaiser's gaze," said Areyos, smiling.
"His gaze?..." Yoko asked, intrigued, before realizing what Areyos was talking about. "Oh yes! The Kengan!!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. The Kengan, the Dōkō of the Mendoris family, easily recognizable by its scarlet color and golden ring surrounding the pupil directly. Suddenly, Klaus Varray spoke again upon seeing this eye.
"Anos, end the fight; the Kengan is dangerous," he said loudly.
"Do you really think you can win with just one technique?" Kaiser asked, a mocking smile on his lips.
"'Teiken,'" he launched with a sharp look, and mysterious lines of light traced the surface of Anos's body, instantly causing dozens of wounds.
At first, Anos tried to create his magic shield, but Kaiser, able to see through it, used his Teiken to cut Anos's skin. Seeing his shield was ineffective, Anos decided to use his speed to escape.
"'Shiro: Speed!'" he shouted, increasing his speed to an extreme level, but Kaiser followed his movements effortlessly. Each move Anos made was countered by a relentless chain of lacerations.
"'Kuro: Iron Wall,'" Anos invoked, bringing up a metal wall in front of him.
"'Shiro: Reinforcement,'" he added, strengthening the material's solidity with a metal-type affliction.
"A little metal wall won't stop me," said Kaiser, his chakra bursting out around him.
"'Ranmei:--" he began, his voice icy.
"A Ranmei..." Zayren exclaimed, expecting the worst.
"What's he going to pull out?" Zyriel murmured, looking worried. The technique Kaiser was about to launch would never have crossed Zyriel's mind.
" 'Ranmei: Lightning Lacerations of Azure Flames!'" Kaiser shouted. Lightning lines wrapped in blue flames instantly crossed through the metal wall, cutting and melting it in a blinding flash. Kaiser, with his arms crossed and Skybreaker's blade planted in the ground, hadn't moved an inch. He had just combined the 'Teiken' of the Kengan, blue flames, and lightning into a devastating attack.
"What power..." murmured Zyriel, completely dumbfounded by the scene. Anos's health gauge suddenly dropped to 62%.
"That's it, the fight is over," I said with a mysterious smile on my lips.
"What are you talking about? He still has 62% of his gauge! Kaiser is well on his way to winning, but he needs to stay careful, even if he has all his life left," Yoko replied, a bit skeptical.
"Ha, I'm not worried about Anos," I responded enigmatically, immediately catching Areyos's and Sorey's attention. "It's not him who's going to lose this fight..." I added confidently. At that moment, Klaus Varray closed his eyes and turned around, also realizing the fight was over.
Anos, using a level 4 magic, teleported behind Kaiser, his movement almost invisible. Kaiser, probably warned by his seismic sense, turned around. But before he could launch another attack, he met Anos's gaze. In his blue eyes, clear blue rings shone — the Kaimetsugan. The blue light paralyzed Kaiser for a moment.
" 'Shinkirō,'" Anos murmured, and in a flash, Kaiser's health gauge turned grey, displaying "100% ?".
"Huh!? What does that mean?" Yoko exclaimed, totally lost.
"Is that a bug, professor?!" Areyos asked, astonishment in his eyes.
"No... the fight is indeed over," the professor confirmed calmly.
At that moment, to everyone's surprise, the giant screen displayed "Anos Sendaris: Winner". The magical avatars disappeared, and Anos and Kaiser reappeared in our dimension.
"But professor, explain what this means!" Sorey exclaimed, completely baffled.
"I still don't understand what just happened either, professor!" Yoko added, worried.
"Calm down, calm down," said the professor in a soothing tone, manipulating a small magical screen in front of him. "The health gauge turns grey when the fighter can do absolutely nothing — neither defend, attack, think, nor control anything. They are completely out of action."
"But... what is this technique!?" Kaiser exclaimed, furious, his fists clenched in frustration.
"'Shinkirō'... one of the three arcanes of the Kaimetsugan," I calmly answered. "This technique allows you to corrupt part, or all, of the psychic energy of the opponent. In response to this corruption, the target's mind will gradually rid itself of the corrupted psychic energy by sacrificing its own psychic energy. It's like voluntarily amputating an arm too infected to be healed. As long as there is corrupted psychic energy, the caster can manipulate the user's mind at will."
"What?!" the students exclaimed, surprise and misunderstanding on their faces.
"You seem well-informed, Melios Drimdess," said Anos, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth. "Indeed, once the victim is under the influence of the Kaimetsugan, as long as their mind hasn't sacrificed the psychic energy I've corrupted, I can manipulate it to give them visions, prevent them from moving or thinking, create placebo or nocebo effects, erase memories, and much more. The list is long, but I'll stop there."
"And what happens if you completely corrupt someone's psyche?" Areyos suddenly asked, fixing Anos with a serious look.
"In that case, their mind will slowly eliminate its psychic energy until there's none left," Anos replied, his cold gaze on him. "And then... it's death."
The students, shocked by the answer, remained speechless. We weren't at the end of our surprises; the professor abruptly concluded the lesson, cutting through the heavy atmosphere, a mysterious smile on his lips, and announced in a loud voice:
"Here's the top 10 of the best students currently at Moore, but pay attention, let's start from the bottom." he announced as Anos turned to head towards Klaus.
The students started whispering, impatient. The professor glanced at the screen before starting:
"In tenth place, we have Arwyna Phytis." He paused before continuing.
"Ninth place: Corvus Sherwind."
"Eighth: Melios Drimdess."
"Seventh: Zyriel Versalys."
"Sixth: Zayren Versalys."
The professor smiled, ready to announce the top 5.
"Fifth: Erina Shelter."
"Fourth: Areyos Orionis."
"Third: Kaiser Mendoris."
He paused for effect, letting the tension build.
"Second: Anos Sendaris."
And finally, with a more grave voice, he concluded:
"And in first place, as you might've guessed... Klaus Varray."
A murmur of surprise went through the room.
To be continued...