The Silver School Fighting Arena stood tall under the afternoon sun, its massive stone walls enclosing a battlefield filled with cracks and scars from countless clashes before. The arena was packed with students, their excited chatter filling the air like an electrified storm. Rows of stone seating stretched high, occupied by spectators eager to witness the next match. Some sat forward, gripping the edges of their seats, while others cheered and waved banners for their favorite fighters.
The sky above was a vibrant shade of blue, with soft clouds drifting lazily, unaware of the intensity brewing below. A cool breeze rolled across the battlefield, swirling dust along the worn-out tiles that had already endured numerous battles today.
At the center of the arena, the energy was different.
It wasn't just another fight.
Everyone knew this was a battle between two of the strongest fighters in the tournament.
The Silver School Fighting Event – Keiran vs. Venosus
The crowd's excitement surged as the next matchup was displayed:
Keiran vs. Venosus
The name "Venosus" immediately stirred a wave of murmurs among the students.
"The strongest wind user in the school… this will be a real fight."
"And Keiran—he's always been at the top! This is going to be insane!"
Keiran stepped onto the battlefield, rolling his shoulders, his yellow hair slightly tousled. His sharp golden eyes locked onto his opponent with unwavering confidence. His mana flared subtly around him—controlled, contained, yet carrying immense power beneath the surface.
On the other side, Venosus walked in with a lazy grin, his grayish-black hair slightly messy as if he had just rolled out of bed. He stretched dramatically, yawning.
"Man, I knew today was gonna be annoying, but fighting you?" He whistled, shaking his head with exaggerated disappointment. "I was hoping for someone easier—like, I don't know, a baby duck or something."
Keiran snorted. "You talk too much."
Venosus grinned wider. "It's a gift. You'll learn to appreciate it." He cracked his knuckles. "Or, you know, not. Either way, let's get this over with."
The instructor raised his hand. "BEGIN!"
Speed vs. Power
Before the signal had even fully left the instructor's lips, Venosus vanished.
A gust of wind exploded, sending dust flying into the air. The crowd barely had time to blink before Venosus reappeared behind Keiran, aiming a powerful wind-coated kick at his side.
Keiran twisted at the last second, blocking the strike with his forearm. The sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves across the arena, pushing Keiran back several feet.
Venosus whistled. "Whoa, you actually blocked that? Not bad, Sunshine."
Keiran's lips curled into a smirk. "You're fast. But speed alone won't win this."
Venosus waggled his eyebrows. "Speed alone? Oh, buddy, I love proving people wrong!"
He disappeared again—this time moving so fast that a whirlwind kicked up around the battlefield. Keiran's golden eyes flicked from side to side, tracking the unpredictable movements.
Then—a blur from the left!
Keiran ducked just as Venosus' wind-enhanced punch sliced through the air where his head had been. He countered with a sharp elbow strike, but Venosus twisted midair, kicking off an invisible wind platform to dodge and reposition.
The crowd gasped at the sheer agility.
Venosus flipped backward, landing effortlessly. "You're holding back, aren't you?"
Keiran cracked his knuckles. "Not for long."
Keiran Unleashes His True Strength
The air thickened around Keiran. His mana surged as he planted his feet firmly. The ground beneath him cracked.
Venosus' grin faltered. "Oh. That's new."
Keiran exhaled slowly. "No more playing around."
With a single step—he closed the distance.
A powerful mana-infused punch shot toward Venosus' chest. At the last second, Venosus twisted, narrowly dodging—but Keiran's sheer force sent out a shockwave that blasted him back!
Venosus flipped midair, wind cushioning his fall as he skidded to a stop. He looked down at his arms—bruises forming from just being near Keiran's attack.
"Okay. That actually hurt." Venosus winced, then gave a lopsided grin. "Guess I should stop joking around, too."
The air around him shifted.
For the first time in the match, Venosus' expression turned serious. The playful gleam in his eyes sharpened as his mana erupted.
The wind howled.
The Final Exchange
Venosus extended his hand, fingers curling as a massive vortex of wind spiraled around him. The sheer force of his mana caused the arena tiles to crack and lift into the air.
Keiran didn't flinch.
Both fighters knew—this was the final clash.
Keiran lunged forward, fist glowing with concentrated mana.
Venosus launched toward him, wind swirling violently around his arm, forming a tornado-enhanced strike.
The crowd held their breath.
BOOM!
A massive explosion of wind and force erupted as the two attacks collided head-on. Dust and debris engulfed the arena.
When the dust settled…
Both fighters stood frozen for a moment.
Then—Venosus stumbled.
A thin cut dripped blood from his lip. He blinked, looked down at his bruised arms, and then let out a breath.
He chuckled. "Alright, alright… You win."
The instructor stepped forward, checking both fighters before raising his hand.
"Winner: Keiran!"
The crowd erupted.
Venosus stretched his sore arms, smirking at Keiran. "Man, that was actually fun. Let's do this again sometime. Preferably when I'm not getting punched into another dimension."
Keiran smirked. "Get stronger first."
Venosus grinned. "Oh, don't worry. I will."
As Venosus walked off the battlefield, Keiran exhaled, shaking out his sore hand.
He had won.