Rain Lancelot's victory sent a wave of cheers rolling across the stadium.
She stepped off the arena with flushed cheeks, receiving pats on the back and congratulations from students and even a few pro heroes.
"Rain, that was amazing!"
"You've grown so much!"
"Your control was incredible!"
Rain bowed slightly, overwhelmed but glowing with pride.
Raze smiled.
Astra nodded at her approvingly.
Roger yelled something loud and incomprehensible.
Astra smacked him again.
With spirits high, the announcer's voice boomed:
"NEXT MATCH — GRAY HOWITZER versus FELIX CINDER!"
The tone changed instantly.
Excitement turned into tension.
Even Raze leaned forward.
"This… might be the hardest matchup for Gray," he murmured.
Astra agreed.
"Felix can stop Gray from ever getting close. For Gray, distance is a disadvantage."
Luna crossed her arms.
"Still… Gray doesn't lose easily."
◆ ◆ ◆
**The Opposites Enter the Arena**
Gray Howitzer entered first.
Calm.
Sharp-eyed.
Hands in pockets.
Silver hair brushing his shoulders lightly.
When he walked, it felt like gravity itself adjusted to him.
Then Felix stepped onto the opposite side.
Headphones on.
Messy hair.
Expression blank as always.
But the arena trembled just slightly with every step he took.
Two quiet boys.
Two walking storms.
Two completely opposite styles.
The crowd whispered:
"If Gray touches him, it's over."
"But Felix controls all sound. He won't let Gray get near!"
"This fight is pure matchup disadvantage for Gray."
The announcer raised his hand.
"BEGIN!"
◆ ◆ ◆
**A Bad Matchup**
Felix acted immediately.
Before Gray even moved—
"AAAAAHHHH—!!"
A high-volume scream blasted forward, the air *warping* from the intensity.
The arena barrier hummed as it absorbed the shockwave.
Students covered their ears even through the protection.
Roger shouted, "FELIX YOU MONSTER!!"
Astra narrowed her eyes.
"That frequency… it's meant to keep Gray at a distance."
Rain flinched.
"Gray can't get close like this…"
Yet Gray didn't panic.
He exhaled—
And touched his own legs.
Instantly—
He became lighter. Much lighter.
His body weight dropped to near zero.
He moved—
**FWIP—FWIP—FWIP—!!**
Slipping between sonic blasts like drifting leaves.
Felix adjusted, raising a hand—
"T H R U M—!!"
A concentrated high-frequency burst shattered the arena floor, sending tiles flying.
Gray skidded back—
Then smirked.
"You gave me ammo."
Felix's eyes widened.
Gray touched one of the flying tiles mid-air—
**Made it lighter—**
leapt—
grabbed another—
**lightened it—**
spun—
And with a flick—
**ZIIIING—!!**
He threw the tiles at Felix at insane speed increasing their weight at the moment of relese.
Felix responded instantly:
"—HNNNN!!"
A focused pitch blast—
CRACK—!!
The tiles exploded mid-air.
But each blast forced Felix to remain in place.
And while Felix destroyed projectile after projectile…
Gray was getting closer.
Inches closer.
Foot by foot.
◆ ◆ ◆
**Sound Pressure vs Weightshift**
Felix realized it too late.
He inhaled sharply and unleashed a wave of vibrating sound:
"BWUUUUUM—!!"
The entire arena shook violently.
A pressure wave designed not to harm—
but to *push away*.
Gray grounded himself instantly—
touching the floor beneath him—
**increasing his weight for a split second.**
The shockwave washed over him, but he didn't budge.
Felix's eyes widened.
Gray lifted his head slightly.
"Close."
The next instant—
**Gray turned weightless again—
and jumped.**
Felix tried to retreat, blasting the ground to create distance—
Tiles shattered—
Ice-like cracks formed—
Soundwaves tore the floor apart—
But Gray was already airborne, spinning through the debris.
The audience gasped.
"He's too close!"
"Felix can't push him away in time!"
"Gray's going to touch him—!!"
Felix looked up—
And for the first time—
His expression changed.
A flicker of panic.
He used a high-frequency burst aimed directly upward:
**"T H R U M—!!"**
The wave hit Gray's jump path—
But Gray touched a piece of debris mid-air—
*increasing its weight*—
and using it to pivot.
Felix's blast missed.
Gray extended his hand—
And tapped Felix's toe.
Just a tap.
Then he yelled—
"CONTACT!"
Felix froze.
Not mentally.
Physically.
His body slammed into the ground with a heavy *THUD*.
Gray had increased Felix's weight fiftyfold.
Felix couldn't lift a finger.
Not even twitch.
The match was over.
◆ ◆ ◆
The Victory
The referee raised his hand.
"FELIX CINDER IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE—
WINNER: GRAY HOWITZER!"
The stadium erupted.
Thunderous applause.
A standing ovation.
Even the heroes nodded in quiet approval.
Felix lay on the ground, panting from the weight pinning him.
Gray crouched down, touched his shoulder—
and returned him to normal weight.
Felix pushed himself up slowly.
Before he could speak—
Gray offered his hand.
Felix blinked.
"…I lost."
Gray shook his head.
"Your sound control is impressive. You can use it in far more ways than this match showed."
Felix looked away.
"I didn't… think of that."
Gray smiled faintly.
"Then I'll help you."
Felix's eyes widened in surprise.
Then—
"…Thank you."
Gray pulled him to his feet—
And Felix suddenly wrapped him in a stiff, awkward hug.
The stadium erupted again, louder than before.
Rain clapped joyfully.
Astra nodded approvingly.
Roger screamed, "BROMANCE!!"
Astra smacked him a third time.
Raze smiled softly.
"He deserved the win."
Astra murmured,
"And Felix deserved the respect."
◆ ◆ ◆
**A Peaceful End**
The announcer declared the day's conclusion:
"THE FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND ROUND HAS ENDED.
NO INTERRUPTIONS.
NO INCIDENTS.
NO INTERFERENCE FROM NIGHTVEIL."
For the first time in a long time…
the academy felt calm.
The world felt steady.
The tournament had resumed—
and the future waited for its next battle.