The Silver School Fighting Event - Day One
The morning sun peeked through the wooden blinds, casting golden streaks of light across Varek's small but tidy room. He stirred as the warmth brushed against his face, eyes blinking open. Today was the day.
He sat up, stretching his arms before running a hand through his dark hair. His mind was already buzzing with anticipation. A fighting event… an official school tournament where he'd have to prove himself against Silver-ranked students. The idea sent a thrill through his veins, but there was also a weight pressing on his chest. He had to be careful. His Shadow Vault was still a secret, and revealing too much could bring trouble.
A knock sounded on his door.
"Varek, wake up! Breakfast is ready!" His mother's gentle voice called from the kitchen.
He took a deep breath, shaking off the morning drowsiness. "Coming!"
Throwing on his academy uniform—a simple dark tunic and sturdy training pants—he made his way downstairs. The smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling eggs filled the air, making his stomach growl.
At the dining table, his father, a broad-shouldered man with streaks of gray in his hair, sipped from a wooden mug. His sharp eyes glanced at Varek as he entered. "So, today's the big day, huh?"
Varek nodded, pulling out a chair. "Yeah. The tournament starts in a few hours."
His mother placed a plate in front of him with a warm smile. "Then you need to eat well."
As he dug into his meal, his father set down his mug, his expression serious. "You've been training for this moment. But don't just rely on strength—stay sharp. Watch your opponents. Adapt."
Varek nodded. His father wasn't just a fighter, but he had also a keen eye for strategy.
His mother sighed. "Just don't get hurt too badly, alright?"
Varek chuckled. "No promises."
After finishing his meal, he grabbed his gear—a pair of reinforced gloves for hand-to-hand combat and a simple dagger for emergencies. As he slung his bag over his shoulder, his parents watched him with quiet pride.
"Give it your best, son," his father said.
His mother placed a hand on his shoulder. "No matter what happens, we're proud of you."
Varek gave them a confident smile. "Thanks. I'll win."
With that, he stepped out into the bright morning, ready to face whatever the tournament had in store for him.
The Silver School Fighting Event - Arrival at the Academy
The crisp morning air filled Varek's lungs as he walked through the bustling streets toward Silver School. The entire city seemed alive with anticipation—merchants chatting about the upcoming tournament, students rushing ahead excitedly, and even some spectators discussing who the favorites were.
Silver School loomed ahead, its massive stone walls and towering spires reflecting the morning sun. The academy had always been an imposing sight, a place where the strong were forged and the weak struggled to keep up. Today, it felt even more intense.
As Varek entered the academy gates, he immediately noticed the shift in atmosphere. Students were everywhere, gathered in groups, whispering about potential matchups. Some were stretching, others sparring lightly, testing their mana control in preparation.
A sudden pat on the back nearly made him turn and punch.
"Finally showed up, huh, Bronze Boy?"
Varek sighed before glancing over his shoulder. As expected, Keiran stood there, his usual cocky smirk in place. His blond hair was neatly tied back, and his uniform was immaculate, as if he had prepared not just for a fight but for an audience.
Varek rolled his eyes. "Didn't feel like running here like you, I guess."
Keiran laughed. "I don't need to. People are already talking about me." He motioned toward a group of students nearby who were watching them. "Hope you're ready. You'll be lucky to make it past the first round."
Before Varek could respond, another voice cut in.
"Still talking big, Keiran?"
Vikas, the ice-mana user, approached with his usual cool demeanor, his blue hair lightly tousled by the breeze. "Hope you're not just all words."
Keiran scoffed. "You'll find out soon enough."
Varek let them bicker while his gaze shifted toward the tournament boards being set up near the academy courtyard. A few teachers stood nearby, finalizing matchups. The school's fighting arena was located just beyond the main halls, a grand coliseum designed to handle intense battles.
Just then, the deep, commanding voice of Croxus, the oldest First Silver Ranker of the school, boomed across the courtyard.
"All participants, gather at the coliseum! The tournament is about to begin!"
The energy in the air surged as students rushed toward the massive arena. Varek exhaled, clenching his fists. This was it.
Time to fight.
The Silver School Fighting Event – The Opening Battles
The coliseum roared with excitement as students packed the stands, eager to witness the tournament's first matches. The massive stone arena, designed to withstand even the strongest mana attacks, had been reinforced by the school's instructors. At its center, a wide battlefield stretched beneath the glaring sunlight, divided into multiple sections for simultaneous duels.
Croxus stood at the highest balcony, his silver beard swaying in the wind. With a raised hand, the noise settled.
"The Silver School Fighting Event… begins now!" his voice boomed.
The announcement board flickered as the first names appeared.
First Match: Alden vs. Reiss
Alden, a tall, wiry student with storm-mana coursing through his veins, cracked his knuckles as he stepped forward. His opponent, Reiss, a smaller but stocky earth-mana user, slammed his foot down, sending a small tremor across the ground.
"BEGIN!"
Alden was the first to move, vanishing in a blur of crackling electricity. Reiss barely had time to react before a bolt of lightning crashed into his shoulder, forcing him back.
"Tch… fast," Reiss muttered, slamming his fists together. The ground beneath him erupted, forming a barrier of jagged stone.
Alden grinned. "A wall won't save you."
With a flicker of mana, he leaped above the defense, gathering storm energy in his palms. Lightning arced wildly before he launched a barrage of electrified punches. Reiss braced himself, coating his arms in hardened rock as he met Alden mid-air. The impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield.
After a fierce exchange, Alden finally broke through, landing a decisive hit to Reiss's chest, sending him skidding across the ground.
"Winner: Alden!"
---
Second Match: Mira vs. Talen
Mira, a wind-mana user with a pair of short daggers, faced Talen, a muscular combatant who specialized in body enhancement techniques.
The moment the match started, Talen rushed forward, his arms glowing with enhanced strength. Mira smirked, vanishing in a gust of wind.
She reappeared behind him in an instant, her daggers slicing through the air. Talen twisted, barely dodging, but she was already gone again.
"She's fast… but predictable," Talen muttered.
He slammed his foot into the ground, sending a controlled shockwave through the air. The force disrupted Mira's movements, causing her to stumble.
Seeing his opportunity, Talen charged, his fists glowing with mana.
Mira's eyes narrowed. "Too slow."
In a blink, she twisted her body mid-air, using the wind to regain control. With a powerful gust, she propelled herself downward, slamming her knee into Talen's chest. He staggered but grabbed her wrist, attempting to crush it with brute force.
Mira didn't panic. She flipped, using the wind to slip free before striking Talen's leg, sending him toppling.
A final slash of her daggers sealed the match.
"Winner: Mira!"
---
Third Match: Daelin vs. Gregor
Daelin, a Bronze-ranked student, stood across from Gregor, a towering brute with molten mana flowing through his veins. The match seemed unfair from the start.
Gregor sneered. "This won't take long."
Daelin didn't respond. He simply took a deep breath.
"BEGIN!"
Gregor wasted no time, summoning fiery chains from his arms, whipping them toward Daelin. The crowd expected an instant defeat.
But Daelin moved.
With a calm, precise step, he dodged the first chain, then the second. His movement was fluid, effortless.
Gregor snarled and increased his attack, flames crackling around him.
Daelin exhaled. His body shimmered, his mana flowing in perfect rhythm.
Suddenly, he vanished.
Before Gregor could react, Daelin appeared at his side, landing a devastating palm strike to his ribs. Gregor roared, stumbling back, but Daelin followed up with a swift kick to the knee.
The once-confident Gregor was now on the defensive, struggling to land a single hit.
Then, in a final, decisive moment, Daelin stepped forward and struck Gregor's chest with a precise, mana-infused blow.
Gregor collapsed.
The crowd was silent.
Then—cheers erupted.
"Winner: Daelin!"
---
As the battles continued, the tournament proved that it wasn't just about the strongest. Strategy, skill, and control mattered just as much as raw power.
Varek watched from the sidelines, arms crossed. He had seen enough to know—this tournament wasn't going to be easy.
And his match was coming soon.
The Silver School Fighting Event – Vikas vs. Ziopry
The arena was alive with excitement as the next match was displayed on the glowing announcement board:
Vikas vs. Ziopry
Whispers spread among the students.
"Vikas? He's the ice-mana prodigy, right?"
"And Ziopry… isn't he one of the top fire users in Silver School?"
The anticipation was thick as the two fighters stepped onto the battlefield.
Vikas, his icy blue hair slightly tousled, walked calmly to his position, his sharp eyes fixed on his opponent. His mana pulsed coldly around him, a faint mist forming at his feet. He flexed his fingers, frost coating his fingertips.
Opposite him, Ziopry smirked, rolling his shoulders. His black and red hair reflected the flames dancing around his body. "An ice user, huh?" He scoffed. "Bad luck for you. Fire melts ice."
Vikas exhaled, his breath visible in the warm air. "Fire is only dangerous when uncontrolled."
Ziopry's grin widened. "Then let's see if you can control this."
The instructor raised his hand. "BEGIN!"
The Clash of Fire and Ice
Ziopry wasted no time. His fists ignited as he launched forward, flames bursting from his knuckles. He swung fast and hard, sending a wave of fire straight at Vikas.
Vikas didn't flinch. With a smooth motion, he lifted his hand, and an ice wall erupted in front of him, absorbing the impact. The flames hissed as they met the frozen barrier, steam rising into the air.
Before the mist could clear, Vikas countered. He stomped the ground, sending a surge of frost through the stone floor, racing toward Ziopry's feet.
Ziopry leaped back, narrowly avoiding being frozen in place. "Tch. Not bad." He snapped his fingers, and the flames around him intensified. "But let's turn up the heat!"
He clapped his hands together, forming a Flame Lance—a spear of concentrated fire. With a grunt, he hurled it straight at Vikas.
Vikas reacted instantly. He extended his arm, and a swirling Ice Spear formed in response. The two projectiles collided mid-air with a thunderous explosion, sending embers and ice shards flying in all directions.
The crowd roared.
Ziopry dashed forward, his fists blazing with mana-infused fire. He threw a rapid flurry of punches, each one leaving trails of flame in the air. Vikas weaved through them with calculated movements, his body flowing like water.
Suddenly, Ziopry shifted tactics. He stomped the ground, summoning fire pillars in a wide arc, surrounding Vikas.
"Nowhere to run!" Ziopry growled, launching forward with a spinning fire kick.
But Vikas remained unfazed. Just as the flames threatened to consume him, he lowered the temperature in an instant, creating a frost explosion around himself. The sudden drop in heat extinguished the surrounding fire pillars, leaving only a chilling mist behind.
Ziopry's eyes widened. "What—?"
Vikas stepped forward, his palm coated in ice. "Checkmate."
Before Ziopry could react, Vikas struck his chest with an Ice Pulse, freezing his movements and sending him skidding across the ground.
Ziopry coughed, struggling to stand. His body was covered in frost, his flames struggling to reignite.
The instructor raised his hand. "Winner: Vikas!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, some in awe, others in disbelief.
Vikas dusted off his jacket, giving Ziopry a cool glance. "Fire doesn't always win."
Ziopry gritted his teeth but smirked. "Heh. Guess I'll need to train harder."
Vikas simply nodded before walking off the battlefield, his mind already focused on the next round.
---
With Vikas securing his victory, the tournament moved forward. The matches were getting fiercer, and soon…