«The most anticipated final in over a hundred years of this competition is about to begin. Ready… GO!!!»
The moment the announcer gives the signal, a massive sword materializes in my grip. Its hilt gleams gold, while the blood-red blade is engulfed in intense crimson flames.
Rebecca summons a long, slender rapier, sapphire fire swirling around it.
«Crystal Release: Phoenix Shroud!» she cries. At her words, a blazing blue aura envelops her entire body.
«What a stunning start! Rebecca Asheart has decided to go all in right from the start!» the commentator shouts, his voice brimming with excitement. «But will such an aggressive strategy work against an opponent of Jade Kyndrake's caliber? We're about to find out!»
Phoenix Shroud—one of the unique abilities granted by her crystal. In this state, any wound heals instantly, yet keeping it active consumes a tremendous amount of energy. Still, nothing I can't handle.
Rebecca charges at me with lightning speed, leaving a trail of blue fire. She launches a relentless storm of thrusts and slashes, raining down from every angle.
The sharp ring of our blades echoes through the arena.
For now, I manage to parry her rapid strikes without much trouble. Defense isn't my style, but since she unleashed her Crystal Release right away, I have little choice.
As expected, her fiery aura not only grants regeneration but also burns with unbearable heat.
Damn it… her sharp, precise strikes grow harder to counter, and that suffocating heat only makes it worse.
«Unbelievable! Rebecca Asheart seems to have seized complete control of the fight! Since the start, Jade hasn't landed a single hit—we've never seen him this pressured before!» the commentator shouts, his voice brimming with excitement. «What an incredible duel!»
The commentator's foolish words grate on me.
Me, at a disadvantage? What fight is this idiot watching?
My eyes fall on Viktoria in the front row, just a few meters away. Her satisfied smile tells me she, unlike the commentator, understands the situation.
Even so, I have to admit—this brat is far stronger than I imagined. She wields her crystal's powers with astonishing mastery for someone only fourteen. But no matter how talented, her combat experience is nothing compared to mine.
And right now, exploiting a slight misstep in her movements—clearly born of inexperience—I unleash a powerful horizontal slash, cutting across her stomach. From the deep slash, azure sparks scatter instead of blood, and in an instant the gash closes completely.
Her uniform, however, doesn't mend. This isn't an ordinary school uniform, but battle attire woven with nexthal, a magic-resistant fiber.
Though it was just one strike, Rebecca clearly felt the impact.
My weapon is no ordinary sword, but one born from the magic of my Divine Dragon of Destruction Crystal.
A blade that erases the magical energy of anyone its edge touches.
Even though the wound vanished, the energy-shattering effect took hold.
I can already see her flames dimming, her breathing growing heavy and ragged.
Perfect. The side effects of her Crystal Release are finally surfacing.
My strategy is working, though later than I hoped. That girl has a terrifying amount of energy… even after only six months at Astralea, Rebecca has reached power equal to a fifth-year.
At this pace, by the next tournament she'll surpass even Viktoria and me.
I cannot allow that.
The moment I've waited for has come at last—the moment to strike back.
I dash at Rebecca with speed greater than hers, despite my blade's size, wounding her first on the thigh, then the torso.
Her injuries close again, but more slowly this time—and more importantly, I destroy even more of her energy.
Exhausted, she can only retreat, leaping back in quick bursts.
But I refuse to grant her a moment's rest.
I extend my arm toward her and…
«Elemental Invocation • Fire: Flame Barrage!»
A burst of blazing fireballs erupts from my palm, racing straight toward her.
Rebecca tries once more to rely on her Phoenix Shroud to shield herself from my magic, but this time it fails.
The fiery barrage slams into her, searing her body and stripping away the last scraps of her uniform—now she is almost completely naked.
Perfect. Her regenerative ability is crippled, unable to fully heal those burns.
Suddenly, Rebecca dismisses her rapier, the weapon scattering into countless motes of light.
Has she surrendered? No… she keeps retreating, one step at a time.
It's clear she's preparing a long-range spell.
The sapphire flames swirling around her burn brighter than ever.
She's pouring all her remaining energy into one final strike.
All I need to do is brace for her spell, and victory will be mine.
«Sacred Phoenix—Elyrion, rise once more and aid me in this battle. Grant me shelter beneath your wings of flame…»
Wait… you have got to be kidding me! Is she reciting the Ancient Prayer?! She's only fourteen—there's no way she can already draw out her crystal's full potential. This is insane!
The flames around her surge higher, condensing into the form of a massive raptor, its body woven entirely from dazzling azure fire.
Viktoria leaps to her feet, as stunned as I am. Neither of us can believe our eyes.
I want to attack, but with those searing flames coiling around her, I can't even get close.
«…In your burning song, resound the eternal melody, purify the world with your sacred fire!»
No… it's impossible! Even I had not mastered the Crystal Chant properly at her age!
The crowd falls silent. Even the commentator falls silent.
«Crystal Chant: Purification of the Winged Flame!»
Against a creature of such colossal size, evasion is unthinkable.
And in my current state, I can't cast a spell strong enough to counter a spell of this magnitude.
I never intended to go this far against a first-year student, but I see no other option.
«Crystal Release...»
The blazing phoenix Rebecca summoned slams into me with a massive burst of fire, shrouding the arena in blinding light.
The blast is so immense it even cracks the protective barrier itself—a special spell meant not only to shield the audience from stray attacks, but also to preserve the lives of those fighting inside. No one can see what happens within the storm of flames.
«…Incarnation of Azkarith—the Destruction Dragon!»