Chapter 9 — First Sparks
The echoing voice of Warden Caelis cut through the corridors of the Concord like a blade of command.
"All Breachers, report to Arena Sector 07. It's time to assess your combat aptitude. Today, we see what the Rift has truly gifted us."
A hush fell over the halls as seventeen selected Breachers — the newest, most promising — funneled into a high-tech observation chamber just outside the arena. Smooth obsidian walls were inlaid with flowing mana conduits, and a massive holographic screen stretched across the far end, displaying the combat trials in real-time with razor clarity.
Ethan sat quietly beside Raiden, watching as glowing outlines marked heat signatures and mana bursts from the fighters below. Raiden leaned casually in his chair, arms behind his head.
"These are the elites?" Ethan asked, eyes narrowing.
"Some of them," Raiden replied. "Others are just good at looking flashy when the pressure's low."
The intercom crackled overhead, and a staff member's voice echoed through the room:
"Breachers will be tested in randomized order. Individual assessment. You will be called by number and name. Proceed immediately when summoned."
The screen shifted to a name and number.
"Breacher #016 ...Zira Thorne. Enter the arena."
Zira stood in the ready alcove, lit by crimson light. She cracked her knuckles and smirked as the gate opened.
Muscular and tall, with crimson dreadlocks tied back, her dark skin shimmered with heat, and faint glowing cracks lined her arms. Sparks danced across her knuckles as she stepped into the center ring.
A pack of small Seraph Lizards burst into the arena, their scaly bodies iridescent and sinewy, snapping their metal-fanged jaws.
"Finally," Zira grinned, "something worth punching."
She charged.
Her fists glowed a molten red, leaving sparks as she dashed forward. With a leaping spin-kick, she crushed the skull of the first lizard. The second lunged, she ducked, countered with an uppercut laced with eruptive mana, launching the beast into the air.
A burst of flame erupted as she slammed both fists into the ground, cracking the stone beneath her and releasing a shockwave that cooked three lizards mid-charge.
In the observation room, Ethan leaned forward. "She's insane."
Raiden chuckled. "That's Zira. Elemental brawler. Volcanic bloodline. She doesn't know how to slow down."
Onscreen, the final lizard tried to crawl away but Zira caught it by one of its tails and slammed it into the ground with an explosive boom.
"Instructor," one of the analysts muttered beside Warden Caelis, "her control over kinetic combustion has improved."
Caelis only nodded. "She's still volatile. But she's learning restraint."
Zira brushed magma sparks off her shoulder. "That all?" she called out. "I'm just warming up."
---
"Next up: Breacher #031, Keir Dalen, and Breacher #057, Liora Vence."
Keir Dalen, white-haired and calm, entered in silence, his heterochromic eyes one gold and one blue glowing faintly.
Beside him walked Liora Vence, bronze-skinned, short silver hair, and glowing circuitry tattoos etched down her left arm. Her drones hovered behind her, shimmering with power.
"They paired them?" Ethan asked.
"Perfect opposites," Raiden said. "But deadly together."
Lizards swarmed, but Keir froze three mid-charge with a burst of cryostasis. Liora directed her drones to blast them to pieces.
A fire-lizard leapt for Liora's back but Keir intercepted it, freezing it midair. The crowd on screen roared.
"Incredible synergy," Caelis said above. "That pair could lead squads."
---
"Breacher #284 .Sorei Tal'Vann and Breacher #109 .Vess Aelraun."
Sorei Tal'Vann, cloaked in darkness, moved like a phantom. Every lizard that approached him was met with deadly shadow clones striking from odd angles.
Vess Aelraun stood behind, absorbing incoming energy and unleashing devastating mana bursts in sync with Sorei's attacks. Their fight was a ballet of deception and precision.
---
Raiden stretched and stood.
"Well, time for the storm to shine."
Ethan blinked. "Wait you're participating too?"
Raiden smirked. "Wouldn't be fair if I didn't show off a little."
He rolled his shoulders, walking with a calm, confident stride.
"Breacher #062 .Raiden Solon. Enter the arena."
The screen showed him entering under a halo of charged air. He extended a hand, lightning crackling from his fingertips to the ground. The lizards roared.
"Let's dance."
The first leapt but Raiden twisted mid-air and struck with a rising bolt-kick that sent the creature flying. Sparks exploded around him as he dashed forward, faster than the eye could follow. Each motion was crisp, devastating, refined.
A second lizard launched at him.Raiden sidestepped, caught its jaw, and discharged a pulse of electricity through its skull. It collapsed twitching.
"Stormbind."
He pointed skyward, a beam of thunderous lightning split the air, vaporizing the final three lizards in a blinding white flash.
Ethan shielded his eyes. "Okay… yeah, you win the cool factor."
Raiden winked at the screen. "hehehe."
---
One by one, the other Breachers were tested. Ethan watched them all until the final announcement rang out.
"Final solo assessment: Breacher #369… Ethan Valtaris."
The observation room was silent now.
Ethan stood alone.
He walked toward the arena gate as it opened, the corridor dim and humming with ambient energy. The moment he stepped into the light, all eyes were on him.
A sword was handed to him. He held it tightly.
The Seraph Lizards rushed him lean, brutal, and relentless.
Ethan tried to meet them head-on with the sword, clashing once, twice but his timing was off. He swung wide. The blade scraped against scales but left no lasting mark. A lizard's claw caught his shoulder he staggered back.
Whispers spread.
"He's struggling…"
"Isn't he the new kid?"
He gritted his teeth, trying again. Another block, another fumble. The sword felt foreign. Heavy.
The crowd's energy dipped. Caelis narrowed her eyes.
Then silence.
Ethan looked at the blade… and let it fall.
Clang.He droped it to the ground
He exhaled slowly.
Lowered into a grounded stance, feet wide, hands raised.
Closed his eyes.
Breathe.
He focused inward, reaching for the feelingof when his stripes appeared.The heat, the force he'd touched back in the forest. The moment he was nearly eaten. The moment he pushed back with nothing but his fists.
Faint blue lines shimmered across his forearms… then shoulders… then neck. Glowing stripes, jagged like lightning scars, crawling across his body. Ethereal. Almost alive.
The lizards hissed and struck.
Ethan's eyes snapped open,glowing hazel, wild with heat.
"Compared to that thing in the forest…"
He leaned back, letting a bite miss by inches.
"You guys ain't shit."
He exploded forward.
A flaming uppercut cracked a lizard's jaw. CRACK , tiny glowing embers flickered in the air like sparks.
One jumped behind ...he twisted, elbowed its skull, then kicked it into the wall. uppercut that cracked the lizard's jaw with raw force.He shoved it back with a surge of brute strength.Impact cracking like thunder.The lizard dropped instantly from the sheer force,slamming it down with enough strength to dent the stone beneath.
Another lunged ... he caught its jaw with both hands and kneed it in the gut. A pulse rippled out from his body, lighting the arena floor with ghostly heat.
The audience stood.
Caelis leaned forward. "That's just like what happened in the forest…"
Zira's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah… I need to fight him."
Ethan dropped low, fists smoldering faintly. Two lizards remained.
He rushed them, ducked under one, spun, and struck the second in the ribs,the impact cracking like thunder, releasing a puff of ember-flame.
The last turned to run but Ethan hurled his full body weight in a tackle, slamming it down, punching it hard enough to crater the floor beneath.
The dust settled.
Ethan stood at the center, shirt torn, glowing stripes faint across his skin. Embers drifted around him like fireflies.
Warden Caelis let out a breath.
"That boy…it's like he is built for this.