The barren battlefield remained quiet.
A cool breeze swept across the endless grassland as the dust from Darius' battle finally settled. The members of the Black Sun Syndicate stood along the sidelines, their attention fixed on Var. The Magic Swordsman remained as calm as ever, his golden eyes carrying the same patient expression as he waited for the next challenger.
Before anyone else could speak Dova stepped forward.
"I'll go second."
Var smiled and gave a small nod.
"Okay."
With a gentle motion of his hand, the staff he had been holding disappeared into particles of golden light.
He then unsheathed the sword from his back and carefully placed it on the ground several meters away.
For this battle He would fight barehanded.
Dova walked toward him until only a few meters separated them.
He stopped. His breathing became steady.
Slowly, he assumed a martial stance.
His knees bent slightly. His hands rose naturally. Var mirrored none of it. He simply stood comfortably before him.
Then he spoke.
"Begin."
The ground exploded beneath Dova's feet.
He dashed forward in an instant.
His speed tore across the battlefield as he closed the distance almost immediately.
Without hesitation, he raised his right leg and swung a powerful kick toward Var's head.
At the very last moment He changed the trajectory. His foot dropped sharply, redirecting toward Var's right leg.
Var calmly lifted his own right foot.
Thud. The kick was blocked effortlessly. Dova immediately retracted his leg.
Using the momentum of his turn, he planted his left foot and launched a sharp left jab toward Var's face.
Var raised his right hand. The punch stopped against his palm.
Without wasting a single movement Dova twisted his hips and threw a powerful right hook.
Var lowered his head. The hook sliced harmlessly through the air above him.
Then Var drove a punch into Dova's stomach.
Boom. Dova crossed both arms to block.
Even so…The force behind the strike surged through his guard.
His body was launched backward several meters before sliding across the ground.
He dug his heels into the earth and came to a stop.
Var straightened his posture. He stepped forward with his right foot.
Then extended his right hand toward Dova.
"Use your Soul Power and your magic."
Dova slowly stood. He closed his eyes. His breathing slowed.
He inhaled deeply. Silence surrounded him. He reached inward.
Toward his soul. Toward the power that had always existed within him.
A quiet voice escaped his lips.
"Entropy's Will."
A soft white radiance spread across both of his palms.
At that moment the truth of the world unfolded before his eyes.
Everything appeared clearer.
Natural. As though Soul Power itself had peeled away the illusion covering existence.
Dova slowly moved his hands in a circular motion.
One rose. One descended.
Like two opposing forces flowing around one another.
Like yin and yang. The grass surrounding him gradually withered.
Its vibrant green faded into dull brown before crumbling into dust beneath the influence of entropy.
Eryndor watched closely.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Taichi?"
Var smiled faintly.
"Come."
Dova disappeared.
A white flash streaked across the battlefield.
The next instant He appeared beside Var. His fist, coated in the power of entropy, shot toward Var's side.
Var reacted immediately.
His left hand caught Dova's wrist before the strike could land.
Without hesitation Dova thrust his right palm toward Var's abdomen, hoping to make direct contact.
Var's right hand intercepted it as well.
For a brief moment…The two stood locked together. Then Var raised his left leg and kicked upward.
Dova reacted instantly.
Instead of retreating, he jumped. His foot landed atop Var's rising leg.
Using it as a platform He launched himself higher. Both feet shot toward Var's stomach in a powerful aerial kick.
Var smiled. He released Dova's hands. Then calmly stepped to the side. The twin kick struck nothing but air.
Dova descended rapidly.
Boom! He landed firmly on the ground, sending dust billowing across the battlefield.
The cloud spread around both fighters.
Hidden within the smoke Dova vanished. He silently circled behind Var.
His right hand reached forward, aiming to touch Var's back with entropy.
Before he could make contact Var disappeared.
In the next instant he reappeared behind Dova.
His hand moved toward the back of Dova's neck.
Dova sensed it. Without hesitation, he threw himself forward.
His body rolled across the ground before he twisted around to face his opponent once more.
As the dust settled Var calmly stepped out from the lingering shadows of the smoke.
On the sidelines, Kaelus folded his arms with a broad grin.
"Look at him…"
His smile widened.
"He's enjoying himself."
Darius nodded quietly.
"Yeah."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"He deserves it after all…He worked hard to get at this level."
Nearby, Stellar watched the exchange without saying a word, her eyes carefully following every movement the two fighters made.
Var looked toward Dova with clear approval.
"Good, Excellent close quarters combat and you are tactical."
He smiled.
"You just need to use your entropy in different ways. For example…a long-range attack using entropy."
Dova nodded respectfully.
"Thanks for your enlightenment, Instructor Var."
Var returned the smile.
"No problem."
Before the silence could linger any longer—
Tina stepped forward.
"Well…I'll go next."
She smiled softly as she walked toward Var, taking her place in the center of the battlefield while the others shifted their attention toward the beginning of the next lesson.