The arena seemed to hold its breath as Lily's attack reached its climax. The Dawn attack radiated with an intensity that matched the rising sun itself, as if consuming the darkness of night and dawning with sunrise, which gives hope for a new start.
The ashen flames, laced with a tint of crimson, surged forward in a torrent of power, obliterating everything in their path. The stage beneath them was left unrecognizable, a deep chasm marking the devastation.
In the stands, Dravis Dragonborne, Grande Silvus, and Sullivan watched in stunned silence. The sheer magnitude of the attack surpassed anything they had expected. Dravis's eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, his mind racing.
"How will he counter this?" he thought, torn between admiration for his daughter's awakening and curiosity about Ray's response.
Sullivan, too, was mesmerized. His instincts, honed over decades as a scholar who wandered the world and academy headmaster, told him this was no ordinary attack. A fleeting thought crossed his mind,
"Could even I stop this head-on?"
In the arena, Ray remained still, his senses screaming as his innate Death Sense flared to life. It wasn't malice driving the attack, but its overwhelming power triggered an alarm.
For a brief moment, he closed his eyes, feeling the heat of the ashen flames as they bore down on him.
Ray exhaled deeply, a small, knowing smile tugging at his lips. He finally allowed himself a moment of indulgence.
"Guess I can let loose a little."
For the first time since arriving at the academy, Ray shifted into a formal stance. His feet grounded firmly, his sword hand steady, and he summoned a weapon using his Creation Trait. The blade materialized, resembling his Chronos sword, though clearly distinct, a reflection of his mastery in crafting and understanding.
The crowd gasped at the radiant weapon. But what truly stole the spotlight was the silver energy enveloping it. Under the sunlight, the aura shimmered, a dazzling contrast to the crimson ashen flames that surrounded him.
In the VIP stands, Sullivan's eyes widened.
"That energy... I've seen it before," he murmured, the memory eluding him.
Dravis, overhearing, interjected,
"Silver energy... It's mentioned in our ancestral records, but only its appearance is described. Nothing more."
The two powerful men, normally pillars of wisdom and strength, found themselves grappling with the enigma of Ray's power.
Ray, meanwhile, focused entirely on the incoming attack. The Dawn consumed the distance between them in a heartbeat, its energy tearing apart the very fabric of the arena. Ray's voice cut through the explosion, low and deliberate.
"Silver Sword: First Form – Minus."
A single arc of silver light sliced through the air, precise and impossibly fast. The silver energy stretched out, meeting the full force of Lily's attack. For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. Then, the impossible happened. The overwhelming ashen flames vanished. No explosion, no residual energy, simply erased, as though it had never existed.
In the crowd, there was stunned silence. Even the most seasoned spectators couldn't comprehend what they had just witnessed. Lily, who had been pushing herself to the limit, felt her fusion form begin to unravel. The golden aura and ashen flames dissipated, leaving her visibly drained. Her swords fell from her hands as her legs gave way.
Ray moved instantly, catching her by the waist before she could hit the ground. Her eyes fluttered shut, exhaustion overtaking her as she fell into a deep sleep.
Ray's expression softened as he held her, his usual sharp demeanor replaced by quiet concern. He whispered,
"You gave it your all, Lily. Rest now."
Carrying her with care, Ray approached Myra, handing her over without a word. Myra nodded, her expression unreadable, as she took Lily to the healers.
The announcer's voice echoed through the arena, though it seemed distant to those still processing what had happened.
"The winner... Ray!"
The declaration was met with a scattered mix of cheers and stunned silence. The three most powerful figures in the VIP section, Dravis, Grande, and Sullivan, were uncharacteristically speechless, their mouths slightly agape. It was a sight no one in the crowd could have imagined: the pillars of humanity, collectively dumbfounded by a young swordsman.
Finally, Dravis broke the silence, exhaling deeply.
"What... what kind of power is that?" he muttered, his voice tinged with awe and frustration.
Sullivan, regaining his composure, leaned forward.
"I should take him under my tutelage," he said firmly, as though the decision had already been made.
Grande scoffed, folding her arms.
"He saved my daughter. If anyone should train him, it's me."
The brewing argument was cut short by Myra, who announced the next match:
"Katherine Livia versus Clea Borris"
The tension shifted back to the arena as Katherine and Clea stepped forward. Mikel Borris watched intently, his eyes locked on the match. Clea, his niece, had trained extensively under his guidance, and he was eager to see her performance.
Katherine offered a polite greeting.
"Let's have a good match."
Taken aback by the gesture, Clea hesitated before nodding.
"Yes... a good match."
The formality ended quickly as Clea attacked first, throwing a dagger aimed directly at Katherine. Holding a sword in her other hand, she advanced swiftly, her movements calculated and deadly. Katherine sidestepped the dagger with practiced ease, her expression calm as she summoned her wind spirit Mimi to deflect the blade midair.
The battle began in earnest, both combatants weaving through the arena with precision and skill. But the shadow of the previous match loomed over the crowd, their thoughts still returning to the silver light that had erased the dawn.
-----
In the VIP stands, Sullivan turned his gaze back to Ray, who had returned to his seat, seemingly unaffected by the monumental feat he had just performed. The headmaster's mind churned.
"Who are you, Ray? And just how far does your power reach?"
Meanwhile, Ray leaned back, his expression unreadable. Within his mind, Luna's voice echoed, tinged with pride and exasperation.
[You could've finished that match without revealing your Silver Sword, you know.]
Ray smirked inwardly.
"Where's the fun in that?"