★72
THIRD POV
MATCH 100
Arisa stood at the centre of the arena, her long auburn hair tied back, a faint scar etched across her face. Clad in a green suit, her gaze was sharp and unwavering, locked on her opponent.
Seiji, in contrast, exuded a calm confidence, light blue hair framing his face, a black suit without gloves, and a serene smile playing across his closed eyes.
"Begin."
Arisa acted without hesitation, conjuring a twisting wind prison that enveloped Seiji immediately.
The currents churned violently, forming an impenetrable cage around him. A scream tore out from inside, distorted by the roaring winds. Arisa couldn't help but laugh, her grin wide and cruel.
"Fantastic. As long as the wind flows, this prison will remain active. I don't even need to waste my magicule maintaining it. I am only using magic to strengthen it."
She said, waiting for him to surrender—or die.
Small blue sparks danced across the swirling currents, following the arcs of violent energy.
Seiji's cries grew louder, muffled and frantic. The pressure of the prison tested both his body and spirit. Ban's hand hovered tensely above, hesitating, yet he did not intervene.
'Nothing's more amusing than hearing a cute boy cry in agony.'
"Oh, and Seiji‑kun, you have less than twenty seconds to escape. Let me hear your screams!"
Her face twisted into a manic grin, the kind that made everyone in the arena shiver.
(She's a psycho.)
'Don't panic—twenty seconds more then enough.'
Seiji inhaled deeply, letting his chest rise and fall, forcing himself to calm down despite the screaming wind and the pressure pressing against him from every direction.
'The path… the path… the path. Find it… let it connect!'
His eyes shot open. The irises were gone, replaced by a void of pitch-black, veins of crackling black lightning snaking across his body like living circuits. The air around him shimmered violently.
From within the prison, five jagged bolts of black lightning tore outward, slicing through the wind barriers, obliterating the prison from the inside. The wind screamed as it collapsed.
Seiji hovered midair, a massive ring of black lightning igniting behind him like a halo of pure destructive energy.
"Another one?"
Asteri muttered, eyes widening at the appearance of yet another elemental anomaly.
"One by one, they'll show their true colours. Let's observe for now."
Hinata suggested, her gaze locked on the arena.
Seiji spread his fingers deliberately.
Instantly, Arisa was sealed inside a dome, mirroring her own wind prison, yet forged entirely of crackling black lightning. Her smile evaporated into a shocked glare, eyes wide as she realized the reversal.
"You have two seconds to escape."
A pause stretched taut across the arena, the kind that made every spectator hold their breath.
"Times up."
Seiji's grin returned, cold and sharp. The dome detonated in a storm of black lightning, arcs dancing chaotically across the arena. The energy slammed against the containment barriers with such force that the entire arena quivered.
Without the protective shield, the spectators would have been instantly incinerated.
Seiji turned, already ascending toward the exit, his flight smooth and effortless. His lightning flickering out by the second, only to catch the signature of someone.
He halt, frown etching across his features. Balck lightning sparkling across his body.
"You survived?"
He asked, raising his hands, shaping a ball of black lightning midair, ready to strike, when a firm grip stopped him.
"The match is over."
Shinn stood there, calm and imposing.
Looking down, Ban positioned himself in front of Arisa. The damage from Seiji's unleashed energy barely affected him.
Ban locked eyes with Seiji, and for a tense moment, the two just stared, unflinching, neither breaking the silent duel of wills.
"Forgive me, Lord Ban. I did what I had to do to win. Using such a move isn't against the—"
"Silence!"
Ban's voice roared, cutting through the tension.
"He's right, Ban. The master didn't specify the rules."
Atlas interjected, his voice even but firm.
"I'm tired of this."
Asteri muttered under his breath as he approached the balcony, exuding irritation.
"Ban is officially stripped of his role. Eto will take his place."
Asteri announced, his voice calm yet carrying absolute authority.
Ban left the arena silently, while Eto materialized beside Shinn.
"Looks like we're in this together for now, Shinn."
Eto said.
With a small grin, Shinn replied.
"Good to be back, buddy."
"An outsider would've mistaken them for friends."
Towa observed, watching the exchange.
"Of course."
Asteri replied, his eyes still fixed on the arena.
"I don't know why, but Ban didn't do anything wrong."
Hinamatsuri muttered, concern etched in her voice.
"He didn't. But he shouldn't have interfered. What's the point of fighting without nothing on the line?"
Asteri asked softly. Hinamatsuri stayed silent, unable to provide an answer.
"If he is driven by some unknown, stupid sense of justice—then I'll be delighted in cleansing him."
Asteri added, a hint of restrained menace in his tone.
To be continued...