The teams had barely been set when the elder called everyone back to the arena. The tension was palpable. Without wasting a moment, the elder raised his voice.
"First match! Michael and Torren versus Ralph and Rob! Step into the arena!"
Michael tightened his fists, feeling the excitement and nervousness mix in his chest. Torren gave him an encouraging nod, and together they stepped forward. Across from them, Ralph smirked with an eager glint in his eyes, while Rob wore his usual laid-back, almost bored expression.
"Looks like we're up," said Torren.
"Let's give it everything we've got," Michael replied.
The elder raised his hand. "You know the rules. First team unable to fight or voluntarily surrender loses. Ready... Begin!"
Michael and Torren immediately moved into a defensive formation, standing back-to-back. Ralph charged in first, his fists glowing faintly with wind magic. Rob stayed behind, casually forming small shards of exploding ice.
"I'll handle Ralph! You take Rob!" Michael called out.
"Got it!" Torren responded.
Michael met Ralph head-on, blocking a flurry of fast, wind-enhanced punches. Each blow carried surprising force, the wind compressing the air to deliver extra impact. Michael gritted his teeth, trying to keep up.
Meanwhile, Torren summoned an earthen serpent to block Rob's projectiles. Rob, however, remained calm. He chanted, "Ice Magic! Forbidden Magic! Exploding Ice Shard!" and sent volatile cubes flying toward Torren. One by one, the serpent's body cracked and shattered.
Michael spotted an opening and aimed a punch at Ralph's ribs, but Ralph twisted mid-air and countered with a Wind Fist, knocking Michael back.
"You're wide open, Michael!" Ralph teased.
Torren decided to go on the offensive, sending another serpentine column of earth toward Rob. Rob dodged easily and retaliated with an ice spear, which burst into freezing shards midair. Torren winced as the cold bit into his skin.
Seeing Michael get knocked back, Torren tried to assist—but Rob immediately pressured him with another wave of exploding ice cubes.
Michael shook off the impact and rushed Ralph again. He focused on sensing magic around him. Just as Ralph's punch came, Michael ducked under it and landed a clean hit to Ralph's side.
"Not bad!" Ralph said, stepping back with a grin.
However, Ralph wasn't anywhere near using his full strength. He activated Wind Boots, lifting slightly off the ground to make his movements even more unpredictable.
Meanwhile, Rob summoned a large shield of exploding ice to block Torren's attacks.
Michael noticed something concerning: Torren was getting pushed back harder and harder.
"Torren, switch targets with me!" Michael shouted.
Torren nodded, and they changed opponents mid-battle. Michael now faced Rob.
Rob smirked and immediately hurled an exploding ice shard at Michael's feet, forcing Michael to dodge. Michael countered with a series of punches infused with fire magic, but Rob shielded himself with thick ice, absorbing the heat.
Torren, now facing Ralph, tried to predict the wind mage's erratic movements. But Ralph, having fought Michael earlier, knew exactly how to break through defenses like Torren's. A swift series of airborne strikes overwhelmed Torren's defenses.
Ralph unleashed a heavy wind-infused punch that struck Torren squarely, knocking him down.
Meanwhile, Michael found himself stuck. Every time he tried to close in on Rob, the ice mage would either block with a shield or blast him away with an exploding shard.
"Damn! He's playing defense too well!" Michael thought.
Then Rob suddenly created a thick wall of exploding ice between him and Michael.
"Let's end this," Rob said casually.
At the same time, Ralph gathered a stronger gust of wind magic and unleashed a focused blast at Michael and Torren, who were already cornered.
Michael and Torren struggled but couldn't get up in time.
The elder began to count. "Three... two... one!"
The elder raised his hand. "Enough! The victors are Ralph and Rob!"
Applause echoed through the stands. Some spectators cheered, others murmured in disappointment.
Michael sat on the ground, frustrated but not defeated. He looked over at Torren, who gave him a pained but encouraging thumbs-up.
Ralph and Rob walked over. Ralph extended a hand to Michael, pulling him up.
"You did good," Ralph said simply. "But not good enough today."
Michael accepted the help, nodding.
"Next time," Michael promised.
Rob chuckled lightly. "I'll look forward to it."
Torren limped over, and the four of them exchanged a brief moment of mutual respect before leaving the arena.
The tournament's first trial had officially begun—and the challenges ahead would only grow fiercer.