★82
Ninth Day.
Everyone was already seated, anticipation thick in the air as they waited for the officials to move on after Atlas's speech.
This was the semi-finals, only two matches left. One would decide the morning, the other the evening.
"Without wasting any time, MATCH 110—participants, please enter the arena."
The official announced, voice echoing through the coliseum,
The sky responded first. Lightning tore downward, a violent crack as it struck the arena floor. Almost at the same instant, dark flames bloomed on the opposite side, rising silently yet ominous.
From the lightning stood Raiden, white-blue sparks crawling across his body. From the flames emerged Majo, her silhouette steady within the darkness, fire clinging to her like a living cloak. They faced each other from only a few feet apart.
No words were exchanged. The coliseum fell unnaturally quiet as if the crowd seemed to forget how to breathe. Power pressed down on everyone watching.
Then, without ceremony, without warning—
"Begin."
The official's voice cut through the silence, and the tension snapped.
Majo moved first and she didn't hold back. The air around her twisted as multiple elements answered at once. Geysers of water burst from the arena floor, crashing forward only to be ignited mid-motion into roaring walls of fire.
At the same time, jagged spikes of ice speared upward beneath Raiden's feet, timed to catch him the moment he moved. The ground groaned as slabs of earth tore free. Blades of compressed wind followed, slicing through the chaos with lethal accuracy. She's was going out on elemental magic.
It was overwhelming, but Raiden didn't retreat.
He walked forward, wach step deliberate, almost calm. Lightning sparked from his hands in short, controlled bursts. A bolt split an incoming boulder down the middle, reducing it to rubble before it reached him.
Another snapped downward, shattering the ice spikes just as they breached the surface. Fire met electricity and dispersed violently, water flashed into steam, and wind blades were erased mid-flight by crackling white lines that cut through the air faster than sound.
Raiden didn't waste motion. No excess, no panic, he's in control. His lightning moved like an extension of his body, reacting the instant each spell formed, intercepting them at their weakest point.
The arena shook with constant impacts, flashes of blue light colliding with flame, frost, and stone.
'Too basic.'
Raiden thought.
She raised both arms and channelled a chaotic mix. Fire, water, earth, ice, wind, lightning all merged, collapsing into a glowing core above her head.
"Take them all at once."
Raiden charged the elemental singularity head-on, conjuring lightning to his fist. A single punch was all he needed to destroy it. Still, he didn't activate Pseudo Blaze. The crowd was surprised.
'Why? Why hasn't he used it? Is this mockery?'
Majo growled inwardly. Raiden's control of lightning lets him anticipate and dismantle every combo of all elements, proving the fact that lightning is the strongest element.
Agitated, Majo slammed her hand into the ground. Demonic glyphs crawled outward.
"Corruption Vine!"
Dark tendrils burst from the floor, seeking Raiden like serpents. The crowd gasped. Demonic magic was forbidden, so she should be disqualified immediately. Shinn moved to intervene, but Raiden shook his head. As if saying, "Let her continue."
(Hollup, let her cook:)
Shinn looked up at Asteri for confirmation, and he simply nodded.
"Is he out of his mind?"
Towa asked.
"The fact that he hasn't used Pseudo Blaze means he can handle it."
Hinata answered. Her candidate danced through the tendrils, severing them with ease.
'Still not enough.'
Majo's pride cracked. She hissed a stronger chant.
"Don't blame me if you die. Infernal Torrent!"
Before her spell could be activated, Asteri reshaped the battlefield and expanded the arena alone. The small arena's dimensions, which were 83 m long and 48 m wide, are now 249 m long and 144 m wide. (Multiplied by 3.)
With the expansion of the arena, multiple screens appear all around the coliseum so that everyone can get a better view of what is about to happen.
An enormous wave of blackened fire began to take shape above Majo, spiralling out of a massive magic circle etched with demonic sigils. The flames weren't just burning, they were rotting the air itself, twisted with malice and oppressive heat. The light in the coliseum dimmed as if the sky were being swallowed, shadows stretching unnaturally across the arena.
"You fought well, but it's over."
Majo said calmly, her voice carrying through the growing darkness.
"It's a pity I couldn't see True Blaze for myself."
The fire descended, vast and unavoidable, a catastrophe given form.
Raiden didn't move. He stood there, eyes fixed on the approaching inferno. For most, the sight alone would have crushed their will. For him, there was nothing, no fear, no excitement, not even defiance. Just focus.
"Pseudo Blaze."
The whisper was nearly lost beneath the roar of demonic fire. But the moment the words left his lips and pure lightning erupted from his body. The storm above had been smothered by flame, so the energy tore outward instead, white-blue arcs snapping violently around him, crawling across his skin.
Raiden shot forward, not dodging or attacking, but he went straight through the oncoming fire. The inferno split as he passed, lightning carving a path through demonic flames that should have erased him. In less than a blink, he was already beyond it, closing the distance to Majo at a speed that eclipsed lightning itself.
"Welcome!"
Majo spread her arms wide, almost delighted.
Multiple magic circles bloomed behind her in rapid succession, layered and rotating, each one churning with infernal power. From them surged torrents of corrupted fire, dense and violent.
Raiden answered in kind. Lightning burst from his body in sharp, merciless streaks. Bolts collided with infernal surges head-on.
A blackened rod of condensed demonic energy punched into his shoulder, wedging brutally into the joint between arm and torso. (The glenohumeral joint).
The pain was immediate and in the same instant, gravity reclaimed him.
Raiden dropped from the clash, slamming into the scorched arena floor. Blood spilled from his brow, ran down his cheek, and dripped steadily from his wounded shoulder. The lightning around him flickered, yet they didn't extinguish.
He pushed himself up slightly, breath steady despite the damage.
'Now she's serious.'
He taught, the lightning around his joint intensifying as he pulled the rod out.
"Not yet! There are still more! Show me—show me the True Blaze!"
Majo's voice tore through the arena, raw and unrestrained.
Her magic surged violently, crimson-black energy spilling from her body like a living thing. The magic circles behind her warped and expanded, their sigils distorting under the sheer pressure.
"Cataclysm Burst!"
Above the coliseum, the heavens ignited as if set alight by an unseen hand. A vast infernal firestorm formed, churning and collapsing in on itself, its heat so intense the air screamed. The barrier opened up, inviting the firestorm while it strained under the stress.
This wasn't an attack meant to defeat an opponent, it was meant to erase everything beneath it. Yet it was directed towards a single person.
Raiden looked up. His pupils tightened.
'Pseudo Blaze won't hold. Fraction of a time. A fraction of time is all I need…'
His hand pressed against his ruined shoulder, lightning stuttering around the wound. Blood ran freely now, evaporating almost as soon as it touched the ground. He stared into the descending apocalypse, breathing once.
"It's time."
The words were barely a whisper but the time skipped and the world answered immediately.
There was no build-up, no charge, no sound. A single line of pure white lightning appeared and vanished faster then what the eye can see. In the next perceivable second, the firestorm was gone. Not split but completely obliterated.
For a heartbeat, absolute silence reigned. Then the shockwave arrived, hurling shattered stone, scorched debris, and broken earth across the arena. The barrier flared violently but held, groaning under the impact.
It had come before anyone could perceive it. That was the nature of True Blaze.
Majo stood frozen, eyes wide, then curved into a broad, almost joyous smile. She had seen it again. The white lightning, True Blaze.
But it didn't end there. The residual bolt of the divine lightning born from the activation itself, descended from above and struck her squarely. Pain exploded through her body as her nerves screamed in protest. She staggered, a sharp cry tearing from her throat. However, as a Demon Lord, she endured.
XThis guy is clearly at the baseline of the Archdemon tier, at the very least. He'll soon push further.'
Her boots dug into the shattered arena as she straightened, eyes glowing red, hair whipping wildly in the lingering chaos.
"I'm not done!"
She roared, magic flaring once more, the battle far from over.
"Wait, are these guys really training on this island? It is quite unbelievable that you are all sitting comfortably when there is someone like them training next to you."
Towa asked.
"Of course not. Both Atlas and Eto can summon a personal training ground. It's safe to say they use it for training."
"Yes. Raiden was the one who dug the earth. Back then, I told them to use a different training ground, so Atlas must've used one of his worlds as the new training ground."
"Hinata might be right. But still, Atlas isn't the 'creator type'."
Asteri added.
"Must have and might? It means you guys don't really know what's going on?"
Asteri simply smiled, pointing to the arena.
Majo blurred forward, her form distorting as high-tier demonic magic surged through her body. She outpaced Raiden completely. Even at his peak, Pseudo Blaze, already far beyond the speed of sound couldn't keep up anymore. This was her moving without restraint.
Her claws tore across his back, shredding flesh. A kick followed, collapsing his ribs. Blood scattered across the scorched arena. Raiden staggered, but he didn't fall. He has come too far to fall.
He couldn't see her. Her presence slipped in and out of perception, vanishing the moment he tried to focus. Yet he knew this wouldn't end here.
Lightning surged erratically around his body as he fought on instinct. For fractions of a second, less than a blink, he switched to True Blaze, a skip in time enough to evade a killing blow and enough to counter with a strike she barely avoided before he dropped back into Pseudo Blaze just as quickly, conserving what little control he had left.
Again and again, short, violent bursts of white lightning.
'Damn. I didn't know activating it frequently would be this exhausting. Well, it'll just seem like I'm keeping it active.'
But Raiden is smart, he's not surviving this long to lose at the end. Each activation left something behind.
Majo pressed harder, sensing his desperation but missing the pattern forming beneath the chaos. Raiden's breathing grew heavier, his body screaming in protest, yet his movements became slower, almost deliberate.
He was stalling for time and it's about time to harvest.
'She's faster—but she doesn't see it yet. Nah, she'll never be able to see. I'm confident only his majesty can pick them up.'
"Oblivion Flame!"
Majo roared, and a massive firestorm surged from within her, large enough to vaporise the arena. No battlefield, no opponent.
Raiden gritted his teeth and deactivated True Blaze while keeping Pseudo Blaze active. Majo giggled.
"Nowhere to run. This is my personal magic. There is noway you'll survive this. I pray for my lord's protection and await his punishment."
Raiden closed his eyes and waited, then something shifted. The firestorm didn't reach him. It just couldn't.
"What?"
She muttered. The crowd stared wide-eyed.
She watched—again and again—until the truth revealed itself. Her spell was ensnared, suspended in an invisible lattice, a trap. White lightning threads, impossibly fine, woven together during every fleeting flash of True Blaze.
Asteri chuckled.
"This boy—"
"—has won."
Hinata finished calmly, as though she had already seen the outcome play out in full.
"I win."
Raiden whispered. Majo's eyes widened. She lunged for him.
"Ark—"
The world fell silent. Sound vanished, time itself seemed to lock in place.
"—Nova."
Asteri moved first, throwing up his defences as the arena detonated. The web collapsed inward and exploded outward all at once, transforming into a pillar of divine lightning that speared the heavens.
The blast lit up space itself, crushing the sky into silence.
When the light finally faded, Majo lay motionless, defeated.
'W—when?'
She thought weakly. The first barrier was removed, but it seems like no damage was done. Asteri was able to clean it off. Raiden dropped to one knee, battered and barely conscious. But he stood victorious.
"This—"
Shinn was at a loss for word. He took a deep breath, resuming his task as an official.
"Raiden has advanced to the finals."
The silence shattered as the crowd erupted into cheers, the roar rolling through the coliseum like thunder.
Majo stirred. Dark embers faded from her skin as her wounds closed, demonic vitality restoring her in moments. She pushed herself upright, brushing dust from her clothes, then looked back at Raiden who's at the centre of the arena.
A wide, genuine smile crossed her face.
"It was fun."
With that, she turned and left the arena, Amri falling into step beside her, the two disappearing beyond the gates amid lingering applause.
Raiden's injuries were undone just as swiftly. White sparks faded from his body as he steadied himself, exhaustion finally catching up to him. Without a word, he exited the arena as well, heading off to rest.
"Hmm, you had all of this throughout?"
Natsu, who's standing by the exit, asked.
"Is that a problem?"
"No. But I guess you still have something in hand."
"Hmm, you said it. I didn't."
Raiden responded before leaving the scene.
The crowd roared. The storm marches to the final. Shinn flew to the scorched arena.
"This is a mess. Well, now that we have someone who made it to the finals, it is time to decide who emerges victorious in the upcoming match. As scheduled, MATCH 111 will be taking place in the evening. Go get some rest and prepare."
With that, the first round of the semifinals had ended.
"What's going on again, Asta kun?"
Ramiris came in the moment everyone was leaving. The ladies discussing as they left.
"Hahaha, you're late."
Asteri chuckled.
"I wasn't. It's not funny, are you preparing to take over the world or what? Turning common elves into artificial gods."
I shook my head and left the vip section last. The Fairy Queen followed.
"No. I just wanted to see how strong my people are. If I want to take over the world, I'd do it alone. That way, it'll be quicker."
"Hmm."
"Is there a problem? Oh, let me guess, people are complaining about Star Island, yes?"
She nodded.
"Well, it was unexpected. I never thought Raiden's attack would pierce through my barrier."
"Not to mention he fought well against a demon above the archdemons."
"I'm still investigating how they got so powerful in a short amount of time. I mean, we're the problem, but I can't just conclud on it."
(That Dexter meme, again, xd)
"I need to know how much they took, how much they can handle, and other analysis."
"Y—you. Don't tell me?"
She wanted to ask but couldn't say it out loud. Understanding where she's coming from, Asteri modded in response, then raised a finger to his lips, silently urging her to stay quiet.
"O—ok."
"I haven't been seeing you around lately. Where have you been?"
"I don't need to be next to you to watch the tournament."
She replied.
"That hurts—a bit."
He chuckles, and Athena pulls his hair harder.
"Ow. I was just kidding, Lady Athena. Hehehe."
"About that. Not that I'm complaining, but are you just going to accept fate?"
Ramiris asked.
"Of course not. But the situation here is different. Her world ended because I was late. Couldn't save her mother. All I did was watch. Completely powerless and useless. Doing what she believed on her dying bed is the least I could do."
"...."
Ramiris remained silent, unsure how to respond.
Just then, the figure of the Lord of Death emerged in the corridor. Asteri halted mid-step, and Atlas followed suit, freezing in place. The two stood motionless for nearly a minute, tension thick in the air, before Ramiris finally stepped forward to intervene.
"Um—I—I'll get going. I'll see you later, Asta kun."
Ramiris waved and flew out.
"It's none of my business, but where were you yesterday? I couldn't find you anywhere."
Asteri asked, curious.
"With Annie."
He gave a straightforward reply, and this caught Asteri off guard. He cleared his throat.
"Ok."
He replied softly.
"You've found it?"
He followed.
"Slowly. With time, I, too, will understand."
Atlas replied.
"Well, as a piece of advice, don't let it change who you are."
Asteri reminded him as he walked past him.
"Everything has an end. No matter what or who it is."
Atlas replied a bit too cold.
'Just because you control death doesn't mean you should let it control you.'
Asteri kept it to himself as he left.
To be continued...