Charcoal and Pride

The air in the arena buzzed with anticipation, the crowd alive with excitement as Teral stepped forward. His massive frame exuded confidence, his expression calm and dismissive. Across from him, Kael stood still, flames flickering faintly in his hands. His focused gaze locked onto his opponent, unwavering in the face of Teral's towering presence.

Teral raised a hand to his chest, a smirk curling his lips. "Against you?" he said with exaggerated disdain, his voice dripping with arrogance. "It's not even worth activating my core." With a casual flick of his fingers, the faint markings on his neck faded entirely as his Spirit Beast core deactivated, the energy dissipating without a trace.

The crowd stirred, murmurs of disbelief rippling through the arena.

Teral stretched his neck, cracking it loudly, and tapped his chest with mock nonchalance. "Minor Resistence," he said, his tone almost bored. A faint golden shimmer enveloped him as his muscles tightened slightly, his already imposing frame gaining a subtle but visible enhancement.

"That should be more than enough," Teral added, his smirk widening as he flexed his fists, the loud crack of his knuckles cutting through the tense silence.

The audience gasped. Even novice apprentices recognized the simplicity of the spell—Minor Resistance was one of the most basic buffs taught at the Arcane Camp. For someone of Teral's caliber, it was laughably weak. The fact that he considered it sufficient against Kael shocked everyone.

Cedric, standing beside Evan, shrugged. "Teral's got an ego. If he thinks he can win without his core, he'll stick to proving a point."

But Evan wasn't convinced. Teral's casual demeanor made the fight feel less like a contest of equals and more like a calculated display of dominance. His thoughts were interrupted by the booming voice of the announcer, calling out the betting odds.

"Three to seven!" the announcer shouted, his voice ringing across the crowd. "Kael's the favorite! Bet on the fire and reap the rewards!"

The crowd murmured as apprentices tossed contribution tokens into the betting pools. The multiplier for Teral's victory was much higher, but few seemed willing to bet on him. His tendency to underestimate opponents was well-known, and in a world with such unpredictable magic, holding back was a fatal mistake.

Suddenly, the announcer paused. A figure leaned toward him, whispering something hurriedly. The announcer straightened, clearing his throat. "New odds!" he announced. "Three to three. Even odds for both combatants!"

The shift rippled through the crowd, confusion spreading like wildfire. Apprentices exchanged whispers, trying to understand the sudden change. Evan turned, following the announcer's gaze, and spotted Arvid standing at the betting table, his tall, lean frame unmistakable. Calmly and without hesitation, Arvid placed a substantial stack of contribution tokens into the pool—for Teral.

Evan frowned. "Arvid?" he murmured. "Why's he betting so much on Teral?"

Cedric leaned in, his voice low. "Looks like Teral's going to win."

Evan glanced at him, puzzled. "Why do you say that?"

"Because Arvid bet on him," Cedric replied with absolute certainty. "And Arvid's group? They never get it wrong. Ever."

Evan blinked, trying to process Cedric's words. He opened his mouth to ask another question but stopped. The murmurs of the crowd faded as the announcer signaled the start of the fight, pulling Evan's attention back to the arena.

Kael didn't react outwardly, but his narrowed eyes betrayed a flicker of irritation. He raised his hands, flames sparking faintly at his fingertips. If Teral wanted to mock him, Kael was determined to make him regret it.

The crowd erupted in cheers as the announcer declared the fight officially underway. Teral smirked, stepping forward with measured confidence, his bare hands clenched into fists. "Let's see if you can keep up," he taunted, his voice brimming with smug assurance.

Kael's flames flared brighter in response, encircling his hands as he settled into a defensive stance. The arena was set, the combatants poised, and the first clash was mere seconds away.

Kael moved first. He swept his hand forward, and a line of fire erupted along the ground between him and Teral, the flames roaring to life. The heat radiated intensely, forcing the crowd closest to the arena to lean back. Sparks and embers danced upward, swirling around Kael's arms before settling on his shoulders and torso. The coal-like fragments clung to his body like smoldering armor, faintly glowing with heat.

Teral paused, glancing at the flames with mild interest. "A line of fire? Really?" he scoffed, stepping forward confidently. The golden shimmer of Minor Resistance still surrounded him, and with steady strides, he walked through the barrier. The flames parted slightly, licking at his arms but failing to deter him. His fur remained unscathed, the simple spell proving more than enough to dull the heat.

Kael's eyes narrowed as Teral advanced. He took a deep breath, and the embers clinging to his body began to shift. With a sharp motion, he snapped one arm downward, the coal-like fragments breaking away and scattering to the ground. The air around Kael grew lighter, his movements suddenly quicker as the added weight of the embers fell away.

"Impressive," Teral said, his tone mocking as he closed the distance. "Is that the best you've got—"

Kael's hand shot forward before Teral could finish, his voice ringing out: "Bursting Shards!"

The embers on the ground erupted like a minefield. Tiny fragments of burning coal launched upward, slicing through the air in jagged arcs. Teral barely had time to raise his arms, crossing them in front of his face to block the attack. The shards struck his furred arms with sharp, burning impacts, leaving faint scorch marks as they embedded themselves momentarily before falling away.

"Argh," Teral growled, his smirk faltering as the pain registered. He jumped back, his feet kicking up dust as he retreated several paces. The golden shimmer of his resistance spell flickered, and he glanced at the faint burns on his forearms.

The crowd roared in excitement, their cheers a mix of shock and approval. Kael didn't let the moment slip by. He spun in place, breaking away more of the embers clinging to his torso and scattering them like ash across the arena floor. His movements were fluid, precise, and with every flick of his hands, more embers were redirected into the space around him.

Evan leaned closer, his heart pounding. "He's using the embers to shape the battlefield," he muttered. His nucleus pulsed faintly, capturing the intricate way Kael manipulated the fragments. "It's not just about the fire—he's controlling everything the flames leave behind."

Cedric nodded, his tone filled with awe. "Kael's making Teral come to him, but he's not just playing defense. Those shards... they're brutal."

Teral shook his arms out, the faintest hint of irritation crossing his face before he smirked again. "Not bad," he said, lowering his arms. "But you'll have to do better than singe my fur if you want to win this."

Kael said nothing, his eyes fixed on Teral as more embers coiled around his arms. The next move was his, and he wasn't going to waste it.