Chapter 86 - Circle of Geniuses - III
**
The air in the arena was thick with energy, and the silence preceding the duel was almost palpable. Athena and Vex stood facing each other from opposite sides of the floating platform, their imposing presences creating a tension so heavy it made even the most seasoned spectators hold their breath.
Athena, with her regal posture and icy gaze, raised her hands slightly. Six orbs of brilliant light materialized around her, orbiting her body like miniature suns. Each pulsed with concentrated energy, the heat they emitted so intense that the arena floor beneath her feet began to melt, forming small pools of incandescent material.
"Let's begin," Athena said, her voice calm yet commanding.
The orbs of light moved swiftly, weaving a hypnotic pattern around her. Suddenly, two additional arms appeared, controlling the radiant orbs that surrounded her.
**
The arena erupted into action as Vex's pupils contracted. Her focus sharpened, and she dropped into an almost animalistic stance, hands planted on the ground. Prana exploded through her body, her nails elongating to an unnatural length, piercing the arena floor. She launched herself toward Athena with staggering speed.
The six orbs orbiting Athena began firing concentrated beams of light at blinding speed. Each shot missed Vex by mere millimeters, and wherever they struck the ground, chunks of it disintegrated.
In the blink of an eye, Vex appeared in front of Athena, her claws slashing toward the mage's head. One of Athena's arms manipulated an orb, transforming it into a shield.
"BOOOOOOOM!"
A shockwave rippled outward as Vex's strike collided with Athena's barrier. The arm controlling the orb dissipated like smoke—but another instantly took its place, conjuring arrows of light that shot toward Vex.