The Grand Stadium of the Inner Court loomed like a monument carved from time itself. Its vast blackstone walls pulsed faintly with runes, whispering of countless battles fought and lost within. The air here was alive, humming with residual energy that pressed against the lungs of everyone present. Above the arena, golden spirit orbs floated in silent vigil, bathing the battlefield in their otherworldly glow.
This was no ordinary stage. This was where legends were born—and where many more were broken.
The stands overflowed with students, elders, and envoys from every Gate of Artemis. Murmurs rippled like waves, silenced only when their gazes turned upward. At the highest seat, the Grandmaster sat unmoving, his presence alone heavy enough to quiet the rowdiest crowd. Beside him, Lucian Voltaris leaned casually against the rail, emerald eyes gleaming with hidden sharpness. On the other side, Miss Veena stood in her golden robes, her gaze critical as she studied the combatants.
The current Seven Devils were first to enter the battlefield.
Kai led them, golden eyes steady, his every step radiating a quiet confidence that warned of the storm caged within. Ren followed with lazy strides, his dark hair stirred by the breeze, his smirk masking the sharpness beneath. Akira walked with the grace of a hawk, her gaze sweeping across the stadium as though dissecting every possibility before it happened. Rhyshe practically vibrated with restless energy, while Celvia's calm poise balanced her partner's recklessness. Asher was the shadow among them, silent and unreadable, his crimson eyes watching everything.
And then there was Mira.
The newest. The least experienced. The one who carried the heaviest doubts.
Across the arena, their opponents stood waiting.
The former Seven Devils. Veterans whose mere presence warped the atmosphere.
At their head was Refella Voidwalker. Silver hair like liquid moonlight tumbled down her back, her violet eyes sharp with an arrogance earned through endless victories. She studied the newcomers as if they were prey already caught in her hand, her lips curving into a faint, taunting smile.
"Five years," she said, her voice echoing with mocking amusement. "That's how long I've waited to see if any of you were worth remembering."
Kai's golden eyes met hers, calm but unyielding. "You'll find out soon enough."
Beside her, Draven Nightshade stood wreathed in shadow, hood drawn low so that only the faint gleam of his eyes could be seen. He said nothing—his silence was more dangerous than words.
Vale Thundercrest cracked his knuckles, sparks of thunder rolling across his muscular frame, his presence heavy as a storm about to break. Liora Everfrost's silver hair glistened faintly as frost spread from her boots, the air itself recoiling from her chill. Zayne Pyroclast leaned back with flames dancing at his fingertips, his grin sharp, feral. Elise Moonveil shifted her weight, moving with the grace of a dancer in mid-performance. And Darius Blackthorn stood at the end like an immovable mountain, his body a wall of stone and steel.
The tension was suffocating.
Mira swallowed hard, her fingers curling at her sides. She had trained, yes. She had stood beside her comrades in hardship. But this? This was something else. Just looking at them made her heart feel heavy—this was the weight of experience, of legends that had once ruled unchallenged.
Lucian's voice broke through the suffocating silence, deep and absolute.
"The first battle: Kai Dawnblade and Ren Voltaris versus Refella Voidwalker and Draven Nightshade."
The crowd stirred, shocked. There would be no slow warm-up, no testing the waters. The war began immediately.
Kai exhaled once, stepping forward with the steadiness of a blade drawn from its sheath. Ren rolled his shoulders, lightning flickering faintly at his fingertips, lips curling into a cocky grin. Across from them, Refella advanced with effortless grace, her sword gleaming like a crescent moon. Draven melted into position, his very presence blurring at the edges, more shadow than man.
Mira's chest tightened. She couldn't look away.
Lucian raised a hand.
"Begin."
The word had barely left his lips before Draven vanished.
Ren's entire body tensed, sparks racing across his skin. "Tch. Sneaky bastard."
Refella's blade flashed. One moment she stood still—the next, her sword was already at Kai's throat.
The clash rang out like thunder. Kai's blade intercepted hers, sparks erupting as raw force blasted outward, shaking the ground beneath them. The impact sent gusts spiraling, energy cutting across the arena.
A whisper ghosted behind Ren. "Too slow."
His eyes widened as Draven's presence flickered into existence at his back. Lightning surged violently as he spun, their powers colliding in a deafening blast—shadow and thunder clawing at each other, twisting violently in the air.
The crowd gasped, students leaning forward, elders narrowing their eyes.
Mira gripped the railing until her knuckles whitened, her breath caught in her throat.
This wasn't sparring.
This wasn't training.
This was war.
And when Refella smiled—calm, elegant, merciless—Mira's heart sank with realization.
The real battle had only just begun.