Rowel continued to press, his hand stretching out toward Maya.
Just before he touched her, a sharp gust of icy wind swept through the arena. A figure appeared, moving so fast the crowd barely registered it.
A hand blocked Rowel's.
The air turned frigid. Frost crept across the floor where he stood.
"It's… Anthony!"
Gasps echoed across the stadium. Another S-rank guild leader had entered the stage.
Even Rowel's eyes widened for a moment. I didn't even see him move.
And worse when their hands met, the strength pressing back against him was equal. Neither had drawn a skill, yet they were matched.
"Big bro Anthony!" Maya's eyes lit up, relief washing over her face. "Nice to see you!"
Anthony gave her his usual cool smile. "Maya, you've grown into a fine lady."
Her cheeks burned red. She looked away, flustered.
Rowel's lips curled in anger. "Ohhh… look what you're doing to my hand. 'Ice Swordsaint Anthony.'" His voice dripped sarcasm.
Anthony's expression hardened. "Don't spit my name so carelessly. And red daring to touch my best friend's sister? Back away. Now. Or else."
Rowel cut him off with a bark of laughter. "Or else what, huh!?" His hand reached for the broad sword strapped to his back.
A violent red aura exploded out, shaking the ground. Cracks split the arena floor just from the pressure of his unleashed power.
Anthony sighed. "Seems like your brain is made of muscles too. Fine then… if it's a fight you want, I'll give it." He drew his blade in one smooth motion, frost crystallizing along its edge.
"Maya. Step back. This will be quick."
Maya froze, unable to speak. Two S-ranks their aura alone was enough to choke the breath from her chest. She stumbled back, and before she realized, the Empress Guild Master had teleported her to safety.
The other guild leaders didn't interfere.
Friedrich chuckled under his breath. Let's see what you have, boy.
The Empress Guild Master crossed her arms. "Boys are so barbaric. This is exactly why I don't want them in my guild."
Black Fang and Azure Guild masters smirked, their eyes gleaming. This was a show. They wanted to see which of the new S-rank monsters stood taller.
The principal floated above, his voice booming.
"Do not panic! The spell-barrier is active. Even an S-rank's skill won't break through it easily! Watch closely, students today and people who's watching this is the strength of S rank hunters. !"
Excitement erupted in the crowd of seventy thousand.
"White Tiger Guild Leader versus Blue Dragon Guild Leader!"
The stadium shook with cheers.
Rowel sneered. "Oy, Anthony! The people want a show. Do your best not to embarrass yourself."
Anthony just smirked, aura spilling out like a blizzard. The temperature plummeted, frost racing across the cracked stage. With each step, the ground froze solid.
Rowel roared in response, his muscles bulging, body swelling taller as he entered Battle Mode. Rubble floated around him from the sheer force of his aura.
"Battle Mode…" gasped one of the students.
Only S-ranks could unleash it. Their base stats multiplied tenfold, a power no A-rank or below could ever touch.
The two locked eyes.
And then...
CLANG!!!!!!!!!
Their swords collided in a burst of sparks and thunder, shockwaves blasting across the arena.
The barrier shimmered violently, holding…
"Ohoh? Better than I thought," Friedrich said, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Mm. They're both good," the Black Fang Guild Leader nodded.
Azure's guild master just watched, face blank, eyes sharp.
The crowd roared louder.
Anthony bent low, sword reversed in his grip, and dashed in----
"[Multiple Slashes]!"
His blade blurred in rapid succession, strikes so fast they became silver arcs.
Rowel blocked each blow, his broad sword ringing under the flurry. His strength was monstrous, his defense unyielding.
But some attacks slipped he got tiny cuts from Anthonys rapid slashes.
Then Rowel roared. "[Roar of the White Tiger]!"
The pressure of his aura doubled, his vertical slash tearing a canyon into the stage.
CRAAACK!
The floor split apart.
Anthony twisted, dodging lightly, then swung his blade. Shards of ice shot forward, embedding into the ground like spears.
Rowel plowed through, blocking with brute force.
The arena floor was a wasteland now half frozen, half shattered rubble.
They clashed again, steel against steel, neither giving ground. Anthony's arms trembled, his hand stinging from the raw force behind Rowel's swings.
But Rowel was bleeding too thin cuts across his arms and cheek from Anthony's lightning-fast counters.
Both fighters reset, standing apart, blades raised.
Their mana surged.
And then...
"[Mana Blast]!"
BOOOOOM!!!
Their swords collided in a massive explosion of mana. Light blinded the crowd, a deafening roar shaking the stadium.
The barrier groaned, spiderweb cracks forming across its surface.
No one noticed. Everyone was too busy cheering, eyes locked on the battle of monsters.
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted again.
Anthony's aura spiked, his body transforming. His once-short hair grew longer, his ears became pointy,flowing with an icy shimmer. His breath came out as visible frost, each exhale chilling the air. His blue eyes gleamed like frozen stars.
He had entered his Ice Swordsaint form.
Rowel's lips curled into a grin. "So you want to settle this, huh? Fine."
His roar shook the arena.
"ARRRRGHHHHHHHHHHH!"
His frame grew larger, hair wild and unruly, a savage mane of black spilling past his shoulders. His muscles bulged with unnatural veins, vines crawling beneath his skin. His once-dark eyes glowed crimson, blazing with bloodlust.
It was his second form.
"Ohhh… now this is serious," Friedrich muttered, eyes sharp with excitement. "These two are no ordinary rookies. Better than any newbie S-ranks I've seen. Their level might still be low, but their power… they could raid an A-rank dungeon alone."
The crowd held its breath.
The two monsters clashed again.
BOOOOOOM!!!
This time, the barrier didn't hold.
Shards of mana glass exploded outward as the protective dome shattered completely. A violent shockwave swept through the stands, sending papers, cloaks, and even people tumbling.
Panic erupted.
"Run! The barrier's down!"
Kael's mother bolted for the exit, panic in her eyes. But as she stumbled through the fleeing crowd, she collided into a firm chest.
She looked up....
"Kael?!"
"Mom." His voice was calm.
"Son, what are you doing here? Run! The barrier is broken"
"Where's Maya?" Kael interrupted.
"She's still inside with the Empress Guild Leader."
Kael's gaze hardened. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders. "Mom. Just stay here. I'll resolve this."
Before she could speak again, Kael stepped forward.
From the entrance, he walked slowly into the ruined arena. At first his aura was suppressed… but then...
WHOOM.
It poured out of him.
A dark, crushing energy red and black intertwined, thick like smoke spread through the air.
The guild leaders immediately turned, alarm flashing in their eyes.
"Wait what is this aura?" Friedrich muttered, gripping his weapon tighter.
The Azure Guild Leader's expression sharpened. "Everyone, stay alert. somethings coming,A king rank monster....no That's a Calamity rank monster's pressure."
At once, he entered battle mode, his power swelling. One by one, the other S-rank guild leaders followed, their auras lighting up the arena.
But Kael didn't rush. Didn't even raise his hands.
Step by step, he walked forward.
"...A human?" The Empress Guild Leader, Mayumi, whispered in disbelief as she held Maya close. Her sharp eyes trembled, something rare for her.
Meanwhile, Anthony and Rowel had long forgotten the crowd, their clash escalating. Their swords were drawn high, both prepared to unleash their strongest strikes.
Neither noticed that the barrier had broken. Neither cared that thousands of people were at risk.
They only wanted to settle the score.
Their auras clashed. Their blades began to fall.
And then....
Kael vanished.
BOOOOOOM!!!!
A tremendous shock tore across the arena, winds howling, rubble exploding skyward.
But when the dust cleared-
A figure stood between them.
The two S ranks blinked in shock. Their swords… hadn't landed.
Because someone was holding them still.
With one hand each.
Kael's hair blew wildly in the gust, his aura raging, black and crimson flames twisting around him. His eyes glowed, calm yet terrifying.
Both Anthony and Rowel struggled, veins bulging as they pressed down with all their strength.
But Kael… wasn't even shaking.
He stood there, gripping both their blades effortlessly.
"Enough," Kael's voice echoed, low and steady.
The arena fell silent.