Water coiled around Livia's arm like a living serpent, hissing with pressure. Her steps echoed in the silence, calm and lethal. "You're impressive, Zane," she said, voice steady. "But don't mistake instinct for mastery."
Zane cracked his neck, silver-gray eyes gleaming faintly. "Wasn't planning to."
Then she vanished.
The next second, blades of water sliced through the air—dozens of them, too fast to count. Zane twisted, ducked, sidestepped, the world blurring around him. His shadow followed his movements perfectly, mirroring every dodge like a synchronized dancer.
A final streak of water magic tore through his sleeve, grazing his arm. He barely flinched.
Livia appeared in front of him again, breathing steadily, a smirk tugging at her lips. "You're learning fast… but not fast enough."
Zane's expression barely changed. "You think so?"
He shifted his stance.
For a brief instant, his eyes glowed again — blue like starlight reflecting on ink — and the infinity symbol shimmered faintly across his pupils. His shadow responded before he even moved. It rose slightly off the floor, pulsing like a heartbeat.
Zane exhaled. "Let's end this."
He dashed forward, low and controlled, every motion sharp. Livia crossed her arms to block — but this time, Zane didn't throw a punch.
He spun.
The air cracked as his leg swept around in a wide, precise arc — a perfect roundhouse. But halfway through the motion, the world shifted.
His shadow detached.
It flowed from beneath him, wrapping around his leg in a dark spiral, alive and thrumming with power. As his kick connected, the shadow erupted outward like a wave of black light.
BOOM!
The impact sounded like thunder.
Livia's eyes widened — for a split second she saw it — that living darkness riding the arc of his strike, an echo that struck harder than flesh could. The force launched her backward, straight into the runic barrier that sealed the arena.
The barrier flared bright blue upon impact, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface before sealing again.
When the light faded, Livia was on one knee, clutching her chest, her hair undone and her breathing shallow. Her lips curved into a faint smile.
Then she slumped forward — unconscious.
The barrier dissolved in a shimmer of light. Gasps filled the room as students surged forward, whispering in disbelief. Mira, Luna, and Celeste rushed to Zane's side, while the others kept their distance — too shocked to speak.
Zane straightened slowly, brushing dust from his hoodie. His eyes returned to normal, the glow fading. His shadow slid quietly back beneath his feet like nothing had happened.
He looked toward Livia, lying on the ground with that faint smile still on her face.
"Guess… I passed?"