Returning to the arena.
The final match had already raged on for ten minutes, and the atmosphere was blistering like a furnace devouring everything in its path.
Because this was the decisive fight, both combatants hurled themselves at each other like arrows shot straight out of hell.
On the battlefield, Kyran and Damian were locked in a brutal clash.
The crimson blaze of fire intertwined fiercely with violet sparks of lightning, creating a chaotic yet dazzling spectacle that stole the breath of everyone watching.
Their powers collided, unleashing waves of roaring energy that rippled through the entire coliseum, forcing the audience into silence.
One wielded Fire.
The other commanded Lightning.
Two of the strongest elements clashed in a merciless duel to the death.
"Hmph… You brat, do you really think you can beat me? You insect."
Damian's voice rang out, cold and dripping with contempt.
Kyran clenched his teeth, fingers tightening around his sword hilt as fury ignited in his eyes.
He dashed forward each slash sharp and violent like thunder crashing down forcing Damian into a defensive scramble.
"Oh? Did my words make you angry? Don't forget, your previous victory was just dumb luck. Lord Everen held back… only because of that weak little girl."
"Shut your filthy mouth, bastard!"
Kyran roared, bringing his next strike down like a raging storm.
Damian snapped, spinning and leaping backward as he shouted: "You dare insult me!? Fine! I'll show you the true power of Fire!"
From above, he unleashed Heavenflare countless fire projectiles raining down like a burning meteor shower, ripping across the arena.
Smoke billowed, heat surged to suffocating levels, and the spectators coughed violently.
"Ladies and gentlemen! What a blazing display from Damian of Team Overlord! Absolutely spectacular, isn't it!?"
The commentator's voice shook the stadium.
The crowd erupted, cheering wildly for Damian.
But as the smoke faded, their excitement froze.
Through the hazy curtain of dust, a red-haired boy still stood unshaken.
His body bore only light scratches, his dark eyes deep and unfathomable like a bottomless abyss.
"How… how is that possible?"
Damian stammered, cold sweat trickling down his temple.
"Your move was strong…" Kyran smirked: "…but unfortunately… it wasn't even enough to scratch me."
He charged again.
This time, he combined Thunder Shade and Skywell, unleashing them like a divine bolt of wrath.
Damian hurriedly erected a barrier, but Kyran's overwhelming mana forced him back, slamming his body against the stone floor, though not enough to throw him out of bounds.
Kyran bit his lip.
He had used that technique to defeat an eight-star opponent before.
And Damian also eight stars was still standing.
"Pathetic brat, is that all you've got? If you want to kill me, then prove it!"
Damian bellowed, charging like a madman, hurling relentless torrents of fire.
His pride refused to accept defeat at the hands of a mere seven-star.
Meanwhile, Kyran had realized something.
If mixing two techniques wasn't enough… then fully fusing them might create a true finishing blow.
A lethal move capable of defeating Damian and securing victory.
"What's wrong? Out of options? Can't keep going anymore? Hahaha, of course! No seven-star could ever beat me, an eight-star!"
Damian taunted triumphantly. Realistically speaking, seven-stars could not defeat eight-stars.
Up in the stands, Aria gripped the railing so tightly her hands trembled.
Mira puffed her cheeks and stomped in frustration.
"That Damian guy is such a lunatic! Someone needs to drag his ego down!"
Mira yelled.
"Y-yeah! T-that… arrogant brat!"
Aria snapped back, surprising Mira into staring at her.
"W-wait… that's the first time I've heard you curse someone."
"N-no it isn't! I just… said it because I was angry, okay…"
Aria blushed, flustered.
Below, Damian drove Kyran back toward the warning line one misstep and he would be eliminated.
But Kyran would not fall so easily.
In the next instant, he vanished.
His speed was so extreme that no human eye could track it Superspeed, a technique he learned from Mira two days earlier.
Two days ago.
"You have to focus on your enemy like you want to kill him…"
Mira said, drawing a magic circle in the air.
"Then bend the space around you until it feels like it belongs to you alone. When that happens, the enemy won't know what's real or fake."
Kyran frowned: "And if I lose focus halfway?"
Mira tilted her head, smiling innocently.
"Then you'll… totally disappeared. Hehe~"
Kyran shivered, but kept training until he mastered it.
Now back to the match.
Surrounded by dozens of clones, Damian screamed: "You think I can't find you just by hiding!?"
But within the distorted space, Kyran stood calm and silent as he gathered mana.
Lightning and spatial power spiraled, condensing into a massive energy sphere in his palm.
Its name is EXECUTION THUNDER SHADE.
A blinding detonation.
The sphere slammed directly into Damian's chest.
His barrier shattered.
His sacred chain necklace exploded into dust.
"NO! MY NECKLACE!!"
Kyran stepped forward, eyes cold as ice.
"This match… is over."
Darkness rippled.
Purple lightning erupted around him.
He launched a single kick…
Clean.
Brutal.
Precise.
Damian was sent flying off the arena's edge, rolling across the stone floor.
"Attention everyone! Kyran, captain of Team Shooting Star, has claimed VICTORY!"
The coliseum erupted.
The giant screen displayed: Shooting Star 3 – 2 Overlord.
Cheers thundered like waves.
"We won!!" Soren shouted.
Mira grabbed Lyra and Aria into a tight hug, all three on the verge of tears.
The tournament had officially ended.
The four teams gathered on the field for the final announcement.
From the towering structure above, the Seven Holy Arms, the highest-ranking warriors descended, radiating light like seven celestial stars.
A majestic voice echoed: "Contestants, thank you for granting us such magnificent battles.
However, only twelve of you are worthy of becoming the new warriors of Lumerious Kingdom."
The one who led them stepped forward, his presence overwhelming as his gaze swept across the competitors.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Killan Mesdenova, Commander of the Seven Holy Arms."