"My name is Violet Ryūgū, the Synthesis Sorceress!"
Violet's cheerful declaration rang across the battlefield as the final explosions erupted around her. One after another, enormous bursts of energy spread through the ruined streets, swallowing the surrounding buildings and shattered landscape beneath a devastating combination of ash and freezing power.
The explosions continued to ripple outward, leaving destruction in their wake. Buildings, trees, broken walls, and even the fractured ground were rapidly covered by thick layers of ice. Frost spread across the battlefield, transforming the already-devastated streets into a frozen wasteland.
As the last explosion finally subsided, an enormous cloud of smoke and drifting ash remained suspended in the air.
Violet stood calmly amid the destruction, her gaze fixed on the spot where Ryūsei had disappeared beneath her attack. Her breathing was slightly heavier than before, but a satisfied smile remained on her face.
"That should do it..." she sighed in relief.
Her attention shifted toward the enormous formation of ice that had swallowed Ryūsei.
"Ryūsei Ryūgū, you're one of the toughest opponents I've ever faced," she remarked happily, genuine admiration evident in her voice.
Throughout her long career as a Gādian, Violet had fought countless opponents. Many had challenged her, but few had ever managed to push her far enough to reveal the full extent of her abilities. Most had fallen before they could even force her to abandon her usual fighting style.
Ryūsei, however, had been different.
Despite his F-Rank classification, the young Elementalist had managed to withstand several of her Dragon Arts. His adaptability had repeatedly forced her to change tactics, and he had even pushed her into using techniques she had hoped would remain buried in the past.
It was difficult to believe that someone with such extraordinary potential was still classified as an F-Rank Elementalist.
Violet continued staring at the ice formation. Her cheerful expression gradually softened as a thoughtful look crossed her face.
"Strange... He reminds me of—"
Before she could finish her sentence, something unusual caught her attention.
A faint white radiance had appeared beneath the frozen surface.
Violet's eyes widened slightly as the light began spreading throughout the enormous ice formation. At first, it was barely noticeable, like a tiny spark struggling to shine beneath a thick layer of frost. However, its intensity continued increasing until the entire structure began glowing from within.
Something was happening inside.
"Wait—!"
BOOOOOOM!
The ice suddenly exploded.
A tremendous burst of white light erupted from the frozen formation, sending enormous fragments flying in every direction. The resulting shock wave swept across the battlefield, scattering the surrounding ash and forcing Violet to raise her arms defensively.
The blast was powerful enough to knock her backward. Her feet scraped across the frozen ground as she struggled to regain her balance, eventually stopping several meters away.
As the fragments of ice continued falling, the brilliant light gradually faded. Smoke and frost drifted through the air, concealing the center of the explosion.
Then, a familiar silhouette emerged.
Ryūsei Ryūgū was still standing.
His clothes had been damaged, and several injuries were visible across his body. Nevertheless, the white aura surrounding him had allowed him to survive Violet's freezing attack. Although his condition was far from perfect, he had managed to break through the enormous formation of ice.
He took a deep breath, his shoulders rising and falling as he tried to recover.
"That was a close one..." he muttered with a relieved sigh.
He had barely escaped being completely trapped by the freezing explosion. If he had reacted even a moment later, the outcome might have been considerably worse.
Unfortunately, he had little time to appreciate his escape.
A sudden presence appeared directly in front of him.
Ryūsei's eyes widened.
Violet had already closed the distance.
"Ice Dragon: Hellfire Breath!!"
Without giving him even a moment to recover, Violet unleashed another spell. She opened her mouth and released a tremendous torrent of energy that surged toward Ryūsei with overwhelming force.
Despite its name, the attack was unlike an ordinary stream of flames.
Fire and ice intertwined within the blast, their opposing elemental properties twisting together as the torrent swept across the battlefield. Everything caught in its path was engulfed by its destructive force. Buildings and trees were consumed by the scorching flames, only to become covered in thick layers of ice moments later.
The remains of damaged structures froze almost instantly, while the ground transformed beneath the strange combination of heat and freezing energy.
Ryūsei barely had time to react before the tremendous blast struck him.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact engulfed his entire body.
A massive wave of freezing energy spread throughout the surrounding area, rapidly covering the ground and swallowing everything nearby beneath a thick layer of ice. For a brief moment, Ryūsei disappeared completely beneath the attack.
But the ice did not hold him for long.
A powerful surge of Meteor Dragon energy erupted from within the frozen mass. Cracks spread across its surface, branching in every direction before the entire formation shattered.
Ryūsei broke free once again.
He stumbled forward, catching his balance as fragments of ice fell around him. His breathing had become noticeably heavier, and his body was beginning to feel the strain of the battle.
Damn it... She's just too strong.
He raised his head and looked toward Violet, who was already standing in front of him with a composed expression.
And I've only got three minutes left before the first round ends...
The realization made his situation even more troublesome.
He had spent a considerable amount of time fighting Violet, and their confrontation had forced him to use more of his strength than he had originally anticipated. With the first round approaching its conclusion, he could no longer afford to waste time.
Violet, meanwhile, continued studying him with genuine admiration.
"Ryūsei Ryūgū, your resistance to the cold is beyond my expectations," she remarked.
Her eyes briefly examined the shattered ice surrounding him before returning to his face.
"Your resistance is far beyond that of an S-Rank Ice-based Elementalist, and yet you're not even an Ice-based Elementalist."
Ryūsei gave her a small smile.
"I should say the same to you," he replied.
He had already witnessed her use an astonishing variety of Dragon Arts. What made her especially dangerous, however, was her ability to bring together different elemental properties and use them in ways that were difficult to anticipate.
The strange combination of fire and ice was only one example. Each time Ryūsei thought he had understood the nature of her attacks, Violet revealed another technique that challenged his assumptions.
And she performed all of it with remarkable control.
"No wonder you're a Gādian," he added.
Violet smiled at his remark.
She briefly glanced toward the sky, seemingly checking the remaining time before the first round came to an end.
"There are only about two minutes left," she stated.
Her expression gradually became more serious as she returned her attention to Ryūsei.
"Let's finish this once and for all."
Ryūsei nodded.
He knew that neither of them had much time remaining. Their battle had already reached a point where exchanging ordinary attacks would accomplish very little. If he wanted to make the most of the final moments, he would have to put everything he had into their next confrontation.
He extended his hand.
"Meteor Dragon: Photon Blade!!"
A brilliant white light gathered in his palm before extending outward, taking the shape of a sword formed entirely from Meteor Dragon energy. Its blade shone brightly as streams of mana flowed along its length.
Ryūsei firmly grasped the weapon.
Across from him, Violet raised her own hand.
"Sorcery Dragon: Synergy Blade."
A different kind of energy began gathering around her palm. The mana twisted and condensed, gradually taking the shape of a sword formed from Sorcery Dragon energy.
Unlike the Dragon Arts she had demonstrated earlier, this weapon possessed a distinct quality. Its radiance was unusual, and the energy surrounding it seemed to carry a different character from the elemental techniques she had used throughout their battle.
Ryūsei's eyes widened slightly.
A cheerful smile soon appeared on his face.
"Looks like I finally made you use your Elemental Art," he remarked.
Violet glanced at him and smiled in return.
Until now, she had relied on the numerous Dragon Arts at her disposal, combining their different elemental properties to overwhelm Ryūsei. Her Sorcery Dragon Synergy Blade, however, was something different. It was not simply another elemental technique. It was an expression of her own Elemental Art.
Ryūsei had finally managed to draw it out.
He was eager to discover what it could do.
Lowering his stance, he concentrated his mana and allowed the white aura surrounding his body to intensify. Rather than using the White Meteor solely to enhance his physical abilities, he directed its power toward the Photon Blade in his right hand.
The energy began flowing along the weapon.
A mysterious white radiance gradually enveloped its surface, growing brighter as the White Meteor enhanced the blade's intensity. Ryūsei could feel the tremendous power gathering within the sword. It was as though the weapon itself had become an extension of the aura surrounding his body.
He understood that his next attacks would carry considerably more force.
Violet watched the transformation with interest.
Neither of them said another word.
For a brief moment, the two Elementalists simply stood facing one another, their weapons ready as they waited for the right opportunity.
Then, almost simultaneously, they moved.
Ryūsei dashed forward, his Photon Blade cutting through the air as he rapidly closed the distance. Violet advanced to meet him, raising her Sorcery Dragon Synergy Blade in preparation.
Their weapons collided.
CLAAAAANG!
A powerful shock wave erupted from the point of impact, scattering ice and debris across the battlefield.
Neither fighter gave ground.
They immediately followed with another strike, their blades meeting again and again as they exchanged attacks at incredible speed.
Every collision produced another burst of energy.
Ryūsei swung from the right, but Violet intercepted his attack with her Synergy Blade. She immediately countered with a diagonal slash, forcing him to twist his body to avoid the strike. He brought his Photon Blade upward, catching her weapon and forcing her to defend.
The two continued exchanging blows, their movements becoming increasingly difficult to follow.
Their swords clashed repeatedly, and the force behind each strike sent destructive shock waves through the surrounding area. Frozen buildings crumbled beneath the pressure, trees were torn from the ground, and enormous cracks spread across the already-damaged battlefield.
Every time their blades met, another portion of the landscape was destroyed.
Despite the overwhelming intensity of their exchange, neither showed any intention of backing down.
Ryūsei continued pressing forward, using the White Meteor to reinforce his attacks. Violet responded with the remarkable versatility and strength of her Sorcery Dragon Elemental Art, meeting each strike with precise movements and powerful counters.
Then, as their blades separated following another powerful collision, Violet suddenly drew a deep breath.
"Fire Dragon: Blizzard Breath!!"
She unleashed a tremendous blast of energy from her mouth.
The attack contained both Ice Dragon and Fire Dragon energy, combining their opposing properties into a single devastating torrent. Flames surged through the freezing current, creating a powerful blast that rushed directly toward Ryūsei.
The surrounding air distorted as the attack advanced. The ground beneath it was engulfed in a violent mixture of heat and frost, and the remaining ice formations began cracking under the pressure.
Ryūsei immediately raised his sword.
"Meteor Dragon: Lightedge Ray!!!"
A tremendous amount of Meteor Dragon energy gathered around his weapon before surging forward in a brilliant blast of white light. The attack tore through the air, heading directly toward Violet's incoming spell.
The two attacks collided.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!
A devastating explosion engulfed the battlefield.
The collision between Blizzard Breath and Lightedge Ray produced an enormous burst of energy that expanded in every direction. The resulting shock wave tore through the surrounding landscape, destroying what remained of the nearby buildings and scattering the ice covering the ground.
The entire area was swallowed by blinding radiance.
For a brief moment, nothing could be seen beyond the explosion.
Then the battlefield began to tremble once more.
The tremendous force of the collision continued spreading outward, and a massive cloud of smoke rose into the air, concealing both combatants from view.
At that very moment, the time allotted for the first round finally ran out.
The battle between Ryūsei Ryūgū and Violet Ryūgū had come to an end.
And with it, the first round of the Grand Shōtotsu was officially over.
The enormous explosion had attracted the attention of nearly every Elementalist watching the battle through the arena's holographic projection system.
Throughout the first round, the participants had witnessed countless clashes between Chīmas, the appearance of powerful Demons, and several unexpected confrontations. However, the battle between Ryūsei, an F-Rank Elementalist, and Violet, the legendary Synthesis Sorceress, had become one of the most astonishing spectacles of the entire event.
Many spectators had initially doubted Ryūsei's chances.
After all, Violet was an S-Rank Elementalist and a former Gādian from the era of the Third Grand Elementalist, Arashi Ryūgū. She possessed experience and power that most contemporary Elementalists could only dream of attaining.
Ryūsei, on the other hand, was still classified as F-Rank.
Yet he had managed to stand against her alone.
He had endured her combined Dragon Arts, discovered a new application for his own ability, shattered her Lava Dragon armor, and continued fighting even after being caught in her freezing attacks.
Now, after their final exchange, the spectators were left wondering about the outcome.
Who had won?
Had Violet managed to defeat the young Elementalist, or had Ryūsei somehow found a way to overcome the legendary Gādian?
The smoke from the enormous explosion slowly began to clear.
At first, only vague silhouettes could be seen through the thick cloud. As the dust gradually settled, however, the figures of the two combatants became visible.
The sight left the spectators speechless.
Both Violet and Ryūsei were still standing.
Their bodies were covered with wounds, and their clothes had been damaged by the relentless exchange of attacks. Neither appeared to have escaped the final explosion unscathed.
Ryūsei stood with his sword still in hand, his body showing clear signs of exhaustion. Across from him, Violet remained upright as well, her expression suggesting that she had been pushed just as hard.
For a brief moment, the spectators could only stare.
The F-Rank Elementalist had fought the Synthesis Sorceress alone and remained standing until the very end.
It was a result few could have imagined when the battle had first begun.
Among the spectators watching the confrontation was Meisai Kakusu.
The young girl had followed Ryūsei's battle with growing concern. Throughout the fight, she had watched him endure one devastating attack after another, and the final explosion had left her anxiously waiting to see whether he was all right.
When she finally saw him standing amid the smoke, she turned toward the man beside her.
"Father, is Ryūsei going to be alright?" Meisai asked anxiously.
Akanishi looked toward the battlefield before giving her a reassuring smile.
"He'll be alright," he replied happily.
His confidence came from knowing just how much Ryūsei had endured throughout the competition. The young Elementalist had already faced opponents far stronger than his rank suggested, and this battle had been no exception.
Meisai seemed relieved by his answer, although her eyes remained fixed on the projection.
Nearby, Mizūmi watched the scene with an amused expression.
"Ryūsei's really something, isn't he, Dad?" he teased.
Nendo chuckled as he continued watching the battlefield.
"I'd say so. To think he took on Violet all alone..." he replied happily. "He really is something."
The two continued watching the aftermath of the battle, impressed by what Ryūsei had accomplished.
For many spectators, the confrontation had completely changed their impression of the young F-Rank Elementalist.
He might have been classified as one of the weakest Elementalists by rank, but his performance had made one thing clear.
There was nothing ordinary about Ryūsei Ryūgū.
With the conclusion of the first round, the Grand Shōtotsu's teleportation system was activated.
All the Elementalists still inside the replica Kingdom of Ryūgū began disappearing from the battlefield, one group after another. The remaining participants were transported away from the simulated environment and returned to Arashi Arena, where the next stage of the competition would eventually be announced.
The enormous arena was once again filled with the sound of thousands of spectators.
The participants appeared throughout the designated area. Some were exhausted, others were injured, and a few immediately began discussing the battles they had witnessed or experienced.
At the main stage, King Yogan Ryūgū was already waiting for their return.
Standing before the gathered Elementalists, he looked over the crowd with a warm smile. He was pleased to see the participants returning safely, although the events of the first round had clearly brought several unexpected developments.
Once everyone had gathered, the King raised his hand to address the arena.
"That was an amazing show you all displayed!" Yogan announced happily. "I'd like to congratulate each of you for doing your best in the Grand Shōtotsu."
His words were met with applause from the spectators.
Yogan waited for the noise to settle before continuing.
"Furthermore, the points you've all accumulated have now been gathered and recorded."
A large holographic screen appeared above the stage, displaying the results of the first round.
The participants immediately turned their attention toward it, eager to discover whether their efforts had been enough to secure a place in the next stage.
However, before the King could reveal the results, his expression became noticeably more serious.
"But sadly, I must announce that, due to certain events during the first round, only nine Chīmas will be permitted to advance to the second round."
The announcement sent a wave of shock through the arena.
"WHAT?!"
"Only nine?!"
"Didn't they say there were sixteen slots?!"
Confused voices erupted from the gathered Elementalists. Many had entered the competition believing that sixteen Chīmas would advance to the next round, just as the original rules had stated.
Hearing that the number had been reduced to nine came as a complete surprise.
The change meant that several participants who had expected to continue competing would now be eliminated, regardless of how well they believed they had performed.
Among those reacting to the announcement were Yuki and Shizen Ryūgū.
"Wait, only nine?" Yuki muttered, her eyes widening. "I thought there were sixteen slots."
She looked toward the stage, trying to understand what could have happened to force such a significant change.
Shizen, standing beside her, frowned.
"Something must've happened..." he replied.
He glanced toward King Yogan, who remained standing at the center of the stage.
"I mean, even Dad was forced to make a sudden change to the rules," Shizen added.
Yuki's expression became more serious.
The Grand Shōtotsu was an important event, and changing the number of advancing Chīmas at the end of the first round was not something the King would do without a reason. Whatever had happened, it must have been serious enough to affect the competition itself.
For now, however, Yogan had not provided any further explanation.
The King continued his announcement.
"As you can see from the screen, these are the Chīmas who will move on to the second round."
The holographic projection above the stage expanded, displaying the final standings.
The names of the successful participants appeared one after another, accompanied by their accumulated points.
The entire arena fell into anticipation as everyone began reading the results.
Grand Shōtotsu — First Round Results
1st Place: Kūge Ryū
Total Points: 42,360
2nd Place: Yuki Ryūgū and Kayosha Mizū
Total Points: 3,540
3rd Place: Kasai Hoño and Sora Kūki
Total Points: 3,220
4th Place: Shizen Ryūgū and Shadow Kageryu
Total Points: 3,180
5th Place: Kori Uwagusuri
Total Points: 2,560
6th Place: Shōgeki Kūki and Venom Shiori
Total Points: 2,450
7th Place: Ishi Borudā and Gēti Shindō
Total Points: 1,920
8th Place: Sandā Supāku and Melody Heiwa
Total Points: 1,500
9th Place: Ryūsei Ryūgū
Total Points: 240
The final standings remained displayed above the stage, allowing everyone in the arena to examine the results.
Yogan looked toward the gathered participants and smiled.
"Congratulations to these Chīmas who will move on to the second round!"
His announcement was followed by another wave of applause, although not everyone shared the same enthusiasm.
Yuki stared at the screen, her eyes fixed on the enormous difference between the first-place contestant and everyone else.
"No way..." she muttered.
Her gaze moved from Kūge Ryū's staggering total of 42,360 points to her own team's score of 3,540.
The difference was enormous.
Even the combined efforts of the other successful Chīmas seemed insignificant compared with the points accumulated by the first-place contestant.
Shizen also stared at the projection, his expression becoming increasingly serious.
"The point difference... between us and—"
Before he could finish his sentence, King Yogan interrupted him.