Chapter 25: WHO IS THAT KID AGAIN?
The cheers from Morgan Benedict’s match had only just faded when the arena lights shifted again, focusing on the floating bracket.
"Stage One—Match Six! Token 3 versus Token 14!" the announcement boomed.
Two figures walked out from opposite ends of the arena. Token 3 belonged to Kaelen Dros, a hot-tempered earth mage known for smashing his way through smaller tournaments in the Western Isles. His opponent, Lira Wynn—Token 14—was a wind-element duelist from a lesser-known house, calm and unreadable.
"Never heard of her," someone from the gallery muttered.
"I have," another whispered back. "She humiliated two seniors during the regional evaluation trials. Fast hands. Faster mind."
The referee raised a hand. "Begin!"
Kaelen charged forward immediately, brandishing a hammer of compacted stone. The ground cracked under his steps. Lira didn’t move. Instead, she waited, cloak fluttering. As Kaelen lunged, she sidestepped and released a spiraling wind blade. It clipped his arm. Not deep—but fast.
Kaelen roared and swung, but each of his strikes met air. Lira glided across the arena with silent precision, sending pressure gusts and slashing winds that carved narrow trails through stone.
Then, she lifted both hands. A concentrated blast of wind struck Kaelen square in the chest, knocking him off balance. Before he could recover, another gust slammed into him from below, launching him into the air—and then straight into the arena wall.
He didn’t get up.
"Winner—Token 14, Lira Wynn!"