The artificial Kingdom of Ryūgū had transformed into a battlefield.
Explosions echoed from every direction.
Flames swallowed abandoned streets, icy winds swept across shattered rooftops, and bolts of lightning illuminated the skies as countless Elementalists clashed against both Demons and rival Chīmas.
Above the replica kingdom, enormous holographic projections floated high in the sky, allowing every spectator inside the real Arashi Arena to witness the unfolding battles.
The first round of the Grand Shōtotsu had only just begun.
Yet chaos had already spread throughout the arena.
Deep within one of the replica city's ruined districts...
A deafening crash echoed between the empty streets.
BOOM!!
Dust billowed into the air.
Broken stone scattered across the cracked pavement.
At the center of the destruction...
A young man lay pinned against the shattered ground.
"...Gh..."
Flick Blaze coughed violently as blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
His breathing had become ragged.
His entire body trembled from exhaustion.
Standing above him was a tall young man with sharp golden eyes.
Sandā.
His expression remained completely emotionless.
One hand gripped Flick's hair tightly while forcing his head against the cracked stone road.
Tiny arcs of blue lightning danced around Sandā's fingers.
They crackled louder with every passing second.
Beside him stood Melody, her expression uneasy.
Unlike Sandā, she showed no excitement.
Only concern.
Sandā slowly crouched lower until his face was only inches away from Flick's.
A cruel smile spread across his lips.
"So..."
His voice was calm.
Far too calm.
"Now then..."
He tightened his grip.
Flick winced in pain.
"...you're going to tell me everything you know about your partner."
His fingers dug deeper into Flick's scalp.
The pressure alone was enough to make Flick grit his teeth.
Sandā's smile widened.
"Now tell me..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Where is your partner?"
Silence.
Only Flick's heavy breathing answered him.
"..."
"No?"
Sandā sighed dramatically.
"What a shame."
Crack...
Tiny sparks erupted from his palm.
Blue lightning slowly wrapped itself around Flick's head.
Sandā leaned closer.
"Otherwise..."
"...you'll have the full experience of what it feels like to have Lightning Dragon energy running directly through your face."
His grin became almost playful.
"And trust me..."
"You really don't want that."
CRACKLE!!
A small burst of electricity exploded from his hand.
"AAGHHHH!!"
Flick screamed.
Every muscle in his body convulsed violently.
The smell of burnt cloth filled the air.
His vision blurred.
His teeth clenched so tightly that blood seeped from his gums.
The electricity stopped.
Flick gasped desperately for air.
Sandā tilted his head.
"Hm?"
"Ready to talk?"
Flick glared at him despite the pain.
"...As..."
His voice barely escaped his lips.
Sandā frowned.
"As?"
"I couldn't hear you."
Without another word—
KRAAAAKK!!
A far stronger surge erupted from Sandā's palm.
"AAGHHHHHHHHHH!!"
Blue lightning exploded across Flick's body.
His entire frame arched upward before crashing back onto the ground.
Smoke rose from his clothes.
His breathing became increasingly unstable.
Far above the battlefield...
Inside Arashi Arena...
Thousands upon thousands of spectators watched the scene unfold through the enormous holographic projections.
Gasps spread across the audience.
Some looked horrified.
Others remained silent.
A few simply watched with grim expressions.
Professor Volt nearly jumped from his seat.
"What do we have here, folks?!"
He pointed dramatically toward the screen.
"It looks like Sandā has completely captured Flick!"
Professor Hex folded his arms.
"Hmph."
Professor Volt continued.
"And unless my eyes are deceiving me..."
"...it looks like he's actually torturing him!"
The audience immediately erupted into murmurs.
Professor Volt turned toward his senior.
"Professor Hex..."
"Isn't that against the rules?"
Hex adjusted his glasses.
"No."
Volt blinked.
"...No?"
Professor Hex nodded.
"The rules clearly prohibit murder."
"They prohibit blackmail."
"They prohibit taking hostages."
"They prohibit illegal enchantments."
"But..."
He pointed toward Sandā.
"He hasn't technically broken any of them."
Professor Volt frowned.
"But he's trying to force information out of Flick."
Hex smirked.
"Exactly."
"A strategy."
Volt scratched his head.
"So..."
"He found a loophole?"
Professor Hex nodded slowly.
"It seems..."
"...that maggot has found a loophole within King Yogan's rules."
The crowd fell silent.
Some spectators admired Sandā's tactical thinking.
Others looked visibly disgusted.
One elderly Elementalist sighed.
"...Winning means everything..."
"...doesn't it?"
Back inside the replica kingdom...
Sandā slowly released Flick's head.
Only to grab him by the collar instead.
He lifted him effortlessly into the air.
Flick could barely keep his eyes open.
Sandā sighed.
"I'm getting tired..."
His smile disappeared.
"Flick."
No response.
Only ragged breathing.
Sandā's eyes turned cold.
Without warning—
CRACK!!
Another bolt of lightning surged directly into Flick's face.
"AAAGGHH!!"
His scream echoed through the empty streets.
Melody flinched.
She finally stepped forward.
"...Sandā."
He ignored her.
She frowned.
"I think..."
"...you're going a little too far."
Sandā didn't even look at her.
"The best way to earn points..."
"...is to take every single point our competitors possess."
His voice remained emotionless.
"If Flick tells us where his partner is..."
"We eliminate both of them."
"We take all their points."
"It's efficient."
Melody lowered her eyes.
"...But..."
She hesitated.
"It just..."
She couldn't finish her sentence.
Something felt wrong.
This wasn't victory.
This wasn't competition.
This was cruelty.
Sandā noticed her hesitation.
"You think I'm being heartless?"
Melody remained silent.
He chuckled.
"Winning isn't pretty."
"It never has been."
"The Grand Shōtotsu isn't a playground."
"It's a battlefield."
"And on battlefields..."
"...kindness gets you killed."
Melody looked away.
Deep inside...
She couldn't fully disagree.
Yet...
Watching Flick suffer like this...
Left a bitter taste in her heart.
Suddenly—
WHOOSH!!
A powerful stream of water tore through the air.
Melody's eyes widened.
"Sandā!"
Without hesitation—
"Melody Dragon: Melodious Guard!!"
Golden musical notes spiraled around her body.
A transparent barrier instantly materialized.
BOOOOM!!
The incoming water blast exploded against the barrier.
Water scattered in every direction like rain.
Sandā slowly turned.
"...Hm?"
Standing atop the remains of a nearby building...
A familiar girl held a blue crystal staff.
Long sapphire hair danced gently behind her.
Her ocean-blue eyes remained unwavering.
Kayosha Mizu.
The gentle smile she usually wore...
Was nowhere to be found.
Only determination remained.
Sandā smirked.
"Well..."
"Well..."
"What do we have here?"
He slowly released Flick.
"I wasn't expecting you."
He tilted his head.
"Offense isn't exactly your specialty..."
"...is it, Kayosha?"
His mocking grin widened.
Kayosha stepped forward.
Her staff struck the rooftop with a soft tap.
"You've done enough."
Her calm voice echoed across the ruined district.
Sandā laughed.
"Oh?"
"You came all this way..."
"...for him?"
Kayosha looked toward Flick.
His body trembled.
Burn marks covered his arms.
His breathing remained weak.
Her expression darkened.
"Flick isn't even fighting back anymore."
Sandā shrugged.
"So?"
"Mind your own business."
Kayosha's blue eyes sharpened.
"I can't."
Silence.
She pointed her staff directly at Sandā.
"Hurting someone who's already helpless..."
"...isn't strength."
Sandā's smile vanished.
"Don't lecture me."
"You've gone too far, Sandā."
"I said..."
His voice became colder.
"...mind your own business."
"No."
Kayosha took another step forward.
"I won't."
A powerful wave of water Elemental energy exploded around her.
The nearby streets trembled.
Dust rose into the air.
"I won't stand here..."
"...and watch you torture someone."
For the first time...
Sandā's eyes narrowed seriously.
"So..."
"You've chosen to interfere."
Kayosha raised her hand.
"If stopping you means fighting..."
"...then I'll fight."
A cold breeze swept through the broken streets.
Neither moved.
Neither blinked.
The air itself felt heavy.
Then—
Sandā smiled.
"Fine."
"If that's what you want..."
Blue lightning erupted around his body.
The sky instantly darkened.
Black storm clouds gathered overhead.
The sound of thunder rolled across the artificial kingdom.
"Lightning Dragon—Thunderstruck!!"
BOOOOOOM!!
A massive bolt of lightning descended from the heavens.
Kayosha reacted instantly.
She slammed her staff against the ground.
"Water Dragon—Tidal Sphere!!"
Water erupted from beneath the streets.
An enormous sphere of rotating water surrounded her entire body.
The descending lightning struck—
KRAAAAAAASHHH!!
The collision illuminated the battlefield with blinding white light.
Steam exploded outward.
The ground shook violently.
Yet...
Kayosha remained standing.
Safe inside the rotating sphere.
The water continuously absorbed the impact before flowing around the electrical current.
Sandā raised an eyebrow.
"...Interesting."
Lightning struck again.
And again.
And again.
Each bolt crashed against the rotating sphere with earth-shaking force.
Boom after boom echoed across the city.
Even distant Chīmas turned toward the sky.
The battle...
Had officially begun.
Far away, unaware that fate was drawing them toward this battlefield, Kasai and Sora noticed the repeated flashes of lightning illuminating the horizon.
Kasai narrowed his eyes.
"...Sandā."
His fists slowly clenched.
Without another word...
He began running toward the storm.
The replica Kingdom of Ryūgū had descended into complete chaos.
Every district of the enormous artificial city had become its own battlefield.
Columns of smoke curled into the sky as shattered buildings crumbled beneath the overwhelming force of Elemental Arts. Bursts of fire erupted in one district, while rivers of ice spread through another. Explosions echoed continuously across the replica kingdom, each one announcing another fierce clash between competing Chīmas or the Demons roaming the arena.
Above the battlefield, dark clouds continued to gather.
Not natural clouds.
Storm clouds.
Each brilliant flash of blue lightning illuminated the surrounding rooftops before another deafening crack rolled across the city.
Every participant within several kilometers could hear it.
Every spectator inside Arashi Arena could see it.
Something enormous was happening.
Far away from the source of the lightning...
Kasai and Sora raced across the rooftops of the replica city.
Their feet landed gracefully upon broken tiles before they leapt toward another building.
Whoosh!
The powerful winds whipped past them as they moved from rooftop to rooftop.
Kasai suddenly stopped.
His crimson eyes narrowed.
Another bolt of lightning erupted into the heavens.
KRAAAAKK!!
The sky glowed blue for an instant.
"...There it is again."
He stared silently toward the distant district.
Sora landed beside him.
The wind gently lifted her long silver hair as she looked in the same direction.
"...That's no ordinary spell."
Kasai folded his arms.
"Only one person creates lightning storms like that."
"Sanda..."
His voice carried unmistakable annoyance.
The storm continued.
Lightning struck again.
And again.
Each strike was stronger than the last.
Sora's expression became uneasy.
"...Someone's fighting him."
Kasai nodded.
"And judging from those repeated strikes..."
"...whoever it is has been defending for quite a while."
His brows furrowed.
"That's not like Sanda."
"He usually finishes battles quickly."
Another flash erupted.
This one far brighter than the others.
Boom!!
Even from several districts away...
The ground beneath them trembled.
Kasai clicked his tongue.
"...Forget hunting Demons."
He turned toward the lightning.
"I'm going."
Sora blinked.
"So suddenly?"
Kasai grinned.
"I've wanted to settle things with Sanda for months."
"He owes me one."
His smile disappeared.
"And besides..."
"I don't like what those lightning strikes are telling me."
Sora looked at him quietly.
"...You're worried."
Kasai immediately crossed his arms.
"Worried?"
"Who?"
"Me?"
He laughed loudly.
"I just don't want someone stealing all the points before I get there."
Sora smiled knowingly.
"...Sure."
Kasai looked away.
"...Don't give me that look."
Without another word, he crouched low.
Boom!!
The rooftop beneath his feet shattered.
Kasai shot through the air like a blazing comet.
Sora quickly followed.
"Kasai!"
"Wait for me!"
The two Chīma members disappeared into the distance as they rushed toward the storm.
Meanwhile...
The battlefield surrounding Kayosha had become almost unrecognizable.
The once peaceful district had been devastated.
The streets were scorched black.
Several buildings had partially collapsed.
Water flooded the cracked roads while broken stone floated across the current.
Above everything...
The storm continued to rage.
Sandā floated several meters above the street, suspended upon crackling bolts of lightning.
His eyes remained fixed upon Kayosha.
A cruel grin slowly spread across his face.
"I have to admit..."
"You've lasted much longer than I expected."
Below him...
Kayosha remained inside her rotating sphere of water.
The powerful currents continuously spun around her body.
Each incoming bolt of lightning struck the sphere before being dispersed throughout the flowing water.
Steam rose endlessly.
Her breathing had become noticeably heavier.
Drops of sweat rolled down her forehead.
Maintaining such a defensive spell against continuous attacks demanded an enormous amount of Chīma.
Sandā noticed immediately.
"...You're getting tired."
Kayosha remained silent.
"I can see it."
"The speed of your barrier..."
"...is slowing."
The sphere rotated ever so slightly slower than before.
Sandā laughed.
"I knew it."
"You've been relying entirely on defense."
"But eventually..."
"...every defense breaks."
He slowly raised one hand toward the heavens.
The storm above intensified.
Dark clouds churned violently.
Blue lightning danced between them like enormous serpents.
The atmosphere itself became suffocating.
Melody looked upward uneasily.
"...Sandā."
He ignored her.
She frowned.
"Don't overdo it."
"We're still inside the Grand Shōtotsu."
Sandā merely smiled.
"I'm perfectly aware."
His attention never left Kayosha.
Suddenly—
A chilling sound echoed through the ruined streets.
Clank...
Clank...
Clank...
Metal boots.
Dozens of them.
Kayosha's eyes widened.
"...What?"
The sound came from every direction.
Broken doors slowly creaked open.
Dark alleyways began filling with shadows.
One by one...
Armored figures stepped into view.
Their armor appeared ancient.
Rust covered their breastplates.
Their helmets concealed hollow skulls glowing with eerie green flames.
Each carried an old rusted sword and shield.
Their movements were slow.
Mechanical.
Lifeless.
Yet terrifying.
Melody immediately recognized them.
"...Phantom Knights."
Sandā glanced around.
"Hm."
"So the Demons finally arrived."
More emerged from the surrounding buildings.
Then more.
Soon...
Over thirty Phantom Knights surrounded the entire battlefield.
They formed a complete circle.
Preventing escape.
Their hollow eyes glowed brighter.
One knight slowly raised its sword.
The others followed.
Then—
ROOOOOOOAR!!
Every Phantom Knight charged simultaneously.
"They're attacking!"
Kayosha quickly extended both hands.
"Water Dragon—"
Before she could finish—
The nearest Phantom Knight swung its massive sword.
Clang!!
The blade struck her water barrier.
The sphere trembled violently.
Another knight attacked.
Then another.
Then five.
Then ten.
Within seconds...
Every Phantom Knight had surrounded her.
They struck relentlessly.
Boom!
Crash!
Clang!
The rotating sphere absorbed each blow.
Yet tiny cracks began forming throughout the flowing water.
Sandā simply watched.
"...How convenient."
Melody frowned.
"...Convenient?"
"They're weakening her for us."
Sandā casually folded his arms.
"No need to waste my own mana."
Lightning continued raining from above.
The Phantom Knights attacked from below.
Kayosha found herself trapped.
Every direction held an enemy.
Her breathing became increasingly unstable.
"I..."
"I can't..."
Her barrier shook again.
A crack spread across its surface.
"No..."
Melody bit her lip.
"This isn't right..."
Sandā glanced toward her.
"What?"
"We should help defeat the Demons first."
He shrugged.
"Why?"
"They're helping us."
Melody stared at him.
"...You're really going to let them kill her?"
Sandā's expression remained cold.
"If she dies..."
"That's her own fault."
Melody lowered her eyes.
"...This isn't the Sandā I knew."
For just a moment...
Something flickered across Sandā's face.
Then it disappeared.
"The Grand Shōtotsu isn't about making friends."
"It's about surviving."
Inside the water sphere...
Kayosha gritted her teeth.
The constant pressure was becoming unbearable.
Her Chīma reserves steadily dwindled.
Every impact sent vibrations throughout her body.
Another bolt of lightning struck.
BOOOOOM!!
The water sphere trembled violently.
A visible fracture appeared.
"No..."
Another strike.
Crack.
The fracture widened.
Another.
Crack!
Water splashed outward.
Her barrier was beginning to collapse.
Sandā smiled.
"There it is."
"The end."
He slowly extended one hand toward the heavens.
Blue lightning gathered around his arm.
The storm answered his call.
The clouds churned violently.
An enormous pillar of lightning began descending from above.
Even Melody stared in disbelief.
"...Sandā."
"That's enough."
He ignored her.
The lightning condensed further.
Its destructive aura alone caused nearby buildings to tremble.
The Phantom Knights instinctively retreated.
Even they sensed danger.
Kayosha looked upward.
Her pupils shrank.
"...No..."
Her barrier finally shattered.
CRAAAAASH!!
Water exploded outward like broken glass.
The rotating sphere vanished completely.
Kayosha fell to one knee.
Panting.
Exhausted.
Sandā slowly lowered his glowing hand.
Blue lightning danced across his fingertips.
His smile widened into something almost cruel.
"I underestimated you."
"You lasted longer than I expected."
"But..."
He looked down upon the exhausted Water Dragon Elementalist.
"...no matter how strong your defenses were..."
"...they were always destined to break."
The lightning above roared louder than ever before.
Its brilliance illuminated the entire district.
Sandā raised his hand.
Pointing directly at Kayosha.
His grin became merciless.
"...Goodbye..."
"...you weakling."
At that exact moment—
Far beyond the ruined streets—
Two figures burst onto the rooftops overlooking the battlefield.
Kasai.
And Sora.
Their eyes widened as they witnessed the gigantic bolt of lightning descending toward Kayosha.
"...KAYOSHA!!"
Kasai shouted as flames erupted violently around his body.
To be continued...