Chapter 5: Clash of Rivals
The semi-final arena was silent, except for the hum of anticipation. Thousands of students and spectators leaned forward, waiting for the battle everyone had been talking about: Arin, the Trash King, versus Kael, the elite warrior.
Kael stepped into the arena first, his sword gleaming like molten silver. Every muscle in his body radiated raw strength, and his eyes burned with determination. "This ends today," he growled. "I will show everyone that a true warrior beats a scavenger every time."
Arin adjusted the shards orbiting around him and tapped his newly upgraded armor. The hum of energy from his scavenged items filled his ears. "We'll see about that. Let's make this fun, shall we?"
The Battle Begins
Kael charged instantly, swinging his massive sword with precision and brute force. Arin didn't dodge. Instead, he scavenged pieces of the arena floor, forming spinning barriers that absorbed Kael's strikes. Each impact sent sparks flying as the shards deflected the blows with deadly accuracy.
"You're hiding behind junk?!" Kael roared, swinging again.
Arin grinned. "Not hiding. Adapting."
Using shards from broken benches, broken banners, and even cracked stone tiles, Arin created improvised weapons and traps on the fly. Kael's sword smashed into one, only for shards to snap forward like a net, pinning his arm temporarily.
The crowd gasped. Never had they seen a student control the battlefield like a strategist, turning discarded debris into lethal tools.
The Turning Point
Kael realized brute strength wasn't enough. He leapt high and prepared a devastating spinning strike—enough to cut through solid stone. Arin's eyes narrowed. He noticed the faint glow of an ancient, jagged shard under the arena's rubble.
That's it…
He reached down and grabbed it. The moment he touched it, a legendary aura erupted from the shard, enveloping him in brilliant golden light. The shards circling him began to glow and move with intelligence, forming sharp, spinning blades and protective barriers at his command.
"Legendary… scrap?" Kael whispered, fear flickering in his eyes.
Arin felt the surge of energy. This shard wasn't just a weapon—it was alive, responding to his thoughts and strategies. "Looks like I'm a step ahead now," he said with a grin.
The Final Clash
Kael unleashed his ultimate strike, but Arin's new legendary shard reacted instantly, splitting into dozens of tiny spinning daggers, intercepting the blow midair. He countered with a whirlwind of debris, sending Kael stumbling backward.
Kael roared, frustration boiling over. "No… this can't be!"
Arin moved with precision, using every scrap in the arena to trap, redirect, and disable Kael's attacks. With a final flick of his hand, a massive shard struck Kael's sword from behind, sending it clattering across the arena.
Kael fell to one knee, breathing heavily. "I… I've lost…"
Arin approached, extending a hand. "No hard feelings. You fought well."
Kael stared at him, finally understanding. "You… really are the Trash King."
Aftermath
The arena erupted in cheers. Arin's victory wasn't just about brute strength—it was a demonstration of strategy, creativity, and the power of his scavenger class. News of the legendary shard spread immediately: the Trash King had obtained his first major artifact, elevating him from a clever underdog to a force feared by the elite.
From the stands, the Council of Classes whispered among themselves.
"He's more dangerous than we thought… we need to watch him carefully," said the elder woman.
"Yes," agreed another. "He's no ordinary student. And if he continues this path… he could challenge even the strongest class masters."
Arin, meanwhile, stood tall, shards spinning around him like loyal warriors. The next battles, the real challenges, and the hidden secrets of the academy were waiting. And he was ready.
The Trash King was no longer a joke. He was a legend in the making.