The Silver School Fighting Arena was a battleground of mana, steel, and determination. Dust still swirled in the air from the previous match, the ground cracked with leftover mana residue. The sun hung lower in the sky, casting golden rays over the crowd, illuminating the tension that buzzed among the students.
Varek stood near the edge of the waiting area, arms crossed, his breath slow and measured. He had been waiting all day, watching battle after battle unfold before him. He had seen clashes of fire and ice, wind storms tearing across the field, and warriors pushing themselves beyond their limits.
And now, it was his turn.
His fists clenched slightly. This tournament was his chance to prove that he was more than just a Bronze-ranked student.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"Next match—Varek Solin vs. Stroud Vellin!"
The crowd erupted into mixed reactions.
Some were eager to see Varek's first real fight. Others groaned at Stroud's name.
"Stroud? Really? He's too lazy to take this seriously."
"But his Star Vault is insane. If he actually tries, he's dangerous."
"I doubt he'll even bother."
From across the field, Stroud Vellin finally dragged himself toward the arena. His dark orange hair was messy, his uniform slightly wrinkled, and his hands were tucked lazily into his pockets. He walked like he had just woken up from a nap.
The moment he stepped into the battlefield, he let out an exaggerated yawn.
"Man… finally my turn?" he muttered, rubbing his eyes. "This tournament's been going on forever."
Varek narrowed his eyes. "You don't seem that interested."
Stroud gave a halfhearted shrug. "It's whatever. Fighting is fun and all, but winning? Too much effort." He sighed. "Look, how about you just stand there, and we call it a tie?"
The crowd laughed.
Varek, however, remained focused. He had watched enough matches to know not to underestimate anyone. Especially someone like Stroud—strong, but lazy.
The instructor stepped forward.
"No more talking. Fighters, ready yourselves."
Varek exhaled, rolling his shoulders. His mana pulsed beneath his skin, the weight of his Bronze Vault and Shadow Vault humming like a heartbeat.
Stroud yawned again, stretching his arms over his head. But despite his carefree posture, there was a subtle shift in the air.
The instructor raised his hand.
Silence fell.
Then—
"BEGIN!"
The moment the signal was given, Varek shot forward. His body moved like a coiled spring finally released, his mana surging as he closed the distance between him and Stroud in an instant.
But—
Stroud didn't move.
The lazy student simply stood there, arms still tucked into his pockets, watching Varek approach.
He's wide open.
Varek didn't hesitate. He twisted his body, delivering a swift mana-infused punch aimed directly at Stroud's side—
Only for his fist to pass straight through empty air.
A flicker of golden stardust shimmered in Stroud's place.
"Whoa." Stroud's voice came from behind. "Fast. But you really just went for a direct punch? That's kinda reckless."
Varek spun around. Stroud was now standing several feet away, completely unharmed. His movement had been so effortless that he looked like he had simply teleported rather than dodged.
Varek's eyes narrowed. That wasn't teleportation.
Stroud yawned, scratching his head. "Alright, guess I should put in a little effort." He finally pulled his hands out of his pockets and stretched. As he did, tiny golden sparks flickered around his fingertips—Star Mana.
Varek tensed. So he really was going to fight.
Then, Stroud lifted a single finger.
A blazing trail of golden light shot toward Varek at blinding speed.
Varek barely managed to react, shifting to the side as the light exploded into the ground behind him, sending dust and debris flying. The impact shook the battlefield, leaving a crater where the attack had struck.
The crowd gasped.
"See? Told you he was strong."
"Yeah, but did you see that? He didn't even look like he was trying!"
Varek's grip tightened. This guy really was strong. But it wasn't just his power—it was his efficiency. Stroud wasn't wasting movement. He wasn't getting emotional. He was just throwing out attacks with as little effort as possible.
That's why he wasn't at the top. Not because he was weak—but because he didn't care to be.
Stroud sighed. "Man, I really don't wanna waste energy on this…" He flicked his wrist, and another streak of golden light shot toward Varek.
But this time, Varek was ready.
Varek vs. Stroud – The Real Fight Begins
"Man, I really don't wanna go all out," Stroud mumbled, rubbing the back of his head. "But if I don't, you're just gonna keep pushing me, huh?"
Varek didn't respond. He simply lowered his stance—ready to strike.
The signal dropped.
BOOM!
Stroud barely moved—yet the space around him distorted.
A wave of golden star energy erupted from his body, rushing toward Varek like a cosmic storm.
He was strong.
Varek vs. Stroud – The Unexpected Attack
Varek exhaled, taking a step back to regain his breath. Sweat trickled down his forehead. Stroud hadn't moved much—yet he was still dangerous.
Across the battlefield, Stroud let out a long, exaggerated yawn. He stretched his arms lazily and rubbed his nose absentmindedly.
Varek narrowed his eyes. What is he up to?
Then—something unexpected happened.
Stroud sniffed. "Ugh… so much dust in the air…"
He slowly lifted his hand to his face… and then—
Flick!
A small glowing projectile shot toward Varek at high speed.
Varek's instincts screamed at him. He dodged—barely. The attack whizzed past his cheek, sizzling as it struck the ground behind him.
A small crater formed where it landed. The floor sizzled.
The crowd went silent for a moment.
Then someone shouted, "Wait… was that…?"
Another student gagged. "DID HE JUST SHOOT A BOOGER?!"
Laughter exploded from the stands. Some students howled in amusement, while others cringed in horror.
Stroud smirked, wiping his nose. "What? You think star mana is only for fancy moves? You gotta get creative, man."
Varek's eye twitched. He had faced strong opponents before. But this? This was something else.
Another shining projectile came flying toward him.
"No way in hell I'm getting hit by that!" Varek growled, dodging again.
Stroud just stood there, grinning lazily. "Come on, Bronze boy. Why so tense?"
Varek clenched his fists.
Alright. Now he was pissed.
The laughter in the arena faded as Varek took a deep breath and spread his stance. His fists clenched, and his entire body pulsed with raw energy.
Then—he released everything.
A surge of pure Bronze Mana erupted from him, spreading across the battlefield like a shimmering wave of light.
The air rippled. The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly.
For a moment, silence.
Then—the crowd exploded in shock.
"W-What?! That's Bronze Mana?!"
"No way! Bronze is supposed to be weak!"
Even the instructors watching from above raised their eyebrows.
Keiran, standing with his arms crossed in the waiting area, uncrossed them. His usual smug expression faltered. "Tch… That idiot. Since when was Bronze that strong?"
Vikas, observing from the side, gave a small whistle. His blue hair swayed slightly as he muttered, "Guess we've been underestimating him."
Stroud, still standing lazily, raised an eyebrow. "Whoa. That actually looks kinda cool."
But Varek wasn't done.
The Bronze Mana surrounding him shimmered brighter. Unlike the usual dull, weak energy of most Bronze Vault users, his mana had density. It carried weight.
And for the first time—Stroud straightened his posture.
The lazy opponent scratched his head. "Man… Looks like I actually have to try now."
Varek lifted his gaze toward Stroud. His muscles were tensed, his breathing controlled.
"Come at me."
The Clash of Power – Varek vs. Stroud
Stroud moved lazily at first, his posture relaxed as if he were taking a casual stroll. But then—his body blurred.
In an instant, he was gone.
Only a trail of glowing star-like embers remained where he once stood, streaking across the battlefield in a dazzling arc.
The audience gasped as Stroud reappeared in front of Varek, his foot already mid-kick.
BOOM!
The impact should have sent Varek flying—but it didn't.
Instead, a metallic shimmer flickered around Varek's body, his feet remained firmly planted on the ground. His arms barely moved, absorbing the force like an immovable wall.
Stroud's eyes widened slightly.
"Huh. That's new."
Up in the stands, Varek's family had just arrived, pushing through the crowd to get a better look. His mother, Aeliana Solin, clasped her hands together in shock. "What… How did he take that hit so easily?"
Beside her, Varek's father, Thalion Solin, smirked, arms crossed. "That, my dear, is something called Mana Surge."
Aeliana turned to him, confused. "Mana Surge?"
Thalion nodded. "Every Vault user has the ability to temporarily surpass their limits. Some call it a limit break. It allows them to amplify their mana's effects beyond normal restrictions."
Aeliana's eyes widened. "You mean… Varek is enhancing his durability?"
"Exactly," Thalion confirmed. "He's channeling all his Bronze Mana into reinforcing his body. That's why Stroud's attack didn't even push him back. Mana Surge can be used in different ways—to boost speed, strength, endurance, or even reflexes. It's a fundamental power, but only those who train hard can unlock it."
Back in the arena, Stroud cracked his neck and took a few steps back. "Man… You're built like a rock, huh?"
Varek exhaled, his shimmering Bronze Mana still radiating off him.
"Your kicks aren't bad," he admitted. "But if that's all you've got—you're not getting past me."
The crowd erupted in cheers as the real fight was about to begin.
Stroud yawned as he lazily jumped backward, his posture slouched like he wasn't taking the fight seriously. But in that moment, his entire body began to glow.
A radiant shimmer spread across the battlefield, the ground beneath him twinkling as if the very stars had descended upon the arena.
Varek narrowed his eyes. This was different.
Stroud cracked his neck, stretching his arms as if waking up from a nap. Golden light pulsed around his limbs, flickering like distant constellations.
"You know, fighting is a pain," Stroud muttered, rubbing the back of his head. "But if I don't try a little, people will start nagging me."
With a casual flick of his wrist, the air around him exploded with tiny, dazzling star fragments. The battlefield became a celestial storm, filled with orbs of pure Star Mana floating like miniature suns.
The audience gasped as the shimmering glow illuminated the entire arena. Even Keiran, leaning against the railing, whistled. "Well, that's flashy."
Vikas crossed his arms, his gaze sharp. "Stroud's finally getting serious."
Up in the stands, Aeliana tensed. "Varek… be careful."
Thalion, however, grinned. "This just got interesting."
Back in the arena, Stroud's usual lazy demeanor remained, but his mana told a different story.
With a single step forward, he vanished.
A trail of glowing starbursts marked his movement as he reappeared mid-air, right above Varek.
"Let's see how much you can really take," Stroud muttered.
Then—he struck.