The spear was thrust forward dozens of times within moments, each stab carrying enough force to pierce through walls. Fire detonated behind every movement, turning the weapon into a storm of endless movement that was impossible to predict.

And yet, Atheline kept adapting. Anyone in his situation would have panicked already but he wasn’t panicked in the least, he was genuinely enjoying the fight.

He could feel it deep within his core, his body was slowly getting used to his tempo and his speed had somehow increased in the process.

’Pressure really helps in fighting’

He was finding more and more creative ways of using his elementals different from the way he used them during his normal training. Water redirected flames, earth altered footing, ice interrupted momentum, fire countered fire while wind acted as defense and a sort of guidance to all the other elements.

Igrad could tell it now. At first, the battle felt simple and predictable. Just overwhelm him with pure force and destroy him faster than he could react.

But now, every exchange dragged them deeper into unfamiliar territories. The realisation made his eyes darken.

The spear thrusted forward again like a meteor. Atheline sidestepped it narrowly but it still caught him. The spear sliced across his chest this time, tearing both cloth and flesh.

Igrads smirked, his gaze on the blood spluttering from the wound soaking into the dark robes.

"Finally, we’re getting somewhere. "

Flames erupted from beneath his feet as he launched himself forward for the killing strike.

The spear descended but the world around him suddenly became heavy.

His eyes widened.

The ground below suddenly collapsed, dragging his movements off balance for just a second and Atheline took advantage of that opening.

He stepped inside the spear’s reach instantly. Igrad tried to retreat but it was too late.

The dagger coated in lightning slammed into the weapon side of the spear shaft, redirecting the weapon completely from him. Then came the arrow.

It was shot point-blank. Instead of using a bow, Atheline manifested an arrow and a bow directly in his hand then condensed them with his element. Igrad barely had time to defend himself, the lightning arrow exploding against him directly.

His muscles spasmed as pain manifested through his body and for the first time since the battle began his stance broke.

Atheline immediately moved. A kicked enhanced with the earth Element struck Igrad directly in his ribs. The sound of them breaking echoed across the dying flame embers.

He crashed backwards through burning debris before rolling violently across the cracked ground.

Only the sound of burning flames occupied the battlefield when he came to a stop. Atheline’s breath came out in a heavy burst, the same as Igrad’s.

He slowly pushed himself up blood dripping from his mouth now. His left arm trembled slightly from lingering lightning damage.

His spear remained tightly clenched in his other arm but his careless smile had gone. He looked serious, worried, and shook at the same time. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Across him, Atheline stood motionless beneath drifting embers but something around him had changed. The change was subtle, almost invisible to most but the surrounding Aether and elements no longer moved carelessly towards them. It flowed more smoothly now like he had gotten a full understanding of how to operate it. As if his elemental control had deepened mid-battle.

Igrad frowned slightly, he was extremely familiar with the state he was in.

"... you advanced."

He didn’t get a response because Atheline himself had not noticed the changes in his body physically but the strain that had always existed was gone. The transitions between elements had become seamless.

The six elements rotated around his core naturally now, no longer colliding with each other like before.

Igrad instinctively felt it, a breakthrough born from combat. That made him angrier than he wanted to admit. The fact that he had been used as fodder for his advancement made him boil.

But beneath the anger was a small thread of unease that crept up his chest.

"What kind of monster are you?"

Before any of them could respond, the air suddenly changed. Both men simultaneously noticed. Atheline froze turning his attention toward the centre of the Spitting harrows.

Something beneath the forest had moved. A deep rumble spread through the earth. The flames nearby flickered unnaturally before bending towards the centre of spitting harrows as if pulled by an invisible force.

Igrad expression shifted instantly.

Another roar followed, low and ancient, massive enough to shake every tree in the Spitting harrows.

Those who had been hunting stopped their activities and turned to look towards the centre fear in their eyes. Monsters started to run away from the centre towards the outskirts, adding more burden to the other contestants.

Those who had been heading towards Athelines battle field stopped in their tracks, their eyes widening.

Far away, within the darkness of the Harrows, gigantic eyes opened. One pair, then another, and then dozens.

Igrad clicked his tongue.

"Damn it!"

Their battle had gone too far and had become too loud for the dwellers to endure.

They had awakened the beasts sleeping within the deepest regions of the Spitting harrows.

Another roar followed closer this time. Atheline could see trees collapsing in the distance. It was clear that something enormous was moving towards them. He turned his gaze towards the deeper forest and for the first time since entering the forest, even he went still.

Aether-filled pressure rolled off the forest like a tidal wave. Whatever was inside there, it was pissed and did not like them.

Igras exhaled sharply before resting the spear against his shoulder.

"Well," he laughed once bitterly," looks like we overdid it."

The ground trembled again and a colossal silhouette shifted behind the trees far away. Igrad stared at the approaching silhouette for several minutes before looking back at his opponent.

His eyes narrowed then he smiled faintly.

"You know, I really did think I was stronger than you..."

Atheline raised an eyebrow at his montage. He nocked his arrow, he wasn’t about to stop a fight for the slowly approaching silhouette. He just needed to finish it before it could get closer.

"You’re good," he replied calmly.

Igrad chuckled slightly, but his expression darkened the next moment.

"Next time..."

Flames around him exploded violently on the ground, blasting them away forcing a distance between them.

"I’ll come prepared. "

Then he vanished. Atheline’s arrow struck the place he had been standing the ground freezing in the process.

"Fuck," he cursed to himself.

He remained there for several seconds, listening for any chance that it might be a lie but none, he was gone.