The Final Showdown Begins!!

The sun set below the horizon as nightfall descended.

The long day came to its end, and everyone returned from the arena.

Every student also went back to the dorm, while Carol was taken to the medical facility for further treatment.

All her muscles were torn in today's battle; the backlash she suffered from the Triaina was too much for her body to withstand.

. . .

Deep in a forest near the training area, Ryuu sat beside a beautiful and calm lake.

The Moon's gentle glow and the twinkling stars were perfectly reflected in the lake's still water.

Snap!

A sharp crack echoed through the air as a wooden stick broke.

Ryuu immediately turned to look behind him.

"Who's there!?"

"Ryuu-kun, it's me."

Ryoko emerged from the dark woods, and Ryuu relaxed when he saw her.

"Ryoko-san! It's you. What brings you here this late at night?"

Ryuu asked as Ryoko came and sat beside him.

"I could ask the same thing of you, Ryuu-kun."

Ryuu looked at the moon and smiled.

"I couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk in the forest and stumbled upon this serene lake. The tranquility drew me in, and I sat down to admire the moonlit sky."

Ryuu gazed at the moon, a calm smile forming on his face.

"Are you feeling nervous... about tomorrow's battle?"

Ryoko asked. Ryuu looked at her face but gave a bright smile.

"Of course, I'm nervous... To tell you the truth, I'm so nervous I want to run away.

After seeing today's battle between Rajin and Carol, I realized how far off we really are.

Until now, I was just acting on instinct, but today I saw what real power is.

Even though I've been gifted with physical abilities, I'm not sure if I could defeat opponents as strong as Rajin and Carol just by relying on my strength.

I still don't know anything about the Azure flame or my magic capabilities.

It's the obvious reason I want to run away, but when I saw Carol and Rajin fight, how they pushed their physical limits...

How Carol kept fighting even after suffering such a massive backlash from the Triaina...

Suddenly, I wanted to face the challenges head-on too.

No matter how much I want to run, I can't keep running my whole life, can I?"

A relieved smile appeared on Ryoko's face. They both turned their eyes to the sky and continued to admire the moon on this beautiful night.

. . .

The darkness receded, surrendering to the morning light. It was a fine day, the sun shining brightly above in the sky.

It was the final day of the Inter-Division Competition; the final battle between the Second and Fourth Divisions would take place today.

The arena began filling with a crowd early in the morning.

Everyone was eager to see which division would emerge victorious in the end.

Both the Second and Fourth Divisions entered the arena.

The students of the First and Third Divisions also sat among the crowd.

Tomoki Naoto appeared in the center of the arena.

"Dear people, as you have witnessed, the potential of these young talents.

These young students have given their all, allowing us to witness such grand battles.

Today, we reach the final round of the Inter-Division Battles, where the Second Division and the Fourth Division will face off to decide the winner of this competition.

So now, we will begin the final battle between the Second—"

"Wait!"

Just as Tomoki was about to declare the beginning of the final battle, a booming voice echoed around the arena, cutting him off.

Suddenly, Shinju Hayato appeared in the center of the arena, and everyone looked at him in confusion.

"Dear people, as you have seen, the tremendous power of these young students sometimes resulted in the destruction of parts of the arena.

So, for the safety of the spectators, I have decided that the final battle will be held in the center of the nearby forest, where I have set up a super-level protection array.

This will ensure the safety of everyone. CCTV cameras have been deployed throughout the forest, so we can all witness this grand battle.

Now, both teams may follow Tomoki to the forest."

Everyone was surprised by the sudden decision. Shigeru stared at Shinju.

(What are you planning, Shinju...?)....