Aurelius descended from the center of the battlefield, rising just above it into the air. He stretched out his hand toward the ground, not the heavens. A surge of soul energy erupted from his palm, rippling across the battlefield. Within moments, a translucent, colorless barrier encapsulated the platform, sealing the battlefield from the outside.
He addressed the participants. "For this final battle, additional restrictions have been lifted. First, you are allowed to use any type of potion, provided it isn't directly used to harm your opponent. Second, the restriction on flight is lifted; flying artifacts may now be used. And as you can see, because of the barrier, the 'out-of-bounds' rule no longer applies. Victory can only be achieved in two ways: your opponent must either admit defeat or be rendered unable to continue."
Aurelius' voice grew more solemn as he turned his gaze to both of his sons, lingering briefly on Rael. "Before you begin, I remind you that both of you have only just begun your journey as Arcana Masters. You have centuries, perhaps millennia, ahead of you to grow stronger, to surpass one another, if Zeus wills it. Remember this: before this battle, you were brothers, and after this battle, you will still be brothers."
The Duke paused, allowing his words to settle over the arena. His voice softened slightly, yet his tone carried immense weight. "Good luck. May the Heavens smile their favor upon you."
He ascended higher into the air, leaving the battlefield entirely to his sons. The silence hung heavy as the two brothers prepared for the battle that would determine the rookie champion.
Roughly ten seconds later, the Duke raised his hand and unleashed a powerful energy blast into the sky, its brilliance briefly illuminating the darkening horizon. It was the signal to commence.
Raphael wasted no time. His hand rose with authority as he summoned Astralith, the mighty zodiac beast. The grand creature materialized beside him, its celestial energy radiating powerfully. Without hesitation, Raphael snapped his fingers. "Transform."
Astralith's form began to shift, its body elongating, thick fur sprouting over its frame. Moments later, it stood as a majestic lion with a golden mane that shimmered like sunlight/.
On the other side of the platform, Rael summoned his Arcana spirit—an ominous Death Scythe that hovered menacingly by his side.
Raphael spoke, tilting his head as he studied his brother. "You sure you don't want to summon Eon's Hourglass? Or is it that you can't because of the distance?" His voice carried curiosity.
Rael didn't reply. He gripped the handle of the Death Scythe tightly, his eyes locked onto Raphael. Without a word, he charged forward, the sharp edge of the scythe gleaming in the barrier's ambient light.
"Well, if you don't have the hourglass as support, you won't be able to give any proper challenge. I might as well put you out of your misery, right away." Raphael waved his hand confidently. "Leo, crush him."
With a thunderous roar that shook the arena, the lion lunged at Rael. The beast's claws collided with Rael's scythe, creating a burst of sparks that lit up the space between them. Rael was forced back by the sheer power of the beast, his boots scraping against the platform as he slid to a stop.
As Rael steadied himself, Leo leaped into the air, aiming to strike him again. Rael bent his knees just in time, evading the beast's claws as it sailed past him and landed several meters away with an earth-shaking thud.
Straightening up, Rael turned his attention not to Raphael, but to the beast. His gaze hardened, and he brandished the scythe with a fluid motion that resembled a whip. "Come on," he taunted, his voice low and deliberate.
Leo roared again, the sound filled with primal fury. It charged at Rael, its golden mane glowing faintly as it gathered momentum. As the beast leaped at him with its claws extended, Rael's eyes shifted.
In an instant, his irises turned pitch black, swallowing all light within them. Even his pupils disappeared, leaving his eyes as voids of endless darkness.
Time seemed to slow as Rael stood his ground. At the last second, he tilted his head to the side, evading Leo's claws with unnerving precision. Simultaneously, he stretched out his left hand. "Die."
From his palm, a torrent of corrupted, dark energy erupted, spreading like a fog. It engulfed the lion within seconds, shrouding it in an oppressive, malevolent aura. The beast's movements slowed visibly, its once-mighty form faltering as the fog began to sap its life force.
In the stands, the audience gasped. Raphael's calm composure gave way to unease. He muttered to himself, "Astralith is trapped in that fog… and it's dying. That energy—it's reeking of divinity yet corruption at the same time."
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Raphael took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He began to motion his hands in precise patterns, drawing glowing runes in the air with his soul energy. Each rune pulsed with power as he connected them, forming a glowing circle.
As the seal completed, Raphael thrust it forward, his voice commanding, "Advanced Sealing Technique: Total Recall!"
The runic seal shot toward the fog, piercing through its darkness. The crowd watched in awe as the seal took effect, forcing the fog to dissipate. Astralith reappeared beside Raphael, weakened but intact.
Rael's darkened eyes turned toward his brother. For a moment, Raphael's gaze met Rael's, and a wave of dread washed over him. Behind Rael, he saw the illusion of a massive, otherworldly pair of eyes staring directly at him, vast and incomprehensible.
Raphael shuddered involuntarily, the sensation of those eyes boring into his soul. "What's this feeling?" he whispered, his voice trembling.
Rael stretched his hand toward Raphael once more, and the dark fog surged forward like a living entity, consuming everything in its path.
Raphael didn't hesitate. "Leo—Soul Skill: Flamethrower!"
The beast unleashed a torrent of fire, a searing sea of flames that roared across the battlefield, directly aimed at the advancing fog. The heat radiated through the barrier, causing the audience to shield their faces. But to their shock, the dark fog continued unabated, swallowing the flames entirely. The fire vanished as though extinguished by an unseen force, and the fog enveloped Leo once again.
Astralith's golden mane dimmed as it faltered under the suffocating corruption, its movements slowing. Raphael, though affected by the fog's encroachment, was quick to maneuver. With a few rapid steps, he escaped its grasp, narrowly avoiding its debilitating effects.
"So, it doesn't trap humans?" Raphael muttered, piecing together the properties of the sinister fog. He didn't allow himself a moment's pause. With a flick of his hand, he summoned his Arcana spirit back to his side. "Sealing Technique: Total Recall."
When it appeared beside him, once the majestic-looking lion appeared to be very weak and frail, its bones were almost visible like a lion that hadn't been eaten for weeks.
"Transform!"
Leo's form began to shimmer, its glowing outline shifting and reforming. A moment later, the beast was replaced by a stunningly beautiful young maiden, her features ethereal and captivating. Gasps echoed through the audience, particularly from the men, many of whom fell into a daze simply by gazing upon her in this Virgo form.
"Vine Snare!" Raphael commanded without hesitation.
Virgo's eyes locked onto Rael, her serene yet piercing gaze unleashing the spell. Vines burst forth from the arena floor, twisting and curling around Rael's body. In seconds, he was immobilized, his arms and legs restrained tightly. The dark fog dissipated at last, revealing the field once more, but Rael's eyes remained an abyssal black, their void-like presence unsettling. "I wish for that damn snake that crushed Eon's bones to appear, but I'm afraid I don't have much time left. The nonstop usage of ocular powers was reducing the time limit. I can feel it. I need to end this quickly."