The second round of the test at Crimson Spire Academy was set to begin, and the tension in the arena was palpable. The students from both academies were seated in tense silence, the echoes of the earlier round still hanging in the air. Crimson Spire's reputation had been further cemented by Xuan Jing's display, and now the rivalry between the schools would continue, starting with the next 1v1 battle.
The proctor called for the first competitors of this round: Míng Hào from Crimson Spire Academy and Mei Xue from Azure Crest Academy.
Míng Hào, tall and composed, strode forward with an air of confidence. His short, jet-black hair was sharp, cleanly cut, and a small streak of white at the temple hinted at his connection to his element. His eyes, a piercing light gray, gave off a certain intensity that suggested he always saw more than what was on the surface. His demeanor was quiet but not indifferent. Míng Hào was the type who carefully observed before making his move, someone with the patience of a strategist. His posture, though relaxed, betrayed a sense of readiness as if he were constantly assessing the battlefield, waiting for the moment to strike with precision.
His Element, Radiant Snow, resonated with his nature. Around him, snowflakes began to fall, glittering with an ethereal light as they slowly descended. Each flake seemed to shimmer with a soft, silvery hue that caught the light just right, creating a spectacle. The arena began to feel lighter, as if the very air was suffused with clarity and purity.
Across from him stood Mei Xue. She had a delicate beauty that belied the power she held. Her long, white hair flowed loosely around her, and her icy blue eyes seemed to pierce through her surroundings like shards of frost. Mei Xue's expression was neutral, though the storm brewing within her was palpable. Her attire, a mix of white and pale blue, glittered faintly with patterns resembling frost crystals, enhancing the natural chill she exuded. She had passed through the first round with calm precision, her Ice Storm ability catching everyone's attention with its raw, biting force.
The two students faced each other in the center of the arena, where the snow beneath Míng Hào's feet glistened, while the temperature began to plummet around Mei Xue, the air crackling with cold energy.
The proctor signaled for the match to begin.
The moment the signal was given, Mei Xue's Ice Storm erupted in a sudden swirl of wind and frost. The arena darkened, and the temperature dropped sharply as biting winds filled with jagged ice shards whirled towards Míng Hào. Her control over the storm was precise, the shards forming a vicious vortex aimed at overwhelming him.
But Míng Hào didn't flinch.
With a flick of his hand, the Radiant Snow surrounding him expanded outward in a luminous wave. The soft, glowing flakes created a barrier of shimmering light, catching the ice shards before they could reach him. The arena was momentarily bathed in the glow of his snow, which seemed to dance in the air like a serene snowfall.
Mei Xue's eyes narrowed as she directed her storm to intensify. The winds howled, and the ice shards became sharper, deadlier. The storm seemed to envelop the entire arena, cutting through visibility, the blizzard obscuring both of them from the audience's view.
For a moment, it appeared Mei Xue had the upper hand—until a sharp burst of light cut through the blizzard.
Míng Hào had moved with startling speed. The Radiant Snow, once a protective shield, now became a tool of precision. He summoned the glowing flakes to him, forming a luminous path of snow beneath his feet as he glided through the storm with graceful, calculated movements. His element didn't just protect; it purified the chaos around him.
Suddenly, the howling wind around Mei Xue stilled, the radiant snow dissolving her blizzard like sunlight breaking through clouds. For a brief second, the arena became quiet, save for the sound of falling snow.
Míng Hào stood in front of Mei Xue, his figure bathed in the glow of his snow. He raised his hand, and a cascade of Radiant Snow fell around her. The snowflakes, soft and bright, spiraled downward, casting faint reflections off her icy barriers. For all her power, Mei Xue's storm began to wither against the purity and brilliance of Míng Hào's element. Her ice barriers cracked, the cold becoming brittle against the warmth of his light.
Mei Xue gritted her teeth, summoning a final burst of her power. The temperature dropped to an extreme, and the ground beneath her feet began to freeze into jagged spikes of ice. She thrust her hands forward, sending a deadly barrage of icy spears toward Míng Hào.
But Míng Hào, calm and unyielding, responded in kind. He raised his hand, and the Radiant Snow formed into a brilliant shield of light. The spears shattered against it, fragments of ice scattering in all directions, only to dissolve into harmless snowflakes.
Míng Hào's snow then swirled upward, forming into a halo of light above him, and with a gentle movement, he brought his hand down. The halo expanded, and Mei Xue's storm collapsed in on itself, her ice melting into mere slush as the radiant light overtook it.
Mei Xue was left standing, panting, her power drained as she struggled to keep the storm alive. Míng Hào, on the other hand, stood serene, his Radiant Snow twinkling softly in the air around them.
The proctor, sensing the match was decided, raised his hand, signaling the end of the round.
Míng Hào had won, not through brute force, but through calm mastery of his element, his Radiant Snow purifying the arena and leaving no room for Mei Xue's storm to thrive. The audience watched in awe as the snow continued to fall gently, marking the conclusion of the battle.