After Elysia and Gale's match, it was finally Max's turn. Once again, the red-haired man with strange markings on his face stepped onto the field and restored the arena. He looked like he belonged in an anime—a desert king if given the chance (a clear Gaara reference).
As the arena was repaired, the announcer's voice echoed once more.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE ARENA—MAXIMILIAN 'MAX' AND NOVA!"
The crowd held their breath, anticipation crackling in the air. Some believed Max would claim victory, while others were convinced that Nova's blazing aura would incinerate him. Max and Nova stepped onto the battlefield, and with a thunderous cheer, the fight began.
Both fighters were tense, hesitating. Neither dared to make the first move. They were unaware of each other's true power. Max remained in his defensive stance, unwilling to lower his guard. Growing impatient, Nova finally took the initiative.
"I'm getting bored here, man! I hope you can handle the heat—SOLAR FLARE!"
A scorching explosion of solar energy surged toward Max. Flames engulfed the arena, the ground cracked beneath the heat, and even the stones started melting. The intense temperature reached the audience, making them recoil from the sheer force of the attack. Against such overwhelming power, Max had no choice but to evade.
But then—his eyes widened.
His power was more than just destruction. He could manipulate molecules not only to obliterate but also to transform. That's why he could liquefy metal. His abilities ran deeper than he had imagined.
"You can't run forever! BETTER GET USED TO IT! SOLAR BURST!"
Nova unleashed a massive solar explosion, engulfing the entire arena. No one could have survived such an attack. The blinding light forced the spectators to shield their eyes. When the brightness faded, all they saw was a massive cloud of dust.
"No… could it be? Did Max… die? Nova wouldn't go that far, right?" Lucy's voice trembled with worry. She had just started forming a bond with someone new—she couldn't lose him now.
"I have no problem with heat… for now."
It was Max! He was still standing! The entire stadium erupted in applause. He was bleeding, battered, but he refused to fall.
"Is Max actually resistant to heat? Or is this just a momentary defiance?"
"Alright, my turn."
Max raised his hands in a triangular formation, locking onto Nova. He channeled all his power and roared:
"ATOMIC… TRANSMUTATION!"
The energy beam Max unleashed was so intense that it began to erode the surrounding structures. The blast was powerful enough to kill even a monster. Yet, Nova survived. Exhausted, he collapsed to the ground, drained of his strength. The crowd fell into stunned silence. No one could comprehend what had just happened—except for one person.
From the VIP section, Aria, who had just arrived alongside the headmaster, observed everything.
After Max was declared the winner, Aria made her way to the stands.
"That was… an interesting fight." Aria's eyes reflected deep contemplation.
"You weren't bad yourself in the tournament. Honestly, you probably have a good chance of beating me." Max was feeling confident.
"Maybe. But winning isn't what matters to me."
She didn't care about the tournament—not after what she did to Seraphina.
"Oh? Then why are you here?" Max's voice carried curiosity.
"I want to ask you something. How do you control your power so well?" Aria got straight to the point. "Your attack wasn't lethal, was it? You just restructured Nova's solar energy, disrupting it."
Max was surprised by her sharp perception. "Yeah… I'm impressed you figured that out so fast. Why are you asking me this? Are you struggling to control your powers?"
"I can control my abilities… but I can't control myself."
For a moment, Aria hesitated.
"I respect you. You have immense power, and you seem like the right person to wield it. You look like someone who would use it for good. I… I'm not. I was given this great power, but I'm too weak to use it properly."
"Hey, don't say that! Everyone saw how well you fought in the tournament. You have one of the greatest potentials in this class—maybe even among all heroes. You're being too hard on yourself."
Max hesitated for a moment but decided to press further.
"Lucy told me a few things. She doesn't know much either. You've been through a lot… yet you're still here. You're fighting to become a hero. I don't know your reasons, but I believe you'll be a great hero."
Aria froze. A small smile formed on her lips—but it didn't last.
"Do you really want to know the truth?"
She took a deep breath before speaking again.
"From the moment I was born, I was unwanted. I was just a child… All I wanted was a warm home. But all I ever had was fear. My family never wanted me—especially my father. From the day I was born, he never hesitated to show his hatred. I suffered abuse at his hands. Not just me—my mother, too. Sometimes they pulled knives on each other. It went on for years. I went to school with bruises, with broken bones. Sometimes, I wasn't allowed to go at all.
My mother worked as a maid for Lucy's family, so occasionally, I got to spend time with Lucy. She noticed what was happening to me… and told her father."
Aria's voice trembled. Her hands clenched into fists. She was holding back tears.
She didn't look at Max. She couldn't. What she saw in his eyes unsettled her—pure compassion. She had rarely seen that before.
Taking another deep breath, she continued.
"That night, my father tried to do something worse. But I had reached my limit. I closed my eyes and screamed with all my might. My power must have awakened in that moment. When I opened my eyes… my parents' bodies were in pieces. Everything in the house was destroyed.
Then, Lucy's father, Marcellus, burst in. He had heard my scream. When he saw what had happened, he understood immediately—and took me with him. At first, I thought he was turning me in to the police… but he brought me to his mansion instead. Lucy was there.
Looking at her, he said, 'Lucy, Aria is now your sister. Take good care of her.'
And from then on, Lucy and I grew up as sisters."
Max was speechless. He could only stare at Aria in shock, unable to blink, unable to process what he had just heard. His hands trembled from sheer rage and disbelief.
He slapped his own face, trying to snap himself out of it.
"That's why you keep saying, 'You must be punished.' It's what your father told you, isn't it? When Seraphina hit you, you saw her as him… That's why you fought so savagely."
"Yes… I lose control. That's why I'm not fit to be a hero. I wish I could be as composed as you. Then I could fulfill my purpose. I…"
Aria couldn't hold it in any longer. Tears streamed down her face.
"I want to save others like me. So many innocent children are suffering like I did. Do you think… do you think I can protect them? Can I… be a hero?"
Her words struck Max deep. He wanted to remain strong, to reassure her without breaking. He wouldn't cry. He couldn't.
"Yes! You'll be one of the greatest heroes this world has ever seen—I believe it. And if you ever lose your way… I'll be there to guide you. Because being a hero isn't a burden to carry alone. We'll fight together. We'll grow together. We'll become the greatest heroes."
Max meant every word with all his heart.
"I promise you—one day, your dream will come true."
For the first time in a long while, a genuine smile formed on Aria's face.
This girl, who seemed evil, had become this way because of the things she had experienced. But Max had made a promise. He and Aria would create a happy world together.