The afternoon sun scorched the arena, turning the silver banners into mirrors of light that flickered with every movement. The student-level battles continued, and the stakes had grown even higher. Hundreds of students had already fought, but only the most skilled remained in the running, each hoping for a chance to catch a teacher's eye.
Ansh, Ashwini, and Vijay leaned over the railing, watching eagerly. Daav perched on Ansh's shoulder, twitching his feathers at every sound of battle.
"This level… it's insane," Ansh whispered. "Every single move could decide their future."
Ashwini's eyes tracked a spinning flame duel below. "It's more than raw strength. These students have mastered control, strategy, and precision. Mistakes here are unforgiving."
Vijay smirked. "And yet, some still try to show off. Some things never change."
The next set of battles began, five matches in particular catching their attention.
The First Clash – Twin Blades of the North
"Faren of the Northern Range!"
"Kai of the Eastern Spire!"
The two young men charged at each other simultaneously, Faren's twin curved swords flashing like silver arcs, Kai's paired daggers spinning with deadly accuracy.
"Begin!"
The arena erupted in a storm of steel. Sparks flew with every clash. Faren's swords slashed through the air, cutting invisible trails, while Kai's daggers danced around them, meeting every strike with exact precision.
Ansh leaned forward, eyes wide. "They're not even touching each other and still slicing the air! That's insane!"
Ashwini noted the rhythm. "Watch their footwork. They're anticipating each other's attacks almost before they happen."
The fight lasted longer than any in the previous round, each counter followed by another attack, each dodge precise. Finally, Faren feinted a strike to Kai's right — then spun low, slicing the opponent's legs. Kai fell to one knee, unable to recover in time.
"Winner — Faren of the Northern Range!"
Vijay nodded appreciatively. "Skill over speed. That was textbook precision."
Ansh grinned. "Still, I like the flashy ones better."
The Second Clash – Fire and Ice
"Shira of the Ember Hall!"
"Icean of the Frost Vale!"
The arena transformed as Shira hurled pillars of flame while Icean's shards of ice spun around him, forming a crystalline shield. The air steamed where their powers collided.
"Begin!"
Flames and ice collided midair, boiling the ground beneath them. Each strike shattered into smaller elemental fragments. Sparks and frost crackled in tandem, creating a dazzling display of light.
Shira's arms glowed brighter, intensifying the heat; Icean countered with a wall of ice that split the arena floor in shockwaves.
Ansh leaned back, panting. "This is like watching two suns fight each other!"
Ashwini's eyes narrowed. "Notice how Icean isn't just defensive. He's luring her in, making her overcommit. That's a level of strategy most students never reach."
The duel reached its climax as Shira attempted a massive fire surge. Icean leapt into the air, summoning a towering ice spike that collided midstrike. The arena trembled; the crowd held its breath. When the smoke cleared, Shira staggered, charred and exhausted.
"Winner — Icean of the Frost Vale!"
Vijay muttered, impressed. "Endurance and patience. That's why he won."
Ansh whistled. "I want to try that next time… well, in spirit, of course."
The Third Clash – Earth and Storm
"Balkar of the Stone Wall!"
"Veyra of the Storm Peak!"
Balkar's massive fists were coated in jagged stone, while Veyra's movements crackled with electric energy.
"Begin!"
Veyra darted across the arena like lightning, striking Balkar's shoulders and chest with bursts of static force. Balkar countered with punches that shattered the ground, sending spikes of rock toward Veyra.
The air filled with dust, lightning, and stone. Balkar's size gave him power, but Veyra's speed and unpredictability made him a dangerous opponent.
Ansh cheered. "Go fast guy! He's zapping that rock giant all over the place!"
Ashwini frowned. "Don't underestimate Balkar. One solid hit and the fight ends."
Veyra leaped backward as Balkar's fist smashed into the earth, splitting it. Then, with a spinning strike of his electrified boots, Veyra sent Balkar stumbling. A crackling bolt of lightning struck him squarely — and the giant fell to one knee.
"Winner — Veyra of the Storm Peak!"
Vijay crossed his arms. "Impressive control. That wasn't brute force; that was tactical dominance."
Ansh clapped loudly. "Tactical or not… that was fun to watch!"
The Fourth Clash – The Whispering Blades
"Kael of the Shadow Vale!"
"Nomi of the Glass Hall!"
Kael moved almost silently, shadows trailing his every step. Nomi's mirrored daggers flashed in the sunlight, reflecting a thousand images of the arena.
"Begin!"
Kael darted in, attacking from angles Nomi couldn't see. Every strike seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving only a trace of shadow. Nomi countered, her daggers slicing through reflected illusions, but Kael's attacks came faster than her eyes could track.
Ansh leaned forward, mouth slightly open. "He's like… everywhere at once!"
Ashwini's eyes narrowed. "He's using misdirection, control of light and dark… almost like bending perception itself."
Nomi lunged for a critical strike, but Kael vanished into the shadows — reappearing behind her. With a swift, precise strike, Nomi was disarmed and pinned.
"Winner — Kael of the Shadow Vale!"
Vijay frowned, intrigued. "That's not normal magic… that's something else entirely."
Ansh could barely contain his excitement. "I knew we'd see a mysterious one today! Look at him go!"
The crowd went silent, awe-struck. Kael's hood obscured his face, and even the teachers leaned forward to watch. Every movement was calm, deliberate, almost lazy — yet devastatingly effective.
Ansh whispered, almost to himself, "If he's like this as a student… imagine what the disciples can do."
Ashwini kept her gaze steady. "Let's hope the next stage isn't a complete surprise. But yes… he's remarkable."
Kael gave no reaction to the cheers or whispers. With a slow step, he left the arena, and attention shifted back to the ongoing battles.
The Fifth Clash – Flame and Earth
"Reno of the Ember Hall!"
"Zara of the Iron Ridge!"
The arena shook as Reno's fire and Zara's stone collided. Sparks flew, rocks shattered, and molten lava began to form at points of contact.
"Begin!"
Zara's fists slammed the earth, sending tremors toward Reno. Reno's flames exploded in response, vaporizing stone into dust. The two fighters were evenly matched, exchanging attack after attack without a clear advantage.
Finally, a massive eruption of fire and stone collided mid-arena, sending both combatants stumbling. Zara regained balance faster, her stone armor cracking but still intact. She pressed the attack, pinning Reno and ending the fight decisively.
"Winner — Zara of the Iron Ridge!"
Ansh let out a long whistle. "They're like walking natural disasters."
Vijay shook his head, amused. "At this level, every student fights like the arena itself is an enemy."
Ashwini smiled. "It's impressive, but exhausting just to watch."
As the last student clash ended, loud applause echoed through the arena — but Ansh, Ashwini, and Vijay were no longer just excited.
They were silent.
Not out of boredom — but realization.
Their turn was next.
Ansh's hands, which had been gripping the railing in excitement, slowly loosened. "We… we're really next, huh?"
Daav fluffed his feathers nervously — even the little spirit beast felt the shift in atmosphere.
Ashwini exhaled softly. Her eyes remained focused on the arena. "No more watching. No more running through forests. This time… there's nowhere to hide."
Vijay nodded, his usual calm now sharpened. "This isn't about winning or losing. It's about showing the entire academy what Rajyugas taught us. What we became."
Ansh forced a grin — but for the first time, there was a flicker of pressure in his voice.
"Yeah… we survived demons, forests, death traps. Strong enemies. But this… this is different. This time, everyone's watching."
Ashwini placed her hand over her chest — steadying her heartbeat.
"Learners fight to rise. Students fight to be chosen. But disciples… we fight to prove our existence. To prove our teacher's name is not misplaced on us."
Vijay spoke quietly — but with absolute clarity.
"Rajyugas took only three disciples this year. Us. If we fail today… it won't just be our shame."
The words hung heavy.
The roaring arena suddenly felt very, very quiet.
Nervous? Yes.
Excited? More than ever.
Scared? Slightly.
Ready? Absolutely.
Ansh finally smirked — but his voice was steady now, not playful.
"Good. Let them watch."
Ashwini's lips curled into a rare, dangerous smile.
"Let them see what the forest made of us."
Vijay stood, the silver wind from the mountain brushing against his robes.
"And let them remember — disciples do not compete. We set the standard."
Above them, the silver banners trembled in the wind — as if the academy itself awaited their arrival.
The Student Tournament was still ongoing…
But every eye, every whisper in the shadows…
was already turning toward the Disciples' Stage.