My Yandere Wives Keep Making Me Stronger

"Metal Storm."

Kael raised his hand, and a golden circular rune appeared before him, larger than before, spinning slowly, pulsing with Originat. The rune glowed with intense metallic light, its edges sharp and precise. His Originat flowed from his core into the rune, draining at an alarming rate. He could feel his reserves dropping with every second the rune remained active.

From the rune, a barrage of metal shards burst forth, spreading across the arena like a storm of blades. They flew in every direction, creating a wide area of attack. The shards were fast, sharp, and relentless, covering almost the entire arena, leaving only a small space behind him. The Originat cost was immense; he had poured nearly half of his remaining reserves into this single skill.

And in the instant they appeared, he willed them forward, and they attacked the ground before them.

The metal shards struck the fortified floor with a deafening clang, sparks flying in all directions as they embedded themselves into the stone. The arena’s enchantments held firm, preventing any real damage, but the sheer force of the impact sent shockwaves rippling across the surface. Kael’s breath came in short gasps. His Originat was dangerously low now.

Elara immediately sensed the danger as her instincts screamed. She dissolved into shadow, but she knew she had to be careful. The speed of the metal shards was insane. Her shadow movements were not as fast as thunder or space, which meant within the range of the metal shards, if she reappeared, there was a high risk of getting hit and heavily injured.

That left her only one option. And she knew this was exactly what Kael had planned.

Her shadows moved, shifting toward the only safe space, the small gap behind him. She had to commit. There was no other choice. Her Originat flickered as she pushed her shadow form to its limit, the strain evident in the way her form wavered.

The metal shards struck the ground, the impact ringing through the arena like a thunderous chorus. The fortified floor held, but the air was thick with the sound of metal on stone, and a cloud of dust briefly obscured the battlefield.

When the dust cleared, they saw the metal shards dissolving into Originat, fading like mist in the morning sun. Kael’s Originat reserves were barely a trickle now. He had committed everything to this attack.

At one side, a shadow appeared, but Kael seemed prepared for it. He had purposely left the back of him without shards to allow Elara to appear here.

Elara’s form solidified from the shadows, her claws extended, ready to strike. Her Originat was also running low; the shadow movement had cost her more than she had anticipated.

But Kael was already moving.

He spun, his hand reaching out. "Stonecleaver!"

A massive axe materialized in his grip, its blade forged from condensed stone and metal, its edge gleaming with a dull, deadly light. The handle was wrapped in dark leather, and the head of the axe was carved with runes that pulsed faintly with earthy energy. The summoning cost him a fraction of his remaining Originat.

He swung.

But Elara was prepared for it. She was willing to enter the trap.

Her hand shot out, and shadows coiled around her palm. "Shadowfang!"

A whip of condensed shadow materialized in her grip, its length dark and sinuous, its tip crackling with dark energy. The whip seemed alive, writhing in her hand like a serpent ready to strike. Her Originat pulsed one last time to form the weapon.

She cracked it forward.

The whip lashed through the air, meeting Kael’s axe mid-swing. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the arena, the clash of metal and shadow echoing through the coliseum.

This clash caused both figures to involuntarily take three steps back.

Their clash had ended in a draw.

Kael planted his feet, his grip tightening on the Stonecleaver. His chest rose and fell steadily, his eyes fixed on Elara. The whip was a problem; it kept him at a distance, forcing him to react rather than act. He needed to close the gap.

Elara’s tail swayed behind her, her whip coiling like a serpent at her side. She had felt the force behind Kael’s strike; he was strong, but his movements were direct. Predictable. If she could keep him at range, she could wear him down.

Kael moved first.

He surged forward, his axe trailing behind him, ready to swing. His feet pounded against the stone floor as he closed the distance. His Originat was barely holding on; every movement was a conscious effort now.

Elara cracked her whip. The tip lashed toward his legs, aiming to trip him. Her Originat was also running thin. This fight was pushing both of them to their absolute limits.

Kael leaped, avoiding the strike, and swung his axe downward.

Elara twisted, the whip coiling around her arm as she dodged. The axe struck the ground beside her, sending sparks flying.

She retaliated, cracking the whip again, this time aimed at his face.

Kael raised his arm, his Stone Skin absorbing the impact. He grunted, stepping forward, closing the distance even further. His Stone Skin flickered at the edges, barely holding.

Elara retreated, her whip dancing in the air, keeping him at bay.

The clash continued. Each exchange was fast, precise, and testing. Neither was landing a decisive blow.

Kael swung his axe in a wide arc. Elara ducked, her whip slashing toward his side. He pivoted, blocking with the haft of the axe.

They broke apart, panting.

Kael’s arms ached. His Originat was running low. He could feel it draining with every swing of his axe. He had to end this soon.

Elara’s shadows flickered at the edges, less solid than before. Her whip was still ready, but she could feel the strain in her core. This fight was pushing both of them to their limits.

They circled each other, waiting for an opening. Their breathing was heavy. Their movements were slower than before. The restriction to the 1st level of the Spirit Realm was taking its toll.

Kael lunged forward again, his axe swinging in a brutal overhead strike. His Originat flared briefly, fueling the attack. It was his last burst of energy.

Elara sidestepped. Her movement was still fluid, but there was a slight hesitation, a sign that she was conserving energy. She didn’t retreat. Instead, she stepped into his guard, her whip coiling around his axe.

The whip wrapped around the haft, pulling the axe to the side. Kael’s grip tightened, his muscles straining. "You’re not getting my Armament."

Elara pulled, testing his strength. "I don’t want your Armament."

She yanked the whip, forcing Kael off balance. Her claws extended, slashing toward his chest.

Kael released the axe and grabbed her wrist. His Stone Skin flickered, barely holding. He pulled her forward and drove his knee into her stomach. The impact was solid, forcing the air from her lungs.

Elara gasped, stumbling back. Her whip loosened, dragging on the ground. She coughed, catching her breath. "That was... unexpected."

Her shadows flickered around her feet, unstable. She was running on empty. But she wasn’t done yet.

Kael retrieved his axe, his hand trembling slightly. He could feel his Originat reserves hitting rock bottom. One more heavy attack would drain him completely.

They circled each other again. Their movements were slower now, more deliberate. Both were conserving energy, waiting for the right moment.

Elara’s tail swayed behind her, her grip tightening on her whip. Her Originat was barely a flicker now, but she could feel one last surge of power deep within her core. She knew she had enough for one final attack. Something decisive. Something that would end this.

Her mind raced through the possibilities. A direct strike would be too predictable. Kael’s defense was solid. She needed something unexpected, a feint, a misdirection, a strike from an angle he wouldn’t anticipate. Her shadows coiled at her feet, ready to respond to her will.

Kael’s grip on his axe shifted. He was thinking the same thing. His Originat was almost gone, but if he gathered what little remained, he could land a finishing blow. His muscles tensed. His breathing slowed. He was conserving every last drop of energy for this final moment.

They locked eyes.

Neither spoke. Neither needed to.

They both understood.

Their Originat began to flow, slowly at first, a faint trickle from the depths of their depleted cores. Then faster, as if their bodies were squeezing out the very last drops of power. Kael’s axe began to glow with a dull, metallic light, the runes on its surface pulsing weakly. Elara’s whip crackled with dark Originat, shadows coiling around its length like living serpents.

The air around them grew heavy. The students watching leaned forward, sensing the shift. The tension was palpable, a storm about to break.

Kael took a step forward. His foot landed with deliberate weight, his stance solid. Elara did the same, her movements fluid and precise.

Their Originat surged, gathering at the tips of their Armaments. The pressure in the arena built like a storm about to break. Kael’s axe hummed with metallic energy. Elara’s whip writhed with shadowy power.

Kael raised his axe. Elara raised her whip.

They were both preparing to strike. One attack. One decisive blow.

Kael’s eyes burned with determination. Elara’s gaze was sharp, calculating.

The Originat around them flared bright, casting long shadows across the arena floor.

The students held their breath.

Sylas’s voice cut through the arena.

"Match called!"

A/N: I know most might be confused about the fact that their Originat had almost emptied but they were still fighting. Please note that as they fought, they were gradually recovering Originat even though I didn’t explicitly mention it. The rate of recovery, however, didn’t meet up with the rate they were expending it. This meant they would have to end the battle quickly instead of prolonging it. Not everyone is like Lucien, the MC, who has a near-infinite supply.