Their next destination was teralia,the city of magic.
The road to Teralia shimmered long before the city itself appeared.
It wasn't sunlight.
It was magic.
The air felt lighter, charged with invisible currents that brushed against skin like static before a storm. As they crossed the final hill, Teralia unfolded before them—tall ivory towers spiraling into the sky, floating platforms drifting lazily between buildings, glowing runes embedded into streets, and scholars in flowing robes debating passionately even while walking.
Yuki's eyes sparkled.
"Okay," she whispered dramatically, "this is cool."
Sun folded his arms. "You say that in every city."
"Yes, but this one glows."
Teralia truly was the City of Magic—the greatest collection of scholars, enchanters, elementalists, summoners, and rune masters in the world. Crystals hovered above intersections as streetlights. Spell diagrams rotated in shop windows. Even children practiced levitation tricks in alleyways.
They entered through a massive arch engraved with ancient glyphs that pulsed faintly.
Sun felt it immediately.
Power.
Disciplined power.
Not wild like battlefields. Not chaotic like demons.
Structured.
Refined.
Yuki tugged his sleeve. "First stop: shopping."
He sighed. "Of course."
The market district looked like a dream woven from imagination.
Shops sold enchanted cloaks that adjusted to temperature. Rings that amplified elemental flow. Spell scrolls sealed in crystal tubes. Floating familiars chirped from cages.
Yuki stopped at nearly every stall.
"Look at this! A self-stirring potion spoon!"
"We don't make potions."
"Yet."
At one particular stall, an elderly enchanter displayed delicate bracelets glowing softly with intertwined silver and blue light.
"Mind-harmony bracelets," the old man explained. "Enhances emotional resonance between two wearers."
Yuki froze.
Sun narrowed his eyes slightly. "What does that mean?"
The enchanter smiled knowingly. "It strengthens understanding. Helps balance magical flow when fighting together."
Yuki didn't hesitate.
"We'll take two."
Sun blinked. "That was fast."
She grinned while fastening one around his wrist and one around her own.
The metal adjusted instantly, fitting perfectly.
A faint pulse passed between them.
Warm.
Familiar.
He looked at her.
"…I can feel you more clearly."
She smiled softly. "Good."
He didn't say it out loud—but he liked it.
They spent the rest of the day exploring magical bookstores, testing minor charms, and watching illusion performances in public squares.
As evening approached, fireworks made of pure mana burst in silent colors above the city.
It felt peaceful.
But peace never lasted long with them.
As they prepared to leave Teralia the next morning, a loud magical projection appeared above the central plaza.
A glowing emblem rotated in the air.
ANNUAL TERALIA GRAND MAGIC DUEL – NOW COMMENCING
The crowd erupted instantly.
Scholars whispered. Fighters straightened proudly.
Yuki stopped walking.
Slowly turned toward Sun.
"No."
"Yes."
He rubbed his forehead. "You want to participate."
She smiled sweetly. "Very much."
He looked at the glowing bracket formation appearing midair.
"…Fine."
Her excitement was immediate.
"Let's win together."
The arena stood massive and circular, floating slightly above ground through gravitational magic. Thousands gathered to watch.
When their names were called, the crowd barely reacted at first.
Two travelers.
Unknown.
That changed quickly.
Yuki's first opponent was a B-ranked wind mage.
The duel began.
Wind blades shot forward instantly.
She raised one hand calmly.
Ice walls rose effortlessly, deflecting each strike.
The crowd murmured.
She stepped forward gracefully.
"Sorry."
With a swift motion, she froze the ground beneath him. He slipped—and before he could recover, a precise ice spear formed at his throat.
Match over.
Cheers.
Sun's early matches were equally decisive.
He used sharp, controlled strikes of fire and water magic, blending them seamlessly. His reflexes were clean, efficient.
Not flashy.
But powerful.
By the time they reached the quarterfinals, the arena no longer underestimated them.
The announcer's voice echoed dramatically.
"Next match—Sun versus A-Ranked Magician: Kael Draven!"
The crowd erupted.
Kael stepped into the arena confidently—tall, composed, wearing layered mage armor etched with defensive runes.
Sun walked opposite him calmly.
For the first time—
He was facing an A rank.
The barrier sealed around them.
The duel began instantly.
Kael moved first.
Lightning erupted from his palm—fast, precise.
Sun barely dodged.
He countered with twin fire arcs, but Kael shattered them midair with a gravity pulse.
The audience roared.
Sun pushed forward, weaving water blades and flame strikes together—but Kael's defense was superior. His mana reserves felt deeper. His reaction speed sharper.
A direct lightning strike grazed Sun's shoulder.
He slid backward.
Breathing heavier.
Yuki's heart tightened in the stands.
He's holding back.
The gap wasn't overwhelming—but it was real.
Kael smirked. "You're good. But not enough."
Sun clenched his fists.
He didn't want to use it.
Not here.
Not publicly.
Then—
A soft pulse traveled through his bracelet.
Yuki's voice echoed in his mind through their link.
"Use it."
He hesitated.
"I'm already in the semifinals. Let's go together."
Her tone wasn't worried.
It was confident.
Trusting.
Sun closed his eyes.
Then raised his hand.
"Dead Lock."
Dark energy coiled around him like tightening chains.
The crowd gasped.
The ground cracked slightly beneath his feet.
His aura shifted.
Hair lifted in unnatural wind.
Eyes glowing faintly.
When he opened them—
He wasn't just Sun.
He was Deadsun.
The entire arena fell silent.
Kael's expression shifted from confidence to shock.
"What… are you?"
Deadsun didn't answer.
He vanished.
Reappeared behind Kael in an instant.
A single palm strike infused with condensed dark fire launched the A-rank across the arena wall.
The barrier trembled violently.
The crowd exploded in noise.
Kael tried to stand—only to face a controlled but overwhelming blast of compressed dark energy.
He collapsed.
Unconscious.
Silence.
Then deafening cheers.
But this time—
Deadsun didn't look unstable.
Didn't rage.
He stood calm.
Controlled.
Slowly, the dark aura receded.
Sun remained.
Breathing steady.
Yuki smiled proudly.
---
Semifinals – Sun vs Yuki
The bracket shifted.
The crowd gasped again.
"Semifinal Match: Sun versus Yuki!"
A ripple of excitement spread.
They walked into the arena facing each other.
Yuki's expression was serious.
"Fight properly."
Sun shook his head lightly. "I don't want to hurt you."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Don't insult me."
The barrier sealed.
She moved first.
Ice spears erupted toward him.
He deflected them gently at first.
Holding back.
She frowned.
"Full potential!"
He remained defensive.
The crowd murmured in confusion.
Then she shouted angrily—
"Sun!"
The sound struck deeper than magic.
His expression shifted.
Fine.
He attacked.
Fire waves surged forward powerfully.
She dodged cleanly.
Countered instantly with frost blades slicing from multiple angles.
The exchange grew intense.
Faster.
He launched Aqua Missile—a concentrated water projectile reinforced with rotation force.
She raised both hands.
Mana surged violently around her.
The air temperature spiked.
Even Sun felt it.
"What are you—"
Behind her—
A massive dragon formed.
Pure fire.
Colossal wings spreading wide across half the arena.
The heat warped the air.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
"Sun Dragon."
The creature roared—a sound that shook the barrier itself.
Sun's eyes widened.
"That's… insane."
She smirked slightly.
"Surprised?"
The dragon lunged.
Sun launched Aqua Missile directly at it.
The projectile struck—
And was swallowed whole.
The dragon's flames intensified.
It collided with Sun in a blazing explosion.
The barrier flared violently.
When the smoke cleared—
Sun lay at the edge of the arena.
Unconscious.
The crowd stood in stunned silence.
Then erupted.
Yuki stood breathing heavily—but smiling.
Victory.
The barrier dropped.
She ran to him instantly.
"Sun! Hey!"
She gently shook his shoulder.
He groaned.
Opened one eye.
"…That hurt."
She laughed in relief and hugged him tightly.
"Was I amazing?"
He blinked at her.
Then smiled softly.
"You were terrifying."
She pouted slightly. "That's not a compliment."
"It is."
He sat up slowly.
"You surpassed me."
Her smile softened.
"We push each other."
He nodded.
"And I'm proud of you."
Her cheeks flushed faintly.
The announcer's voice boomed once more.
"Final Match Announcement—Yuki versus A-Ranked Magician: Ard Meteor!"
The name echoed heavily.
Whispers spread instantly.
Ard Meteor.
An elite A rank known for destructive meteor magic.
Yuki stood slowly.
Determined.
Sun watched her quietly.
No fear.
Only pride.
She had grown.
They both had.
And tomorrow—
The final would shake Teralia.