The stadium shook with every impact.
Raze and Voxen were no longer fighting like students.They were fighting like two forces of nature colliding—metal evolution against engineered perfection.
The crowd stood on their feet, unable to blink.
"Is this really a PRELIMINARY match!?"
"They're going to break the ARENA!"
"Someone stop them before they kill each other!!"
But neither fighter even thought about stopping.
◆ ◆ ◆
Voxen's Awakening Falters
Voxen's body glowed again—his left forearm shifting into pure tungsten carbide,his shin morphing into light titanium,his shoulder flickering with osmium.
But something was wrong.
The metal flowed… slower.
More uneven.
More unstable.
Professor Celeste's eyes widened.
"He awakened too fast… his body can't handle the transitions yet."
Bam leaned forward.
"Voxen… you idiot… you're pushing yourself too far!"
Astra watched silently, her expression unreadable.
But even she saw it.
Voxen's newly awakened power was still raw.Untamed.Barely under his control.
And it was taking a toll.
His breathing grew rough.His steps heavier.His stance wobbled.
Yet his eyes—
blazed brighter than ever.
"I… won't… lose…"His voice cracked, but his spirit didn't.
◆ ◆ ◆
The Blow That Shook the Stadium
Raze charged forward, batons ready—but Voxen roared and threw everything into one last attack.
His entire right arm turned into a shining silver metal—denser than steel, faster than titanium, harder than tungsten.
A rare alloy only prodigy-level metal users ever attempted—
"PHASE STEEL—!!"
He drove it forward with everything he had.
The air split.
The ground trembled.
The shockwave blasted outward like a burst grenade.
BOOOOOOOM—!!
The entire stadium shook.
Shields around the arena flickered.
Students cried out as dust blasted across the seats.
"HE GOT HIM!!"
"That strike could BREAK A HERO BOT!!"
"RAZE—!!!"
The impact hit dead center on Raze's chest.
And—
Raze… did not fall.
A crater formed beneath him.
Cracks radiated outward like spiderwebs.
But Raze remained standing—knees bent, heels sliding, but standing.
His suit glowed faintly—Abyss Alloy plates absorbing and dispersing the insane impact.Nanotechnology cushioning the shock through internal dampeners.
But even so—
Raze's ribs screamed in pain beneath the armor.
He coughed once, metallic taste in his mouth.
If I take another hit like that… I'll break something.
◆ ◆ ◆
Voxen Reaches His Limit
Voxen stumbled back, panting violently.
His metalized skin began fading—
from silverto grayto flesh.
His knees buckled.
His vision blurred.
The final strike had cost him everything.
"I… I can still… fight…" he tried to say.
But the words dissolved into air.
He swayed—
—and collapsed forward.
Raze caught him before he hit the ground.
The referee immediately raised a hand.
"VOXEN HALE IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE!!WINNER — RAZE ARCWELL!!"
The stadium didn't just cheer—
they exploded.
Thunderous applause shook the air.Students screamed until their voices cracked.Even teachers stood and clapped.
But it wasn't for Raze alone.
It was for Voxen too.
◆ ◆ ◆
A Standing Ovation
Voxen lay unconscious, chest rising and falling.
Despite his defeat, he had fought like a warrior.
Like someone who refused to bow to destiny.
When medics rushed forward to help him,the entire stadium rose to their feet—
and applauded.
A standing ovation.
"For Voxen! He awakened in the middle of a fight!"
"That kid has the heart of a hero!"
"He didn't give up even when overpowered!"
"And Raze… fought him with no Nexas… unbelievable…"
Emotion rippled across the arena.
Astra smiled faintly.
"That was a good fight."
Roger was crying and screaming at the same time.
"VOXEEEEEEEN!! YOU'RE AMAZING BROTHER!!"
Bam wiped his eyes like he wasn't crying.
"I swear I'm not emotional…"
Rain clapped softly, tears shimmering.
"He really gave it everything…"
Celeste exhaled in relief.
"They both did well."
But only the principal noticed something deeper.
◆ ◆ ◆
The Untapped Power
Principal Ricardo Leonel watched Raze step back, catching his breath.
The arena floor was cracked beneath him.Smoke still rose from the crater.
But…
There was something wrong.
Raze's suit—the Abyss Alloy reinforced version 7 combat suit—had only shown maybe…
30% of its true features.
No radiation had been released.No enhanced burst systems activated.No reinforced armor plating engaged.No full-sync mode.
Raze had fought Voxen—
with the mildest version of his power.
Leonel exhaled.
"So… Roland wasn't wrong."
He clasped his hands behind his back, expression serious.
"When he demanded I let a Nexasless boy into the Hero Department… I thought he'd lost his mind."
He looked at Raze—who stood tall despite exhaustion.
"But after seeing that match… I understand."
His voice lowered.
"The Arcwells… truly produce monsters every generation."
◆ ◆ ◆
The Tournament Moves Forward
The announcer's voice thundered again:
"THE PRELIMINARY ROUND OF THE DAWNFORGE TOURNAMENT… HAS OFFICIALLY CONCLUDED!!"
Stadium lights flared.
Fireworks burst overhead.
Cheers rolled like waves.
The remaining contestants gathered in the arena.
Astra.Rain.Roger.Raze.Selene.And others who survived the brutal first stage.
The principal stepped forward for a final speech.
"Today, we witnessed power… will… awakening… and evolution."
He looked at the participants one by one.
"But the tournament is not over.After a one week break —the REAL battles begin."
Students shivered.
The entire academy buzzed with electric anticipation.
◆ ◆ ◆
Raze stood beside Voxen's stretcher as medics carried him out.
He whispered quietly:
"You fought well. You earned this victory as much as I did."
Voxen, barely conscious, smiled weakly.
"Kick the next guy's ass… okay?"
Raze nodded.
"Always."
As the cheers continued to echo around him—
Raze Arcwell, the powerless boy in a world ruled by gifted ones…
had just shaken the world again.
**********************
The day after the explosive preliminaries, Lionel Academy buzzed with renewed life.
Students filled the halls with chatter. Newspapers blasted headlines. Social media overflowed with clips of Raze blocking tungsten and Voxen's awakening.
And in the midst of all this noise—
Principal Leonel stood at the podium with a calm, commanding voice:
"THE NEXT ROUND SCHEDULE WILL BE REVEALED IN ONE WEEK.REST. PREPARE.THE REAL TOURNAMENT BEGINS SOON."
A ripple of excitement moved through the academy.
Astra, however… was somewhere far above all the noise.
◆ ◆ ◆
A Hero Above the Clouds
She didn't return home after the announcement.
Instead—
FWOOOOOOOSH—!
Astra soared into the sky, cutting through clouds with effortless grace.
The city of Nexara glittered beneath her like clusters of stars fallen to earth.
She drifted in slow circles, letting the cool wind wash over her.
Ever since the "penguin incident"…ever since millions watched her stop a falling meteor with her bare hands…
everything felt different.
She couldn't fly too low anymore.
Every time she dipped near rooftops—
"IT'S ASTRA NOIRE!!""LOOK, MOM!! THE PENGUIN SAVIOR!""BIG SIS ASTRAAA!"
Dozens of people—adults, kids, workers, tourists—waved at her with bright, adoring smiles.
And Astra…
She always waved back.
Sometimes with both hands.
Sometimes with a shy smile.
Sometimes with a tiny, embarrassed bow.
Today, perched on the edge of a skyscraper, she hugged her knees and gazed at the city.
"…I didn't expect all of this," she whispered to herself.
The wind blew gently through her golden-yellow hair.
"That day, I just wanted to protect helpless creatures. And now… the whole world is watching me."
Her fists curled softly.
If she had this strength—
if the world believed in her—
then she wanted to use it right.
"…I want to help more. I want to be someone worthy of this power."
She stood, stretching her wings of force behind her.
"Alright. Let's see what today looks like."
FWOOOSH—!
Astra took off again.
◆ ◆ ◆
A Blazing Streak on the Highway
As she glided above the city's edge…
Something zoomed past her peripheral vision—
VRRRRROOOOOOOOOM!!!
A blur of black and neon-blue shot down the highway far below.
Astra blinked.
"…What the—? That's not a car. That's a missile with wheels."
She narrowed her eyes and dove downward.
Within moments, she caught up—
and saw the rider.
A bike.Midnight black.Arcsteel frame.Thrusters active.Speed limiter completely disregarded.
Astra exhaled sharply.
"…Of course. Of course it's him."
Raze Arcwell shot down the road like the bike owed him money.
His helmet gleamed.His suit was casual, not combat gear.And hugging him tightly from behind—
was Lily Arcwell, giggling uncontrollably.
"FASTER, BIG BROTHER!! FASTER!!"
Raze yelled through the wind:
"LILY, I AM GOING TO GET GROUNDED FOR THIS!!"
"But Luna isn't here!! GO FASTERRRR!"
Astra stopped mid-air, speechless.
"…He's going that fast because a six-year-old told him to?"
She zipped down and matched the bike's speed, knocking lightly on Raze's helmet.
BONK BONK.
Raze nearly swerved.
"A-Astra!? What are you doing—?!"
"What are YOU doing?" she retorted.
Raze sighed.
"It's not me. She's the one."
Lily leaned around Raze's shoulder and reached out excitedly.
"BIG SISTER!! YOU CAN FLY!!"
Astra's expression melted instantly.
"…She called me… big sister…?"
Lily giggled brightly.
"Big sister Astraaaa~!!"
Astra felt her heart explode into flowers, sunshine, and sparkles.
She panicked.
"I—I—uh—hello!!"
Raze deadpanned.
"Don't encourage her. She'll adopt you."
Lily chimed in immediately:
"I ALREADY DID!"
Astra covered her face.
"Oh no… she's too cute…"
Raze huffed.
"This is why I can't say no to her."
Lily proudly tapped his helmet.
"He listens because I'm the boss!"
Astra burst into laughter.
Raze groaned.
"I regret everything."
◆ ◆ ◆
A Day Spent Together
Astra flew alongside them as Raze slowed the bike.
They eventually stopped by a peaceful riverside park.
Lily ran around chasing butterflies.Astra sat on a bench, swinging her legs.Raze leaned against the railing, arms crossed.
A moment of calm washed over them.
Astra glanced at Raze.
"You looked… free. Riding like that."
He shrugged.
"Lily asked. That's all it takes."
Astra smiled.
"You really love her."
"…Of course I do."
A soft breeze rustled the leaves.
Astra looked toward the sky.
"Raze… sometimes I wonder if having power is a responsibility or a burden."
Raze answered without hesitation.
"For you? It's neither."
She blinked.
"It's a choice."
Astra froze.
"A choice…?"
Raze continued.
"You chose to save those penguins. You chose to use your strength to help people. Power didn't force you to. That's what makes you strong."
Astra stared at him quietly.
"…Thank you."
They sat in silence, comfortable and warm.
Lily eventually ran back, jumping into Astra's arms.
"BIG SISTER! CAN WE GET ICE CREAM!?"
Astra panicked internally again.
"O-Oh! U-Um! Yes! Of course!! Raze! Please come with us!"
Raze smiled faintly.
"Fine."
And so the three of them—
a flying prodigy,a powerless genius,and a tiny ball of chaos—
spent the entire day together.
Laughing.Eating.Talking.Bonding.
By the time evening painted the sky orange, it felt like they had known each other for years.
When they finally parted ways at the crossroads—
Lily hugged Astra tightly.
"Come home with us next time, okay?"
Astra hugged her back gently.
"I will."
Raze nodded at Astra.
"See you at training."
Astra smiled—small, warm, genuine.
"See you."
As she flew off into the sky, she whispered:
"I'm glad… I met them."
A day of peace before the battles to come.
And somehow—
this simple day togetherfelt more important than any fight.