The return

The air within the Ryzel Academy tournament arena brimmed with palpable anticipation. It was a momentous occasion, the decider of who would emerge as the top ten strongest among the new generation. The coveted title would remain with the victors for an impressive fifteen years.

Each student who stood within the arena had arrived with great potential and innate talents. Ryzel Academy, true to its prestigious reputation, honed these young individuals into formidable warriors, granting them a chance to reach even greater heights.

In this final tournament, any student had the audacious opportunity to challenge any member of Ryzel's top ten, potentially securing a place among the empire's legendary squads. However, despite this opportunity, such challenges were rarely undertaken. The top ten were in a league of their own, surpassing even the most skilled and gifted students at Ryzel. For decades, such a feat had remained unattained, until Azrael's ascent.

An orphan bereft of ki, Azrael had relied solely on his exceptional swordsmanship to rise through the ranks, triumphing over those with vast talents and challenging the tenth-ranked member to claim victory. However, soon after this remarkable achievement, he vanished without a trace, leaving the academy perplexed and intrigued by his enigmatic disappearance.

Following Azrael's lead, his closest friend, a martial artist named Ryo, similarly embarked on an unprecedented journey, surging from rank 200 to rank 3, shocking the academy with his extraordinary prowess.

Now, at this pivotal moment, two students stood opposed to each other, the energy in the arena crackling with excitement.

On one side stood Ryo, his sheer confidence palpable as he bounced around, warming up for the imminent challenge. On the opposing side was Owen Reynar, the rank five, resolute in his intent to dethrone Ryo and claim his position as rank three.

"The rank five has challenged the rank three. The match begins now!" The announcer's voice resounded through the arena, igniting a chorus of cheers from the passionate students and spectators alike.

The moment those words escaped the announcer's lips, Owen charged at Ryo with lightning speed, his swords swinging down, left, and right in a desperate attempt to land a hit on his formidable opponent.

With an effortless and calculated ease, Ryo evaded every single swing with precise movements, watching Owen's relentless yet futile efforts. It wasn't that Owen's swordsmanship was lacking; rather, Ryo's agility was simply unmatched.

In a blur of motion that left Owen bewildered, Ryo closed the distance between them in an instant and unleashed a devastating punch into his body, sending him hurtling back and crashing into the nearby wall.

Ryo granted Owen no respite, launching himself at him once more, delivering another bone-shattering punch that caused the wall to crumble further under the impact.

As Ryo prepared for yet another powerful blow, Owen responded with swift reflexes, blocking the punch with his sword. But the clash wasn't without consequence—Ryo hastily pulled back his hand as Owen's sword sizzled with blistering heat.

Owen's entire blade emitted extreme heat, causing Ryo to instinctively step away, his eyes widening in surprise. The once-mundane sword now glowed with a fiery red hue, soon becoming engulfed in potent flames that roared ferociously.

"Raging Inferno," Owen muttered, the words barely audible as the temperature in the arena seemed to soar, leaving the air dry and stifling.

Owen attacked.

Ryo's fluid movements and masterful martial arts clashed fiercely with Owen's blazing sword empowered by the Raging Inferno ki technique. The arena trembled with each powerful strike, and the spectators were left in awe, witnessing a confrontation that could only be described as otherworldly.

Ryo's every movement was a ballet of destruction, his precise strikes a symphony of calculated force. He danced around Owen, a blur of motion that left trails of energy in his wake.

Owen, fueled by the scorching flames emanating from his sword, met each of Ryo's attacks with unwavering resolve. With a warrior's heart, he wielded the blazing sword with unparalleled skill, channeling the searing heat into his swings, creating arcs of fire that left trails of destruction in their wake.

The clash of swords and fists sent shockwaves throughout the arena, creating fissures on the ground and cracks in the once pristine barrier. The audience could feel the immense power unleashed by both fighters, their awe mingled with trepidation, for they knew they were witnessing a battle that defied the ordinary.

As the fight raged on, the two combatants seemed evenly matched. Ryo's evasive maneuvers and precise strikes complemented Owen's relentless onslaught of fiery attacks. The energy in the arena reached a crescendo, the tension obvious in every breath.

With an intense burst of speed, Ryo closed the distance between them and landed a devastating punch that sent Owen flying across the arena. The impact shook the very foundations of the stage, leaving cracks spreading outward like a spider's web.

As Owen struggled to rise, Ryo made a critical decision. He decided to go all out, unleashing the full extent of his martial prowess, every technique and every ounce of his ki channeled into a single moment. It was a sight to behold, like witnessing the embodiment of a celestial force.

The spectators held their breath as Ryo's movements became a blur, his fists and feet now imbued with an ethereal glow. He unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one seemingly faster and more powerful than the last. Owen, caught off guard by this sudden surge in Ryo's power, could only defend himself as best he could.

Despite putting up a valiant fight, Owen's defenses were slowly but surely being worn down by Ryo's relentless onslaught. The searing flames of the Raging Inferno technique now struggled to keep pace with Ryo's newfound ferocity.

With a final, awe-inspiring display of strength, Ryo delivered a decisive blow, a punch that carried the weight of a hundred storms. It struck Owen's sword with such force that it shattered into a thousand pieces, scattering fiery embers into the air like falling stars.

Owen's body was propelled backward, crashing into the strong wall at the edge of the arena with an earth-shattering impact. The mana walls groaned under the strain, its magic wavering, but somehow managing to contain the cataclysmic aftermath of the fight.

The arena fell into an eerie silence as Ryo stood victorious, his breathing heavy, and his body radiating with an aura of triumph. The stage was in ruins, the once-grand magic build weakened, and the audience left in awe of the spectacle they had witnessed.

However, Ryo's moment of glory was swiftly overshadowed by an unforeseen event.

As if descending from the heavens, a mysterious figure landed forcefully in the arena, causing the entire floor to shatter beneath their feet.

The shockwave from the figure's landing pushed Ryo backward and sent the audience gripping tightly onto their seats.

The figure stood tall, an enigmatic silhouette draped in a swirling cloak that fluttered ominously in the wind.

Ryzel Academy's instructors rushed to the scene, their faces paled with uncertainty as they approached the mysterious entity. Their experience and training did little to steel them against the aura that the figure exuded—an aura that foretold only danger and death.

Their apprehension was evident, for even in the presence of these monsters of students, they had never hesitated before. But now, in the wake of this ominous newcomer, their own conviction wavered.

As the audience held their breath, the figure's identity remained veiled in uncertainty, an enigma that gripped the entire arena in suspense. However, what sent everyone spiraling into confusion and disbelief were the words that escaped Ryo's trembling lips.

"Azrael?"