The academy was finally complete.
In the center of its grand arena, the crowd's roar thundered like the sky, shouting with indescribable excitement.
The massive arena was covered with glowing mana runes, pulsing with suffocating energy.
The announcer's powerful voice echoed:
"Ladies and gentlemen! We now begin the opening match! In the first corner… Ragnar, heir of Lionheart and the King's Blade!
And in the other corner… the fearsome duo, Semifel, wielder of the legendary sword Excalibur, and the Sea King, Poseidon!"
The crowd: "Ragnar! Ragnar! … Poseidon! Semifel!"
The three stood in the center of the arena, their eyes locking amid the crowd's roar.
Semifel, with a calm smile:
"Ragnar… before we begin, let me say this. If your strength matches your brother Ongan's… I will acknowledge you."
Poseidon waved his long spear:
"Yes, I haven't forgotten that battle alongside Ongan… Prove to us you don't just live in his shadow."
Ragnar gripped his sword, his eyes gleaming with confidence:
"You're mistaken… I'm not the same as before. I've grown far beyond what you knew."
The announcer raised his hand:
"Let the match begin!!"
---
The Beginning: Lightning Opens the Battle
Lightning exploded from Ragnar's body as he dashed like an arrow toward Semifel.
A thunderclap echoed through the arena as his lightning-wrapped sword clashed against Semifel's blade.
Sparks scattered in all directions.
Semifel (seriously):
"Your sword… it's heavier than before. The lightning makes it faster and stronger."
Before Ragnar could respond, Poseidon appeared behind him like a ghost, his spear striking toward Ragnar's back with blinding speed.
But Ragnar, with a confident grin, spun around and kicked the spear with a flash of lightning, sending Poseidon sliding backward several meters.
Poseidon retreated, smiling:
"Heh… that speed… it really does remind me of Ongan."
---
Exchange of Blows
Ragnar: "Don't compare me to my brother… my power belongs to me alone!"
Ragnar vanished suddenly in a flash of lightning, appearing behind Poseidon, his sword glowing like pure thunder, aimed for a fatal strike.
Poseidon, caught off guard for an instant, barely managed to block it with his spear, sparks flying at every clash.
Semifel didn't miss the opening — he leapt forward with a swift thrust toward Ragnar's chest.
But Ragnar bent sideways with the flexibility of lightning itself, letting the strike pierce only the air.
The crowd roared wildly:
"Waaaaaaah!"
---
The Dual Assault
Semifel: "You can't handle us both!"
Poseidon: "Let's attack together!"
The two charged at once.
Poseidon's spear surged like waves, and Semifel's sword shone like light.
Ragnar shouted as he charged his sword with mana.
He spun his blade rapidly, unleashing a vortex of lightning that repelled their attacks and blasted both of them back.
Poseidon (smiling):
"Incredible…! That's not just speed, that's raw power too."
Semifel: "But… can you handle this?!"
He raised his hand and unleashed a wave of light, forming countless glowing swords raining down from the sky toward Ragnar.
---
Lightning vs Light
Ragnar: "I'll tear them apart!"
He leapt high, his sword blazing with lightning, and every sword of light he touched shattered like glass.
Poseidon seized the moment, jumping from the side, his spear glowing with massive aquatic energy.
His strike rushed toward Ragnar like a raging torrent.
But Ragnar shouted, his body fully cloaked in lightning.
Their weapons collided — sword and spear — creating a violent electric explosion that shook the entire arena, forcing the audience to shield their eyes from the blinding flash.
---
The True Challenge
As the smoke cleared, the three stood apart, breathing heavily, their eyes burning with determination.
Semifel, laughing:
"I admit… the only one I've seen at this level was Ongan."
Poseidon, smiling:
"If you keep going like this… I might say you could surpass Ongan."
Ragnar, in a deep voice, his eyes flashing with lightning:
"I didn't come here to earn your recognition!"
The crowd went wild, and the announcer shouted:
"What an epic battle right from the start!!"
---
Mutual Pressure
Semifel advanced swiftly, his sword wrapped in light, while Poseidon joined from the side.
Their attacks poured down like a storm, but Ragnar evaded with perfect precision, lightning glowing around him like a natural shield.
The announcer shouted with excitement:
"Incredible! He's facing two kingdom commanders at once and still holding his ground!"
The crowd screamed:
"Ragnar!!! … Don't back down!"
---
The Chain Lightning Technique
Ragnar smiled, tightening his grip on his sword:
"Let's raise the level a bit!"
He lifted his sword to the sky, sending a burst of lightning that split into three lines striking the ground around his opponents.
From each strike, secondary bolts erupted, trapping Poseidon and Semifel in a web of lightning.
Semifel barely leaped back, while Poseidon raised his spear to block one of the bolts.
Poseidon (astonished): "A Chain Lightning Technique? I've never seen you use that before!"
Ragnar: "I never needed to before!"
---
The Climax
The three gathered again in the center of the arena.
Sweat dripped from their foreheads, but their smiles remained.
Semifel: "You've exceeded all expectations, Ragnar… I really see you differently now."
Poseidon spun his spear slowly: "A battle like this… is perfect for the academy's opening."
Ragnar raised his sword, lightning dancing around him:
"How about we end this honorably? One last strike… no holding back!"
Semifel and Poseidon together:
"Just as we want!"
---
The End
Their powers burst forth at the same time—
Ragnar's blue lightning,
Semifel's brilliant light,
and Poseidon's swirling tides.
Their forces collided at a single point, exploding into a blinding white flash that engulfed the arena.
Silence… then a thunderous applause shook the academy.
The announcer yelled:
"What an epic opening showcase! No injuries, no defeat—only strength and mutual respect!"
The crowd roared in unison:
"Ragnar! Semifel! Poseidon!"
Ragnar smiled as he lowered his sword, extending his hand toward his opponents:
"Thank you… this is exactly what I needed."
Poseidon smiled and shook his hand:
"Keep this up, and you'll surpass Ongan, kid."
Semifel laughed:
"But don't get cocky— we didn't fight at full strength, so train hard. You're strong."
The sun shone brightly over the academy, announcing the beginning of a new era of power.