The arena was silent as Ryker stepped forward, his face a mask of barely-contained fury. His hands crackled with fire, flames licking his fingers as he walked, his gaze fixed on the opponent across from him. Shiro stood at the center of the arena, calm, collected—almost bored. The contrast between them was stark: one seething with rage, the other as cold as stone.
Ryker's heart was heavy with the weight of what had just happened to Kaito, but there was something more that burned within him now. Something darker.
*Kael's going to pay for what he did... but Shiro…*
Ryker's flames flared, igniting with intensity as his anger reached its peak. "You're going to pay for everything, Shiro," he muttered under his breath, his voice low, guttural.
Shiro didn't move, his expression never wavering. "You're angry. I can tell. But you're going to need more than that if you want to defeat me."
The bell rang, but Ryker didn't wait for it to fully sound. With a roar, he shot forward, flames trailing behind him like a comet. His fists struck like thunder, each punch a blaze of destruction aimed directly at Shiro. But Shiro—always calm—moved with ease, sidestepping Ryker's attacks as if they were nothing more than a mild inconvenience.
The fire in Ryker's eyes burned brighter with each failed strike. He was relentless, but Shiro remained out of reach, his smirk widening with each dodge.
"You're fast," Shiro said, his voice carrying a cold amusement. "But speed alone won't save you."
Ryker's frustration mounted as Shiro casually raised his hand. The ground beneath them rumbled, shifting in response to Shiro's will. A series of jagged stone spikes shot up from the ground, forcing Ryker to leap back to avoid being impaled. But Shiro wasn't done. With a flick of his wrist, the stones twisted and turned, turning into a massive barrier of rock that encased Ryker from all sides.
"Let's see how you handle this," Shiro said with a smug grin.
Ryker's flames flared as he struck the stone with all his might, his fire scorching the rocks, but the walls held. It was as if Shiro's control over the earth was absolute. Every time Ryker tried to break free, the stone hardened and expanded, trapping him further.
"Damn it…" Ryker grunted, his fists pounding against the stone, but the more he attacked, the more the stone walls seemed to grow, pressing in on him from every direction.
From the sidelines, Kaito lay still, his body weak and battered, his breaths shallow as he tried to process the pain that wracked his body. The sickbay was quiet except for the soft beeping of machines, and the distant sound of the arena's echoing cheers. The monitors above his bed showed Ryker's fight in real-time, and despite the haze clouding his vision, Kaito couldn't help but watch. His friend was in trouble—and he was powerless to help.
"Don't worry, Kaito," Sylvie whispered softly from her seat beside him. "We've got this covered."
Ayana, sitting across from Kaito with a look of grim determination, didn't meet his eyes. Instead, she watched the screen intently, tracking every move, every detail. "We have a plan," she said quietly. "And we'll make sure Ryker and you make it through this."
Kaito's heart skipped a beat. He barely had the energy to ask what they meant, but Sylvie seemed to sense his struggle. She moved closer, her voice low. "We need all the students' powers, Kaito. They've been harvesting energy—tapping into every last one of them. All for one purpose."
Kaito's heart clenched as he listened, his mind struggling to stay focused. "What… what are they doing with it?"
Ayana's eyes darkened. "They're using the energy to revive Darker's father. They're going to plunge this entire world into darkness."
Kaito's chest tightened at the thought. This was no longer just about the tournament—it was about the fate of everything. And yet, even as his mind reeled from the realization, a surge of anger rushed through him at the sight of Shiro's smug face on the screen, taunting his friend.
"It's not Ryker's problem," Sylvie whispered. "But if Shiro keeps pushing, if he keeps insulting you, it'll be. We can't let him break Ryker… or any of the others."
Kaito's vision blurred with exhaustion, but he clenched his fists, focusing on his friend in the arena. He couldn't do anything. But he could still try to reach him. He focused on Ryker, but even as his power began to stir within him, it was too much to bear.
Meanwhile, back in the arena, Ryker's fury reached a boiling point. His flames burned brighter, more intensely, and in a flash of pure rage, he thrust both arms forward. The fire exploded outward in a massive wave, slamming into the rock walls with such force that the entire dome trembled.
"I WILL BREAK THIS!" Ryker roared, and the flames grew hotter, brighter, until they surrounded him completely. His power surged, pushing against the earth that held him captive.
Shiro's eyes narrowed. "You're losing control," he said, his voice cool, calm as ever. "That's exactly what I want."
With a cold smile, Shiro raised his arms to the sky, his earth magic responding to his will. The ground beneath Ryker cracked open as a massive stone golem, towering and menacing, emerged from the earth. The golem's eyes glowed with a sinister light, and it took a step forward, its massive fist swinging toward Ryker with lethal intent.
"That's enough playing," Shiro said, his smile widening. "Now we fight seriously."
As the golem advanced, Ryker's fire intensified, swirling around him in a violent vortex. He wasn't backing down. But he was losing control. The flames were becoming unpredictable, wild, and the golem seemed to be feeding off the chaos in the air.
Kaito watched helplessly from the sickbay, his body weak but his spirit burning with concern for his friend. "Ryker…" he whispered, struggling to move.
Sylvie and Ayana exchanged a look. They knew what was coming.
Kaito's hand reached out to the screen, his fingers trembling. "I need to help him…" he mumbled, but his body wouldn't cooperate. The fight in the arena was about to spiral into something far worse than either of them could have imagined.