Light Against the Tides
The arena gates groaned open.
A wave of noise crashed forward like a physical force.
"THAT'S HIM—!" "THE BASTARD—!" "THE KING'S WHORE-SPAWN—!" "LIGHT USER? HE'LL DIE—!"
The coliseum was alive—screaming, roaring, baying for blood.
Daniel stepped onto the white stone arena floor.
He did not flinch.
He did not slow.
He did not even blink.
His black-and-gold royal uniform fit his lean frame perfectly, crimson hair tied neatly back. He walked forward as if the world itself were silent.
High above, Emperor Harkon Steelbrand leaned forward slightly, iron eyes narrowing.
"…He's not reacting."
Queen Lysandra Aurelius tilted her head, emerald gaze sharp.
"No fear. Not even irritation."
They had seen heirs tremble. They had seen prodigies falter under the weight of thousands of eyes.
This boy?
He walked as if the arena belonged to him.
---
Then—
"DANIEL!"
A single voice cut through the chaos.
Clear.
Bright.
Alive.
Daniel stopped.
He turned his head.
In the royal viewing room, Aurelia Saint John stood at the front rail, both hands gripping it, grey necklace gleaming against her dress, blue hairpin catching the sun.
Her eyes met his.
For a heartbeat—
The coliseum vanished.
Daniel smiled.
A genuine, warm smile.
He lifted his hand and waved.
The reaction was immediate.
Whispers exploded.
"Who's that?" "She's beautiful…" "A noble?" "No—Saint John's daughter…" "He smiled only at her…"
In the royal rooms where heirs of three kingdoms waited, heads turned in unison toward Aurelia.
Every single one of them had the same thought.
Nice choice.
Aurelia's face burned crimson as she waved back, heart pounding so hard she thought everyone could hear it.
---
"Elara Evercrest enters!"
From the opposite gate, Princess Elara strode in, water mana rolling off her like mist from the sea. Her blue robes fluttered, droplets of condensed mana orbiting her shoulders.
Her expression twisted as she noticed Daniel waving.
She scoffed.
"Tch."
She walked forward and stopped several paces from him.
"You should forfeit," Elara said coldly. "I don't bully the weak."
Daniel turned back to her slowly.
His eyes were calm.
"Sorry," he replied evenly. "After today, you won't be able to bully anyone."
Her pupils shrank.
"…What?"
"This is your last match here."
The crowd gasped.
Elara's composure shattered into fury.
"You arrogant—!"
The horn roared.
"BWOOOOOOOOOOOOH—!"
---
The fight began.
---
Elara struck first.
"WATER DOMINION!"
FWOOOOOOSH—!
The air thickened instantly. Moisture condensed, pressure dropped, and the arena floor flooded in a heartbeat.
Waves rose.
The crowd screamed in excitement.
"She's serious from the start!" "She's trying to drown him!"
Daniel's boots splashed as water surged toward his knees.
Sensei's voice was calm in his mind.
"Don't retreat. Light disperses water at a molecular level. Shape it."
Daniel inhaled.
Light gathered.
Not soft.
Not warm.
Condensed.
Sharp.
The water froze mid-surge—
—not into ice—
—but into nothing.
FWSSSSSH—!
A blinding flash erupted outward as light vaporized the wave into steam.
The arena exploded with sound.
"WHAT—?!" "HE ERASED IT—!"
Elara's eyes widened for half a second.
Then she grinned.
"So that's how you want to play."
She stomped.
"PRESSURE CURRENT!"
BOOOOM—!
Water compressed into invisible blades, firing from every direction.
Daniel moved.
Not magically.
Physically.
FWIP—FWIP—FWIP—!
His body twisted, bent, ducked—assassin instincts screaming. Blades skimmed past his face, sliced fabric, shattered stone where he had been a breath before.
Cedric stared, jaw clenched.
"That's not luck…"
Leslie's hands trembled at her chest.
"That's my son…?"
---
Daniel slid across wet stone, skidded to a stop, and thrust his palm forward.
"LIGHT—REFRACTION."
FWAAAAASH—!
A beam exploded outward—then split into dozens of angled rays, bouncing off droplets in the air.
Elara cursed.
"SHIELD—!"
BOOOOM—CRASH—!
Her water barrier cracked, throwing her backward.
The crowd lost their minds.
"LIGHT AS A WEAPON—!" "He's carving with it!" "That's illegal—!"
King Orean stood slowly.
"…He shaped it."
Emperor Harkon laughed, deep and metallic.
"HAHAHA! He turned light into a blade—!"
Queen Lysandra's eyes glowed faintly.
"This is not doctrine magic," she murmured. "This is instinct."
---
Elara wiped blood from her lip, eyes burning.
"You're not a healer," she hissed.
Daniel tilted his head.
"Never said I was."
She raised both arms.
The water on the arena floor surged upward.
"ABYSSAL SPIRE!"
KRRAAAAAASH—!
A massive pillar of water twisted into a spiraling dragon, jaws opening wide.
People screamed.
"That'll kill him!" "He can't dodge that!"
Sensei spoke quickly.
"Light hardens at extreme density. Shape it into mass."
Daniel planted his feet.
Mana surged.
The light around him compressed until the air screamed.
"PHOTON ANCHOR."
THUUUUUM—!
A translucent, blinding construct formed—solid light.
The water dragon slammed into it.
BOOOOOOOOM—!
Shockwaves tore through the arena.
Stone cracked.
People were thrown back in their seats.
The crystal screen flickered violently.
For a moment—
No one could see anything.
Then—
The water collapsed.
The light construct shattered into sparks.
Daniel stood panting.
Elara stood panting.
Both still standing.
Silence.
Then—
The coliseum erupted.
"THIS IS INSANE—!" "LIGHT VS WATER—EVENLY MATCHED—!" "THIS IS HISTORY—!"
Aurelia's hands were shaking.
Her eyes shone.
This… this is how he saved me…
Cedric clenched his fists until blood seeped from his palms.
"…He's not a healer."
Elizabeth whispered softly.
"…He's terrifying."
---
Elara laughed—wild, exhilarated.
"This is fun!" she shouted. "Again!"
She charged.
Daniel charged too.
Light flared.
Water roared.
FWOOOSH—CRAAASH—ZZZSHHH—!
They collided in the center—
—and the arena shook as if the world itself were holding its breath.
The outcome—
Unclear.
The balance—
Perfect.
And somewhere, deep in the shadows beyond the coliseum—
Something watched.
Waiting.
The battle was far from over.