They collided.
And the arena *shattered*.
The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, cracks spiderwebbing across the floor, chunks of stone breaking free and tumbling into the air. Students in the front rows scrambled back as debris rained down.
White light clashed with gold.
Caspian's fist met Ilias's, and for a heartbeat, they hung there—two forces grinding against each other, neither willing to yield.
Then they broke apart, sliding backward across the ruined floor.
Breathing hard.
Staring.
The crowd roared.
---
In the observation room, a teacher leaned forward, eyes wide.
"They're *first-years*," she breathed.
Another teacher—grizzled, scars crossing his face—grinned. "Reminds me of our time. When *we* were that age."
A few others nodded, murmuring agreement.
"Gods, we were reckless back then."
"Still are."
Laughter rippled through the room.
One teacher glanced at the red-aura man standing at the railing, arms crossed, eyes locked on Ilias.
"He reminds me of *you* back then," the teacher said.
The red-aura man smiled faintly. "It's been a long time since then."
"Not that long."
"Long enough."
Below, the fight continued.
---
Caspian raised both hands, and the arena itself *responded*.
Chunks of the walls *tore free*—massive slabs of stone ripping away from the structure, floating in the air around him. His Resonance poured into them, white light wrapping around each piece, reinforcing them, transforming them into weapons.
He thrust his hand forward.
The slabs *flew*.
Ilias dodged the first, punched through the second—stone exploding into dust—ducked under the third.
But the fourth caught him.
*Hard*.
Slammed into his chest, sent him tumbling backward.
He rolled to his feet, breathing hard.
Caspian wasn't done.
More slabs. More walls. The arena was being dismantled piece by piece, every fragment turned into ammunition.
And when Ilias punched through the stone—
He hit something *else*.
A barrier.
Not physical.
Pure Resonance.
*Hard light*.
His fist stopped dead, and the force of his own punch *reflected* back, sending him flying.
He crashed into the ground, skidding across the cracked floor.
Caspian stood tall, white light radiating from him, slabs of stone hovering around him like orbiting moons.
"This," Caspian declared, voice echoing through the arena, "is the power of the God of the Empire!"
He raised his arms.
"*VALTORUS!* The God of Shields! Protector of the loyal! Guardian of pure blood!"
The white light intensified, and the shields around him *solidified*—no longer just stone, but layered constructs of material and hard light combined.
"He protects those who are *worthy*," Caspian said, eyes blazing. "And you are *not*."
---
Caspian moved.
Not running.
*Surfing*.
A shield materialized beneath his feet, and he rode it like a wave, accelerating across the arena at blinding speed.
Ilias barely had time to react.
Caspian was *on* him, slamming a shield into his guard, driving him backward.
Another shield appeared beneath Caspian, lifting him higher, giving him the aerial advantage.
He attacked from above—shield after shield crashing down like falling stars.
Ilias blocked, dodged, tried to counter—
But Caspian was *relentless*.
No breathing room. No time to adapt.
A shield slammed into Ilias from above, driving him into the ground.
*BOOM.*
A crater formed, dust exploding outward.
The crowd *erupted*.
"YEAH! KICK HIS ASS!"
"THAT'S A PRINCE!"
Vyra's fanclub screamed. Royal bloods cheered.
Caspian hovered above, breathing hard, grinning.
"Stay *down*."
---
Ilias pushed himself up slowly, dirt and blood streaking his face.
His Resonance flickered.
Adi appeared on his shoulder, invisible to everyone else.
*"You're not grasping the full situation,"* Adi said quietly. *"You're limiting yourself."*
Ilias gritted his teeth. "What do you *mean*? I'm fighting for my *life* here!"
*"You want to win, but you don't want to defeat your opponent. What's the point in that?"*
"What—"
*"You're DEFENDING. He's the defense-type. YOU should be the one rushing him. Stop blocking. Start ATTACKING."*
Adi's voice sharpened.
*"Put INTENT behind your punches. Stop holding back."*
Ilias stared at Caspian, hovering above him, smug and untouchable.
And something inside him *shifted*.
His Resonance flared brighter.
Gold light poured from his skin, the broken chains swirling around him like living things.
Caspian threw another shield.
Ilias *punched*.
Not to block.
To *destroy*.
The shield—material and hard light combined—met his fist.
And *shattered*.
Both layers.
Caspian's eyes went wide.
Ilias didn't stop.
Closed the distance in a heartbeat, fist driving forward with pure *intent*.
Hit Caspian square in the face.
*CRACK.*
Caspian flew backward, crashing into the far wall.
He scrambled to his feet, blood dripping from his nose, eyes wild.
"The blessing is active! The god's protection should be *absolute*! Why didn't it—"
Ilias was already there.
---
Grabbed Caspian by the leg.
Lifted him.
*Slammed* him into the ground.
Picked him up.
Slammed him again.
Caspian tried to summon shields—white light flickering desperately—
Ilias punched *faster than he could focus*.
Every shield dissipated before it formed.
He grabbed Caspian, drove him into the floor, and started *punching*.
Again.
And again.
And *again*.
No mercy. No hesitation.
Just raw, brutal *force*.
Caspian's vision blurred. His Resonance faltered. He couldn't think. Couldn't breathe.
The referee's voice cut through the chaos.
"*ENOUGH!*"
She appeared between them, hand raised, Resonance flaring.
"THE FIGHT IS OVER!"
Ilias froze, fist raised.
The referee pointed at Caspian, unconscious and bleeding on the ground.
"Caspian Thel'Voran cannot continue."
She turned to Ilias.
"Winner: *ILIAS VENN!*"
---
The arena *exploded*.
Half the crowd screamed in fury. The other half roared in triumph.
"HE WON!"
"NO WAY!"
"I TOLD YOU! I *TOLD* YOU!"
Zael was on his feet, fists in the air, laughing. "PAY UP! I BET ON ILIAS! PAY UP!"
Students around him groaned, handing over points.
Vyra sat in the stands, arms crossed, a small smile on her lips.
*Interesting.*
---
Healers rushed onto the floor, surrounding Caspian.
Ilias stood, breathing hard, blood and dirt streaking his face, golden aura fading.
He turned.
Walked toward the tunnel leading out of the arena.
Behind him, Caspian stirred.
Opened his eyes.
Saw Ilias walking away.
And *screamed*.
"YOU THINK THIS IS OVER?!"
Ilias didn't stop.
Kept walking.
"I AM A *PRINCE*!" Caspian's voice cracked, raw and furious. "A PRINCE OF AN *EMPIRE*! YOU SHAMED ME IN *PUBLIC*!"
Ilias stepped into the tunnel.
Into shadow.
"DO YOU THINK THIS IS OVER?!" Caspian shouted, being restrained by healers. "I WILL LEAD A PERSONAL ARMY TO ELYRIA! I WILL *ELIMINATE* EVERYONE ON THAT PLANET!"
The arena went silent.
Every student turned to stare.
"EVERYONE YOU LOVE! EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT! *EVERYONE*!"
Ilias stopped.
In the darkness of the tunnel.
Silent.
Still.
Then—
Osh'Kora *split*.
Two halves.
Ilias held one.
Threw the other.
---
The staff shot out of the tunnel like a spear.
Flew across the arena floor.
Caspian's eyes widened.
The staff *grazed* his cheek—a thin cut, blood welling—and clattered to the ground beside him.
He froze.
Everyone froze.
And from the darkness—
Ilias stepped forward.
Into the light.
His eyes *blazed*.
Not white.
Not just glowing.
*Gold*.
Burning, radiant, *inhuman*.
He stared at Caspian.
And his voice was calm.
Quiet.
Deadly.
"Repeat that shit again."
The entire arena held its breath.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
Caspian stared at those golden eyes and felt something cold crawl down his spine.
Fear.
Ilias didn't blink.
Didn't move.
Just stood there.
Waiting.