The roar still filled the submerged hall. Waves crashed against the crystal walls, and dancing lights cast blue shadows.
Lucien struggled against the water currents, his breath catching in his throat, his chest burning like a smoldering ember, as Atlas relentlessly attacked him, battering him with waves of water pressure that pushed him further and further back until his body slammed against the hall's watery ceiling, clinging to the last vestiges of consciousness.
Lucien raised his head, his eyes desperately searching for a single breath of air to separate the water from the surface, but above he saw only a faint ray of light. He pushed himself forward with all his might, and as he rose desperately, a furious cry echoed behind him: "You won't escape me!"
Atlas had caught up with him, his face contorted with rage. Lucien raised his spear and launched frozen barriers that quickly formed walls before Atlas, blocking his advance.
Atlas crashed into the first barrier, then the second, then the third. Lucien's breath grew increasingly labored; his eyes watered from the pressure and lack of air, and every beat in his chest felt like an echo of death.
But he didn't stop. He let out a stifled cry, a cry of life, and finally reached the top. He reached out and broke through the water's surface, taking his first breath since the battle began. The air pierced his chest like a stab. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, catching his breath, and whispered, his voice low but full of power: "Breathe... ice."
At that very moment, everything changed. The water in the hall began to quiet down, the currents ceased, and an eerie coldness slowly spread around him. At the bottom of the hall, Atlas felt something unnatural. He looked down at his hands and saw a thin layer of ice forming over his skin. "What... is happening?!"
He cried out, trying to move his body, but his movements slowed, as if time itself weighed him down. Suddenly, Lucien appeared before him, a flash of blue light, surrounded by an aura of cold vapor. "Here I am…" Lucien said in a low voice.
Then he charged with incredible speed. Blows rained down: a strike from the right, a kick from the left, a swift thrust to the shoulder, then a rapid twist behind his back. Every movement was precise, every impact sending sparks of ice and water flying, while Atlas staggered, unable to keep up. But Lucien knew time was against him. Breathing ice wasn't eternal; he could feel his body growing heavier, his temperature dropping, his strength almost fading. "I must finish this now…" he whispered between breaths.
Then he slowly raised his spear. Around him, blue light swirled like a cold vortex, the shape of the luminous moon reflected in his eyes, as he whispered the final words of his skill: "The Frozen Moon."
The water froze for a moment, then he launched his spear with astonishing speed. It pierced the water like a flash of light. Atlas tried to dodge the attack, but it struck him directly in the chest, propelling him with tremendous force to the ground. He crashed against the water wall of the arena, scattering ice in all directions. Silence fell, then Selena's voice rose from behind the barrier: "He won! Lucien won!"
Her eyes shone with worry for her brother and joy at Lucien's victory, while Saruto began to move his hands, sealing the cracks in the arena wall and gradually draining the water.
The temperature dropped as Lucien stood erect in the arena, his breath slow, his eyes glowing with a dull light of exhaustion. He smiled as he looked at Selena, but at that very moment, a shadow shrank behind him—Atlas!
He was still able to move, and with what little strength he had left, he delivered a sly thrust of his spear into Lucien's back. Saruto saw this, and his eyes widened with rage. In an instant, he moved ahead of Lucian with incredible speed, using his arm to deflect the attack.
The impact was violent, sending Atlas reeling, while a dark and terrifying aura emanated from Saruto's body, making even the water tremble around him. He advanced slowly toward him, his voice cold and unwavering: "You lost... so don't try these tricks again, or I'll tear you to pieces in front of your sister."
Atlas lowered his head, blood trickling from his mouth, but the anger in his eyes remained unmistakable. "I... understand," he said weakly.
Saruto stepped back, placing a hand on Lucian's shoulder. "Well done," he said in a quiet but condescending tone. "He won. He got your fiancée back. Rejoice in what he's achieved."
Selena watched the two of them, her eyes brimming with pride, as the lingering blue light from the fight reflected off the wet surface of the hall.