Zephyrion stepped calmly into the arena.

The crowd’s cheers were deafening. Thousands roared his name. After Zephyrion’s last battle, many expected a spectacle. Another swift victory beyond comprehension. Especially considering his opponent was someone who had struggled against contestants not even favored to win the Proving.

But Zephyrion knew better than anyone what was about to happen.

Kaelith Korrath stood before him with his chin raised, confidence written plainly across his face. Different emotions flickered through his eyes. Jealousy. Hatred... glee. Such emotions... it wasn’t difficult to determine what was coming.

Kaelith Korrath had been holding back since the Proving began, deliberately dragging his fights into difficult, near-even battles. That, however, was clearly about to change.

A dark look rested on City Lord Darius’ face. Of all the people this trash could face, it had to be the one who ended fights within a second.

A direct descendant of a City Lord losing to a peer in mere moments... Darius gritted his teeth. The Korrath name was about to be dragged through the mud.

The other City Lords cast him pitying looks, clearly understanding his dilemma. Of them all, only Garrick had a strange glint in his eyes.

On the arena, Kaelith lowered his head slightly.

"Kaelith Korrath."

"Zephyrion Calderalth."

As Kaelith lifted his head, a fierce light flickered within his gaze.

"Zephyrion Calderalth... the South’s precious Lightning Prince. Revered by all. Worshipped. Respected. People look at you like you piss lightning and blessings."

Zephyrion stared at him silently.

"Talented beyond measure... spoiled by the world since birth." A cold grin spread across Kaelith’s face. "Honestly, you’re perfect for what I’m about to do."

Suddenly, Kaelith exhaled.

Silver light flickered through his eyes.

"Release."

A sharp, piercing hum rang out. Air blasted out, brushing past Zephyrion and billowing his attire.

Cracks spread across the arena beneath Kaelith’s feet. His muscles expanded. His frame lengthened, rising from five foot nine to six foot two almost instantly.

His eyes burned with intensity. His voice resembled the growl of a beast.

"Metal Aura."

A formless wave detonated from him, blasting air out and kicking up dust across the arena. The pressure spiked instantly. The air around him grew heavy and dense, as though the world was being compressed.

"What!?"

City Lord Darius nearly lurched out of his seat. This aura... the power of a peak Mark Five.

Even more shocking, the nature of the Metal Aura surrounding Kaelith was unlike anything a Korrath should’ve been capable of. Darius could feel it clearly... this was a powerful art.

"Don’t tell me..." City Lord Ociden narrowed his eyes. "An Heir."

An Heir... who amongst them didn’t know what that meant? Inheritors of the arts left behind by monsters that had once walked the earth.

’This child... when did he acquire this... and he dared hide it!?’

City Lord Darius fumed inwardly. Yet the anger vanished almost as quickly as it appeared, replaced by exhilaration.

If Kaelith truly was an Heir... then this was good news. Especially in this battle. With a powerful rune art, Kaelith actually had a chance of bringing Zephyrion, a Mark Six, down. And when that happened... the Korrath name would soar.

For the first time since the Proving began, Darius straightened in his seat and raised his chin confidently. A broad grin spread across his face.

On the arena, Kaelith slowly clenched his fists. His muscles rippled beneath his skin like coiled steel cables. A moment later, he gave a faint nod before turning toward Zephyrion.

The millions watching had already erupted into shock at his sudden display of power. Even the City Lords above had raised their brows.

Yet the Lightning Prince had taken it all with an indifferent gaze.

Kaelith scoffed inwardly. False bravado meant nothing... especially now. Only power mattered.

And for the first time in his life, he possessed it.

Kaelith raised an arm. A sharp hum echoed as massive metal orbs materialized behind him, rapidly condensing into tiny spheres.

"I’ll use you to show the world just how wrong they were about me," Kaelith said coldly. "I’m not some trash extra meant to clap for your fights."

The metal spheres blasted toward Zephyrion.

Zephyrion did not move.

"Shield."

The spheres halted instantly, restrained by an unseen force. Kaelith narrowed his eyes before clenching his fists tightly.

"Explode."

The spheres trembled... then detonated.

A cataclysmic force erupted, blasting dust across the arena and swallowing everything within a thick haze.

"It’s over." A faint smile appeared on Kaelith’s face.

Each orb had been embedded with thousands of metal shrapnel fragments. At such close range, combined with that explosive speed, no barrier should’ve been capable of stopping them.

Several seconds passed before the haze finally began to clear.

Kaelith’s eyes narrowed.

"What?"

Zephyrion stood exactly where he had been before. The metal shrapnel that should’ve pierced him remained suspended motionlessly in midair, exactly where the tiny spheres had originally been stopped.

They hadn’t moved even an inch.

Zephyrion suddenly blinked.

The thousands of suspended fragments blasted out in a devastating barrage.

Kaelith’s eyes sharpened instantly.

"Don’t get ahead of yourself. Shield!"

A dense, formless barrier materialized before him. The metal fragments slammed into it... then tore straight through it like paper.

Kaelith’s brows furrowed sharply.

"Shield!"

The next barrier shattered as well.

"Shield!"

Again.

"Shield!"

Again. And again. And again.

Only after the tenth barrier did the barrage finally come to a halt. Even then, the fragments hovered mere inches away from Kaelith’s face.

Kaelith’s eyes trembled. To think he would struggle this much just to stop a single attack.

Ahead of him, Zephyrion still hadn’t moved. His expression remained utterly indifferent.

Feeling the countless eyes fixed upon him, Kaelith gritted his teeth. This wasn’t how the battle was supposed to go. He was meant to unveil his true power and shock the world by utterly dominating Calderalth’s prodigy.

That had been the goal.

He shouldn’t be struggling. He should be dominating.

’Calm down, kid.’

As the aged voice echoed through his mind, Kaelith forced himself to rein in his emotions.

’...Right. Got carried away for a second.’

’This kid... he’s not simple. Be careful.’

’I know.’ Kaelith exhaled slowly. ’I underestimated him. Won’t happen again.’

A flicker of silver passed through his eyes.

’I’ll stop holding back now.’