The Adventurer's Guild arena thrummed with raw, electric energy, its cracked stone floor and scorched earth a testament to the ferocity of countless duels. The air was thick with the acrid scent of burnt magic and the sharp tang of steel, while the stands vibrated with the fervent chatter of adventurers, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Torches cast flickering shadows across the battlefield, their light illuminating Yuki at its center. Her chestnut hair clung to her sweat-streaked face, her sword gripped tightly in trembling hands. Blood trickled from her mouth, bruises blooming like dark stains across her arms and torso, yet her amber eyes blazed with unyielding defiance. Across from her stood Cecil, a lean swordsman with a sharp, confident smirk, his blade glinting like a shard of moonlight. Their swords had just collided in a deafening clash, the metallic screech echoing through the arena as both combatants strained, muscles taut, blades locked in a quivering stalemate.
Cecil's grip suddenly loosened, a calculated feint that sent Yuki stumbling forward, her balance faltering. Seizing the opening, he channeled divine energy into his right fist, the air around it crackling with a faint, electric-blue aura. With a swift, brutal motion, he drove a punch into Yuki's left side, the impact resounding like a thunderclap. Yuki flew across the arena, crashing into the ground with a bone-jarring thud that cracked the stone beneath her. Pain seared through her ribs, sharp and unrelenting. "Ribs… a little broken," she gasped, blood dripping from her lips as bruises darkened her skin. Cecil approached, his boots crunching on the shattered earth, his voice calm but cutting. "Basic swordsmanship: enhance your body with divine energy. Seems you lack that knowledge."
Yuki struggled to her feet, her sword raised defiantly despite the agony coursing through her. Her breath came in ragged gasps, but her resolve burned brighter than her pain. Before she could react, Cecil moved like a bolt of lightning, his foot slamming into her chest with a force that sent her flying again. She crashed into the dirt, the impact splitting the ground with a dull, reverberating crack, the air driven from her lungs. Dust swirled around her, stinging her eyes as she stood once more, her voice trembling but fierce. "I've never felt this much pain before."
Cecil's eyes glinted with approval, his smirk softening into a nod. "Impressive. You're still standing. Very impressive." He raised his sword, signaling the end. "Match over."
Yuki, undeterred, gripped her sword tightly, her stance shifting to prepare a high-arcing strike. Cecil's gaze sharpened, recognizing the faint. As she swung, he dashed back to his starting position, his movements fluid and precise. But Yuki surged forward, her blade flashing in a surprise attack that cut through the air with a high-pitched whine. Cecil twisted, his reflexes razor-sharp, but her sword grazed his arm, drawing a thin line of blood that glistened under the torchlight.
"Hmm," Cecil said, his tone intrigued, a faint smile curling his lips. "First a feint, then a sudden, quick attack. Nice trick."
Yuki's grin was fierce, her eyes blazing with determination. "Surprise? If you want a surprise, here's one for you. Void Art: Fire Destructive Blast!" She thrust her sword forward, unleashing a chaotic explosion of black-red flames. The blast erupted like a miniature sun collapsing, a searing cone of fire that incinerated the arena's center, leaving a smoldering crater and jagged cracks radiating outward like spiderwebs. The explosion's heat washed over the stands, a blistering wave that forced spectators to shield their faces as embers rained down like falling stars, igniting gasps and shouts. "Void Arts at her age?" one adventurer cried, their voice thick with disbelief. The ground trembled, scorched earth steaming as the crowd marveled at the spell's devastating power.
Cecil leaped clear, his agility saving him, but the flames caught his clothes, burning away half his attire and leaving angry, red bruises across his chest and arms. Yuki appeared behind him, her sword slashing in a swift, diagonal arc that sang through the air. Cecil raised his blade in a cross-horizontal block, their swords colliding with a resonant clang that echoed like a struck bell. The force sent vibrations up Yuki's arms, her muscles straining as both combatants pushed against each other, testing their strength in a trembling stalemate. Cecil's eyes narrowed, and he shoved forward, forcing Yuki's sword downward, the blade scraping the ground with a metallic screech. He followed with a rapid strike, his sword whistling through the air, but Yuki backflipped, her blade grazing his in a fleeting spark that lit up the arena's shadows.
Yuki dashed forward again, her speed relentless, her boots kicking up clouds of dust. Cecil countered, infusing his sword with ice. "Glacial Slash!" His sword danced in a blur, sending an arc of ice tearing across the arena, its chilling edge freezing the ground in a shimmering, frost-covered trail. The ice crackled as it spread, forming a glistening path that reflected the torchlight like a frozen river. Yuki twisted mid-air, her wrist grazed by the frosty blade, blood trickling from the shallow cut. She retaliated with a wind-infused slash, "Gale Blade!" The sharp gust sliced through the ice, shattering it into crystalline fragments that glittered like diamonds in the air. The deflected attack struck the arena wall, gouging it with a grinding crunch that sent stone shards flying, drawing gasps from the crowd as debris scattered across the stands.
Both combatants faced each other, breathing heavily, their blades poised. Cecil's voice was calm but tinged with curiosity. "I never expected anyone your age to use Void Arts. Where are you from?"
Yuki wiped blood from her mouth, her tone steady despite her pain. "Me? I'm from Mizuhara Village."
Cecil's laughter boomed, so loud it echoed across the arena, silencing the crowd's murmurs. "Now I understand why you're so strong for your age. It makes sense."
Yuki's brow creased, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What makes sense?"
Cecil chuckled again, his eyes gleaming with knowing amusement. "So you don't know about anything?" He laughed once more, shaking his head. "This battle's over. By your battle talent, I give you a C+ rank. Go to the emergency room and rest, kid." He turned away, his voice softening. "You need to learn many things."
Yuki nodded, her expression a mix of pride and exhaustion, her body aching as she limped toward the stands, blood and bruises marking her struggle. Selena blocked her path, her silver hair catching the torchlight, her voice firm but laced with concern. "You need to visit the doctor, Yuki."
Yuki waved her off, her grin defiant despite her injuries. "Wait, I'll go after Haruto's battle. I want to see him fight."
Takeshi, limping from the medical room with bandages wrapped tightly around his arm and torso, joined them, his eyes widening at the arena's devastation—smoldering craters, cracked stone, and scattered debris still glowing with residual heat. "Who the hell did that?"
Himari pointed at Yuki, her voice dry but tinged with admiration. "Her."
Takeshi's jaw dropped, his bandaged arm twitching. "What? Wait, you? How?"
Yuki smirked, wiping her nose with a blood-streaked hand. "Just did, bro."
Takeshi looked annoyed, his brow furrowing, but he pressed on, his curiosity overriding his irritation. "What rank?"
"C+," Yuki replied, her grin widening despite the pain in her ribs.
Takeshi nodded, impressed despite his scowl. "That's very good." Selena interrupted, her tone insistent. "You need to visit the doctor."
Yuki laughed, her eyes sparkling with defiance. "Himari will heal me." Himari's eyes widened, exasperated. "I'm not fully healing you, Yuki! At least first aid."
Reina, her earlier disappointment softened by the group's support, interjected, her voice curious but gentle. "Why after Haruto's battle?"
Yuki's grin widened, her tone brimming with confidence. "Because he's the last one, and he's very strong in our group. You all know it."
The group—Yuki, Reina, Himari, Selena, and Takeshi—turned to Haruto, who was bickering with Renjiro nearby. They had known Haruto's potential since their days in Mizuhara Village, where whispered tales by the lake spoke of his ability to wield every element, summon beasts, and heal wounds with a touch. Those memories had cemented their belief in his extraordinary gifts, and now the arena would witness what they'd always known.
Haruto's voice carried confusion, his brow furrowed. "What should we eat today?"
Renjiro scratched his head, his silver-and-white hair glinting as he grinned. "Maybe we will try fish in the nearby lake or river."
Haruto slapped Renjiro's head, his voice sharp. "You bastard, it hurts! Don't you know anything other than fish?"
Renjiro kicked Haruto's knee, smirking. "It hurts, you bastard!" Haruto shouted, clutching his leg.
Reina sighed, her red hair catching the torchlight as she shook her head. "Seriously, fighting like little children now?"
Selena grabbed both their collars, her voice sharp as a blade. "That idiot started it!" Renjiro shouted, pointing at Haruto.
"Who's the idiot, you Fish Kong?" Haruto retorted, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Renjiro's eyes widened, his face reddening. "You idiot!" Selena knocked both their heads with a resounding thud, both clutching their hands in pain, their voices overlapping in complaints. "If you start again, no food," she warned, her silver eyes narrowing like a storm.
Haruto's eyes widened. "What?"
Renjiro smirked defiantly. "I'll hunt fish in the lake."
"Fish Kong, Fish Kong!" Haruto taunted, grinning.
Renjiro's face reddened again. "What?" Before he could lunge, Selena hit their heads again, both shouting, "It hurts!" as they sobbed dramatically, clutching their heads.
Reina pointed to the arena's massive display, her voice urgent. "Hey, everyone, see the big screen! The evaluation's delayed for ten minutes."
Takeshi turned to Haruto, his bandaged arm shifting as he spoke, his tone encouraging. "Prepare for the match. You can win."
Renjiro, rubbing his head softly, scoffed, his voice laced with teasing. "Nah, he'll definitely lose." Haruto kicked him, earning another yelp as Renjiro stumbled, clutching his shin.
Reina's voice softened, her cheeks faintly pink as she looked at Haruto. "You can win." Their faces flushed, the moment subtle but charged, unnoticed by the others except Renjiro, who smirked slyly. Haruto, flustered, ran toward the arena, turning to see Renjiro's mocking grin. "HR! HR! HR!" Renjiro chanted, taunting their initials with a mischievous glint, his voice carrying over the crowd's growing murmurs.
Haruto shouted, red-faced, "Bastard, stop it!" Takeshi and Himari exchanged puzzled glances. "What's HR?" Himari asked, her brow furrowed.
Yuki shrugged, her grin playful despite her injuries. "I don't know," she said, shouting over the crowd.
The ten-minute delay ended, and Haruto stepped onto the arena's center, his posture tense but resolute, his dark eyes scanning the battlefield with quiet intensity. The group watched, their expressions a mix of anticipation and pride. They had known Haruto's potential since their childhood in Mizuhara Village—his ability to summon beasts, wield lightning, wind, fire, and water with unparalleled finesse, and heal wounds with a gentle touch. Those memories, shared in hushed conversations under starlit skies, had prepared them for this moment.
The arena's display flickered, revealing Haruto's stats: Core level: Arcane. Elemental affinities: Lightning, Wind, Fire, Water. Divine energy level: 12100. Rank: B+. Additional abilities: Beast Summoner, Healing. A hush fell over the crowd, whispers erupting like wildfire. "Someone with every ability since the Golden Period of Earth!" one adventurer gasped, their voice trembling with awe. "Every ability in one soul?" another murmured, their tone reverent, as if witnessing a legend born. The display flickered again, a delayed update flashing: Additional ability: Mage (confirmed post-evaluation).
Haruto's opponent, a fully recovered Malric, stepped forward, his longsword gleaming with a quiet, menacing light. His weathered face was calm, but his eyes burned with the intensity of a seasoned warrior, his earlier victory over Takeshi a testament to his formidable skill. The referee raised his hand, the whistle poised, and the arena held its breath for a clash that promised to shake the very foundations of the guild.