Dimension System: SSS Rank Talent Awakening-Chapter 236 Trial by Ice

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The looming confrontation with Team Solaris hung over them like a shadow. Kael's words, Raghnall's warning, and the knowledge that the tournament held deeper secrets all added to the tension.

As they approached the edge of the forest, the landscape began to change. The dense jungle gave way to cold rocky terrain, and in the distance, the towering spires of the central arena came into view.

Dabi called for a brief halt, turning to face his team.

"This is it," he said, his voice steady. "The final stretch. We've come too far to let anyone stop us now."

Zen grinned, his blades ready. "Let's finish this."

Jeni smirked. "They won't know what hit them."

Althea nodded, her calm presence grounding the group. "We're ready."

Kiba's gaze was steady. "Together, we can handle anything."

Dabi took a deep breath, his determination unwavering. The challenges ahead would test them in ways they couldn't predict, but one thing was certain: they would face them together.

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.

.

The sharp chill in the air stung like a thousand tiny needles as Dabi and his team stepped onto the new battlefield. An expanse of frozen wasteland stretched before them, its icy terrain gleaming under a pale, wintry sun. The transition had been abrupt; one moment, they were standing at the edge of the forest, and the next, they had been transported into this hostile domain.

The icy wind howled, carrying with it an eerie sense of foreboding. Even the air felt heavier, each breath sharp and biting against their lungs.

"This isn't going to be easy," Althea murmured, her voice barely audible over the wind. Her staff glowed faintly as she summoned a protective aura around the team, shielding them from the worst of the cold.

The team barely had time to adjust before their opponents came into view. Team Frostbite emerged from the frosty mist like specters, their pale blue uniforms blending seamlessly with the environment.

"Of course, it's ice magic," Jeni muttered, flexing her fingers as she felt the chill seep into her bones. " I have a advantage here. I am ice mage.

"Stay focused," Dabi said, his voice cutting through the frigid air. "Our opposite team also have the advantage here, but we've dealt with worse."

Kaelen, the leader of Team Frostbite, stepped forward, his icy gaze locking onto Dabi. His silver hair glinted like frost in the sunlight, and a smirk played on his lips.

"You should have stayed in the forest," Kaelen said, his voice smooth and cold. "This terrain belongs to us." We were waiting here for a long time.

Dabi didn't rise to the bait. His eyes flickered with a calm intensity. "Let's see if your bite is as sharp as your talk."

Kaelen's smirk widened, and he raised a hand. The ground beneath their feet trembled as the battlefield responded to his magic.

A sudden explosion of magic turned the flat, icy plain into a treacherous arena. Spires of jagged ice erupted from the ground, forming natural barriers and obstacles that divided the field into sections. Sheets of frost spread outward, creating slick surfaces that threatened to unbalance anyone not prepared.

"They're shaping the battlefield to control our movement," Jeni observed, her staff glowing brighter as she analyzed the changes.

Dabi's gaze narrowed. "We'll use it against them."

Kaelen's team moved with synchronized precision, taking positions behind the ice formations for cover. Their confidence was palpable, their movements smooth and unhurried as though victory was already assured.

"Let the games begin," Kaelen said, his voice echoing eerily across the battlefield.

The battle began with a flurry of ice shards launched by the Frostbite members. The sharp projectiles sliced through the air with deadly accuracy, forcing Dabi's team to scatter.

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"Spread out!" Dabi ordered, his voice firm and commanding. "Keep moving and don't give them a stationary target!"

Jeni darted to the left, her hands glowing with energy as she summoned her own ice manipulation. She thrust her palms forward, sending a wave of jagged ice shards toward the enemy team.

Kaelen's second-in-command, a wiry man named Vren, countered with a sweeping motion of his staff, creating a wall of frost that absorbed Jeni's attack.

"Impressive," Vren said, his tone mocking. "But you're out of your depth here."

"Funny," Jeni shot back. "I was about to say the same to you."

Jeni slammed her foot into the ground, and a series of ice pillars shot up around her, forming a protective barrier. With a fluid motion, she redirected the energy into a spiraling storm of ice, sending it hurtling toward Vren.

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Meanwhile, Kiba and Zen worked in tandem to flank the enemy. Kiba used his enhanced speed to dart between the icy obstructions, drawing the attention of two Frostbite members. They hurled sharp icicles at him, but he evaded with agility, forcing them to split their focus.

Zen capitalized on the distraction, leaping over a frozen barricade to engage them head-on. His twin blades gleamed as they sliced through the air, deflecting incoming projectiles with precision.

"Dabi, they're using the terrain to box us in!" Althea called out, her staff glowing as she maintained a barrier against the falling ice shards.

"I know," Dabi replied, his mind racing. He could see Kaelen orchestrating the battlefield like a conductor leading an orchestra. Every move the enemy team made was calculated to exploit the frozen wasteland they had claimed as their own.

Jeni's battle with Vren intensified, drawing the attention of everyone on the battlefield. The air between them crackled with energy, each attack countered with equal force.

"You're good," Vren admitted, his voice tinged with grudging respect. "But you're not strong enough to beat me."

Jeni smirked, her breath visible in the freezing air. "We'll see about that."

She raised her hands, and a massive ice spear formed in front of her. With a sharp motion, she hurled it at Vren.

Vren responded with a flick of his staff, creating a swirling vortex of frost that caught the spear mid-air. The vortex shattered the spear into a million sparkling fragments, but Jeni was already moving.

Using the brief distraction, she closed the distance between them, her movements fluid and precise. She thrust her palm forward, sending a concentrated burst of ice energy directly at Vren's chest.

The attack landed, sending Vren stumbling backward. He quickly regained his footing, his expression darkening.

"Not bad," he muttered, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth. "But this isn't over."

While Jeni held Vren's attention, Dabi focused on dismantling Kaelen's control of the battlefield. He noted how Kaelen's movements were deliberate, each gesture causing subtle shifts in the terrain.

"He's manipulating everything from the center," Dabi realized.

"Then let's make him move," Kiba said, overhearing Dabi's observation.

Dabi nodded, formulating a plan. "Kiba, Zen—pressure the others. Althea, disrupt the terrain near Kaelen. Jeni, keep Vren occupied. I'll handle Kaelen."

The team moved with practiced efficiency, each member executing their role flawlessly.

Althea concentrated her magic, summoning waves of heat that melted sections of the ice, creating unstable patches that forced Kaelen to adjust.

Kiba and Zen doubled down on their assault, overwhelming the remaining Frostbite members with a combination of speed and precision.

Meanwhile, Dabi closed in on Kaelen, weaving through the icy obstructions with calculated agility.

Kaelen's smirk faltered as Dabi approached, his movements swift and deliberate.

"Impressive," Kaelen admitted, raising a hand to summon a barrier of ice. "But you're too late."

Dabi didn't respond. He launched himself at the barrier, his fist glowing with energy. The impact shattered the ice, sending shards flying in all directions.

Kaelen stumbled back, momentarily caught off guard.

"You've been relying on this terrain too much," Dabi said, his voice low and cold. "It's time to fight without your crutch."

Kaelen's expression hardened, and he unleashed a flurry of attacks, sending spikes of ice hurtling toward Dabi.

But Dabi was faster. He dodged each attack with precision, closing the distance between them in an instant.

With a single, powerful strike, Dabi shattered Kaelen's defenses and grabbed him by the collar, slamming him into the ground. The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, signaling the end of the fight.

With Kaelen incapacitated and his team defeated, the icy terrain began to dissolve, the magic sustaining it fading away.

Dabi's team regrouped, their breaths heavy but victorious.

"That was intense," Zen said, sheathing his blades.

Kiba grinned, his energy undiminished. "We handled it, though. No problem."

Jeni rolled her shoulders, exhaustion evident in her posture. "They were tough, but they underestimated us."

Althea nodded, her calm demeanor returning. "And they paid the price for it."

As the battlefield returned to its neutral state, an announcement echoed through the air:

"Team Frostbite has been eliminated. Sixteen teams remain."

The declaration was met with a mixture of relief and determination. They had made it through another round, but the journey was far from over.

Dabi glanced at his team, pride evident in his eyes. "Good work. Let's keep this momentum going."

As they prepared to move forward, the weight of the tournament's stakes settled over them once again. The challenges ahead would only grow more difficult, but they were ready to face them—together.