Ryan trusted Victor. It was a big mistake.
Victor had promised to show him something to sharpen his skills.
Now, standing in the shadow between the Earth and Water Towers, Ryan realized the trap. He had expected this, but his pride led him to face it alone.
Victor's gang emerged from the gloom, their movements deliberate, their eyes locked on him.
Victor stepped forward, his sneer cutting through the tension. "You're quite the skill, Ryan. But can you survive this?"
Ryan's heart pounded. His muscles tensed. He scanned the area, searching for an exit. There was none. The gang closed in, their steps slow, calculated. Regrettably, he was unable to wield his sword, bound by the Arena's no-killing rule.
Ryan didn't wait, he lunged at the nearest thug, his fist connecting with a sickening crunch. The boy staggered, but two more took his place. Ryan ducked a swing, and countered with a kick, but the numbers were against him.
A blow landed on his ribs. Pain shot through his side. He gritted his teeth, pushing through. Another hit came, this time to his jaw. His vision blurred, but he stayed on his feet.
Victor watched, arms crossed, his smirk widening. "You're good, Ryan. But not good enough as a chosen one."
Ryan's breath came in ragged gasps. His body ached, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't give up. He twisted, dodged, and struck again. Every move was a fight for survival.
The gang kept coming. Ryan's strength gradually fading. His arms felt heavy, his legs unsteady. But he forced himself to keep moving. One step. One punch. One breath at a time.
That was his first time encountering bullying. In the past, he would take the punches and the kicks without resistance.
Victor's voice cut through the chaos. "Finish him."
Ryan's mind raced. He had one chance. He feinted left, then dove right, breaking through the circle. He ran, his legs screaming in protest. The gang gave chase, their shouts echoing behind him.
He didn't look back. He couldn't.
Ryan pushed harder, his body pushed to its limit. He didn't know if he'd make it. But he had to try.
Victor's laughter followed him, a chilling reminder of the danger he'd barely escaped.
Ryan kept running. The fight wasn't over. Not yet.
***
Just as all hope seemed lost, a girl appeared. Her long silver hair fluttered in the wind. "Leave him alone, Victor!" she commanded. The air around her seemed to crackle with tension.
Victor froze mid-step, his sneer faltering for a heartbeat. "Stay out of this, Luna!" he barked, but his voice wavered.
The gang behind him shifted uneasily, their confidence slipping.
Ryan, still pinned by the gang, saw his chance. He scrambled free, his breath ragged. Without hesitation, he summoned Terra.
The ground beneath them trembled, and vines erupted like serpents from the earth. They coiled around Victor and his gang, tightening with a hiss.
Victor struggled, his face twisted in rage. "You think this changes anything?" he spat, but the vines only tightened further. His gang writhed, their bravado crumbling into panic.
Luna stepped forward, her silver hair catching the light. Her eyes burned with a quiet fury. "It changes everything," she said in a low voice.
Luna raised her hands. The air around her buzzed, alive with energy. From the nearby fountain, water began to ripple, then churned. A shape emerged—sleek, serpentine, and alive.
The Water Serpent.
Its scales caught the moonlight like shards of glass. It was massive, its body coiling and uncoiling in the air. Victor froze. His gang, once confident, now shifted uneasily behind him.
The serpent's head turned, its glowing eyes locking onto Victor. Luna's voice sliced through the tension. "Hydrokinesis!"
The serpent moved. Fast.
It slithered around Victor's gang, its body forming a shimmering, impenetrable ring. Water droplets hissed as they hit the ground, steam rising in the cool night air. Victor's breath quickened. He glanced at his gang, but they were already backing away, their bravado crumbling.
Victor's rage burned, his hands trembling as he summoned the earth beneath him. The ground cracked and groaned, spikes of jagged stone erupting toward Luna and Ryan.
Luna's voice cut through the chaos. Sharp. Clear. "Aquashield!"
The Water Serpent surged from her spell, its translucent form coiling around them in a heartbeat. The spikes slammed into the shield, shattering on impact. The water hissed and steamed.
Ryan's breath hitched. He could feel the heat of the spikes, even through the barrier.
Too close. Too fast.
Victor snarled, his face twisted in frustration. The ground beneath him shifted again, but Luna was ready. Her eyes locked on his, unflinching. The Water lunged, gripped Victor, and pinned him to the ground.
Luna's fingers dug into Ryan's arm, her grip tight and urgent. "Hurry!" she hissed, her voice barely audible over the chaos.
Ryan stumbled, his breath ragged, but Luna yanked him forward. Behind them, Terra's shadow moved in the dim light. She worked quickly, her hands freeing Victor's gang from their restraints.
Victor's gang staggered to their feet, disoriented but free. Their movements were clumsy, but they didn't waste time. The faint hum of the towers above seemed to grow louder as if the structure itself was alive and watching.
Then it came—a roar. Victor's voice, raw and furious, tore through the air.
***
Once they reached a safe distance, Ryan turned to Luna. His chest heaved, the weight of what had just happened still pressing on him.
He hadn't even had time to introduce himself properly before everything went sideways.
"Ryan," he said, extending a hand, his voice steady but with a faint tremor. "I don't think I've said it yet, but… thanks for saving me. I owe you one."
Luna took his hand. Her smile was warm. "I know you. I am Luna," she replied. "And you don't owe me anything. We're friends now."
Ryan blinked, surprised. Friends? He hadn't expected that. Not after everything.
Terra, standing a few steps away, gave a small nod. Then, she began to sink. Her form shimmered, blending into the ground beneath her. The earth seemed to swallow her feet, then her legs, until she was gone. Only a faint ripple in the soil remained.
The Water Serpent, its task complete, dissolved into a fine mist. It swirled for a moment, before drifting back to the fountain.