The crowd had gone quieter, the air tight with anticipation.
Professors leaned forward.
Nobles held their breaths.
Even the Headmaster's gaze was locked on the field.
"Participants, take your positions."
Kai stood at the cliff's edge, his dark cloak fluttering in the wind. His daggers were sheathed, but his posture was lethal. Beside him, Vex crouched low, his feline eyes gleaming violet.
Aria was across from him, standing at the edge of the obsidian field, her Ironfang Panther already summoned and prowling. Her expression was unreadable, cool and battle-ready.
Opposite them stood their opponents.
Caelum—silver-haired, expression smug, arms folded. Behind him, a floating construct of gears and runes pulsed—his Arcengine Familiar, "Aetherion."
Beside him, Veira—a graceful girl with moon-pale skin, clad in flowing black and white robes. She summoned a pair of twin Spectral Falcons, their wings shimmering with time-distorting mana.
