"Kaelion Calderalth... versus Vaelor Ocren."

A violent roar erupted from the crowd. The entire coliseum thrummed with excitement. Above, City Lord Ociden straightened slightly, a faint smile on his lips.

’Hmm.’

Zephyrion calmly watched both candidates step into the arena.

Regardless of this development, his plans remained unaffected. Both were strong, at least compared to everyone else.

Kaelion should be capable of forcing Vaelor to reveal his rune art. As for who would ultimately win... that remained uncertain.

"Kaelion."

"Vaelor."

The two inclined their heads briefly before falling silent. No further words were exchanged. Gradually, the deafening cheers echoing throughout the arena began to settle.

Then the overseer spoke.

"Begin!"

They vanished.

The two appeared in the center of the arena instantly, blades already colliding. A storm of attacks erupted all at once.

Sparks burst violently. Shockwaves blasted outward with every collision. Yet neither slowed. Their forms became little more than blurred streaks tearing across the arena.

Many spectators narrowed their eyes in shock. It was the first time many were witnessing such a battle.

Most fights throughout the Proving had ended quickly, with one side overwhelmingly dominating the other. Aside from Fiona’s match, very few battles had truly felt intense.

But this... was different.

Both candidates were monstrously skilled. The standard of the tournament had risen instantly.

Zephyrion, meanwhile, watched with critical eyes. Though the crowd perceived the battle as evenly matched, he saw something entirely different.

’Mark six.’

Vaelor’s strength, speed, and aura all pointed toward it. Reaching Mark Six at seventeen was already extraordinary, especially considering the other city lord descendants remained at Mark Five.

His gaze flickered toward Ociden. Clearly, House Ocren had hidden Vaelor intentionally all this time. Revealing him during the Proving had likely always been their plan.

’Kaelion’s getting pushed back.’

As the battle continued, it became increasingly apparent Vaelor possessed superior speed and raw strength.

Kaelion remained skilled enough to compensate for now, but he was gradually being driven backward.

More importantly...

Zephyrion narrowed his eyes slightly at Vaelor.

Even amidst the chaos of battle, the Ocren descendant remained calm.

’He’s observing him.’

Maintaining such composure under pressure was impressive enough already. But as the exchanges continued, Zephyrion noticed Vaelor adapting to Kaelion’s attacks at a frightening pace.

A glint surfaced within Zephyrion’s eyes.

Such talent was rare.

He wanted him.

Suddenly, Vaelor dipped beneath a sharp thrust. He stomped forward and closed the distance, his fist driving toward Kaelion’s chin. Kaelion’s eyes sharpened. His arm snapped up just before the strike connected.

The impact hurled him several steps back.

Kaelion stared at his trembling fist before clenching it, forcing the shaking to stop. Then he lifted his gaze toward Vaelor.

The Ocren descendant stood calmly, staring back with an indifferent expression.

"You’re strong," Kaelion admitted with a nod. "I wanted to save this for him, but I guess there’s no helping it."

Kaelion exhaled slowly.

"Titan Armor."

A sharp metallic hum echoed throughout the arena.

Metal condensed around Kaelion’s body, forming a sleek armored suit that wrapped around him like a second skin. Sunlight gleamed across its smooth silver surface. Instantly, his aura surged, turning the atmosphere oppressive.

The coliseum erupted into thunderous cheers. Zephyrion observed the Titan Armor with keen interest.

Compared to the last time Kaelion had used it, it had evolved considerably. Though learning it was only a matter of time, opportunities should never be wasted. For all he knew, Kaelion’s version could differ from the original.

He linked with the rod, the world around him slowing instantly.

Despite Kaelion’s transformation, Vaelor took it all in without the slightest shift in expression.

Kaelion lowered his stance, intense eyes locked onto Vaelor.

"We’re ending this."

He lunged.

His speed became so absurd it resembled teleportation. His leg swept violently toward Vaelor.

Vaelor twisted backward, the kick grazing past his face by inches.

But Kaelion’s eyes flickered.

The armor rippled across his body, the momentum shifting toward his leg. The original sweep changed direction, crashing down toward Vaelor.

For the first time since the battle began, Vaelor’s eyes narrowed.

He slammed his foot into the arena and darted aside just in time.

Kaelion’s leg crashed into the ground.

BOOM!

A violent blast of air erupted, reaching even the distant spectators and whipping through their clothes and hair. The force hurled Vaelor back. He skidded across the arena before stopping near the edge.

He lifted his head.

Kaelion’s fist filled his vision.

Vaelor tilted his head, the punch tearing past his face. Instantly, he countered, driving his fist into Kaelion’s stomach.

But his eyes narrowed.

The armor rippled where the punch landed, dispersing the force throughout Kaelion’s body.

It had absorbed the attack.

Suddenly, the ripples converged toward Kaelion’s leg. His knee exploded up towards Vaelor’s chin.

"Shield."

An invisible barrier materialized, but it shattered instantly.

But that brief instant was enough. Vaelor shifted his head aside. The knee tore past him, then halted abruptly as its momentum vanished once more. Another attack surged toward him immediately afterward.

A flicker crossed Vaelor’s eyes.

"Swift Steps."

He vanished.

Kaelion vanished as well.

The two streaked across the arena at terrifying speed, colliding repeatedly as violent shockwaves battered the crowd.

Gasps and shouts of awe constantly rippled through the spectators. Many had risen halfway from their seats without even realizing it.

Zephyrion, however, paid less attention to the spectacle itself and more to Kaelion’s Titan Armor.

Its capabilities were extraordinary. It absorbed force, redistributed it, amplified attacks, enhanced movement. Even now, Kaelion seemed to glide through the air rather than move normally, as though the armor itself manipulated momentum.

The art was far more complex than it had initially appeared. Perhaps it was even more valuable than every other art Zephyrion had copied today combined.

’I need to learn it soon.’

He refocused on the battle.

With the armor amplifying him, Kaelion now possessed enough speed to directly match Vaelor. Slowly, the momentum of the battle began shifting. Vaelor was now the one being pushed back. If things went on like this, the victor was clear.

However...

Zephyrion turned to Vaelor.

’He still hasn’t used his art.’

"Shields."

Multiple invisible barriers materialized throughout the arena.

Kaelion tore through every single one effortlessly before flashing directly before Vaelor. The armor rippled, converging toward his fist as it rocketed toward Vaelor’s face.

"It’s over."

Suddenly, Vaelor exhaled slowly.

"Fine then," he said, his eyes turning cold. "You asked for this."

A sharp hum echoed.

The air around Vaelor distorted, rippling like waves dancing through the wind. Veins bulged across his body, throbbing wildly as his expression grew intense. Then steam erupted from him, flooding the arena.

Vaelor raised an arm.

His palm intercepted the punch directly.

BOOM!

The collision detonated like an explosion, blasting dust and wind across the entire coliseum.

Kaelion’s eyes constricted. Vaelor had taken the hit head-on... without even flinching.

Before Kaelion could react, Vaelor erased the distance. Steam exploded behind him as his fist crashed into Kaelion’s chest.

The armor rippled violently, desperately trying to absorb the impact.

It failed.

Kaelion was blasted back, skipping across the arena before slamming hard into the coliseum wall.

In the brief, deafening silence that swallowed the arena, Vaelor slowly turned toward Zephyrion, his cold voice echoing throughout the coliseum.

"You’re next, Lightning Prince."