Leo and Silas stepped back, each taking their positions. The air between them crackled with tension, the anticipation so thick it felt like the entire arena was holding its breath. The crowd murmured, their voices rising in excitement as the two warriors prepared to clash.
Up in the stands, Ronan leaned forward, his eyes locked on the battlefield. "I wonder how this match will turn out."
Arthur, arms crossed, smirked. "It'll turn out in our favor. Leo is strong enough to handle this."
Silas exhaled sharply pointing his blade towards Leo ,his mana surged, rippling across the ground like an invisible force. "Surge... Mizukiri!"
A vortex of water erupted around his blade, coiling like a living serpent. The once ordinary sword now gleamed with a fluid edge, droplets of mana-infused water dripping onto the arena floor, hissing as they touched the scorched battlefield.
Leo raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Oh, water magic, huh? What a bad matchup against my fire." He rolled his shoulders, the muscles in his arms flexing as he casually rested his blade on his shoulder. "Honestly, I'm not really into this fight. I wanted to watch Arthur's match before mine."
Silas narrowed his eyes. "Then why are you even here?"
Leo grinned. "Because I felt like it."
A sudden shift in Leo's stance sent a shiver through the arena. He lifted his hands. A deep breath. Then—
"Rampage... Kanzanryuken!"
A violent explosion of flames erupted forming his blade, the heat instantly causing the air to shimmer. The inferno roared to life, engulfing the sword in a fiery storm, the metal glowing like molten lava. The sheer intensity of Leo's aura sent shockwaves rippling outward, forcing Silas to dig his heels into the ground to stay steady.
Silas clenched his teeth. "You said you weren't interested in this fight. Then why manifest your blade?"
Leo shrugged. "Doesn't matter. All I have to do is win."
Silas scoffed. "Tch, don't get cocky."
Leo yawned. "I'm bored. Let's play a game."
Before Silas could react, Leo stabbed his sword into the ground. A pulse of mana exploded outward, flames spreading like wildfire, carving intricate lines across the battlefield. Suddenly, the stone beneath them ignited, forming a massive, burning chessboard. The tiles glowed red-hot, embers flickering in the air. Then, with a flick of his wrist, a throne-like chair materialized behind Leo, forged from the very flames that danced around his blade.
Leo lazily sat down, resting his chin on his palm. "Fire Creation Magic: Infernal Gambit."
Flames swirled and twisted, forming enormous molten chess pieces, each one standing as tall as a man. The fiery constructs took their positions across the board, moving with eerie precision as if responding to an unseen command.
The crowd gasped in awe.
Riven shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe that battle maniac would settle for a technique that requires him to sit down instead of fighting. He's really changed in just one week."
Arthur smirked, watching the spectacle unfold. "So that's why you asked for my help."
Hyorinmaru's voice echoed in his mind. Who would have thought this was his purpose for confronting you that day?
---
A Day Before the Dungeon Expedition
Arthur sat on his bed, lazily twirling a chess piece between his fingers. His other hand rested on Hyorinmaru, who lay across his lap. He sighed. "I'm bored. It really gets dull when class is over."
Hyorinmaru huffed. "Can't you think of something to do?"
Arthur leaned back. "If Riven were here, I'd suggest a game of chess."
"What's that?" Hyorinmaru asked curiously.
Arthur waved a hand dismissively. "You wouldn't understand even if I told you."
Hyorinmaru's eye twitched. "Are you calling me too dumb to understand a game?"
"That's not what I meant—!"
Before Arthur could finish, Hyorinmaru kicked him in the stomach, sending him rolling off the bed. The sword spirit pounced on him, and the two wrestled on the floor. Just then, a knock came at the door, and it swung open.
Leo stood in the doorway, arms crossed. "You're helpless. Always fighting with your Zeraphim."
Arthur pried Hyorinmaru off and dusted himself off. "The last person I expected to see was you. What brings you here?"
Leo hesitated before speaking. "If it weren't important, I wouldn't have come. I need your help. I want to develop a new technique, and I need an idea."
Arthur smirked. "Ooo, but why me?"
Leo stammered, clearly uncomfortable. "Because you're... s-sm-art."
Arthur chuckled. "I see."
"Why are you smiling?" Leo asked suspiciously.
Arthur leaned back. "Well, it's an honor to be complimented by you."
Leo scoffed. "Don't go thinking too highly of yourself. You're still beneath me."
Arthur grinned. "Hai, hai. I don't have any ideas, but I'm bored. Let's play a game of chess."
---
Back to the Present
Leo leaned back in his chair, eyes locked onto Silas like a predator watching prey. "I am the king on this side of the board, and you are the king on the other. The rules are simple—"
Silas dashed forward. "Screw that!"
Leo smirked. "Too bad. Inferno."
The moment Silas stepped onto a tile, a pillar of flame erupted beneath him, engulfing him in searing fire. He screamed, stumbling onto another tile—another explosion of fire swallowed him whole. The air was filled with the scent of scorched cloth and burning mana and Leo sighs,"I'd stop moving if I were you".
Silas collapsed, smoke rising from his charred robes. His consciousness faded.
Leo stood up, stepping off the now-vanished chessboard, looking down at his fallen opponent with an amused expression.
Leo turned slightly, his lips curling into a smirk.
"Checkmate."
Then he raised his head, his voice echoing through the silent arena. "This is a battle of kings."
The crowd held its breath as he took another step forward. "And in a battle..."
He turned, walking away as the referee confirmed his victory.
"Only one king is left standing."
The stadium erupted into thunderous cheers. Arthur smirked from the stands.
Leo had won.