★74
THIRD POV
MATCH 103
Lina, an ice-attribute mage, had short white hair framing her face, her long-sleeved white suit and gloves gleaming under the arena lights.
Masashi, in contrast, was a wind mage and skilled ninja, a dark elf clad in a sleek shinobi shozoku and scarf—a rare privilege granted for the tournament, allowing him a unique ensemble.
Like the other participants, most were elves, their advancement owed largely to the tutelage and protection of Atlas and Eto, whose guardians had guided them this far.
"Begin."
Lina moved first. With a sharp gesture, a spear of ice shimmered into existence and shot across the field. Masashi flickered. For a moment, the spear hit its mark only for the target to burst into a swirl of air. He reappeared several feet to the right, already in motion.
'Wind Step.'
'Fast. Too fast.'
Lina thought quickly. She turned just as Masashi flung a fan of wind-imbued shuriken toward her. Instinct took over, she raised a thin ice wall just in time. The shuriken struck like bullets, embedding themselves deep into the frozen barrier.
One slipped through a narrow crack, slicing across her shoulder.
Lina winced but didn't falter. Blood stained the edge of her white sleeve. She extended her hand, summoning Frost Plate. Armor of frost-laced ice crept over her body, crawling along her limbs and torso until it encased her completely, covering even her head in a glimmering second skin.
"You're fast."
She muttered.
"You're slowing down."
He replied.
Lina slammed her hand into the ground. The temperature shifted instantly as her skill Sub Zero activated. A shimmering wave of magic surged outward, freezing a wide circle around her in an instant. The arena turned white. Frost crept across the ground and into the air itself, pressing against the barrier but failing to overtake it.
Masashi's eyes narrowed. He leapt backward, twisting midair as a gale of wind spun around him, deflecting shards of ice that shot toward him. His scarf flared like a banner in the mist.
'I have thirty seconds.'
Thirty seconds left to defeat someone she could barely see.
Masashi, who had been constantly on the move, faltered for the first time. His step slipped, movements dulled as the cold bit deep into his body, seeping past his defences.
He placed a hand over his chest.
'This is bad. Gale Veil.'
Wind spiralled around him, forming a thin, rotating barrier that forced the cold back, carving out a fragile microclimate of warmth and motion.
His pace picked up again, but not with the same freedom as before—the frost still chased him, close enough to be felt with every breath.
"Smart."
Asteri muttered with a smile on his face.
Still, Lina pressed the advantage. Twin ice swords formed in her hands, their edges humming with cold. She rushed forward, blades flashing. Masashi met her head-on, blocking with his kunai as sparks and frost burst between them. Ice crawled up his weapons, but he shattered it with sharp bursts of wind released at point-blank range.
'This is more exhausting than I thought.'
Lina grit her teeth. Her magicule was draining faster than planned.
That hesitation was all Masashi needed. He dipped low, slid past her guard, and slapped a paper tag onto her back.
'Wind tag?'
She realised it a heartbeat too late. Compressed wind detonated, hurling her across the arena. She smashed into the far wall, armour cracking as the air was driven from her lungs in a painful rush.
Lina staggered back to her feet. Her frost armour was fractured, and the thirty seconds had elapsed—Sub Zero deactivated. Frost still coated the arena, but its grip had faded. Her reserves were dangerously low.
Masashi landed lightly nearby, barely disturbed. His scarf rippled gently as he stood still, waiting.
With a low growl, Lina pointed toward a puddle at her feet. It froze instantly. Ice spears formed in rapid succession and shot toward him.
Masashi zigzagged through them, flipping off a column as Wind Step carried him between the spears like a leaf in a current. He tossed something small to the ground.
Smoke bomb. Thick grey mist flooded the arena.
Lina cursed under her breath and slammed her foot down, releasing a radial ice shockwave that froze the ground outward. She tried to force Sub Zero again despite reaching her limit, but the smoke swallowed everything.
Silence followed. Even the spectators held their breath. With the arena obscured, Asteri adjusted the translucent barrier, sharpening its clarity until the scene became visible once more.
A whisper of wind brushed her back.
Masashi emerged from the mist, blade in hand, glowing with tightly compressed wind magic. Lina turned just as he struck, pouring maximum output into the slash. Her armour shattered.
She hit the ground hard, eyes wide in shock. As she tried to rise, the blade was already aimed at her.
".Yield."
He said softly.
Lina breathed heavily, her magicule depleted, her strength spent. She stared at him for a moment then gave a faint smirk.
"Fine. I surrender."
She raised both hands in surrender. The crowd erupted into cheer as Eto's voice echoed across the arena.
"Masashi wins."
Shinn announced. Masashi stepped back and offered his hand.
"You are strong."
He said. Lina accepted it with a nod, allowing him to pull her up.
"You're fast."
She muttered again, brushing dust off her cracked armor.
"Next time, I'm freezing your legs to the floor before you move."
Masashi chuckled.
"I'll bring a coat."
He replied and the two left the arena. The destroyed arena regenerated, waiting for the next round.
"Hmm, now that I think of it, Masashi didn't use his equipment or attire during the previous matches."
"It means he's fully prepared now."
Hinata answered.
To be continued...