"What's happening?" Bella asked warily, her body already poised in a defensive stance.
Lynch hurried onto the field, his face alight with barely contained excitement. "This… this is an elemental fusion phenomenon, incredibly rare! It only occurs when two elements reach an exceptionally high level of purity and interact under specific conditions."
He turned to Thor and Bella. "The precision of your energy control is astonishing. Only such skill could create a miracle like this."
At the center of the arena, the swirling vortex of water and electricity gradually stabilized, forming a sphere roughly a meter in diameter, hovering midair. Inside the sphere, streams of electricity danced harmoniously with flowing water, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
Cautiously, Lynch approached the energy sphere, studying it for a moment before addressing the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, today we are witnessing an extraordinarily rare natural phenomenon elemental fusion! Records of such events are almost nonexistent in the history of the universe. We are truly fortunate to witness it firsthand."
The crowd erupted into applause and cheers, exhilarated by both the spectacular duel and the unexpected marvel that had emerged.
Lynch gestured for Thor and Bella to step back to a safe distance, then carefully used a specialized energy container to capture the sphere of water and electricity.
"This will be an extremely valuable research specimen," he explained, "offering significant insights into the interactions between elements."
After completing the collection, Lynch faced Thor and Bella again. "Considering the energy you both have expended and the rare natural phenomenon you've produced, I hereby declare this match a draw!"
The audience responded with another wave of enthusiastic applause. Thor and Bella exchanged a respectful bow, then walked back to their resting area together.
"That was incredible!" Rowan exclaimed, rushing up to Thor and patting his shoulder. "When did you master 'Nine Heavens of Thunder'?"
Thor smiled. "I had an insight on the Thunder Planet, and under Coach Lynch's guidance over the past two weeks, I finally mastered it. I didn't expect to use it today."
"That move was astonishingly powerful," Hong nodded in admiration, "but it must have drained you. How much energy do you have left?"
Thor gave a wry nod. "Indeed. That final strike consumed almost eighty percent of my reserves. Had the match not ended in a draw, I don't think I could have held on much longer."
Bella approached the group, giving each of them a slight nod. "An impressive duel. Your energy control left a strong impression." She looked at Thor, her eyes glinting with appreciation. "In all my years of service, I've rarely seen anyone manipulate electrical energy with such precision."
Turning to Hong, she added, "Your performance was equally impressive. Your understanding and application of energy are unique, achieving maximum effect with minimal effort. Such skill is invaluable on the battlefield of the cosmos."
Finally, she addressed Rowan and Rolf. "I look forward to seeing your display."
With a polite nod, she returned to her resting area.
Lynch walked over, a satisfied smile on his face. "That was a remarkable match. Thor, your performance exceeded my expectations. Your control over lightning has reached a very high level."
Thor humbly smiled. "All thanks to your guidance these past two weeks and the experiences I had on the Thunder Planet."
Lynch nodded. "Talent, opportunity, and proper guidance can indeed lead to tremendous progress in a short time." He turned to Rowan and Rolf. "Are you ready? It's your turn now."
Rowan and Rolf exchanged a glance, their eyes alight with determination. The thrill of the previous matches had their blood boiling, eager to showcase their abilities.
Meanwhile, the discussions in the audience grew louder. Thor and Bella's duel had not only demonstrated high-level elemental control but had also unexpectedly produced a phenomenon of elemental fusion, undoubtedly the highlight of the day.
"I never imagined a routine sparring match could produce a legendary elemental fusion," one older spectator remarked. "In all my years, I've never seen it with my own eyes."
"That Earth warrior called Thor is remarkable," another commented. "To master that level of lightning control at such a young age his future achievements are limitless."
"Don't forget about Hong," someone added. "His combat style is unique soft overcoming hard, weak defeating strong. It completely challenges traditional notions of power."
In the VIP section, several elegantly dressed spectators whispered among themselves.
"These young warriors from Earth are intriguing," a middle-aged man with a commanding presence said. "Especially that young man, Hong. His approach to combat is completely different from the norms focused on efficiency and precision rather than sheer force."
"Exactly," an elderly white-haired man agreed. "Although Earth's civilization is young, their martial philosophy has insights worth studying, particularly the idea of using flexibility to overcome strength. It contrasts sharply with the prevailing worship of raw power in the universe."
"I've heard Coach Lynch has been training them intensively these past two weeks," a third man in military attire said. "It seems to be paying off. That young man mastering lightning he wasn't demonstrating this level of control two weeks ago."
The white-haired elder nodded. "Lynch has a unique understanding of energy control. Even in retirement, he's studied martial systems across civilizations, accumulating vast experience and insight."
At the arena's edge, Lynch prepared for the next match. The crater at the center had been swiftly repaired by the staff, restoring the field to a flat, pristine state.
"The third match is about to begin," Lynch announced to the audience. "Rowan and Master Mo, please step forward."
Applause erupted once again as anticipation filled the air.
Rowan took a deep breath, loosening his muscles as he stepped into the arena. His opponent, Master Mo, was an older man, clearly in his sixties, with a slightly stooped frame and a full head of white hair. Yet his eyes were sharp, radiating a wisdom that seemed to pierce through everything.
"Young man," Master Mo said slowly, his voice hoarse yet full of authority, "I'm eager to see how Earth's fire energy is used."
Rowan bowed respectfully. "It's an honor to spar with you, sir."
Master Mo smiled, a flicker of admiration in his eyes. "Polite. Very well. Let us begin."
As his words fell, Lynch announced the third match officially started.
Meanwhile, in a secret conference room in the empire's central district, a group of elegantly dressed figures observed the match via holographic projection.
"These young Earth warriors are quite fascinating," the white-haired elder said. "Their understanding and application of energy are unique and deserve deeper study."
"Indeed," a middle-aged man nodded. "Especially that young man, Hong. His style is unorthodox, yet remarkably effective."
"Continue observing," the figure at the head seat said in a low, commanding voice. "Perhaps these youths from a peripheral civilization can bring us new insights."
All nodded, refocusing on the match, eager to see the duel between Rowan and Master Mo unfold.
At the arena's center, Rowan and Master Mo had begun their exchange. A collision of fire and some unknown energy was about to occur, leaving everyone to wonder if this match would surpass the previous duels in intensity.
Rowan stood firm, analyzing his opponent. As a former officer of the empire, Master Mo was not to be underestimated. Though advanced in age, his posture and gaze radiated a depth of power that was impossible to overlook.
Master Mo remained calm, his hands clasped behind his back, watching Rowan with a patient, almost measuring gaze.
From the sidelines, Rolf whispered to Thor, "Master Mo seems composed, waiting for Rowan to strike first."
Thor nodded. "This is a common strategy among senior warriors responding to change with stability. By letting the opponent act first, they can observe and discern the style and abilities of the challenger."
Hong added, "It's also a psychological tactic. That composed demeanor applies subtle pressure, forcing the opponent to reveal themselves."
Rowan inhaled deeply and slowly raised his hands, palms upward. A bright flame gathered above them, forming a radiant golden-red glow.
"Here we go," Lynch murmured, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Let's see the results of Rowan's two weeks of training."
Rowan did not rush his attack. The flame above his palms swirled, shaping itself into a fire serpent at one moment, a fiery bird the next, demonstrating his precise control over the fire element.
The audience erupted in admiration. Even in a universe where elemental abilities were common, few could manipulate them with such accuracy.
Master Mo's lips curled into a slight smile, appreciation glimmering in his eyes. "Good control, young man. But in true combat, flashy displays are secondary to practical technique."
He waved his right hand lightly. From his palm, a dark red energy wave surged. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable, yet Rowan felt an overwhelming pressure unlike anything he had anticipated.
Instinctively, Rowan formed the flame into a shield before him. The dark red wave struck it with a clear, crisp impact. Surprisingly, the seemingly fragile shield held firm, only shivering slightly before stabilizing.
"That's a fine reaction," Master Mo nodded. "But your understanding of fire is still shallow. Fire is not just heat or combustion it is a form of energy transformation."
He raised both hands, and the air around him twisted. A powerful energy ripple emanated from him, neither fire nor any known element, almost invisible to the naked eye.
"That's…" Lynch's eyes widened in surprise. "Primal Energy! I didn't expect Master Mo to have mastered this level."
"Primal Energy? What is that?" Rowan asked curiously.
Lynch explained, "Primal Energy is the fundamental form of all elemental energy. At this stage, energy hasn't differentiated into fire, water, lightning, or other specific elements it exists in its purest state. Those who can control and wield Primal Energy are extraordinarily rare in the universe."
The arena was suffused with pressure unlike anything Rowan had experienced. The space around Master Mo seemed to warp, and the imperceptible energy waves radiated a tangible threat.
Yet Rowan did not retreat. His experiences on the Thunder Planet and the intensive training of the past two weeks had reshaped his understanding of fire energy. Fire was not just destruction it was a medium of energy transformation and flow.
He drew a deep breath and traced a complex rune before his chest, channeling energy in a precise, unusual pattern. His gaze became singularly focused, as if the world had narrowed to just himself and his opponent.
"Interesting," Master Mo raised an eyebrow. "It seems you've grasped something."
Rowan remained silent, gradually compressing the fire in his hands, turning it from brilliant gold-red into a deep crimson. Though smaller, its energy pulses grew far stronger. This was no ordinary flame it was highly concentrated and purified fire energy.
"Essence of Fire?" Lynch muttered in astonishment. "He's mastered elemental refinement a technique even many cosmic-level warriors struggle to achieve."
Rolf and Thor also looked on in surprise. They knew Rowan had gained insights on the Thunder Planet but had not expected him to reach this level.
A glimmer of admiration appeared in Master Mo's eyes. "Well done, young man. You've begun to understand the essence of energy. But…"
Before he could finish, he vanished and reappeared less than a meter in front of Rowan, thrusting his right hand like a blade at Rowan's chest. The strike was simple, but its speed was astonishing, and its penetrating force was terrifying.
"Too fast!" someone in the audience gasped.
Rowan reacted just as swiftly. He didn't attempt to dodge the near-impossible strike. Instead, he expanded the compressed dark-red fire essence into a thin, ethereal shield, covering his chest.
Smack!
Master Mo's palm struck the shield with a crisp sound. Surprisingly, the seemingly fragile barrier completely withstood the strike, only trembling slightly before stabilizing.