Asher and Jarek arrived early for the first day of Supreme Fight Strategies. The vast stone arena stretched before them, etched with ancient, intricate patterns. A soft breeze stirred the dust, and tension hung heavy in the air. At its center stood the legendary war master, Azeroth, his piercing eyes cutting through the gathered students.
"You've come to know your weapons," Azeroth began, his voice a thunderclap in the silence. "Last year, you uncovered their secrets, their dangers. And before this year began, you made your choice. Your weapons are your fate. But fate bends only to those who master it."
His footsteps echoed as he moved deliberately through the arena, the weight of his presence deepening the students' unease.
"Trinity Blaster," he announced, gesturing to a massive, intricate energy cannon with three barrels primed to fire. It hummed with restrained fury. "Varyn, you chose this weapon. Its triple-barreled strike unleashes devastating energy blasts. But can you control the power drain? And when you fire… how will you defend yourself?"
Varyn's grip tightened, shadows darkening his expression.
Azeroth's gaze shifted.
"Nightmare Builder," he said, his voice low and ominous as he regarded a heavy, black spear. "Elysia, your weapon turns fear into living prisons. You ensnare minds with horror. But every thrust leaves you vulnerable. Can you truly keep your own fears at bay?"
A flicker of doubt trembled in Elysia's eyes.
He turned next to a great, green beast of vines and roots, a creature that seemed grown from the heart of a forest.
"Nature's Call: Briarbeast," he said. "Fiora, you wield the will of nature itself. Your beast entangles enemies with its roots… but does its power match its bulk? Will your strength overcome your lack of speed?"
His attention shifted to a silver pendant hanging from a student's neck. A single, watchful eye gleamed at its center.
"Soulpiercer Pendant," Azeroth intoned. "Aris, with this, you can invade a soul and command it. But closing your eyes leaves you open. If your spirit falters, what will become of you?"
Aris clenched the pendant in silence, unease clear on his face.
Next, Azeroth's gaze fell on a small, fuzzy creature perched beside another student. It blinked with a mischievous gleam in its eyes.
"Morphobound," he said. "Lenya, this little creature may seem harmless… but its power depends on your will. It can grow into a giant… or abandon you in the heat of battle."
Lenya smiled faintly, but her eyes never lost their focus.
Finally, Azeroth turned to Asher and Jarek.
"Abyssal Reaver and Thunderfury Gauntlet," he declared. "Darkness and storm… deadly forces. Power like this devours the unworthy. Can you hold it, or will you fall to your own weapon?"
Raising his arms, Azeroth's voice thundered once more.
"For the first two minutes, attack only the opponent at your side. After that…" His lips curled into a dark smile. "Everyone becomes your enemy. War is won by those who outthink their foes. Let the battle begin."
And with those words, chaos erupted.