The moment Takashima activated the spell, the air warped. A rush of energy pulled Markus and Kai in, their surroundings twisting as they were dragged into the Magic Domain.
Then—silence.
The training hall was gone.
A vast desert stretched before them, golden dunes rolling endlessly beneath a burning sun. The heat weighed heavy, distorting the air in shimmering waves. Wind howled across the sand, carving deep ripples into the shifting ground. Massive stone pillars jutted from the ground.
Markus planted his boots into the sand, his trench coat whipping behind him. His weapons—his massive sword, magic sniper, and countless rounds of ammunition—remained strapped to him. He exhaled, his breath steady.
Kai stood opposite him, adjusting his glasses as he took in the terrain. His usual sharp expression hardened.
"We haven't seen each other in almost six months… and now we gotta fight."
Markus's fingers flexed over his ammunition strap before he finally looked up, locking eyes with Kai. His voice was steady, cold.
"You got a problem with that?"
Kai drew his sword and pistol in one fluid motion. "Not at all."
Markus nodded once. "Good."
The moment the word left his lips, his sniper was already in his hands. The shot cracked through the air.
Kai barely had time to react. His body moved before his mind could process—his boots dug into the sand as he dived behind a jagged rock outcrop. The impact sent a tremor through the ground, the bullet embedding itself deep into the stone.
He exhaled sharply.
Markus was already stronger than me to begin with. Not only that, he's extremely talented.
His grip on his pistol tightened.
A single mess-up could end me.
So I gotta play a little dirty.
Markus shifted, adjusting his scope. The barrel of his sniper barely wavered as he traced the edge of the rock where Kai had disappeared.
"He's still behind that rock."
Kai smirked. That's right.
Then he moved.
A blur of motion—Kai dashed out from behind the rock, body low, gun raised.
Markus didn't hesitate. A single twitch of his finger—
Another shot rang out.
Kai's head snapped back as the bullet pierced through his skull.
For a moment, silence.
Then—
His body flickered, vanishing into smoke.
Markus's eyes narrowed.
"A decoy?"
The real Kai rolled out from the side of the rock, pistol aimed. The instant his feet hit the sand, he fired. The bullet slammed into Markus's sniper, shattering the barrel with a sharp crack.
Markus's hand shot up, gripping the hilt of the massive sword strapped to his back. In one smooth motion, he wrenched it free, the blade gleaming under the brutal desert sun.
Then he was already moving.
Kai barely had time to register the shift before Markus was on him, the weight of that sword carving through the air like a guillotine.
He didn't even flinch…
Kai's instincts screamed. His feet dug into the sand, magic thrumming through his veins. He twisted his body just in time, narrowly avoiding the downward slash as Markus's sword carved deep into the ground where he stood just seconds before.
A shockwave blasted outward, sending sand and debris flying.
Kai launched himself back, his fingers flicking mid-air. Blue sigils ignited around his arms, wind magic surging to life.
Gotta keep my distance!
He kicked off the shifting sand, propelling himself high onto a crumbling stone pillar. His gun snapped up, aimed at Markus below. Sparks of magic crackled along its barrel.
Markus looked up, unfazed.
Kai unleashed a relentless barrage of magic, each shot crackling with energy as it tore through the air. Bolts of lightning streaked toward Markus, striking the sand with bursts of heat. Wind blades howled, carving through the desert like invisible scythes.
But Markus didn't stop.
He moved through the onslaught with terrifying precision, weaving past the attacks with minimal effort. His trench coat billowed, but his focus never wavered. Each step brought him closer, his massive sword dragging through the sand like an executioner's blade waiting to fall.
Kai grit his teeth, unloading another burst of magic rounds.
Nothing's slowing him down!
The moment Markus got too close, Kai knew he'd be at a disadvantage. His magic was strong, his agility unmatched, but Markus thrived in close combat.
The gap between them vanished in an instant.
Kai had no choice.
With a curse under his breath, he dropped his gun, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword. The moment steel met his palm, his magic surged into the blade, lightning crackling along its length.
Markus's eyes flickered, and for the first time, his lips curled into the faintest hint of a smirk.
So, you're finally taking this seriously.
Their swords clashed.
The force of Markus's swing sent tremors up Kai's arms. His body nearly buckled from the sheer weight behind the strike. Sparks erupted between their blades, the impact sending a shockwave that cracked the stone pillar beneath them.
Kai gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his forehead as he leapt back, his boots skidding against the sand. If I can't overpower him… then I'll just have to lock him down!
His fingers twisted, magic surging from his palm. Chains of raw energy erupted from the ground, glowing a deep violet as they lunged toward Markus, wrapping around his limbs in an instant.
Got him!
Kai's heart pounded. He only had seconds.
He pushed forward, blade drawn, ready to strike while Markus was immobilized.
Then—
The sound of metal snapping.
Markus tore through the chains like they were nothing.
With a single, forceful yank, he shattered them apart, shards of broken links scattering into the air. His arms freed, he reached for his sword.
Kai's instincts kicked in. He yanked his pistol from its holster and fired, aiming for Markus's weapon before it could be raised.
It didn't matter.
Markus was too fast.
The moment Kai pulled the trigger, Markus had already moved. He sidestepped effortlessly, avoiding the shot, and in one swift motion, slammed his shoulder into Kai's chest.
The impact knocked the air from his lungs.
Then, before Kai could react, Markus grabbed him.
A single, crushing grip on his arm.
A blur of motion.
Kai felt his body leave the ground.
Then—he was flying.
Markus threw him across the battlefield like he was weightless.
Kai's back slammed into a jagged rock formation. The stone cracked beneath the force, dust and debris falling around him. His body ached from the impact, pain radiating through his ribs.
Coughing, he struggled to push himself up.
I barely got a hit in…
Kai's fingers dug into the sand, his body trembling from the impact. His breath came in ragged gasps, every nerve in his body screaming in protest. Pain burned through his ribs, his vision still swimming from the sheer force of the blow.
But he wasn't done.
With a sharp exhale, he pressed his palm into the ground, pushing himself up onto one knee. His body protested, muscles aching, but he forced himself to his feet. Sand clung to his coat, his once-pristine uniform now torn and dirtied from the fight.
He staggered slightly but caught himself. His fingers curled into fists, his legs steadying beneath him.
His magic flickered to life once more.
Blue sigils pulsed at his fingertips, raw energy crackling in the air around him. His breathing slowed, controlled. He wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, his eyes locking onto Markus.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
"I'm not down yet."
Kai's blades surged forward again, twenty this time, a relentless storm of steel and force. Markus narrowed his eyes, his movements shifting ever so slightly.
This time, he reacted.
His sword moved like an extension of his body, slashing through the incoming weapons with terrifying efficiency. Sparks flew as magic and metal clashed, but for the first time in this fight—Markus wasn't untouched.
A blade scraped his shoulder, another slashed across his arm, leaving a shallow but clear cut. A third grazed his side.
Kai's chest heaved. He had landed hits.
But he knew.
He's still holding back.
Markus wasn't fighting to win. He was putting on a show for the others watching from beyond the domain. Kai could feel it—there was more strength behind those swings, more speed in his movements, but Markus wasn't unleashing it.
Not fully.
Kai barely had time to think before Markus was upon him, his towering form blocking out the desert sun.
A shadow over him.
A force he couldn't stop.
Kai collapsed onto one knee, panting.
Markus loomed above him, his sword resting at his side. "Thanks for the fight," he said simply. "You're strong."
Kai let out a breathless laugh. "Haha… not as strong as you."
Markus raised his sword. "Well, I'm moving on to the next round."
Kai's fingers twitched.
Not yet.
In one swift motion, he drew his pistol and fired.
The bullet struck Markus square in the forehead, the force knocking him back, his boots skidding against the sand.
Kai pushed himself up, a grin forming. "Well, I'm going to fight to the end."
Markus exhaled, shaking his head.
Then he finished it.
The fight was over.
Outside the domain, the instructors watched in silence.
Alaric set his teacup down. "That was… inelegant."
Zara crossed her arms, nodding approvingly. "At least he didn't go down easy."
Takashima adjusted his glasses. "A good display of adaptability. But if he was really facing Markus at full strength…"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Because everyone already knew the answer.
Outside the domain, the instructors watched in silence.
Alaric set his teacup down with a quiet clink. "That was… inelegant."
Takashima adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable. "A good display of adaptability. Kai played his hand well, but if Markus had been serious…"
He didn't finish the sentence. There was no need.
Crowne let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. "That was cute. Thought he had him for a second." His grin widened, something unhinged in his eyes. "Got some fight in him after all."
Alaric sighed, smoothing out his coat. "Regardless, it's done. Markus moves on."
Takashima glanced back toward the arena. "They all need to be better. Because, the enemy won't hold back."