From within the smoke, a silhouette slowly emerged. Mia stepped forward, each step deliberate and steady. In her hands were the very Flame Daggers Isac had thrown just moments ago.
The crowd fell completely silent. All eyes fixed on Mia in disbelief—especially Isac. No matter how hard he had trained, those daggers had never obeyed him. Yet here she was, holding them as if they had always been hers by right.
Glowing green runes shimmered across Mia's face and body, vibrating with a strange, primal energy. The very air around her seemed to hum. The students instinctively turned to their teacher, searching his expression for an answer. But he too was speechless. Mouth agape, he could only stammer:
"T-The... Breath of Nature…"
Just as the students were about to ask what that meant, Mia abruptly hurled the daggers back at Isac. Caught off guard, he couldn't react in time—one blade sliced across his cheek, leaving a thin, burning cut.
Reaching up to touch the wound, Isac stared at the blood on his fingertips. A flicker of pain turned into a storm of rage. His eyes flared with fury. And then—
"Flame Dagger!"
"Flame Dagger!"
"Flame Dagger!"
The daggers burst forth, carving flaming trails across the ground as they flew toward Mia. But Mia was no longer moving like an ordinary student.
The Breath of Nature had enhanced her body—her speed, her reflexes. She darted between the attacks with grace, closing the distance to Isac with alarming precision.
But power always comes at a cost.
This form was draining her mana at an incredible rate. The glowing runes on her body began to fade. Her breathing turned ragged. Her mind, foggy. Still, Mia pressed on.
One of the daggers struck her leg. Heat exploded through her veins, but the adrenaline drowned the pain. Without hesitation, she pushed forward.
She reached Isac. Raised her fist, ready to strike.
But the blow never landed.
Mia stumbled.
Her arm froze in mid-air.
Then her knees buckled—and she collapsed.
She had nothing left. Her mana was depleted. Her mental strength exhausted.
The Breath of Nature was no longer empowering her. It had become a burden.
The teacher rushed forward and raised his hand.
"The match is over! The winner... Isac!"