Misaki stood frozen in place, her breath caught in her throat. Her mind struggled to process what she was seeing.
Ryuu.
An F-rank magic user.
Someone who shouldn't even be able to stand on the same battlefield as her, an A-rank.
Yet there he was—calm, composed, and untouched. The smoke from her spell still lingered faintly in the air, but Ryuu stood in the middle of it like it had meant nothing.
It didn't make sense.
That attack should've ended it. A single slash, a single spell, and Ryuu should've been down for the count.
But he wasn't.
He hadn't just survived her magic—he looked like he didn't even feel it.
Misaki's eyes narrowed. Her hands trembled slightly—not out of fear, but from frustration. This wasn't just impossible; it was insulting.
Ryuu took a few steps forward, the smirk on his face growing wider with each step.
"Is that it?" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "That was supposed to scare me? You couldn't even make a scratch… Are you sure you're an A-rank?"
The crowd around them fell into a stunned silence. Some spectators couldn't believe what they were seeing. Others simply stared, jaws slack, unable to speak.
Misaki's face twisted with fury. Her pride had been shattered. A-ranks were respected, feared even—but now, an F-rank was looking down on her?
"You've got a real mouth on you," she hissed. "Don't go thinking you're strong just because you tanked one spell. That was me holding back." She clenched her fists, her magic flaring violently around her. "Now, I'll show you what happens when I get serious."
The air around the arena suddenly shifted.
The ground cracked beneath her as a blazing wave of heat surged out from her body. Veins popped on her face, her eyes glowing a deep, furious red.
The atmosphere grew heavier. Sweat trickled down the faces of spectators. Even some of the teachers and higher-ranked magic users in the stands leaned forward, uneasy.
Misaki raised her hand into the air. The ground quivered beneath her feet.
"THE LAND BEGINS TO TREMBLE AND THE GROUND GETS PULVERIZED!
THE EARTH BECOMES HELL AND ALL DEVILS ARE EMBRACED BY ITS SCORCHING HEAT!
THE UPPER INTERMEDIATE MAGIC—FIST OF THE SCORCHING LION!!"
A burst of molten energy erupted from the ground. Lava cracks opened beneath her, glowing orange and red, spilling steam and ash. The air shimmered. Stones that touched the lava instantly crumbled into powder.
Misaki's feet lifted slightly as she hovered above the trembling battlefield. Fire coiled around her arms like twin serpents.
She walked toward Ryuu, eyes locked on him, her aura surging like a storm ready to consume everything in its path.
Ryuu stood still.
Sweat rolled down his temple. The heat was overwhelming—even metal would melt in this inferno. But he didn't move an inch.
In the stands, Akiko leaned forward, alarmed.
"Shigeru—!"
Shigeru's eyes were fixed on the battlefield, his brows furrowed.
("It's bad… The flames are too strong. That lava—it's real. If Ryuu gets caught in that, he'll be seriously injured. Fatal even.")
He clenched his fists.
("The only way he survives this… is if he reveals his fire magic. But in front of all these people…")
Back in the arena, Misaki sneered. "Try being cocky now."
She raised her flaming fists, now glowing white-hot. With a roar, she charged forward. The pressure of her attack was immense—everyone could feel the shockwaves ripple through the arena.
Even Rajin, sitting at the far edge of the platform, wiped sweat from his brow.
("This girl… she's no joke.")
Misaki reached Ryuu in a flash. She brought her fire-encased fist down with all her might.
BOOM!
The explosion lit up the sky. A deafening blast echoed across the arena. A massive cloud of black smoke surged outward, swallowing everything in sight.
The audience gasped. Some stood from their seats. Others shielded their eyes from the intense heat.
"RYUU!!"
"ARAMIYA-KUN!!"
Both Shigeru and Seichii screamed.
Without thinking, Seichii dashed forward—straight into the scorched battlefield. The ground sizzled under his feet. His clothes began to burn at the edges, but he didn't stop.
"SEICHII-KUN, STOP!" Masumi's voice rang out. "YOU'LL BE BURNED ALIVE!!"
But Seichii didn't listen.
"Ryuu!!!"
Just as he stepped deeper into the smoke—
A voice cut through the chaos.
"Seichii."
It echoed—loud and firm.
The smoke began to fade.
And then—two silhouettes emerged from the black mist.
Ryuu was standing tall… completely unharmed.
His hand was outstretched, gripping Misaki's flaming fist with his bare hand.
Misaki stared at him, wide-eyed, her lips parted in shock.
Everyone in the arena froze. The world seemed to stop.
How?
How could someone block that spell… with no barrier, no counterattack, and no burns?
Even Rajin stood up from his seat, stunned.
("What…? I would've taken damage from that… and he just… caught it?")
Ryuu grinned, his fingers tightening around Misaki's wrist.
The fire around her fist fizzled—disappearing like smoke in the wind.
Misaki's knees trembled. Her lips moved, but no words came out.
At the far end of the arena, Ryoko watched silently. Her eyes sparkled slightly as she looked at Ryuu.
And then—ever so faintly—a soft smile appeared on her lips.....