The courtyard was silent.
Jespry's body lay still, his sacrifice still heavy in everyone's hearts.
Lina and Karen rushed forward, collapsing beside him. Tears streamed down their faces as they clutched his broken body.
> Lina (sobbing): "Professor… please, don't leave us…"
Karen (weeping): "Why…" Why did you have to do this for us?!"
Their cries echoed through the battlefield.
Then, slowly, footsteps approached.
Show walked toward Jespry's body. His eyes were lowered, his expression unreadable, but tears slid silently down his cheeks. He knelt, placing a hand gently on Jespry's chest. A single teardrop fell from his face—landing on Jespry's bloodied skin.
And strangely, the blood beneath it seemed to clear, as if Jespry's final pain was soothed by the warmth of Show's grief.
Show rose. His voice was quiet, yet it carried across the battlefield like fire carried on the wind.
> Show: "Take Professor Jespry to a safe place. Protect him. His sacrifice… will not be in vain."
Raelyn, Karen, and Lina slowly nodded through their tears. They lifted Jespry's body, carrying him away with all the gentleness they could muster.
Now, Show stood alone.
---
The Challenge
Ahead, the remaining members of Team Plutrion lined up—Halik, Yurok, Arthen, Delimia, and Euclita. Behind them, Seraph watched with a wicked grin, arms folded.
> Seraph: "So… you finally come forward, Ancient Fire. Show me. Show me what you have got."
The smog thickened, the poison swirling like a storm.
But Show did not flinch.
He did not speak.
Instead, his body began to burn.
---
Rising Fire Mode
The flames started small—orange, flickering around his fists. Then they grew brighter, hotter, more alive, shifting into deep crimson and gold. His jacket fluttered in the scorching heat, his hair whipped upward in the blaze.
Raelyn's eyes widened in shock.
> Raelyn: "No… that's… Rising Fire Mode. He's doing it… without losing himself?!"
The others gasped.
Rising Fire—an uncontrollable state of ancient flame. Yet here was Show, standing calm, his emotions focused. His feelings for his friends had ignited it—not rage, not chaos, but a burning determination to protect.
Show clenched his fists, his voice deep, resolute:
> Show: "You hurt my family. Now… I'll burn every shadow you cast."
---
The Fight: Show vs. Team Plutrion
The ground trembled as Halik roared, raising massive walls of blood pillars to crush him.
But Show dashed forward in a burst of flame—his fist smashing through every pillar like glass. The impact scorched the air, his fire turning Halik's crimson walls into steam.
> Show (coldly): "Too slow."
One flaming punch to the chest, and Halik was sent flying, crashing into the academy walls.
Yurok screamed, summoning a torrent of crashing waves and scalds . They attacked at Show like a storm—
—but with a single sweep of his arm, Show's flames turned the water to vapor.
Show kicked off the ground, fire propelling him into the air, and slammed his heel down on Yurok's chest. The ground shattered beneath the impact.
Arthen struck next, lightning crackling golden in the poisoned sky. He unleashed a storm of bolts, splitting the ground open in jagged scars of light.
But Show leaped into the storm. Fire met lightning, clashing in a brilliant explosion that blinded the courtyard.
Through the storm, Arthen heard a voice—calm, terrifyingly close.
> Show: "Lightning burns bright. But fire… consumes all."
His fist connected. Arthen crumpled.
Delimia shrieked in fury, her dark vines twisting like blades. She encircled Show, binding him in a prison of shadowy roots.
But Show's flames exploded outward in a ring of fire, incinerating the vines instantly. He thrust both fists forward, blasting her with a torrent of crimson fire that sent her flying into the rubble.
Euclita was the last. Her illusions spiraled through the air, countless mirrored versions of herself striking from all angles.
Show closed his eyes.
And then, with a breath, flames surged out in every direction. The illusions shattered like glass, leaving the real Euclita trembling before him.
> Show: "I don't have time for tricks."
A final fiery uppercut sent her crashing into the sky before falling unconscious at his feet.
---
Only One Remains
Silence fell.
All five commanders of Team Plutrion were down.
Show stood in the center, flames still burning around him, his breath steady. He had dominated them all—effortlessly.
Seraph's grin widened. His eyes gleamed with twisted excitement.
> Seraph: "Good. Very good. That's what I wanted to see."
Seraph (raising his arms): "Now, Ancient Fire… show me if you can survive ME!"
The poison mist thickened again, the ground cracking beneath Seraph's power.
Show stepped forward, flames roaring higher, his eyes locked on Seraph.
The battlefield was set.
Show vs. Seraph.
To be continued.
---