---
Michel finally won the ferocious battle. "How did my brother become so strong? Isn't he just a level 2 human realm?" Michel thought, his mind reeling. His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by an arrow coated with ice, which narrowly missed his head. "You seem strong. I wanted to fight the other one, but I guess my luck was bad," a female voice echoed.
Michel looked up and saw a strikingly beautiful girl with white hair and skin. Floating above her were several icicles made purely of the ice element. She hurled them all at once towards Michel. Sensing the attack, Michel quickly created a wall of yellow energy. The icicles shattered upon impact with the shield, crumbling to the ground.
"Who are you?" Michel yelled.
"I'm in his team, and I have to defeat you for my team to emerge victorious," she replied, pointing at the unconscious Chen being carried away from the fight scene. Michel, realizing the gravity of the situation, clenched his fists in anticipation.
The girl struck again, this time forming a single spear made entirely of ice. 'Whoosh,' the spear vanished from its spot and reappeared before Michel. He snapped the spear in two with his sabre. "I'll end this quickly," Michel declared, disappearing in an instant.
The girl, noticing his speed, set up an ice wall. The ice wall shattered the instant his sabre made contact with it. "How! He wasn't this fast in the last battle. Unless... he had a breakthrough during the fight," she thought. Michel was about to pierce her head with a thrust of his sabre when a hand made entirely of ice grabbed it. The girl slashed with her ice sword, and Michel countered with a punch. The collision produced shockwaves, further destroying their surroundings.
"He still has stamina and energy to fight with Anne even after that brutal brawl with his brother. He really is a treasure," the instructor thought.
**CHAPTER 6: STANDSTILL**
"I never thought I would enjoy this fight," Anne said. Michel wore a serious expression, his grip on the sabre tightening as he dashed out again. Anne countered with an ice wall, waiting for the right moment to strike, but the attack never came. A sharp pain erupted in her abdomen as Michel's katana tore deeper into her. She screamed in pain. Michel, focused on dealing damage, ignored his surroundings.
Ice arrows poured from the sky like rain, threatening to eliminate Michel. He withdrew his katana and focused on the incoming attack. The attack continued for about three minutes. As it subsided, a bright yellow halo covered Michel. "What the! He wasn't defeated by that attack?" Anne blurted out. Both fighters remained still, wary of each other's strength.
Meanwhile, in the clinic, Chen regained consciousness. The healer examined him and assured him he was fine. Chen lay still on the bed, muttering, "I couldn't even land a hit."
"Is the fight still ongoing?" he asked the healer.
"Yes, there's only one battle left. It's an epic fight between your brother, the heir of the Druig family, and Anne, the heiress of the Walker family," the healer explained.
Chen walked out of the clinic, heading to the arena to watch the fight between the two monsters. "This fight seems equal but it hasn't ended," Anne spoke first.
"I will be the victor here," Michel said with a smirk. Both fighters began creating their strongest attacks. Michel's grip on his sabre tightened as yellow energy emanated intensely from it, increasing the surrounding pressure. Anne, on the other hand, had icicles floating before her, each one far stronger than the previous ones. Their surroundings crackled with intense energy, making them appear as masters.
"BOOM!" Michel made the first move, creating craters beneath his feet. Anne directed all her icicles towards him. With a single slash of his sword, all the icicles crumbled as he pushed forward. "Roooaaaarrr," a giant golem made entirely of ice appeared. Michel didn't slow down. He tore the golem apart with a single strike.
**CHAPTER 7: VICTOR**
The golem was destroyed with a single strike in the blink of an eye. Anne, seeing that all her attacks were futile against Michel, created more icicles and hurled them at him. Michel tore through them with ease. Arriving in front of Anne, he wore a menacing smile. He held his sabre in one hand and formed a ball of yellow energy in the other. He threw the ball at her. The explosion sent Anne skidding across the arena, unconscious.
Chen, who had been watching the fight, smiled bitterly as he realized the gap between him and his brother had increased significantly. "I have to become stronger," Chen declared with determination. After the test, the results were announced. Some people, like Anne, the Ice Queen, and Chen, were exceptions to the rules due to their potential. Michel's team qualified thanks to his skills and prowess.
"Welcome to Ronald Academy, where we will hone your skills to the fullest," the announcer spoke.
After the speech, everyone went home to prepare for attending one of the best academies in the country. Chen, his brother Michel, and their father Druig were prepared to head home when Chen asked his father for a favor.
"Dad, I want to transfer to another academy," Chen said with his head held high. This request shocked both his brother and his father.
Michel retorted, "Why?"
Chen replied with determination, "I want to surpass you."
His brother smirked, "I accept the challenge." This reply was unexpected, and Chen's eyes widened.
"You are strong. I always belittled you without knowing your full potential. Now I know that you are a worthy opponent," Michel replied.
---