The arena's heat surged as flames danced around Omar, his presence turning the marble platform into molten patches of red-hot stone.
Omar twirled his flame-forged blades, eyes sharp. "Hope you got more than dodging, monk."
Kai slid into stance, calm but tense. His aura flared gently — the mixture of Martial, Spectral, and Elemental Muti coursing through his veins.
The bell echoed.
Omar blitzed forward, leaving trails of molten cracks behind.
Kai intercepted with precise movements.
Martial Muti: Flowing Fang Counter — redirecting Omar's first blade.
But Omar's second sword followed.
Flame Martial: Twin Serpent Strike — both blades twisted like vipers.
Kai blocked one, but the second grazed his shoulder, burning deep.
He gritted his teeth, retaliating with a palm strike infused with Spectral Muti, causing Omar's stance to falter.
The crowd leaned forward.
Omar grinned. "You got some bite."
He spun, releasing a wave of spiraling flame.
Kai responded — Elemental Muti: Water Veil — conjuring a thin but precise veil of water to intercept, evaporating instantly but giving him a window.
He closed the gap with Mirage Step, chaining it into Martial-Aura Hybrid: Lotus Rising Kick — sending Omar airborne.
Omar mid-spin ignited.
Flame Martial: Phoenix Spiral — a flaming wheel of death crashed back down, forcing Kai to roll aside.
Omar stood tall. "This is why you're just Iron."
Kai's eyes flickered. His breathing slowed.
Memories of training under William flooded his mind.
"Don't forget… your Muti doesn't have to match your opponent—it has to outlast them."
Kai activated Zen Resurgence mid-fight.
His breathing evened.
His aura stabilized.
His movements sharpened.
Kai went on the offensive, blending his base Martial Muti with Spectral Strikes, disrupting Omar's sense of space.
Omar blocked but stumbled, unused to being forced on defense.
Kai unleashed Spectral Mirage Barrage — landing rapid strikes that phased through Omar's guard, landing directly against his aura.
The heat warped.
Omar skidded.
The arena cracked.
From the stands, William smirked. "Good, Kai."
Master Elric's eyes narrowed with approval.
Omar snarled, blood dripping down his lip.
"Fine."
Flame Martial Secret Art: Crimson Pyre Ascension — Omar's entire body erupted into a phoenix-like aura, flaming wings unfurling behind him.
The temperature spiked.
Kai's heartbeat slowed.
"This is nothing," he whispered.
As Omar descended like a comet, Kai braced.
The next strike would decide everything.
Omar descended like an unstoppable meteor, flames spiraling around him, the Crimson Pyre Ascension blazing bright enough to turn night into day.
The marble cracked beneath Kai's feet as the sheer pressure weighed on him.
Kai took a deep breath.
Zen Resurgence.
His heartbeat slowed. His breathing became steady. His aura stabilized, threads of light flickering around him.
He wasn't fully activating Sage Mode.
But the foundations were already there.
Omar's fist crashed down.
Kai sidestepped, narrowly avoiding total destruction as Omar's strike created a crater, steam billowing into the sky.
The shockwave threw Kai back, but mid-air he flipped, landing on one knee.
Omar was relentless.
With every step, Phoenix Flame Feathers shot out like blades, forcing Kai to weave between them, sweat rolling down his temple.
"Why don't you burn already?!" Omar roared.
Kai's eyes sharpened.
Spectral Muti: Astral Echo — Kai's afterimages flickered, confusing Omar's aim.
He struck back, landing a palm against Omar's ribs with a subtle ripple of Aura Muti behind it.
The blow forced Omar to stumble—but he recovered instantly, fueled by sheer aggression.
Crimson Pyre: Burning Sky Cyclone — Omar spun violently, releasing an inferno that swept the entire arena.
The crowd gasped.
Kai stood his ground, breathing rhythmically.
Then he moved.
Martial Muti: Mirage Lotus Form — Kai weaved between flames with near-unnatural footwork, his aura pulsing gently.
"Let's raise the stakes."
He channeled energy into his core, partially unlocking Sage Mode: First Incandescence.
Golden streaks ran through his arms, his hair slightly glowing.
Not the full transformation.
But enough.
Kai launched himself forward, fists trailing golden arcs.
Omar barely reacted.
Martial-Spectral Hybrid: Lotus Echo Combination — each strike landed multiple delayed impacts, battering Omar's guard.
The ground beneath them shattered like glass.
Omar gritted his teeth and retaliated.
Crimson Pyre: Phoenix Heart Explosion — his core flared, and a flame shockwave exploded outward.
Kai skidded back, coughing, his arms scorched.
His body trembled.
But his eyes never wavered.
The crowd erupted.
Aria stood up in shock. "He's keeping up."
William leaned forward. "He's doing more than that."
Omar's flames flickered.
Kai's breathing steadied again.
He whispered to himself, "One more step."
He surged forward.
Sage Mode: Bodhi Pulse — a concentrated burst of golden light enveloped his fist.
He struck Omar dead center.
The phoenix flames shattered.
Omar's body slammed into the wall, unconscious before hitting the ground.
The arena fell silent.
Then erupted.
"KAI XANDER ADVANCES!"
Kai dropped to one knee, exhausted but victorious.
William wiped a tear. "That's my boy."
Master Elric gave the faintest nod.
And deep down, Kai knew—
This was only the beginning.
Kai stumbled into the preparation room, collapsing onto the bench.
His team rushed over.
"Kai!" Lila nearly tackled him.
Aria inspected his arms. "You're burned all over."
Kai weakly smiled. "I've… had worse."
Rin, now awake and patched up, leaned against the doorframe. "You did good."
William strutted in. "Understatement of the century." He clapped Kai on the back. "You made the phoenix boy look like a campfire."
Kai's lips twitched into a tired smirk.
Master Elric's voice came over the arena's system.
"The final match before the Grand Finals will commence shortly."
The entire team fell silent.
William rubbed the back of his neck. "This next one… ain't small."
The announcement continued.
"Final Semifinal Match: Solene 'The Zenith' Ivaris vs. Aria Flamehart."
Lila's eyes widened.
Aria clenched her fists, lightning arcing along her knuckles. "Tch. I was hoping for her."
Kai, exhausted but aware, looked up. "You'll win."
Rin smirked. "Show them why you're our leader."
As Aria walked to the arena alone, memories flashed—her father's stern lessons, the countless hours under Master Elric, the humiliation of the earlier fights.
Solene waited calmly at the center, radiant and composed.
The arena's energy thickened.
The sun began setting behind the colosseum, casting long shadows.
Solene spoke first. "You carry pride… but also doubt."
Aria's lightning surged. "Not today."
The bell rang.
Lightning Veil Form: Second Surge — Aria's aura ignited immediately, faster and denser than before.
She blurred forward, fists wreathed in thunder.
Solene conjured radiant constructs mid-air—Radiance Muti: Twin Halo Spears—but Aria broke through with sheer force.
Their clash sent shockwaves across the arena.
For the first time, Solene staggered.
William leaned against the railing. "Did she just—"
Kai smiled faintly. "She's stronger than ever."
Solene adapted quickly.
Radiance Martial: Sunwheel Guard — spinning discs of light deflected Aria's strikes.
But Aria's eyes burned with resolve.
She remembered Rin's fight.
Kai's struggle.
Her own dream.
Lightning Martial: Tempest Lotus Form — combining her martial style with electric momentum, Aria weaved between Solene's defenses, striking with pinpoint precision.
Solene grunted, forced back, hair tousled.
Aria pressed harder, lightning whips spiraling outward with every spin.
Solene responded with Radiance Domain: Zenith Sanctuary, bathing the arena in divine light.
But Aria screamed.
And broke through it.
Their fists collided in the center.
The result wasn't just a flash.
It was a storm.
Thunder split the sky.
Rain poured from nowhere.
And when the dust settled—
Solene stood trembling.
Then fell.
Aria stood panting, electricity sparking wildly around her.
Silence.
Then the crowd exploded.
"ARIA FLAMEHART ADVANCES!"
Backstage, Kai couldn't help but grin.
"She did it."
Rin exhaled. "Told you."
William wiped away an imaginary tear. "My kids are growing up."
Master Elric simply folded his arms. "Good."
The rain from Aria's victory still lingered the next morning, leaving the city streets soaked and glowing beneath the morning sun.
Kai, Rin, Aria, and Lila walked together through the festival district as the city prepared for the Grand Finals.
Banners with their names were everywhere. Merchants sold trinkets, flags, and even poorly drawn caricatures of their faces.
Lila held up a wooden carving of herself looking wildly inaccurate. "Do I really look like this?"
Rin shrugged. "Closer than you'd think."
Kai, still bandaged, managed a faint chuckle.
Aria admired the atmosphere but kept sneaking glances at Kai.
He noticed but said nothing.
Kai's thoughts still circled his loss, but watching Aria's determination helped ease it.
The festival overflowed with laughter, music, and stories of the battles.
Children ran past, pretending to be Seekers. Old veterans told tales about past Trials by Mercy. The whole city felt alive.
Later, they gathered at their usual training courtyard.
William stood waiting, arms crossed. "You lot aren't done yet."
Kai furrowed his brow. "We're still fighting?"
William smirked. "Prep. Your opponent isn't going easy, and neither will this city's expectations."
Lila groaned. "Can't we enjoy the festival first?"
William pointed. "Two hours. Then you can party."
They got to work.
Kai focused on stabilizing Zen Resurgence and refining Bodhi Pulse.
Aria drilled her newly evolved Tempest Lotus Form into seamless transitions.
Rin silently observed, recovering but already analyzing.
Lila, now serious, practiced short bursts of martial strikes blended with her Vitalis Muti.
William watched quietly, nodding to himself. "They're almost ready."
That evening, as the festival reached its peak, Master Elric stood atop the highest balcony overlooking the city.
Beside him stood Johnny Joah, President of Janoah.
"The world is watching," Johnny said. "The next generation could change everything."
Elric, stoic as ever, replied, "They already have."
Down below, fireworks lit up the sky.
And somewhere amidst the glowing lights, Kai stood alone, gazing toward the arena, knowing tomorrow would determine everything.
The colosseum was packed beyond capacity.
Banners waved and voices roared as the entire arena swelled with energy. The final contenders were about to step forward, and this time, the world was watching.
Master Elric stood calmly at the center of the battlefield.
"The finest of this generation stand before us," he began. "Their strength has been forged in battle, and now they stand at the gates of legend."
He gestured toward the four remaining Seekers.
"Kai Xander."
"Aria Flamehart."
"Nasir of the Eastern Glades."
"Selene 'The Hollow Siren' of the Red Coast."
The crowd exploded.
Lila blinked. "Selene made it through?!"
Rin folded his arms. "Not surprising. She's dangerous."
Kai stared at her from across the platform. Selene's reputation was whispered about during the early trials— a master of Echo Muti and Water Manipulation, said to be one of the most cunning of the rookies.
Beside her stood Dante Vireo, the final name to be called.
Master Elric's voice echoed. "And Dante Vireo of the Skyreach Monastery."
Aria's eyes widened. "Wait—Skyreach?"
Kai's stomach sank. Skyreach monks? That meant Dante trained under the same order as Kai's monastery but was from the southern sect.
Dante gave Kai a nod. His Air and Aura Muti signature was faint but sharp.
The board lit up.
Grand Final Brackets:
First Match:
Kai Xander vs. Selene 'The Hollow Siren'
Second Match:
Aria Flamehart vs. Dante Vireo
Master Elric continued. "Two victors. One championship."
The Natural Embrace glowed brighter as the alignment neared its peak.
William grinned from the stands. "This just got spicy."
Lila shivered. "Selene's no joke, but that Dante guy gives me weird vibes."
Rin nodded. "They're both monsters."
Kai's fists tightened. This wasn't just about proving himself anymore—this was personal.
And as Selene's chilling voice whispered across the wind, "I've been looking forward to this, Kai," the stakes became clearer than ever.
The arena shifted, filling with a thick, humid mist as Selene stepped forward.
Her presence was unlike any Kai had faced—calm, yet suffocating. Every step she took left ripples in the air as if sound itself bent around her.
Kai could already feel it—Echo Muti.
The bell rang.
Selene's aura surged, her Echo Muti weaving water droplets in the mist into tangible sound constructs.
Kai barely dodged as a Sound Blade formed midair, slashing toward him with no warning.
"Stay sharp, Kai," William whispered from the stands.
Kai grounded himself.
Martial Muti: Mirage Step — he blurred, weaving through the sonic blades.
Selene smiled softly. "Monk-boy moves fast."
Kai's eyes focused. "I've dealt with worse."
Selene raised her hand.
Echo Muti: Siren's Choir — dozens of tiny shimmering water bells hovered around Kai. They resonated, locking him in a sound-induced daze.
The crowd gasped.
Kai's limbs felt heavy, like his body was swimming through sound itself.
Selene advanced, her fingers drawing a Water Whip laced with concentrated sound.
Kai gritted his teeth.
He activated Zen Resurgence, forcing his breathing steady.
His aura pulsed outward, shattering the sound-lock.
Selene's eyes widened. "You broke it?"
Kai didn't answer.
He dashed in.
Martial-Spectral Hybrid: Lotus Fang Combination — a flurry of strikes, each carrying afterimage echoes to mask the real blows.
Selene parried some, but the last struck true, sending her sliding across the mist-covered arena.
Selene chuckled, wiping blood from her lip. "This is why I wanted you."
She raised both hands.
Echo-Water Hybrid: Hollow Siren's Waltz — the entire arena flooded ankle-deep with water, and the mist thickened. Soundwaves danced across the liquid surface, amplifying every motion.
Kai's feet sunk slightly. His movements slowed.
Selene stepped gracefully across the water, unbothered, blades of sound spiraling like dancers.
Kai struggled against the growing weight.
From above, Master Elric murmured. "She's using the arena itself."
William nodded. "Old-school Echo style."
Kai's muscles trembled. The water pulled him. The sounds disrupted his balance.
But he smiled.
"Good."
His body flickered.
Partial Sage Mode: First Incandescence — golden threads wrapped around his arms, his eyes glowing faintly.
The water beneath him pushed outward as his aura repelled the sound constructs.
Kai surged forward.
Selene's eyes widened.
Bodhi Pulse — a radiant, focused palm struck through the mist.
Selene defended with a Sound Barrier, but Kai's blow shattered it, sending her crashing to the far end of the arena.
The mist thinned.
The water stilled.
Kai stood panting, partial Sage Mode flickering.
Selene lay unconscious, smiling softly.
The referee raised his hand. "KAI XANDER ADVANCES!"
The crowd erupted.
Kai collapsed to one knee, exhausted but victorious.
William sighed in relief. "That's my boy."
Master Elric nodded silently.
And far above, President Johnny Joah smiled faintly.
As the mist cleared and the arena was reset, the atmosphere grew heavier.
Aria stood at one end, tightening the wraps around her arms. Across from her, Dante Vireo exhaled calmly, wind gently swirling around his figure.
Master Elric's voice echoed.
"Aria Flamehart vs. Dante Vireo. Begin!"
The bell rang.
Dante wasted no time.
Air Muti: Gale Step — he vanished from sight, reappearing with a spinning kick that created a slicing wind blade.
Aria blocked with Martial Muti, but the sheer force sent her sliding.
The crowd leaned forward.
Aria gritted her teeth. "So that's how it is."
Lightning Veil: Second Surge — electricity surged around her, grounding her stance.
Dante smiled faintly. "Good."
He waved his hand.
Air-Aura Hybrid: Featherfall Zone — a field of distorted wind and pressure enveloped the battlefield, making every movement sluggish except for him.
Aria strained to move.
William's eyes widened. "Air-Aura mastery. Smart."
Dante moved effortlessly, delivering sharp, wind-imbued strikes.
Aria blocked, but each hit chipped away at her endurance.
Kai watched silently, fists clenched.
Rin leaned closer. "She'll figure it out."
Aria closed her eyes mid-fight, breathing deeply.
Lightning flickered chaotically.
And then—
Lightning Martial: Thunder Lotus Step — a fusion technique.
Her foot crashed down, releasing a wave of electrical discharge that disrupted Dante's Featherfall Zone, temporarily breaking the field.
Dante's eyes widened. "You fused them?"
Aria didn't answer. She moved.
Faster.
Cleaner.
She weaved through the broken currents, landing solid blows.
Dante stumbled back, surprised.
"Good," he whispered.
He clenched his fists.
Air-Aura: Skybreaker Form — currents swirled violently, lifting him slightly into the air, his strikes becoming unpredictable.
Aria met him mid-air.
Their clash generated a miniature storm.
Lightning flashed.
Wind howled.
Neither gave ground.
Dante's palm struck Aria's stomach—Aura Shockwave—sending her crashing down.
Aria coughed, struggling to stand.
She remembered Kai's battle.
Rin's resolve.
Her father's teachings.
She exhaled.
Limit School: Lightning Veil - Third Surge — veins of lightning surged across her entire body.
The crowd gasped.
She stood, panting, but smiling.
Aria disappeared, moving faster than the eye could follow.
Her fist connected cleanly with Dante's chest.
The resulting shockwave cleared the sky.
Dante hit the ground hard.
Silence.
Then—
"ARIA FLAMEHART ADVANCES!"
The crowd erupted.
Kai exhaled with relief.
William cheered. "THAT'S MY GIRL!"
Lila cried with excitement.
Master Elric smirked.
The finals were now set.
Kai vs. Aria.
The last two standing.
And as the arena roared, both of them silently realized—
This was always how it was meant to end.
The sun rose slowly the next morning, casting a soft golden light across the recovering colosseum.
Kai sat silently on the edge of the arena wall, overlooking the sleeping city.
The cheers from last night still echoed faintly in his head. He replayed every second of the final clash over and over. Every move. Every breath. Every mistake.
His fists clenched.
But his face remained unreadable.
Aria, meanwhile, stood before the gathered Masters at the podium.
Master Elric's voice carried across the square filled with Seekers and citizens alike.
"By unanimous decision and by the laws of the Association—"
He raised his hand.
"—Aria Flamehart is hereby promoted to Silver Seeker."
The crowd roared.
Aria blinked, almost stunned.
Kai's chest tightened slightly.
Behind her, Kai, Rin, Lila, Dante, and Nasir stood in a line.
Master Elric continued. "And to those who proved themselves worthy…"
He looked over the group.
"…you are now Bronze Seekers."
Lila jumped in place. "WE DID IT!"
Rin offered a small but proud smile.
Nasir gave a silent nod.
Dante exhaled deeply, hiding a grin.
Kai nodded along with the others, but his heart remained heavy.
William nudged him gently. "Chin up. It's part of the path."
Kai forced a faint smile, but his eyes betrayed the truth.
Later that evening, the team gathered at a small tavern overlooking the sea.
The celebration was modest but filled with laughter.
Lila mimicked Aria's winning pose, causing Aria to blush furiously.
Rin actually chuckled.
Kai sipped quietly on tea, watching them.
"Not gonna join in?" William asked, leaning on the railing.
Kai shrugged. "They earned it."
William sighed. "So did you."
Kai didn't answer.
Aria noticed from across the table but said nothing.
The moonlight reflected off the water as the team celebrated, but in the back of Kai's mind, one thought repeated.
Why wasn't I enough?
Far above, Master Elric, Johnny Joah, and the other Masters stood on the balcony.
"The next generation is promising," Johnny said.
Master Elric nodded. "And restless."
The president glanced at the stars. "They'll need to be."
From the horizon, the faint silhouette of the newly discovered continent loomed — untouched, mysterious, and closer than ever.