The sun dipped low over the towering walls of Redvine Colosseum, casting golden light over the enormous crowd gathered under enchanted crystal shields. Cheers rippled through the stands like ocean waves as the air grew thick with anticipation.
This was it—the final trial. The one-on-one duels.
Over thirty skilled mages and knights stood near the waiting zone, hands resting on their weapons, staffs, or tightly clenched fists. Every breath was tense, every heartbeat loud.
Floating above them all was a massive scoreboard, spinning with shimmering golden text. It flickered.
D-RANK PROMOTION DUELS: ROUND 1 INITIATED
Rules blazed briefly in the sky:
— Duel alone
— No lethal attacks
— Knockout or surrender wins
— Use everything you've got
The matchups began to roll across the scoreboard. Lights flashed.
ROUND 7: IURO (Celestars) vs KALE (Thornreach Guild)
A low hum shook the colosseum floor as the battlefield shifted. Moss crept over stone, and lush vines burst from the cracks. Trees twisted up along the walls, making the arena look like an overgrown jungle.
Kale stepped in first—tall and tough, her bark-like armor covered her from neck to shin. Thornreach's finest in nature defense magic.
Across from her, Iuro calmly walked in, wooden staff in hand, cloak brushing against the mossy ground. He smiled gently, green hair swaying as he spun his staff once.
The judge's voice echoed, "Begin!"
Kale charged in. "Root crush!"
From beneath Iuro's feet, jagged wooden spikes burst upward. But he had already moved, floating a few inches off the ground on a blooming lotus-shaped platform.
"Let the vines listen. Bind my foe—Nature's Grace!"
Iuro's chant rang clearly, and a cluster of ivy vines erupted from the floor, lashing toward Kale's legs. She twisted mid-sprint, snapping a vine, then stomped.
"Stone Pull!"
A swirl of pebbles and soil rushed toward Iuro like a magnetic wave, but he raised his hand calmly.
"Bloom wall!"
A circular burst of bright blue flowers blossomed instantly, absorbing the debris with soft, glowing petals.
Kale growled. "Enough playing around!"
She leapt high into the air, bark armor flaring. "EARTH PIERCE!"
She threw down a massive chunk of hardened soil magic, shaped like a spear.
Iuro's expression remained gentle. He tapped his staff to the ground.
"Verdant Whip—Seize!"
From his palm, a glowing vine shot out like a whip, coiling around the falling spear mid-air. He twirled, yanking it sideways, and with a burst of green light, redirected it harmlessly into the moss.
Kale landed—but too late. Ivy shot up, wrapping her legs and yanking them from under her.
She crashed with a groan.
"Winner: Iuro of Celestars!"
The crowd erupted in surprise.
"Did you see that control?"
"He redirected her spell like it was nothing!"
From the waiting zone, Rick whistled. "Iuro's getting smooth with that whip."
Yuuv clapped softly. "I liked the flower shield…"
ROUND 11: ISHI (Celestars) vs BRENT (Silverspire Guild)
As soon as the bell rang, shadows began pooling across the field. The arena dimmed artificially, glowing softly like moonlight at dusk. A perfect field for a shadow mage.
Brent stepped in with twin daggers and a cocky grin. "You sure about this, silent boy?"
Ishi didn't respond.
He took one slow step forward. "Shadow crawl."
Darkness swallowed his feet—and then his body shimmered faintly, melting partially into the shadows. Only his gleaming black eyes remained fully visible.
Brent narrowed his stance. "Show off."
He lunged forward, daggers glowing white. "Flash slice!"
Light exploded from his strike, carving toward Ishi.
But the blade cut through smoke.
Then—slash!
A shadow blade nearly grazed Brent's arm from behind. He spun, eyes wide.
"You teleporting freak!"
From every angle, dark claws slithered along the floor like snakes. Brent jumped, using his dagger light to defend.
But Ishi had vanished again.
Brent panted. "Come out, coward!"
A voice behind him whispered: "Fang Pierce."
A beast-shaped shadow exploded from the floor—mouth open, fangs gleaming.
Brent blocked just in time, but the impact sent him skidding backward, winded. He stumbled.
And then—Ishi appeared beside him, as if from nothing.
"Final Cut."
His blade touched Brent's throat gently.
Brent dropped his daggers.
"…Tch."
"Winner: Ishi of Celestars."
Some of the Redrock Guild teens exchanged glances.
"They're seriously strong…"
"But not all of them."
One boy pointed at the quiet blonde in the waiting area.
"That Yuuv kid? Still not moving. Bet he's a fake."
"Probably a mascot."
They snorted. Loudly.
Yuuv shifted in his seat. His fingers tightened around his staff, bell gently ringing with the motion.
Rick leaned in. "Don't take it seriously."
Yuuv nodded weakly. "I'm not mad. It's just… strange."
Izumi glanced at him. "No need to prove anything. But… it's your call."
Yuuv gave a faint, unsure smile. "Right."
ROUND 15: IZUMI (Celestars) vs FEREL (Bronzestep Guild)
The colosseum transformed again. This time, the arena turned into a floating puzzle of stone platforms—suspended in mid-air over a magical void.
Wind howled softly between them.
Ferel, a lean boy with orange streaks in his hair, was already jumping between the stones like a panther. He raised a bow, arrows blazing.
Izumi stood calmly on one floating platform. Both hands on his double katana handles.
"Gravity twist… anchor," he whispered.
His feet locked to the platform's surface, steadying him perfectly.
Zing! Zing!
Fire arrows flew—Izumi sliced them mid-air without even flinching.
Then he leapt—barely touched the next platform—spun—
"Double Draw: Twin Slash!"
His swords gleamed with a faint gravitational pulse, slicing fire, stone, and air.
Ferel launched a spiral of flame downward.
Izumi smiled lightly.
"Spatial bend."
The spell curved mid-air, spiraling around him harmlessly.
He closed in.
One clean strike disarmed Ferel.
Another sent him flying off the floating platform.
"Winner: Izumi of Celestars!"
ROUND 17: Rick (Celestars) vs MALU (Petalspire Guild)
A rush of wind filled the colosseum as the field became a giant water basin with floating lily pads and swirling streams. The floor shimmered with illusions.
Malu hovered above the field, casting wind spells that cloaked the area in thick mist.
Rick grinned. "Wow, what a stage!"
He stepped lightly onto the surface, not sinking.
"Tide swirl—Rise and Roll!"
Water gathered around his feet like spinning disks. He shot forward, skating across the surface like ice.
Malu tried to catch him with a wind net.
Rick dipped beneath it, spinning once.
"Cascade Bloom!"
From his wand, a swirling pillar of water erupted—glowing blue—twisting into a blooming splash that engulfed Malu