The sand quaked beneath their feet.
Team Crimson stood in a tight circle, eyes scanning every direction. The golden egg hovered slightly above the ground, its glow steady—but the threat was closing in fast.
Yuri knelt without hesitation, slamming his palm into the beach floor.
"Got it," he muttered. "Egg's mine."
Vines burst from the sand—twisting, thickening, hardening. Mud fused with root, root into bark, forming a dome-like casing around the golden egg. It pulsed once, then fell still inside its earthy shell.
The rumbling intensified.
Zezzy stepped forward. "Eyes open. This isn't a normal enemy—"
Her words cut off as the ground exploded.
A massive, worm-like creature erupted from the sand with a screeching roar. Its segmented body shimmered with scales made of hardened crystal-sand, and its jagged maw glinted with serrated teeth. The sheer force of its emergence sent a shockwave across the beach.
Liena staggered, her balance slipping on the shifting terrain.
"Liena!" Helion shouted.
He reached her just in time, catching her wrist and pulling her upright before she fell.
She gave a breathless laugh. "Thanks."
Zezzy's eyes locked on the creature, her pulse quickening.
"They never covered this in any Academy class," she muttered. "What even is that?!"
The worm shrieked and fired a barrage of compressed sand bullets, each one whistling through the air with violent force. Team Crimson scattered.
Yuri dove behind a boulder.
Liena twisted mid-air, flipping backward with a gust of wind.
Zezzy slid low, water forming around her boots to aid her movement.
Helion didn't dodge.
He ran straight at it.
Hand on the hilt of his blade, mana flooding to his legs, he whispered,
"Now's our time, Zeyr… Loken…. luminox"
Light sparked at his heels.
He launched into the sky with explosive force, sand trailing from his boots. The worm raised its massive head, screeching again.
Helion soared directly toward its face, blade poised—but he didn't notice the tail rising behind him, ready to whip him out of the air.
Zezzy's voice rang out like a command from a war drum.
"First Form—Pressure Resin!"
A beam of compressed water, so dense it gleamed like polished glass, sliced clean through the worm's tail. The severed segment hit the ground with a wet thud.
Helion turned midair, catching the sight of Zezzy below, her hand outstretched and glowing blue.
He smiled.
"Perfect timing."
His blade lit with a subtle sheen of light—not blinding, but focused. The edge pulsed once.
And then—he struck.
Helion drove his sword straight through the worm's skull, the light flaring just enough to punch through its armored head. His feet followed through the motion, dragging the blade down its entire body in a single, clean arc.
The worm screamed.
Then it crumbled.
The giant creature collapsed in halves, sand spewing from its broken body like torn fabric unraveling. The battlefield stilled.
Liena jogged up, her eyes wide with adrenaline. "Great job—Zezzy, Helion. That was insane."
Helion exhaled and shook dust from his blade. "Not bad for a warm-up."
Helion adjusted his sword and glanced at the worm's remains. "Wait… weren't we told no summoned creatures or familiars were allowed?"
"That wasn't from a team," Zezzy said slowly.
"Nope," Yuri agreed. "If I'm not mistaken, that thing was planted. An obstacle. One of the captains' doing."
Liena narrowed her eyes. "To prevent people from hiding?"
"Exactly," Yuri said. "They don't just want us to survive. They want us fighting."
The four of them stood quietly for a moment, letting the weight of it sink in.
Zezzy folded her arms, voice cool. "We're not just up against other teams. The environment itself is a weapon."
"Then we need to move smarter," Liena added. "Stay mobile. Stay alert."
Helion nodded, gripping his sword.
"Time to get our game faces on."
Meanwhile, Back at the Royal Stadium…
Cheers erupted like thunder.
From the crystal scrying screens hovering above the field, citizens watched as Team Crimson cut down the sandworm with speed and style.
"That boy sliced the worm like butter!"
"Did you see that light? It flashed before he struck!"
"Zezzy's water magic—so clean, so sharp!"
"I like their teamwork. Let's see how far they go…"
A nobleman from the stands scoffed. "The worm wasn't anything special. Weak, slow. The real threats haven't shown up yet."
But even he watched the screen a little longer than before.
Back in the Royal Stadium, the scrying crystals shifted.
The crowd's focus turned as a new projection lit up the skies above the arena—revealing a different battlefield.
The Rocky Mountain Terrain.
Wind howled through jagged cliffs and narrow ridgelines. Cracked stone platforms stretched across deep ravines, and shadowed caves yawned like mouths of danger.
A murmur rolled across the crowd.
And then—gasps.
"Wait—look!"
"Team Gold?!"
"No way…"
Dozens of voices shouted at once as the feed showed Renza Kael standing atop a stone ridge, two smoldering beast corpses at his feet—charred and motionless.
Renza casually flicked a lingering flame off his fingertips.
"Well," he muttered, bored, "that was hardly a sweat."
He turned to glance over his shoulder—where Draven Valden stood with the other two members of Team Gold, facing another pair of feral creatures barreling toward them.
Draven didn't flinch.
Didn't speak.
Didn't even draw his sword.
Instead, a faint glow rippled through his armor—deep silver and black-gold filaments pulsing with steel affinity.
"Spirit Skill…" Draven said calmly.
"Armor Eater."
A strange sound echoed—a metallic whine, like blades twisting from within. Suddenly, jagged beams of steel erupted from his armor, extending like deadly thorns.
The spikes punctured both creatures mid-leap—impaling one through the skull and the other through the chest before they could even strike. Then, Draven's armor flared again.
Steel threads exploded outward from his body, swirling like a living web.
The sharpened metal wrapped around the beasts—crushing them, bone by bone—until they cracked and collapsed into dust.
The mountain wind swallowed the silence that followed.
Draven looked over his shoulder, gaze cold.
"Get from behind me," he said without turning.
"If you're not going to battle, don't get in my way."
He walked past the two stunned teammates without another word, his cape fluttering like a banner of dominance.
Renza was already waiting at the base of the slope, arms folded.
He watched Draven approach with a crooked smile.
"It looks like you're strong after all," Renza said, tossing his coin into the air.
The coin flared into flame for a moment before vanishing.
"You'll do."
The two walked side by side—without speaking further—into the shadowed forest pass ahead.
The two other Gold members scrambled to follow behind, hurrying so as not to fall too far behind the silent pace of their team's monsters.
Back in the Stadium…
Whispers became roars.
"Did you see that? Four creatures down—and they didn't even blink!"
"That armor skill—what was that?!"
"Team Gold might just sweep this whole thing…"
But not everyone was cheering.
Some of the veteran knights in the top stands exchanged concerned glances.
The power Team Gold was displaying… wasn't just polished.
It was lethal.
And the real test hadn't even begun.
High above the shifting battlefields, the Arch Captains sat in their gilded thrones beneath the royal banners, each one watching a different projection hovering in the air.
Captain Syrus, ever composed, peeked over at Axel Nova, who was slouched in his chair with his arms behind his head, grinning as he watched the scrying crystal showing Renza Kael incinerating two enemies.
Syrus raised an eyebrow. "That boy, Renza. You trained him, didn't you?"
Axel gave a sideways smile. "You know it."
He nodded toward the screen, pride not even hidden.
"Kid's got the stuff. Wild instincts, sharp control. Reminds me a little of me back in the day."
He chuckled.
"Only difference is… someone's actually noticing his talent this time."
Syrus smirked faintly at that.
Across the row, Arinelle stood near the balcony edge, her eyes not on Renza, nor on Draven. Instead, her gaze was locked on Team Crimson, watching their post-worm formation.
Specifically, she watched Liena—her eyes narrowed in thought, almost maternal, almost impressed.
Captain Arion Drael, meanwhile, wasn't paying attention to either Crimson or Gold.
His focus was fixed on another screen—one showing Team Pearl, positioned deep within the forest zone.
There was a strange weight in his stare. Intent. Calculation.
Axel noticed.
"Hey, Syrus," Axel said, leaning over lazily. "I don't remember us approving all these… monster-class obstacles. Bit theatrical, no?"
Syrus gave a quiet chuckle. "Yeah, well… last-minute addition. We figured the draft could use some suspense. Keep the hopefuls on their toes."
Arion finally tore his eyes from Team Pearl.
"I was surprised too," he said smoothly. "But thankfully, they're not real spirits. Just conjured illusions."
He gave a small nod to Arinelle.
"Thanks to her."
Arinelle turned and waved her fingers mockingly. "Oh, stop."
Arion's gaze lingered on her for a beat longer than necessary.
There was something soft in his expression now. Something almost intimate.
Across the row, Axel and Syrus exchanged knowing glances.
They both leaned toward each other like gossiping nobles.
Axel grinned. "Beetle eyes?"
Syrus nodded. "Beetle eyes."
They stifled a laugh.
Arinelle, raised an eyebrow. "I can hear both of you."
Syrus straightened with mock dignity. "Then we'll speak louder next time."
The balcony rippled with a rare, light-hearted energy.
But beneath it—strategy was unfolding.
Each captain had favorites.
Each captain had predictions.
And none of them were looking away for long.
Deep in the forest biome, sunlight flickered through thick canopies as Team Pearl moved with elegant purpose. Mist hovered at ankle height, and the air carried the scent of moss and wildflowers—deceptively calm.
But the ground trembled.
Two beast-like creatures of flame burst through the trees, their bodies steaming with heat and fury.
Without hesitation, two figures sprinted toward them—a boy and a girl, perfectly in sync, mirrored in movement and power.
The girl raised both hands, water spiraling around her.
"First Form—Aqua Prison!" she called.
Water launched from the stream behind her and coiled like serpents, wrapping around both flame beasts in one smooth motion.
"First Form—Water Shift!" the boy shouted.
He flicked his sword forward in a sharp arc, slicing the air with precise form. The water already surrounding the beasts shattered into blades, slicing in every direction—an elegant, spiraling execution.
Both creatures were shredded into dissolving mana.
Silence returned.
The boy and girl stood back to back, smiling confidently.
"Nice job, Geno!" the girl said, clapping her brother's hand.
"Right back at you, Gena," he replied with a grin, clapping hers.
From behind them, a third voice cut in, half-playful, half-mocking.
"Alright, alright, we get it. You two do everything together."
A tall boy stepped forward with slicked-back blond hair and pristine white armor, polished to perfection. Draped over his shoulder was the crest of House Valden—the same as Draven's.
He whispered under his breath with a smirk.
"These twins are so annoyingly perfect…"
Gena turned, scanning the trees. "Hey—Clipso! Where's Lily?"
Geno glanced around. "Wasn't she just here a second ago?"
Clipso narrowed his eyes, stepping lightly across the forest floor.
Suddenly, the earth erupted beneath him.
A massive flower bloomed from the ground, towering overhead. Its petals were radiant shades of pink and gold, releasing a soft, glowing pollen.
From behind it emerged Lily, calm and serene, her voice like the wind through leaves.
"Spirit Skill—Gentle Flourish."
Tiny seeds scattered from the flower in every direction, embedding into the forest floor.
Lily walked forward toward her team, fixing her curly red hair. brushing pollen from her shoulders.
"It's done," she said softly. "I've scattered location seeds throughout the entire forest. Once rooted, they'll sync with my flower."
She touched the base of the bloom.
"I'll be able to track every team's position within minutes."
Clipso's eyes gleamed, lips curling into a pleased smirk.
"Perfect… we'll weed them out one by one."
Suddenly, a bear-like mana beast crashed through the undergrowth, charging them.
Clipso took one step forward—his expression calm.
He drew his blade just halfway from its sheath.
A sharp gust burst from the edge, followed by a crackling arc of storm energy—wind wrapped with flickers of lightning.
The bolt struck the charging bear mid-stride, stunning it with a jolt before it could roar. Its body convulsed, then dissolved into shimmering mana before hitting the ground.
Geno whistled. "That's House Valden for you."
Gena nodded. "He's just as strong as Draven… isn't he?"
Geno lowered his voice. "That's what they say."
Then, with a small edge of awe:
"Some even say… he's stronger."
The scrying crystal above the arena shifted again, this time locking onto the vibrant forest terrain—where Team Pearl's flawless maneuver played out in glowing detail.
The crowd erupted.
"Did you see those twins?!"
"They moved like water—no wasted steps!"
"Clipso is so cool!"
"No, no—that flower girl… she's the real problem. That tracking skill? It's a game-changer!"
The stadium trembled beneath thunderous applause and shouting praise. In every section, fans leapt to their feet, waving pearl-colored banners and calling out the names of the rising stars.
Even in the royal balcony, there was a visible shift.
All four Arch Captains leaned forward at once.
Syrus gave a slow, impressed nod. "The level of synergy… and battlefield control…"
Arinelle folded her arms, smiling. "Lily's spatial sense is rare. That kind of support magic changes the tempo of a whole match."
Arion, though usually unreadable, had a glint in his eye. He said nothing—just continued watching the twins, the flower, and the subtle way Clipso always moved last.
Axel whistled low. "Well damn… looks like Draven isn't the only one worth watching from House Valden."
Syrus glanced at the others, voice low but charged with energy.
"This year's talent…"
He looked out at the field, where eight teams clashed across four terrains.
"…it's something serious."
The captains didn't speak after that.
They just watched.
Because now?
The real games had begun.
Then—Syrus's gaze lingered a little longer. Not on Draven. Not on Renza. Not even on Clipso.
His eyes followed one name only.
Helion.
A slow smile crept across his usually calm face.
"You did it… you're here."
The others didn't hear him—not clearly. He was speaking to himself.
"You look stronger than ever."
He leaned slightly forward in his seat, eyes narrowing in quiet thought.
"Light magic… You should've mentioned that before."
A breath. Almost like a sigh.
"Looks like it was fate… me being there that day."
His hands clasped before him again.
But his gaze never left the boy on the screen.
Not once.