The moment Professor Lyra called Ethan's name, the classroom erupted into chaos.
"Are you serious? Ethan against *Ryan*? That's not a fight; that's a massacre!" one boy jeered loudly, sending a ripple of laughter through the room.
"Maybe Ethan will surprise us and manage to stand for five whole seconds this time," a girl added with a smirk, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Five seconds? That's generous," someone else chimed in. "He's just going to humiliate himself again. Why does he even bother?"
A few students feigned mock encouragement. "Come on, Ethan," a tall boy near the back sneered, "Show us what you're made of... Oh wait, that's right, *nothing*!"
Amid the uproar, Professor Lyra's sharp voice cut through. "Enough!" she snapped, her stern gaze silencing the crowd. She turned her attention to Ethan, her tone softening just slightly. "Ethan, to the stage. Now."
Ethan swallowed hard, his throat dry. His legs felt like they were weighed down with lead as he forced himself to rise from his seat. The walk to the arena felt like a death march, every mocking whisper and hushed laugh slamming into him like daggers.
As he stepped onto the stage, his knees trembled, barely supporting his weight. He clenched his fists to stop them from shaking, but it was no use. His palms were slick with sweat, and his heart thundered in his chest like it was trying to escape.
Ryan was already standing at the center of the arena, his stance relaxed but confident, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and radiated an aura of dominance that seemed to suffocate the air around him. His dark, piercing eyes locked onto Ethan with malicious delight.
"Well, well, look who finally grew a spine," Ryan drawled, loud enough for the entire class to hear. He crossed his arms, his smirk widening. "I've been waiting for this, Ethan. You've been hiding behind your pathetic excuses for too long. But now…" He cracked his knuckles, a faint shimmer of magic sparking at his fingertips. "Now, I finally get to put you in your place. This is going to be fun—for me, at least."
Ethan didn't respond. He couldn't. His throat felt like it was closing up, and his mind was racing with thoughts of escape. But there was nowhere to run. Not here.
Professor Lyra's voice echoed through the arena. "Remember the rules: no excessive force, and maintain control. Begin!"
Ryan didn't waste a second. With a flick of his hand, a burst of fiery magic shot toward Ethan, forcing him to dive to the side. The flames scorched the air where he'd just stood, and the audience erupted into cheers and laughter.
"Come on, Ethan!" Ryan taunted, his voice brimming with mockery. "At least try to fight back! Or are you really this useless?"
Ethan scrambled to his feet, his breathing ragged. He raised his fists, but they felt heavy and awkward. He knew he didn't stand a chance, but he couldn't just give up—not in front of everyone.
Ryan advanced, closing the distance between them in a flash. His fist, glowing faintly with magic, slammed into Ethan's stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground. Pain exploded through Ethan's body, and he gasped for air, the wind knocked out of him.
"You're pathetic," Ryan spat, standing over him. "Do you even know why you're here? Why they even bother keeping you around? You're a joke, Ethan. A waste of space."
Ethan pushed himself up, his arms trembling. His vision blurred with unshed tears, but he refused to let them fall. He threw a clumsy punch, but Ryan caught it effortlessly, twisting Ethan's arm and sending him crashing to the ground again.
"Pathetic," Ryan said again, his voice laced with disdain. He kicked Ethan's side, not hard enough to break anything, but enough to make the audience wince. "This is too easy. At least try to make it interesting."
Ethan's body screamed in protest as he forced himself to stand again. His legs were shaking, his vision swimming, but he wouldn't stay down. Not yet.
Ryan's smirk faltered slightly, replaced with a flicker of irritation. "Fine," he said coldly. "You want interesting? Let's see how you handle *this*."
He raised his hand, and the air around him crackled with energy. A wave of blue lightning arced toward Ethan, striking him square in the chest. Pain like he'd never known surged through him, stealing his breath and forcing him to his knees. The audience gasped, some even falling silent as Ethan collapsed to the ground.
His body convulsed, his vision fading in and out. He could hear Ryan's laughter, distant and cruel, and the faint murmurs of the crowd.
Ryan grinned viciously as he summoned another orb of fire in his palm, its flames crackling and reflecting in his dark eyes. "Ready to give up already, or do you need me to turn up the heat?"
Ethan staggered to his feet, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. Every muscle in his body screamed for him to stay down, but he couldn't—not while every pair of eyes in the room was glued to him, waiting for him to fail. He raised his fists again, even though they trembled like leaves in the wind.
Ryan didn't wait. He hurled the fireball straight at Ethan, who barely managed to duck. The flames scorched the edge of his sleeve, filling the air with the acrid scent of burnt fabric. The audience cheered wildly as Ethan stumbled, struggling to regain his footing.
"Pathetic!" Ryan sneered, closing the distance between them in a flash. He feinted with his left hand before driving his right fist, charged with glowing energy, straight into Ethan's chest. The blow sent Ethan skidding backward, his heels scraping against the padded floor until he slammed into the arena's edge.
Ethan groaned, clutching his ribs as pain radiated through his torso. He could already feel the bruises forming. Ryan's strength wasn't just physical—his attacks carried an unnatural force, amplified by his elemental magic.
"Come on, Ethan!" Ryan called mockingly, pacing around him like a predator circling its prey. "Show me you're not completely useless. Or is this all you've got?"
Summoning what little strength he had, Ethan pushed himself upright again. His silver hair clung to his forehead, damp with sweat. He refused to meet Ryan's gaze, focusing instead on the ground beneath his feet. He couldn't let Ryan's words get to him. He had to think.
Ryan sighed dramatically. "Fine. If you won't come to me…"
He lunged forward, his fist crackling with electricity. Ethan barely sidestepped in time, the punch grazing his shoulder and leaving behind a sharp sting. Ryan pressed the attack, launching a flurry of punches and kicks that forced Ethan onto the defensive.
Ethan ducked under a swinging kick, then rolled away as another fireball exploded where he'd been standing. Desperation fueled his movements, and for a brief moment, he managed to evade Ryan's relentless assault. But it was only a matter of time before Ryan's speed and precision overwhelmed him.
A well-aimed kick caught Ethan in the stomach, doubling him over. Ryan followed up with a knee to his chin, snapping his head back and sending him sprawling to the ground once more.
Blood filled Ethan's mouth, and he spat it onto the arena floor. His vision blurred, but he could still hear the cheers and jeers of the crowd.
"Stay down, Ethan," Ryan said, his voice cold and smug. "You're just embarrassing yourself at this point."
But Ethan didn't stay down. He planted his hands on the ground, pushing himself to his knees. His entire body shook with the effort, but he refused to let Ryan have the satisfaction of total victory.
Ryan's expression darkened, his patience wearing thin. "Alright, if you want to suffer, I'll make sure you do."
He raised both hands, and the air around him grew heavy with power. Bright blue sparks danced between his fingers, growing in intensity until they formed a writhing ball of lightning.
Ethan's eyes widened. He barely had time to react as Ryan hurled the lightning straight at him.
The impact was like nothing Ethan had ever experienced. The electricity surged through his body, setting every nerve alight with searing pain. He screamed, his voice raw and guttural, as the force of the attack drove him back into the arena wall.
The class fell silent, their cheers replaced with uneasy murmurs.
Ryan lowered his hands, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Still alive?" he called out mockingly. "Guess I'll just have to hit you harder next time."
Ethan's body convulsed as he struggled to rise. His vision swam, and his ears rang with a high-pitched whine. But somehow, he managed to plant one foot beneath him, then the other.
Ryan scowled. "What's it going to take to make you *stay down*?"
Summoning his magic again, he charged at Ethan, his fists glowing with fiery energy. Ethan braced himself, raising his arms to block the onslaught. The first punch jarred his entire body, the second sent him stumbling, and the third broke through his guard, slamming into his ribs with enough force to knock the air from his lungs.
Ethan lashed out with a desperate punch, his fist connecting with Ryan's jaw. The hit was weak, barely making Ryan flinch, but it was enough to surprise him.
The crowd gasped, a few students laughing at the sheer audacity of Ethan fighting back.
Ryan wiped his mouth, his expression darkening with fury. "You think that's funny?"
He grabbed Ethan by the front of his shirt, lifting him off the ground. "Let me show you what happens when you try to fight back."
With a roar, Ryan slammed Ethan into the ground, the impact rattling through the arena. Ethan coughed, blood splattering the floor beneath him. His vision darkened at the edges, his strength fading.
"Enough, Ryan!" Professor Lyra's voice cut through the tension, sharp and commanding. "You're taking this too far!"
Ryan ignored her, raising his fist for another blow. But before he could strike, a strange energy rippled through the arena.
Ethan's body began to glow faintly, a soft, purple light emanating from his skin. The air around him seemed to shift, growing heavy with an unearthly presence.
Ryan froze, his fist hovering in midair. "What the—"
Ethan's eyes flickered open, glowing faintly with the same purple light. A sudden pulse of energy burst from his body, forcing Ryan to stumble backward.
The class erupted into shocked murmurs, their taunts forgotten. Even Professor Lyra seemed taken aback, her usually composed expression faltering.
Ethan's breathing steadied, and the pain that had wracked his body began to fade. Something deep within him had awakened, something powerful and uncontrollable.