"…FOOL!" Saber's voice, deep and resonant, echoed through the arena. He emerged from the dissipating flames, his form encased in blue armor, crackling with blue lightning sparks. The crowd erupted, a cacophony of shouts and screams.
"I don't believe this!" Zara exclaimed, her voice laced with fear.
Glenn laughed, a sound of pure exhilaration. "What is this kid made of?"
Sophie gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "Blue lightning?"
"Are my eyes deceiving me?" Principal 1 stammered.
"Then your pairs are not alone!" Principal 2 replied, his voice filled with excitement.
"Go!" the referee shouted, as Saber and Sydney charged towards each other, axe and sword raised.
CLASH! The impact of their weapons echoed through the arena.
"It looks like the legendary blue lightning spirit took his call for resonating the core," Glenn explained, his eyes gleaming.
"So, the legends are true!" Spectator 4 shouted.
"This power has to be of the blue lightning core my grandma used to mention in her stories," Spectator 5 added.
"This year's final match is wild!" Spectator 6 exclaimed.
"Two awakenings in a single match, and both are from the legends, is surely lucky, right?" Spectator 7 asked.
"Ice VS Thunder? What a Combo!" Spectator 8 marvelled.
*Look at the crowd, Saber,* Zara thought. *You thought you were alone, but say that now by looking at them.*
"I understand it now," Saber said, his voice firm as their weapons clashed. "I can see everything clearly now, Sydney."
"What do you know?" Sydney retorted, her voice strained. "You just awakened, that's all!"
"I know everything now, FOOL!" Saber repeated, his voice filled with conviction.
They pushed each other back, Sydney waving her hand, launching a blizzard. Saber sliced through it with his sword.
*He's being stubborn,* Sydney thought, launching another blizzard with her other hand.
Saber dashed straight through the blizzard. *You can't hide from me! I know everything now!*
He appeared behind her, shattering her stomach armor. Sydney swung her axe in a pivot, but Saber jumped, executing a handstand on her head, landing behind her. Sydney jumped forward, turning to shoot ice shards. Saber walked straight between the shards, the ice piercing his armor.
"I can't believe it! He's giving her a hard time now," Zara exclaimed.
"Right? Worship me now," Glenn replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
"STAY AWAY!" Sydney shouted, swinging her axe to create a gust of wind. A tornado formed, and Saber jumped onto the wall, dashing along its surface.
*Is he trying to slow down the tornado by making it match his speed? Nice thinking,* Zara thought.
He dashed in the same direction as the tornado, slowing it down.
*Now what?* Zara wondered.
Saber stepped and cracked the wall. *1… 2… 3!* he thought, generating sparks and dashing faster. The tornado began to warm, decreasing the cold in the field.
*I should've thought so, he's making my ice melt!* Sydney realized, ending the tornado. Saber dashed straight at her.
*So he was aiming to close the gap from the start,* Zara thought.
*What! Holes? I see…* Sydney realized. *He purposely let himself be pierced with the shards to make openings for letting the collected heat out of that armor and affect the atmosphere.*
CLASH! Their weapons met again.
*Damn you!* Sydney thought, generating an ice rod, about to pierce Saber's mouth.
A mouth plate covered Saber's mouth, breaking the rod. They continued to clash.
*I can still increase the distance between us, I have the field!* Sydney thought, using the slippery field to move faster.
*Thinking about widening the distance? In your dreams!* Saber thought, using his foot claws to dash.
"They both are able to keep running all over the field better due to their armors being built that way," Zara observed.
"One's armor design shapes while resonating to the users," Glenn explained. "Sydney's armor is covered with icicle spikes which maintains the generated cold temperature. And her boots are way slippery than anyone which makes her the perfect candidate for swiftness. While on the other hand, Saber's armor supports shock absorption and bounce back it reflectively, while also being lightweight for agility and complex movements. Also his boots have claws on toes, which are perfect for better gripping and balancing, it is also very beneficial for controlling his explosive headstarts."
"Both armors being a perfect fit for their users," Zara concluded.
"Exactly," Glenn replied, giving a thumbs up.
They dashed across the field, their blades clashing, their auras a mix of light blue and blue.
*You think you can escape from me? I know you can't handle even the slightest warmth in that armor,* Saber thought. *Also, close combat makes it worse since you'll start sweating heavily in this cold temperature.*
The last clash exploded, Sydney falling, Saber falling at a distance. Saber's helmet shattered, blood and sweat covering his face.
*Not now! I'm WAY closer to end this!* Saber thought, crawling forward. *She's capable of close combat but can't maintain temperature when doing so. That's she's been tossing me far to move lesser. And that axe is made for ending the fight with a couple of swings, which increases the power and decreases the match time.*
*Not now! Just one final move!*
Sydney ran, throwing her axe ahead. Saber ran, throwing his sword ahead. Both weapons tackled and fell down, Sydney and Saber punching each other.
The impact of the collision shattered the ice on the field. They traded blows, Saber punching Sydney's thigh, Sydney punching Saber's shoulder. Saber punched Sydney's stomach, Sydney swinging her hand but missing. Sydney uppercutted Saber, Saber kicking Sydney's leg, sending her to one knee. Saber spun, about to kick Sydney in the face, but Sydney shielded herself with her arm. Saber kicked the arm, shattering the armor. Sydney picked up her axe, shattering Saber's thigh armor. She swung the axe at his face, but Saber executed a sideways handstand wheel turn. Sydney turned back, Saber tapping his sword's handle with his right leg. The sword went up, Saber's other leg tapping the handle from below, sending the sword into his right hand. He swung the sword vertically forward.
*I'll make you—* Saber thought.
Sydney pivoted, continuing her axe swing.
*I'll make you—* Sydney thought.
Zara, the King, Sophie, the principals, and the audience watched, their mouths agape. Both slashed each other at the chest, at the core.
*BURST!!!* both Saber and Sydney thought, their armors shattering.
"And stop!" the referee shouted.
"But who won the match?" Zara asked.
Sydney was about to punch Saber in the face.
"He-Hey I said stop!" the referee repeated.
Saber blocked the punch, about to punch Sydney in return. Sydney closed her eyes in fear, opening them to see Saber's punch stopped.
"Why-Why did you stop!" she asked.
"This is a match where we break each other's limit and not the spirit," Saber said, his voice faint. He patted her head. "Good game."
Saber staggered and sat down, Sydney doing the same. The King stood up.
"Write down THIS fight as one of the legendary in the books!" he declared.
The audience screamed in excitement, everyone clapping.
"I think, I should keep a check on him once in a while," Zara said, clapping.
"O? And why is that? Are you afraid you'll miss out on my charming presence or my super sexy abs?" Glenn asked, smiling.
"None of those," Zara replied.
"Then what?"
Zara handed him papers. "Because the higher ups have signed the request papers."
"Finally! I thought those dusty old bones were gonna take an entire year," Glenn chuckled, standing and stretching. "Guess I'll complete the paperwork."
"You're not gonna watch the results?" Zara asked.
"Oh don't sweat it," Glenn said, pointing to the readers. "Spoiler Alert! They'll both get selected." He left, hands behind his head.
"At least don't spoil for me!" Zara exclaimed, annoyed.
"And we'll be taking a short break until the results confirm," the announcer said.
Saber stretched. *I think, I'll take a nap.* He accidentally touched the painless mode button, turning it off. He screamed, his eyes wide with agony, collapsing.
"Are you alright boy?" the referee asked.
*DAMN IT!!! THE PAIN! ITS UNBEARABLE—* Saber thought, his voice a scream, then he collapsed, dizzy.
"I think, it's my victory now," Sydney said, leaving. The medical team arrived.
"What… was that?" Zara asked, scared.
"Quick! Take him to the room!" Guy 1 shouted.
"I'll call the healer," Guy 2 added.
"That's not some treatable symptoms, he's suffering from a combination of frostbites and internal bruises," Zara said, her voice urgent. She made a call. "Are you available right now? Yes, it's urgent."
The doors slammed open, and nurses rushed Saber into the treatment room.
"Doctor Berthold?" Guy 1 asked.
"Who's he?" Guy 2 questioned.
"The man before us has the achievement of treating the king himself, and was also rewarded with a noble pride trophy," Guy 1 explained.
The doctor observed Saber's body. "I can't treat him, not with my magic. I'll have to defrost the frostbites first, bring me boiling water. He might also have—"
"Putting those limbs in boiling water will only make the situation worse," a voice interrupted. Elina stood leaning against the door, her arms folded.
"Who are you! And how dare you teach me my work!" the doctor exclaimed, his face flushed with anger. He stepped closer to Elina. "Don't interfere in men's work, woman!"
"Then how about a beat?" Elina replied, her voice calm.
"I don't have time to play your husband, go and fetch me some—"
"You're fired!" Elina declared.
The doctor turned back, his anger escalating. "What was that? Woman?" He grabbed her by the collar. "I dare you to speak again. Do you know who I am?"
Zara stepped forward. "Hey! Leave her at once!"
"Wait," Elina said, her eyes fixed on the doctor. "I just want to see how far he'll go."
The doctor released her collar. "What!" He raised his hand to slap her. "You're just a woman!"
Elina caught his hand, rotating it behind his back. "You're one prideful bastard, aren't you?" she said, pushing him forward. "Hold him!"
The guards seized the struggling doctor. "Wait—wait!" he protested. "I'm the doctor who treated the king himself, if you want you can ask him yourself! I'm the doctor you should respect!"
"You simply healed a cut on his finger when he was trying to cook alone, that's it," Elina said dismissively.
"I—I have the trophy with me," the doctor stammered.
"That trophy means nothing, it's just an appreciation cup."
"Who are you!" the doctor demanded.
"Are you by any chance, 'Elina—The Evergrace'?" Guy 1 asked.
Elina smiled. "My, you know who I am."
The doctor's eyes widened in shock. "Elina… The Evergrace? I wanted to become a doctor because I wanted to be as cool as her. She could heal anything, she even lifted my mother's curse. But how?"
"You mean the lady who healed 'The One'?!" Guy 2 exclaimed.
"Liar!" the doctor shouted.
Elina placed her hand over his mouth. "I'll be ending your career myself, so just shut up and wait for your time." She pushed him away. "Take him!"
"Sorry! I'm sorry! Lady Elina, I'm a big fan of yours, can you hear me? ELINA!!!" the doctor cried as he was dragged away.
"That man sure has a loud voice box," Elina remarked.
"Elina," Zara said, remembering her purpose.
"Right," Elina replied, turning to Saber. "So this is the infamous patient? He's really cute. Can I take him?"
"Elina!" Zara said, her voice stern.
Elina giggled. "Just kidding." She removed her glove with her teeth. She raised her hand, and a star design circle appeared on her palm. "Ready?" she asked. She closed her eyes. "By the light of dawn… and gentle breeze, heal this body, pain to cease." Light particles swirled around her and Saber, and his cut marks and scratches disappeared. Elina opened her eyes. "And done."
Saber's eyes remained closed, his face still pale.
"By the way, can I take a picture of him sleeping?" Elina asked.
"What are you, a pedophile?" Zara asked, disgusted.