Osmian: "I think we shouldn't mind them."
Kain: (Nods)
"Alright then. Let's start."
SWOOOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, Osmian leaped forward, flames swirling around his right arm. He threw a punch at Kain, but Kain vanished instantly. Osmian landed in a superhero stance, the impact creating a shockwave of flames that rippled across the sand.
Kain was standing at a distance, untouched.
The entire VIP segment stood up in confusion. Even the Empresses, who had sat behind silk curtains even during their own sons' battles, stepped forward for a closer look. Even Emperor Stromas lost his calm demeanor.
That one move made the entire Colosseum fall silent. The Salamander Riot was forgotten.
Melvin: "Did that freak just use teleportation?"
Anjan: "No. It is 'Blink'—a movement technique used by the elites of the Thundergun Dynasty. But you cannot use it until the Awakening Stage. So what is this anomaly?"
Osmian: "How did you do that? Even I can't follow your speed."
Kain: (Blurs out of sight)
THWACK!
A kick to Osmian's face sent him flying back.
Osmian: "I was right. You are strong... far stronger than a Grand Master."
While talking, Osmian activated the flame skill Scorching inside his body to accelerate his blood flow. Simultaneously, he prepared a Flame Thrust.
BOOOM!
He launched himself forward. His speed was barely visible to people of the same level. Closing the distance, he raised both arms and began spinning his body at hyperspeed while rapid-casting a spell called "Contact Blast"—a spell that releases multiple small flame rays designed to explode upon contact with any foreign magic print.
He looked like a ground-spinning firecracker, turning the arena into a kill zone.
Anjan: "Good judgment. Since he cannot match his opponent's speed, he is making an area attack where the opponent cannot escape. But... where did he Blink to?"
Melvin: "Above."
The crowd looked up into the sky. Kain had blinked several meters above the Colosseum, looking down on everyone like a deity.
From high above, he cast Flame Pillar—a spell that creates a pillar of fire locked onto the target.
BOOOOOOOM!
A massive column of fire crashed down. Osmian was down. Kain blinked back down to the floor silently.
Osmian (Lying on the ground, bloodied): "This is it... I've been stuck on the bottleneck of the Grandmaster Stage for the last two weeks. All I lacked was—"
THWACK!
Kain kicked him square in the face before he could finish his realization, sending Osmian spinning across the floor like a top.
Osmian (Stumbling up): "You jerk... ow."
As Osmian broke through his limits to release his flames, his magicular structure suddenly began to alter, changing its fundamental properties. The orange fire grew violent, bleaching out color until it turned a blinding White.
Emperor Stromas stood up abruptly from his throne. The entire VIP section followed suit.
First Empress: "The Flames of Infinity are back..."
Crowd (Murmuring): "It's the White Flames..." "The legend is real..." "The flames of Emperor Adrian!"
Melvin: "Royal Advisor, what is the meaning of this?"
Anjan (Trembling): "The Infinite Flames wielded by Emperor Adrian five hundred years ago have returned. This only means one thing..."
Stromas (Solemnly): "The Flames are Eternal."
First & Second Empresses: "The Flames are Eternal."
Melvin: "Flames are Eternal."
OM, Meena, Aurin, Rocian: "Flames are Eternal."
The Crowd: "The Flames are Eternal! THE FLAMES ARE ETERNAL! THE FLAMES ARE ETERNAL!"
As the chanting grew into a deafening roar, the white fire enveloped Osmian completely, merging with his very soul.
SYSTEM: BREAKTHROUGH: GRANDMASTER STAGE —> HEAVEN STAGE.
Osmian clenched his fist, feeling the god-like power coursing through him.
Osmian: "Alright."
BOOOOOOOOM!
Kain didn't wait. He unleashed Grand Flame Strike—a concentrated, heavy bombardment of fire—directly onto Osmian's face.
The explosion shattered the arena wall. When the smoke cleared, Osmian was plastered against the rubble, unconscious. The legendary White Flames flickered out instantly.
Anjan: "Oh dear. His timing was perfect... but his opponent was not."
The crowd's happiness shattered in an instant. The chanting died in their throats. Even Emperor Stromas looked visibly disappointed that the "Legendary Moment" was cut short.
Mint: "Though I... uh... wished for that Osmian kid to win after that display... reality is often disappointing. The winner is Kain Fostan of the Ashes Academy!"
Kain turned to walk out. Without looking back, he raised his hand and gave a firm middle finger to Mint.
High above, hidden in the darkest shadows of the stadium rafters, a man with an eye patch on his left eye watched the boy leave.
The pillar of fire unleashed by Kain was so intense it didn't just defeat Osmian—it melted the arena floor, disrupting the alignment of the restoration rune stones. The ceremony was forced into a short break as the engineers scrambled to fix the damage.
Rocian walked toward the VIP stand where Melvin and Anjan were seated.
Melvin immediately knelt. "Greetings, Your Highness."
Rocian: "Get up. I don't like these courtesies. Royal Adviser, what's with that kid? How did he do that?"
Anjan: "I understand your confusion. He is in the Profound Heaven Stage and used a spell called Blink. It allows the user to traverse to a target location at the speed of sound, which looks like teleportation to the naked eye."
Rocian: "So he's just too strong."
Anjan: "Yes."
Rocian: "Alright. I'll take my leave."
Melvin: "U-uuh, Royal Adviser... that man is here."
Anjan turned, his face paling. "My goodness... I never thought I would see him in Solaren again."
A man in high-quality black robes walked into the Emperor's stand. A massive greatsword was strapped to his back, and an eye patch covered his left eye. As he passed, every guard and servant bowed in deep respect.
Rocian: "Adviser, who is he?"
The Eye-Patched Man: "I greet the Great Emperor. May your flames be eternal."
Melvin: "The Principal of Ashes Academy."
Stromas: "Welcome, brother. Your presence delights this ceremony."
Anjan: "Your uncle, Prince Rocian. A powerhouse in the Visionary State... Jaden Ignis."
Rocian: "Never heard of him. Must be a coward who ran away."
Melvin: "Your perception is frightening, Your Highness. He is, indeed..."
Rocian: "Well, he's not someone important enough to be remembered."
Anjan: "That's not true, Prince Rocian. Do you know your father's nickname?"
Rocian: "The Raging Infernal...?"
Anjan: "No. Before that."
Rocian: "The Youngest Emperor?"
Anjan: "And do you know how he became the youngest Emperor?"
Rocian: "Because grandfather died."
Anjan: "Because he killed your grandfather. At the age of fourteen."
Rocian (Shocked): "What?"
Anjan: "It is time for you to know about your father, as you and your brother will have to take his mantle in the near future."
Flashback: Solaren, Half a Century Ago
The previous Emperor, Nathan Ignis, was the worst in Agnikhaat's history. Born into peace and power, he was arrogant and useless, barely reaching the Ethereal State by the age of sixty. He ignored the people, wasting the Empire's wealth on indulgence. He had fourteen sons and four daughters—all of them ruthless, entitled brats.
Then came Stromas, the thirteenth son.
He was a warrior of uncontrollable growth. Fearing him, the Crown Prince manipulated the Minister of War to send Stromas on a suicide expedition against the hiding Arson Clans in the Northern Labyrinths.
Anjan: "Unexpectedly, Stromas met us. Me, a young lad from the Meril clan; the First and Second Empresses; Houren, the head of the Cinder clan; and David, the current Minister of War. We were all just young fools wanting to be heroes. That battle changed our lives. Stromas rose as our leader, and we became comrades that night."
When they returned, Stromas was a changed man. He saw the world outside the palace and realized the Empire was rotting. He sent a secret letter to his comrades, asking for assistance to "change" Agnikhaat.
Anjan: "What he asked of us was terrifying. But we pulled it off. That day, Stromas killed every one of his siblings with his own hands. We slaughtered everyone who stood against him. When we stormed the throne hall, the Emperor commanded the Royal Guards to eliminate us—but not a single guard moved. They knew Stromas was the only one worthy of the throne."
Stromas killed his father and his mother before the throne, sitting upon it while still drenched in the blood of his own family. Over the following decade, he purged every "scum" that had rotted in the peace, bringing the fire-warrior spirit back to its roots. The Empire's current obsession with discipline and power? It was all born from that massacre.
Present Day
Rocian: "I never imagined the playful old man was like that. I thought he was like Aurin... Wait, what about that Jaden person?"
Anjan: "Oh. He wasn't a true Prince. He was a child born to your grandfather and a prisoner from the Thundergun Dynasty. Your grandfather was a piece of trash. We were ready to kill the boy too, but Stromas gave him a chance since he was only a six-year-old brat begging for his life."
Rocian: "A chance?"
Anjan: "Stromas told him he would be spared if he pulled out one of his own eyes with his own hands. And he did it. He pulled his eye out right there."
Rocian (Silent): "..."
Anjan: "We gave him a sack of money and told him to leave. He fled Solaren, settled in Fostan, and eventually founded Ashes Academy thirty years ago. He has never participated in the Summer Festival... until now. He appeared with that monster of a student."
Rocian: "So that's why he has the patch. Hmph. Interesting."
Mink: "Once again, people! The arena is prepared! Get ready for the last battle of this year's ceremony!"