The gong rang.
Kazuo moved first. His palm flicked, water spiraling into a sharp disk.
"Water Magic: Water Shuriken."
The blade of water sliced forward — and dissolved into steam before it even reached Rulthan.
Kazuo muttered under his breath. "Figures."
Across the ring, Rulthan's chest rumbled with a laugh. "Pathetic. Is that all you've got?"
Kazuo edged closer, boots scraping against hot marble. The heat pushed against his lungs, but he kept low, watching every twitch of the bell tied to Rulthan's club.
The brute shifted his stance, weight heavy, grip tightening. Ready to swing.
Kazuo halted just outside striking range, then slid back. Not yet. Get too close and he'll crush me. Setsuna was right — watch him. Listen.
His arm swept up, water swirling wide.
"Water Magic: Torrent."
A surge roared across the marble — thinner than usual, its edges bleeding into steam — but it reached, racing straight toward Rulthan.
The grin never left Rulthan's face. He lifted the club, sound thrumming around it.
Rulthan lifted the club, his free hand sliding slowly along its length. As his palm pressed against the iron, a low vibration rippled out, the cracked bell rattling like it had a life of its own.
"Sound of Resonance."
The air shuddered with the words. The club thrummed under his grip, every fiber alive with sound.
Kazuo's Torrent surged forward — shattering against an unseen wall. Steam hissed violently, curling into the heat.
Rulthan's grin widened. He swung the club with both hands, the bell clanging sharp. A ripple of force slammed outward, vibrating through the air like a quake, proof that the wall was born from his strike.
Kazuo braced, sword ready. Resonance… coating the weapon with your magic. Just like Setsuna explained. Just like Kaya and I did.
The club swung again. The bell rang low, the vibration racing outward.
It hit him mid-range. Crushing force slamming into his chest. His ribs rattled, breath stolen.
Kazuo staggered back, eyes wide. What the hell—he's even mastered ranged strikes. Not a sword slash, but the same principle. The very thing Setsuna drilled into me…
His stomach turned. And he is doing it effortlessly.
Rulthan dragged the club across the marble, sparks spitting, grin widening."Come on, gutter rat… you surely got more than this. Or do I have to come and attack myself?"
Kazuo steadied his stance, eyes lifting to meet his opponent's. His body trembled from the heat, but his gaze burned steady, unyielding.
For the briefest instant, Rulthan's grin slipped. His brow twitched, anger flashing in his eyes — then it was gone.
He swung the club, the bell chiming sharp. "Sound Magic: Dissonant Wave."
The air cracked. The vibration tore into Kazuo mid-stride, locking his muscles. He jolted as though seized by invisible chains — paralyzed where he stood.
Rulthan surged forward. The club whistled down.
Kazuo wrenched free just in time, boots scraping marble as he slipped aside. The weapon slammed into the ground — the bell striking stone with a violent ring.
Another wave burst out.
Kazuo's body stiffened again, teeth gritting. Damn it!
Rulthan's follow-up came fast. The club arced sideways, catching Kazuo off-balance.
He raised his blade in desperation. Steel met iron with a brutal clang.
The shock of the strike wasn't just force — it was vibration. The bell shrieked as it connected, the sound crashing through Kazuo's bones.
The impact tore him off balance and sent him flying across the marble. His boots skidded, sparks spitting as he dragged his blade against the floor to slow himself. He barely stopped at the very edge of the ring, chest heaving, arms burning from the shock.
Rulthan straightened, club resting against his shoulder, grin widening again. "Pathetic. One swing and you're already running."
The clang still echoed when Kazuo's body skidded across the marble. Sparks spat from his dragging blade as he barely stopped himself at the edge of the ring.
High above, voices stirred.
Vaskel leaned forward, smiling brightly, his gaze sliding sideways toward Setsuna."Ah, I love this sight. Filth clawing at the floorboards, trying to escape the inevitable."
Across from him, Idris exhaled smoke through his nose, one eye shifting toward Setsuna. The Ice Captain's posture wasn't tense like during the Battle Royale preliminaries, nor casual like in the match against Kaya. No smirk, no jokes — just silence, his gaze fixed on Kazuo. Serious.
He struck a match with one hand, lit a fresh cigarette, and let the smoke curl lazily into the air.
Garou snorted, arms crossed over his chest. "The boy lacks muscle. No wonder he's getting tossed around."
Down in the squad stands, Sora pressed her ears flat, tail twitching hard. "I can't even watch this…" Her hands clenched the railing. "Kazuo, damn it — you have to find a way."
Tetsu said nothing, just shoved his glasses up with trembling fingers.
Aoi was silent. His cold eyes never left the ring. Kaya was the same — no words.
And on the Royal Balcony, Lady Elyria's gaze flicked sideways. Her father sat like a statue, wine glass in hand, expression untouched. She searched for any crack, any reaction. But, as always, Cedric gave her nothing.
Kazuo pushed himself up, blade trembling in his grip. His arms burned from the last strike, chest still tight from the vibrations.
Damn it… even with my agility, he took it away with those paralyzing waves.
He steadied his breath, eyes flicking to the lava circling the ring. The heat shimmered, mocking him. And even if I used Vortex, it wouldn't finish him. The lava would shrink it to nothing.
His grip tightened on the hilt. No… if I want to break him, I'll have to risk everything. I need to hit him point blank.
Rulthan rolled his shoulders, club humming with power, grin still carved across his face. "Come on, rat. Let's hear you scream."