Sorry, Ethan, but I've really got my eye on that room, so I'm going to have to win this one," Grimrose said with a hint of apology, slowly drawing his sword
The ground warped beneath him, a terrifying display. "Fused elements... earth, light, void..." another voice breathed, "it's incredible!"
Obelisks of jagged energy spiraled skyward. Ethan clenched his fist. "Frostfire..." he muttered, summoning cold flames that scorched the air.
"But it's... weak," a spectator observed, "compared to Grimrose."
No taunts, no banter. Just raw power.
"This is his power" a woman murmured, "and he's fluent."
The crowd leaned forward, breathless.
"Ethan's moving!" a man said.
A desperate whip of cold flame lashed out. Grimrose vanished in violet smoke.
"He's on the obelisk!" someone yelled. Grimrose slammed his palm down.
"Earth magic!" a chorus of voices cried as a tsunami of stone shards surged toward Ethan.
"His control... it's unordinary," a wizard whispered.
Ethan split his inferno.
"Twin serpents!" Someone exclaimed. "One to melt the shards, the other for Grimrose!"
The obelisk exploded. "He's gone!" a shout went up. Grimrose teleported behind Ethan.
"Frost-forged lightning!" a professor gasped.
"He's toying with him," a woman said, her voice laced with dread.
Ethan pivoted, summoning a vortex of wind.
"He deflected it!" a relieved voice cried.
Grimrose smirked. "Trap!" someone screamed. The scattered lightning coalesced.
"A trap!" a man yelled. The runes detonated.
"Molten rock!" a spectator shouted as Ethan shielded himself.
"Grimrose planned this all along," a mage stated grimly.
"Shadow and fire!" Someone said, watching tendrils of darkness snake through the cracks.
The dome shattered. "He's staggered!" someone shouted. Grimrose pressed his advantage.
"Realization..." a wizard murmured, "he knows he's outmatched."
Ethan slammed his palms together.
"Magma!" a chorus of voices exclaimed. "A desperate gamble!"
The arena floor erupted.
"Rivers of liquid stone!" a man yelled. "He's trying to regain control!"
Grimrose teleported effortlessly.
"A dance of dominance," a woman whispered, awestruck.
"Elemental mines!" a mage shouted, "ice that burns, fire that freezes!"
Ethan dodged. "He's hit!" a man said. "His leg!"
"Crystalline frost..." a king murmured, "he's slowing down."
The spectators in the vip are was feeling the climax
"It's over," a voice whispered.
Grimrose soared upward.
"He's fusing all four elements!" a wizard exclaimed, "a maelstrom of raw power!"
The vortex pulsed, distorting reality.
"A spell so volatile..." a woman gasped, recoiling in awe.
"This is his true strength," a man said, his voice hushed.
Ethan, trapped and wounded, channeled his remaining magic.
"He's punching the ground!"someone shouted, bewildered.
The arena fractured, releasing a geyser of pure aether.
"Unrefined magic!" a mage cried. The wild wind and fire energy collided with Grimrose's vortex.
"Explosion!" a chorus of screams filled the air.
When the light faded...
"They're still standing..." a woman whispered, amazed.
The crystal floor was a cratered wasteland.
"But Grimrose..." a man said, "he was the superior force."
Grimrose inclined his head.
"They're talented"said someone
Ethan mirrored the gesture.
"Defeat accepted," a woman murmured.
The spectators rose as one.
As they started into the screen
Their silence was deafening.
And they clapped
~~~
*Grimrose pov*
Grimrose thought, "I can't control more elements; I lack the mana," as he won the fight against Ethan.
"Battle ends."
"That was easy," Grimrose said, smiling slightly.
As the battle concluded, his senses slowly faded, knowing it was finally over.
The VR set slipped off his head, and he blinked, adjusting to the real world. A wave of self-consciousness washed over him as he realized every eye in the room was fixed on him
"Okay, okay, why is EVERYONE staring? Is it my dazzling good looks?" he joked, totally owning the moment. But before anyone could even THINK of answering, a voice, like pure, shimmering music, just SHATTERED the silence.
"Grimrose Dawnstar, I WANT to be your master! Do you accept?!"
"EHHHH?!"