Primordial Heir: Nine Stars

The underground training area sprawled beneath the student council’s private villa, a vast subterranean chamber that could easily accommodate a soccer stadium within its reinforced walls. The ceiling arched high overhead, supported by massive pillars of enchanted stone, their surfaces etched with glowing runes that pulsed with a soft, rhythmic light. The walls were lined with the same protective inscriptions, layered thick enough to contain the force of a small army. The floor was a patchwork of scarred and scorched stone, evidence of countless battles fought in this space.

A shimmering barrier surrounded the perimeter, a dome of translucent energy that hummed with latent power. It was designed to absorb the impact of stray spells and errant strikes, preventing the destruction from spilling beyond the designated arena. The air within was thick with tension, the temperature fluctuating as conflicting auras clashed and merged.

At the center of the arena, Elysia stood facing a group of cadets. They were the other members of the student council, her peers, her subordinates, her sparring partners. The weight of her presence pressed down on them like an invisible force.

Across from her, a young man with long, spiky red hair stood with his spear held loosely at his side. His orange eyes burned with an inner fire, and the air around him warped with intense heat, shimmering like a mirage. He was Caesar Samael, the crown prince of the empire, heir to the Samael clan, and Elreth’s older brother. His expression was tense, his jaw set, his grip on the spear tightening.

To his left stood a blue-haired man, his features sharp and elegant, his eyes the same deep shade of blue. He moved with a fluid grace, his wand held loosely in his hand. He was Rafael Undine, Khione’s older brother, his demeanor calm and measured, a stark contrast to the intensity of Caesar.

Beside Rafael was a silver-haired man, his features handsome, his posture relaxed but alert. He held a sword, its blade gleaming in the dim light. Leandros, Lux’s older brother, his expression unreadable, his eyes tracking Elysia’s every movement.

And finally, a young man with a lazy posture, his dark hair tousled, his eyes half-lidded. He appeared disinterested, almost bored, but his stance was coiled, ready. Damon, Blake’s older brother. Unlike his younger sibling, Damon had a reputation for being hardworking, his lazy appearance a deceptive mask for his relentless dedication.

Two other members of the council were absent, including the secretary. But the four who stood before Elysia were more than enough to mount a challenge.

The results of their sparring, however, had been one-sided. They had yet to land a proper hit on her.

Elysia’s lips curved into a faint, cold smile. "Let’s continue."

Her raven-black hair began to shift, the dark strands taking on a golden hue. Her golden eyes sharpened, becoming more piercing, more intense. She was no longer just a knight wielding lightning. She had become the embodiment of the Law of Lightning itself.

She disappeared, her form blurring into a streak of golden light. Her sword materialized in her hand, its edge crackling with energy. The next bout was about to begin.

The barrier hummed, its translucent surface rippling with each impact. The underground arena was a cauldron of power, five figures moving in a blur of motion, their auras clashing, their techniques colliding. Elysia stood at the center, her golden hair crackling with lightning, her sword held loosely in her hand. Her golden eyes swept across her opponents, calm and analytical.

Caesar moved first.

His spear blazed with fire, the flames licking the air, distorting the heat around him. He thrust forward, a single strike that exploded into a dozen afterimages. Each one was a deadly lance of flame, converging on Elysia from every angle, cutting off her escape.

Elysia’s form flickered. She did not dodge; she simply ceased to be where the strikes would land. Her body became a streak of golden light, weaving through the afterimages with minimal effort. The flames passed through empty air, scorching the stone floor where she had stood.

Leandros acted next. His wand traced an elegant arc, and light gathered at its tip. "[Radiant Veil.]" A shimmering aura enveloped his allies, boosting their strength. "[Light Arrows.]" Bolts of pure light shot toward Elysia, fast and precise. "[Blinding Radiance.]" A flash of brilliant white erupted, momentarily obscuring her vision.

Elysia did not slow. Her sword moved in a blur, deflecting the light arrows with casual precision. The flash of blinding light passed over her, but she had already closed her eyes, sensing her opponents through the crackle of lightning and the flow of prana.

Rafael’s water formed a protective barrier around his allies, a swirling wall of liquid that could harden into ice at a moment’s notice. "[Aqua Shield.]" The water rippled, ready to absorb any attack. He followed with "[Tidal Wave.]" A surge of water rushed toward Elysia, meant to knock her off balance.

Elysia leaped, her form blurring, and the water passed beneath her. "[Lightning Step.]" She appeared above Rafael, her sword descending. He raised his wand, and the water above him solidified into a shield of ice. The sword struck the ice, and it cracked but held. Elysia pushed off, her body twisting mid-air, and landed on the far side of the arena.

Damon’s domain expanded, a sphere of darkness that swallowed the light. "[Shadow Domain.]" The arena dimmed, shadows thickening, distorting perception. "[Shadow Summoning.]" From the darkness, creatures emerged—wolves of shadow, their eyes glowing with pale light. They lunged at Elysia, silent and swift.

Elysia’s golden eyes gleamed. "[Lightning Burst.]" A wave of electricity erupted from her body, the shockwave disintegrating the shadow wolves. The darkness flickered, unable to withstand the onslaught of light.

Caesar pressed forward. "[Phoenix Dive.]" He launched himself into the air, his spear blazing with fire, and descended like a meteor, the flames trailing behind him. The spear struck the ground where Elysia had been, the impact sending a shockwave of fire and stone across the arena.

Elysia appeared behind him, her sword already swinging. "[Lightning Arc.]" The blade crackled with energy, a crescent of electricity slicing through the air. Caesar twisted, his spear meeting the arc. The clash sent sparks flying, the force of the impact driving him back.

Leandros’s arrows continued to rain down. "[Lighting Arrow.]" Each bolt was faster than the last, but Elysia’s speed was unmatched. She weaved through them, her form flickering, her sword deflecting those she could not avoid.

Rafael’s water shifted. "[Frozen Spear.]" A lance of ice shot toward her, but she caught it with her free hand, the ice shattering against her palm. "[Water Whip.]" A tendril of water lashed out, wrapping around her leg. She pulled, the water resisting, but she severed it with a flick of her sword.

Damon’s darkness thickened. "[Shadow Bind.]" Tendrils of shadow rose from the ground, seeking to ensnare her. Elysia moved like the wind, her body blurring, evading the grasping shadows.

The four continued their assault, coordinating their attacks, pressing her from every angle. Fire, light, water, darkness—they wove together in a symphony of destruction. But Elysia was a monster, a prodigy unmatched in her generation. Her speed was godly, her swordsmanship precise, her control over lightning absolute.

She began to read their patterns. The way Caesar shifted his weight before a thrust. The rhythm of Leandros’s arrows. The subtle movements of Rafael’s water. The ebb and flow of Damon’s shadows.

She stopped retreating.

"[Thunder God’s Descent.]" She launched herself into the air, lightning gathering around her body. She descended like a bolt, her sword aimed at the center of their formation. The impact sent a shockwave of electricity across the arena, scattering her opponents.

She landed, her eyes gleaming. The four were forced back, their formation broken. They regrouped, their expressions tense, their breathing heavy.

Elysia raised her sword. "[Storm’s Edge.]" The blade crackled with energy, the lightning intensifying. She moved, her form blurring, and appeared before Caesar. Her sword came down in a diagonal slash.

He parried, his spear meeting her blade, but the force of the blow drove him to his knees. She pushed past him, appearing before Leandros. Her sword swept in a horizontal arc, forcing him to dive out of the way.

Rafael’s water rose to meet her. "[Frost Wall.]" A wall of ice materialized, but she shattered it with a single strike. Damon’s shadows lunged, but she dissipated them with a wave of lightning.

She was everywhere, her speed unmatched, her power overwhelming. The four fought valiantly, their coordination impressive, but they could not land a single hit.

Elysia’s eyes gleamed. The fight was her to control. This was getting fun, she truly does love to fight, only those moments she felt alive and her boredom would vanish.

’’Fufufu! Little brother, do not disappoint me, I’m looking forward to your growth.’’ she thought of Nero and couldn’t help but smile, a smile that send chills down the others’ spines, they had a bad feeling, this isn’t a girl but a monster wearing a woman’s skin they thought but dare not to voice this out, so the sparring session continued more intensively and it was hella fun for a certain someone, they almost destroyed the place at the end as they lay wasted on the ground every single of them.