Chapter 40: Clash of Fates — Round One
The arena falls silent as the dust settles. Two figures step forward, eyes locked, blades drawn.
Synoh (with a smirk):
> "Last time, we ended in a draw."
"A lot has changed since then…"
Lux (grinning back):
> "Yeah… so let's settle it for real this time."
"No regrets."
With a thunderous crack, they rush forward—light and shadow tearing across the battlefield.
Mina (watching wide-eyed):
> "They're… faster than before!"
"Unbelievable…"
Synoh's sword glows black as he cloaks himself in dark magic, his aura swirling like a raging storm.
Fel (in his mind):
> "Be careful, Synoh! That much darkness could tear you apart!"
Synoh (gritting his teeth):
"If I hold back, I lose. I'm going all in."
Across from him, Lux surrounds himself with radiant light, making his movements blur like sunbeams.
The clash is relentless. Steel against steel. Magic flaring like fireworks. Synoh dominates the close combat with sharp, aggressive strikes, forcing Lux to fire barrage after barrage of light magic just to create distance.*
Mina gasps.
> "Lux… he's using the same strategy I used against Synoh… but now it's stronger, faster. So this is their level…"
The battlefield becomes chaos. Craters form, blasts echo, and pillars of shadow and light spiral into the sky.
Both warriors pant, sweat dripping, their uniforms torn. Then—silence.
Lux (lifting his sword skyward):
> "Let's end this, Synoh.
Sword of Judgment!"
A divine sword made of pure light forms above him, blinding and majestic. The audience gasps.
Fel (shouting in Synoh's mind):
> "You're not ready! If you use your full darkness now—"
Synoh (calmly):
"Then I won't use it… I'll face him head-on. Fel, pour everything into my sword!"
Fel (growling):
"Got it. Let's go, partner!"
Synoh surges forward, dark flames rippling across his blade as he charges at the descending light sword.
From the royal box, General Leonhart narrows his eyes. The wind shifts.
Leonhart (to Sasakibe):
> "They're going to destroy everything."
Sasakibe (smirking):
"Then it's time we step in."
As the two attacks are about to collide—
BOOM!
A massive explosion turns the entire arena into dust and smoke. Silence. Then—
Lightning cracks through the dust. A man appears, holding Synoh back with one hand glowing with thunder:
> "That's enough, kid."
Vice General Sasakibe — "The Thunder Butler" — master of lightning and restraint.
On the other side, a mighty roar erupts as an invisible pressure halts Lux's attack mid-air. A spectral lion growls behind an old, bearded figure with a wild mane:
> "Impressive… but this ends here."
General Leonhart — "The Mythic Lion of the North."
The dust clears.
Lux stands, panting, lowering his blade. In front of him—Synoh… unconscious, yet still standing.
MC (into the mic, voice echoing across the hushed stadium):
> "W-Witness the aftermath of legends in the making…!"
"After a titanic clash of Light and Shadow… the winner of Round One is… Lux!!"
The crowd erupts in thunderous applause. Some cheer. Some cry. But all know they just witnessed history.