WHUMP!
A violent gust detonated mid-air as Airi twisted her body, deftly intercepting Haruka's advance. The incoming water waves were caught, redirected, and shredded apart by a rotating veil of compressed wind.
Haruka slid back several steps, boots scraping against the stone as she stabilized her footing. The water around her arms dispersed into mist, reforming almost instantly.
Airi straightened, brushing stray strands of emerald hair away from her face. A playful, almost predatory grin curved her lips.
"This opportunity is rare," she said lightly. "I'd be disappointed if you chose to fight passively."
Her eyes gleamed.
"Get serious."
The ambient mana shifted.
Airi exhaled slowly, and the wind answered.
[Tempest Centum — Final Form: Divine Gales]
SWISH!
The air screamed.
Hundreds of razor-sharp wind slashes condensed into existence around Airi, spiraling outward in an overwhelming storm. Unlike spell-formed blades, these were born from pure elemental manipulation—each one refined, precise, and lethal.
They slammed into Haruka in rapid succession.
RIP—SHRRK—WHAM!
Her reinforced outfit tore apart under the barrage, layers of enchanted fabric splitting as blood blossomed across her arms and shoulders. Haruka was forced back, barely managing to remain upright as the last wave struck.
"Tch…"
She clicked her tongue, frustration flashing across her usually calm expression.
Without hesitation, Haruka downed a recovery potion. Cool mana surged through her veins, sealing wounds and restoring clarity. She inhaled deeply, eyes sharpening as she refocused on her opponent.
Around her, water condensed.
Whirlwinds formed in the distance—Airi's presence alone turning the battlefield hostile.
Haruka lunged.
Crescent Claw
Water gathered around her hands, compressing and sharpening into curved, blade-like arcs. She closed the distance in a burst of speed, her movements fluid and decisive.
Airi reacted instantly, reinforcing her body with a dense layer of wind armor.
The water blade struck.
Instead of dispersing—
SHRRK!
It shredded straight through the wind veil.
The impact tore into Airi's left arm, blood spraying outward as the force drove her back half a step.
For a heartbeat, the arena went silent.
Then—
Airi laughed.
Her grin widened, eyes alight with exhilaration rather than pain.
Haruka's eyes narrowed.
'She's insane…'
Takumi had been reckless, but this was different. Airi wasn't just willing to risk injury—she reveled in it.
Endless Wind Fury
The atmosphere erupted.
The wind around Airi turned violent, spiraling inward as she launched herself forward in a frenzied dash. Each step shattered the stone beneath her feet, pressure waves rippling outward.
Haruka didn't retreat.
Instead, she raised her arms and formed her defense.
Reflecting Veil
A translucent barrier of flowing water enveloped her, layered and dynamic. This was her strongest defensive technique—capable not only of blocking attacks, but redirecting their force back at the attacker.
The first wave of wind struck.
Then the second.
Then dozens more.
The reflected gales whipped back toward Airi, carving trenches into the ground and tearing chunks of stone loose.
But Airi didn't slow.
Didn't stop.
Didn't dodge.
What happened next made even Haruka's breath hitch.
Divine Zephyr Strike
Airi smashed into the Reflecting Veil with her bare hands.
Once.
Twice.
Again.
Each strike was reinforced by compressed wind, her palms glowing faintly as the counterforce ripped into her flesh. Blood sprayed with every impact, her hands splitting open under the strain.
Yet she kept going.
Haruka felt it—the balance shifting.
Cracks spread across the veil.
Her arms trembled.
Her breathing grew heavier.
Within seconds, the defense failed.
BOOM!
A storm of strikes tore through her, lifting her clean off her feet and hurling her out of the arena. The instructors reacted instantly, halting her fall mid-air and rushing to stabilize her condition.
Airi staggered.
Took one step.
Then collapsed, her body finally giving in as consciousness slipped away.
Silence.
Then—
"The spar is over."
"Winner—Kazehana Airi."
For a moment, the crowd didn't react.
Then the realization hit.
The arena erupted into cheers.
To ordinary spectators, the match had ended almost too abruptly. They had seen no grand explosions, no towering spells—only movement, pressure, and violence delivered through refined control.
What they didn't understand was what truly made the duel terrifying.
These weren't spells.
They were elemental augmentations—techniques that reinforced the body itself rather than acting external flashly spells. Subtle. Lethal. Far more dangerous against creatures like demons.
------------------
"…Airi hasn't changed much since her youth," Mizuno Aoi said quietly.
It was the first time she had spoken that day.
No one was surprised. When Aoi spoke, it mattered.
Her gaze never left Yuriko.
Yuriko, meanwhile, wore an amused expression.
"Are you going to make excuses for her loss now?" she teased lightly.
Aoi didn't respond.
Yuriko clicked her tongue.
"…It wouldn't hurt if Airi learned some restraint."
The others remained silent.
None of them had the energy—or desire—to argue with Yuriko. Especially when it was widely accepted that Yuriko herself was far worse than her daughter.
As if to prove it, Yuriko's attention suddenly shifted.
Her eyes locked onto Kazuki.
Sensing the gaze, Kazuki met it calmly.
Yuriko's grin widened.
"Maybe the newcomer can help with that," she half-joked.
A few of the Dukes shook their heads. Yuriko always found ways to amuse herself—and this time, it helped diffuse the lingering tension.
------------------
"Ladies and gentlemen," the host announced, not allowing the energy to settle.
"The matches thus far have been both entertaining and instructive."
"Let us proceed to the second round of the Celestial Ascendance!"
The crowd roared.
"The next match—Kagayaki Aiko versus Kazuma Takumi!"
"There are no longer any restrictions. Contestants are free to display their full potential!"
The cheers intensified as both appeared on stage.
Takumi's expression was uncharacteristically serious. He never underestimated Aiko—not the Young Saint.
Aiko, on the other hand, remained calm, her attention fixed ahead.
Before the instructor could speak—
Hikari stepped onto the stage.
The arena shuddered as his mana reinforced it layer by layer.
"Surprised?" he asked lightly. "I wanted to watch my former disciple up close today."
Aiko bowed respectfully, a faint smile touching her lips.
Takumi bristled.
'Should I just leave if everyone's going to ignore me…?'
He suppressed the thought.
'I'll make sure you don't for long.'
Hikari gestured.
"Which equipment and artifacts will you be using?"
Takumi withdrew his battle gear—trusted, familiar, not the strongest his family possessed, but the ones he knew best. Special gauntlets gleamed on his hands, designed to suppress magical interference.
Aiko presented a single sword.
Plain. Well Maintained.
Perfectly balanced.
Not an artifact.
Hikari inspected them briefly.
Then—
"Let the match begin." He calmly announced.