High Ground Gamble

They stepped through the simmering gateway as the battlefield unfolded before them. Large, cracked stone platforms hovered at different heights, forming an intricate three dimensional battlefield.

Some platforms spun slowly, while others seemed deceptively stable, until shifting winds sent loose stones tumbling into the fiery abyss below. A molten rift glowed beneath them, waves of heat distorting the air above the churning lava.

"Well this is dramatic," Ethan murmured, scanning for footholds and potential high ground advantages.

"We'll have to be careful—the unstable ground, the heat distortion, the high ground advantages… A lot could go wrong," Selene muttered, still surveying the field.

"Think you can shadow walk up top and find a stable platform?" Ethan asked, catching sight of their opponents between the shifting platforms.

Selene considered for a second. "I should be able to, yeah. Plenty of shadows up there, I can test a couple spots fast." 

"Copy that, I'll follow you as soon as you find something." Ethan made sure to keep watching them, not wanting to lose sight of them before the round started.

"The round is first to five. If someone falls into the lava, they're instantly disqualified." The announcer's voice rang out.

With that the horn sounded, signaling the start of the duel.

Jace and Aurora watched intently as the two opponents entered.

The first woman moved with a deliberate steadiness, her posture balanced, her steps purposeful. She wasn't flashy, but there was a weight to her presence. Auburn hair was tied back, loose strands curling from the arena's heat. Yet, her expression remained cool and focused.

Then there was the second woman, a complete contrast. She was pure fluidity and motion, never standing still. Constantly shifting her weight, she moved like a runner poised to spring. Sharp eyes scanned the battlefield with a glint of amusement, her dark ponytail whipping in the wind.

"So they did send their best pair," Aurora said beside Jace.

Jace turned toward her. "So you know these two?"

"I do. They came up in my research as the probable team," Aurora nodded. "There's Gia, with Fire and Earth." She pointed at the woman with auburn hair. "And then there's Yelena, who has Wind, Fire, and Shadow magic." She gestured toward the woman with a ponytail.

"What do you think?" Jace asked, curiosity in his tone.

Aurora answered without hesitation. "They're good, but as long as Ethan and Selene stay focused, they should come out on top."

Jace nodded. "Let's see how they handle it."

Back inside the arena.

The horn sounded, and the duel began. Yelena and Gia wasted no time.

Yelena swept a hand forward, whipping up a gust of wind that hurled smaller rocks toward Ethan and Selene.

At the same time, Gia stomped down, sending a tremor through the nearest stable platform. A jagged stone spike erupted, hurtling toward Ethan in a two-pronged assault.

Sticking to their plan, Selene melted into the shadows, darting between the higher platforms. Finding a stable one, she called out to Ethan.

Noticing the incoming spells, Ethan dropped from his platform, narrowly avoiding them. As Selene's voice reached him, he shifted into his lightning form, launching himself up beside her.

Yelena's eyes flicked upward, tracking Selene's movement through the shadows. "She went up." She had to admit, the dodge was slick.

"So is he," Gia muttered, exhaling sharply as she adjusted her stance. "They've secured the high ground. That's a problem."

"Then let's make them move," Yelena murmured, a half smile curling her lips.

Yelena twisted the air, shaping a slicing vortex aimed at the platform's edges. If she couldn't strike them directly, she'd make their footing dangerous.

Gia followed suit, planting a hand on the stone beneath her. Channeling her Earth magic, she poured mana into the mid level platforms, causing them to shift and sway.

Their goal: force movement and cut off any escape routes.

Unfortunately for them, Selene had already begun preparing for their attack. Kneeling down, she pressed a hand to the platform and channeled her Earth magic, reinforcing the stone. Yelena's slicing vortex slammed against it but dispersed uselessly, unable to break through the strengthened surface.

Meanwhile, Ethan was already moving. His eyes flicked between the various metal posts sticking out of the platforms, quickly calculating an angle. With a flick of his hand, he launched a lightning bolt, using the metal as a springboard.

The electricity leapt from post to post in rapid succession before finally arcing toward the platform where Gia and Yelena stood.

"Move!" Gia shouted, slamming her palm against the stone beneath them. The platform fractured instantly, a calculated risk. Both duelists dropped just seconds before the lightning strike connected.

As they fell, Yelena twisted midair, using a burst of wind to propel herself onto a lower platform with ease.

Gia, however, wasn't as lucky. Having used her hands to break the platform, she lacked control over her descent. She landed hard on a tilting slab, barely managing to grip the edge before hauling herself up. "I knew he was fast, but you don't really get it until you see it," she muttered, shaking off the impact. "That could've been bad."

Yelena exhaled sharply, her eyes snapping back toward Ethan and Selene. "Annoying."

Stretching out her hands, she released a thick veil of dark smoke, letting it rise between them. If they wanted to maintain their high ground advantage, they'd now have to do it blind.

Gia caught on to the plan immediately. Stone shards formed in the air around her, hovering instead of launching immediately. She held them in place, ready to strike in response to whatever their opponents did next.

Selene didn't panic. Instead, she held her spell, ready to defend herself and Ethan if needed.

Ethan, on the other hand, seized the opportunity. Using the cover of the smokescreen, he summoned three of his crystals, their glow intensifying as they pulsed with energy, amplifying his power.

Now fully prepared, he waited for the smokescreen to clear, ready to strike.