[INT. DIVINE STADIUM – MORNING LIGHT]
The grand arena shimmered with divine radiance as the second round of the competition was announced. Across the vast marble platform suspended in the illusion realm's core, anticipation thrummed like lightning through the crowd.
Above the central stage, golden script flared:
> "Second Round – Duo Battles: 30 Teams, 15 Will Advance."
On the one end — the Light School's ten children stood together, the team who survived the previous round unscathed.
> "Matchups will be chosen randomly by divine draw. Let fate shape the battlefield."
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[INT. MATCH STAGE – ROUND ONE BEGINS]
The duos stepped forth pair by pair, forming their battle formations under the blazing sun.
Match 1 – An intense duel between Kazriel Auris (Time) and Nephia Rell (Nonliving Creation) vs two high-ranking spatial duos. A strategic match of delayed spells and entrapment.
Result: Kazriel and Nephia won narrowly by freezing time for 3 seconds and striking simultaneously.
Match 2 – Faryn Morael and Glayce Serin faced two elemental mages. Faryn's construct army shielded them while Glayce shattered defenses.
Result: Faryn and Glayce advanced with brutal efficiency.
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[INT. WARM-UP HOLDING AREA – MATCH 3 PREPARATIONS]
The third match buzzed with tension.
Ray adjusted his gloves, his shoulder wrapped from the last battle. Rika checked the crystal-tethered rods she used as support for her mid-range spells. Their eyes met.
> Ray (softly): "You ready?"
> Rika (nodding): "Always. Just don't get hit this time."
> Ray (grinning): "No promises."
Their opponents stepped into the light.
From the School of Space:
Selvin Orris – a short-bladed fighter who teleports mid-swing.
Daniya Quen – a spatial collapse spellcaster known for destabilizing terrain.
The crowd stirred. Friends from Light School — Lyrion, Veloria, Syleria, Kairo, Aria, Auron — all leaned forward.
> Lyrion: "Let's see what Ray and Rika can do."
> Veloria: "They'll be fine. Rika's got instincts, and Ray's been holding back since the last round."
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[INT. BATTLEFIELD – MATCH 3 BEGINS]
The air shimmered with space warps as Selvin and Daniya struck first — Selvin appearing behind Ray mid-swing.
But Ray ducked low, his hand pulsing light.
> Ray: "I read that trick already."
He jabbed with a short-range divine flash, forcing Selvin to phase backward.
Rika countered Daniya's terrain collapse by anchoring their feet with magic rods that stuck to the ground like divine pegs.
> Rika: "You'll have to do better than warping the floor."
Daniya summoned a vortex — Rika responded with a barrier dome infused with layered runes, bracing their defense while Ray repositioned.
Then, as Selvin blinked beside Rika—Ray intercepted him with a blinding step forward and slammed a palm into his gut.
> CRACK!
Selvin flew back — stunned.
Rika wasted no time. With a whip of her mana rods, she redirected Daniya's vortex energy into the sky and retaliated with a piercing light spear.
> Rika: "You're not the only one who can redirect force."
The spear struck — and Daniya staggered, dropping to her knees.
With Selvin reeling and Daniya faltering, Ray and Rika pressed together in seamless unison — a well-practiced formation shift.
Ray's final move — a radiant punch — collapsed Selvin's weakened shield.
> MATCH THREE — VICTORY: RAY AND RIKA
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[INT. STADIUM STANDS – LIGHT SCHOOL CELEBRATES]
> Syleria (whistling): "That's our reckless hero and his genius partner."
> Auron: "They fought like one body with two hearts."
> Aria (softly smiling): "It's always like that with them. One moves, the other already knows how to follow."
> Kairo (arms crossed): "Good. They're setting the bar."
In the stands, the other schools watched closely — especially the elite members of the Time and Nonliving Creation schools.
Zyren leaned against the shadows of the upper balcony, silent.
> Zyren (murmuring to himself): "So… they really have grown."
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[INT. STADIUM – MATCH DAY CONCLUDES]
As the sun dipped beneath the false horizon, the Divine Board reappeared midair.
> "DAY ONE RESULTS – 4 MATCHES COMPLETE"
"26 DUOS REMAIN – 4 ADVANCE"
"NEXT MATCHES BEGIN TOMORROW."
The crowd roared. Tension rose.
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[INT. LIGHT SCHOOL DORMITORY – NIGHT]
Ray and Rika sat together on the balcony.
> Ray: "You did great today."
> Rika: "So did you. And you didn't even get stabbed this time."
> Ray: "Progress, huh?"
They both chuckled — just loud enough to mask the soft warmth behind their laughter.
Below, the rest of the team celebrated quietly — knowing that tomorrow, it would be their turn.
The Divine School Competition pressed forward.
And the bonds of light only grew stronger.
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TO BE CONTINUED…