The arena had never felt like this before.
Not during the early rounds, when excitement and curiosity had filled the air. Not during the semi-finals, where tension had peaked and the crowd had witnessed overwhelming displays of power. Even then, there had been noise, movement, and a sense of progression—like a story unfolding step by step.
But now, everything had changed.
This was no longer just another match.
This was the final.
The last battle of the tournament, the ultimate clash that would decide who stood above all 512 participants of Skygate Academy. It was the moment where every ounce of effort, every hidden technique, and every fragment of will would be brought to the surface.
And standing at the center of that moment were two figures.
Aether.
Liora.
The distance between them was not large. In physical terms, it was only a few meters—an easily crossed gap. But what existed between them was not measured in space.
It was measured in weight.
In presence.
