Match 53 winner is Eric Mason!
The announcement echoed through the training hall, drawing the attention of a few scattered students. Eric walked back toward Lance, his steps casual and unhurried, a slight smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. His hands were shoved in his pockets, and his relaxed posture radiated confidence—or perhaps arrogance, as some might say.
"Hey, that was a good fight," Lance said, leaning against a nearby wall with his arms crossed. His tone was casual but genuine, his aloof demeanor hiding the respect he had for Eric's skill.
Eric shrugged, brushing a hand through his messy purple hair. "That was nothing," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "All I had to do was use one combined transformation, and that was the end of it." He let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "I swear, the lower ranks are so stupid. They can't even adapt when the situation changes mid-fight."
Lance raised an eyebrow, his expression growing serious. "You know," he began, "this kind of talk—and attitude—is the reason you only have five friends."
Eric shot him a look, half amused and half irritated. "And what makes you think I care about that? I don't even bother with the lower ranks. Why would you think I'd ever want to be friends with them?" His tone was sharp, but there was a trace of humor in his eyes. "You're already lucky I consider you worth my time, or I would have never even bothered with him shape-shifty boy. If you were any less interesting, I'd have probably decked him by now."
Lance frowned, the teasing tone doing little to lighten the mood. "Come on, man. Why are you so hard on him?" he asked, his voice dipping into something more serious. "Just because Arthur has a conditional ability he can't figure out yet doesn't mean he won't eventually. You've got one too, don't you?"
Eric stopped mid-step and turned back toward Lance, his silver eyes gleaming. "The difference," he said slowly, emphasizing each word, "is that I figured out my ability. It took me weeks, not years. Arthur? He's been at this for how long now? 5 years? If he hasn't discovered the condition by now, he never will." He shrugged again, as if the matter were settled, and his tone softened slightly, though it was still laced with a sense of superiority. "Look, I don't have time to babysit someone who's clearly reached his limit."
Lance sighed, clearly unimpressed with Eric's perspective. "You don't get it, do you? Arthur's not the kind of guy who gives up easily. Just because it hasn't clicked yet doesn't mean it won't. He's tougher than you think."
Eric smirked but said nothing, letting the silence stretch between them. Before Lance could press further, the loud voice of the referee interrupted their conversation.
"Match 56: Lance Mercer versus Robin Liang!"
The announcement hung in the air for a moment, and Lance straightened up, his usual serious expression replacing the relaxed one he had been wearing. "Well," he said with a half-smile, "looks like we'll have to finish this conversation later."
Eric gave a short laugh, crossing his arms. "Good luck, shape-shifty boy. Try not to embarrass yourself out there."
Robin stood in the center of the ring, his posture unchanged, hands loosely hanging by his sides. His usual lazy, disinterested look lingered on his face, as if none of this mattered to him. His Grey hair, streaked with faint blue, fell slightly over his Golden eyes, masking whatever emotion he might have had.
Lance wasn't fooled.
He's dangerous.
Even without an aggressive stance, Robin's presence felt suffocating. There was no sharp aura, no surge of killing intent, yet the weight in the air was undeniable.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"1… 2… 3… Fight!"
Robin moved immediately.
Black fire bloomed beneath his feet, spiraling outward in jagged tendrils. The flames spread unnaturally fast, licking across the arena floor in every direction. Within moments, the entire ring was swallowed in the shifting sea of darkness.
Lance's eyes sharpened, and without hesitation, he shifted.
His body twisted mid-air as he leaped, morphing into an insect-like form. Sleek black exoskeleton, scythe-like limbs, and buzzing wings replaced his human body. A large set of compound eyes locked onto Robin below, while his wings strained to lift him above the encroaching black flames.
But something was off.
The flames weren't just covering the floor. They pulled.
Lance felt the tug immediately, his body straining against the invisible force. The shadows twisted unnaturally, dragging at his legs and wings. It wasn't physical – it felt like his entire body was being sucked toward the flames below.
Robin yawned softly, raising his hand.
Several spheres of darkness appeared in the air around him. They pulsed faintly, each one increasing the gravitational pull in the surrounding area. The weight in the arena doubled.
Lance growled in frustration, his wings buzzing furiously.
"Tch… he's locking down the air too."
The spheres intensified the pull, and Lance's flight wavered as if he were struggling against a riptide. His limbs twitched as he fought to remain aloft.
"Alright. Screw this."
Lance's form twisted again, dissolving into a green flash. His new body hit the ground with a thunderous crash.
His triceratops-like form emerged, bulkier and more monstrous than before. Two massive horns extended from his head, longer and sharper than the natural form, while his upper body swelled with muscle. His spiked tail swung behind him, leaving cracks in the stone floor.
Robin's gaze drifted toward him briefly, though his expression barely shifted.
Lance snorted, steam rising from his nostrils.
"Let's see how far you can stretch that lazy act."
With a thunderous roar, Lance charged.
Each step shook the arena, his heavy form smashing through the shallow waves of black fire below. The dark flames clawed at his legs, trying to hold him down, but his sheer weight pushed through.
Robin remained still, watching Lance approach.
Suddenly, Robin flicked his wrist. The black flames surged upward, forming jagged spikes from the ground that skewered toward Lance's legs.
Lance smashed through them without breaking stride, his thick armor-like scales brushing aside the attacks. His eyes locked onto Robin as he prepared to slam his fist into him.
Robin sidestepped with minimal effort.
A spike of darkness lashed out from beneath Lance, grazing his side. Lance growled, swinging his tail, but Robin weaved out of range.
Lance grimaced. Robin wasn't even trying to dodge with effort – it was like he knew exactly how far Lance's attacks could reach.
The arena floor twisted beneath Lance again. This time, the black flames surged into ropes, pulling at his legs to slow his movements. Lance broke free, but the constant drag was wearing on him.
The fight continued in this frustrating rhythm. Robin's attacks weren't flashy or aggressive – they were relentless. The flames continued spreading, dragging Lance's hulking form inch by inch as if the ring itself was an opponent.
Every punch Lance threw was met with Robin sidestepping lazily. Every charge he made was slowed by the ground pulling at him.
"You can't just dodge forever," Lance grunted, slamming his fist down hard enough to crack the stone floor.
Robin's head tilted slightly.
"I'm not dodging."
Lance's eyes widened.
He hadn't noticed it until now. His feet—
They were almost fully encased in the black fire.
"Damn it—"
Before he could break free, the referee's voice cut through the air.
"Match over!"
The pull disappeared instantly as Robin snapped his fingers, and the flames evaporated from the ring. Lance staggered slightly, reverting to his human form as he caught his breath.
Robin stretched, rubbing the back of his neck with a yawn.
"You're way too heavy to be playing tag," Robin mumbled lazily as he walked off.
Lance wiped the sweat off his face, watching Robin disappear into the crowd.
"…That guy's annoying," Lance muttered under his breath.
Next time. I'm going to win
(soon I will post daily it will be in a couple of days but I couldn't post daily before because personal reasons but in a couple days you will enjoy daily updates and the first volume won't be that long and after that the quality of the novel will jump sky high but thank you for the ones who stick around)