The hall blazed with the fiery purple chains surrounding Saruto, met by the icy chill of Lucian's icy spear. The crowd fell silent; no one dared speak. Even the heirs of the Seven Families were beginning to realize that this "commoner" was anything but ordinary.
Saruto flicked his wrist, and the chains shot forth like serpents toward Lucian, swinging with lightning speed, slamming into the ground and leaving deep craters. Lucian gritted his teeth and surrounded himself with an icy wall, trying to deflect the blows. The clanking of iron against the ice filled the hall—Rum! Crash!
Each attack from Saruto's swords nearly shattered Lucian's icy wall, and the pressure from Saruto intensified. Even as sweat poured from Lucian's brow and his breathing grew heavy, he considered surrendering, but his pride held him back. "I will not lose to this commoner!" he cried. "I will not lose!"
Meanwhile, despite his apparent calm, Saruto seemed to be gradually becoming accustomed to his swords. His steps became more precise, his strikes more measured. A faint smile appeared on his face, as if he were enjoying the fight. After a series of counterattacks, they both retreated simultaneously. Everyone in the stands held their breath, waiting for the fight to end.
Lucian raised his ice spear, focusing all his energy into a blue blade. In response, Saruto wrapped his chains around his arms, directing his own energy into his swords until they were engulfed in a dark purple aura. He concealed the flow of energy to avoid revealing himself.
Both charged forward, screaming, each intent on destroying the other. The master tried to stop the fight, but he couldn't get close enough. Just before the clash could occur, a massive burst of energy erupted, halting the attack. Dust swirled around the arena as everyone tried to see who had intervened to stop the fight. They found the Academy Director standing among them, his hands gripping the weapons of both Saruto and Lucian. "That's enough," he said firmly. "This fight is over."
Everyone began to protest the halt, but the Director's gaze was stern, and he unleashed a powerful force that silenced everyone present, forcing them to submit to his word. As all the students prepared to leave the arena, the Director remained silent for a moment, staring at Saruto's back as he turned to leave. Then he said to himself, "If I hadn't stopped the fight at that moment... the heir of the Ice Heir would have died right here. As expected of one of the heirs of the Dark Family."
Then he turned to the assembled crowd and officially declared the result of the fight: "As a result of my intervention, the result is a draw."
Arguments erupted among everyone, but the decision was final. Saruto left the arena with a calm smile, as if nothing had happened.