A Battle for Respect

Min-Soo remained steady despite the chaos raging around him. His opponent's clones attacked relentlessly, weaving through his Flame Blades with unnatural agility.

Sweat dripped down his brow, but his fiery aura only burned brighter. He needed something stronger—something relentless—to break through their defenses.

His mind raced, analyzing every move of the battle. Then, an idea struck him. He stretched out both hands, his palms igniting with crackling embers as he tried to mimic Princess Deokan's signature ice barrage. The temperature around him soared instantly, warping the air into a shimmering haze. The ground beneath him sizzled, glowing faintly from the heat radiating off his body.

Then—he raised his arms to the sky.

A single ember flickered above his fingertips, a tiny, fragile thing. But in the span of a heartbeat, it multiplied, splitting into dozens, then hundreds of flickering flames. Each ember twisted and stretched, forming into long, sharp arrows of fire, their edges flickering like ripples on the surface of a stagnant lake.

The sight alone sent murmurs through the crowd.

"H-he's summoning that many projectiles at once?" a spectator whispered in awe.

The sky above the arena glowed with scorching light as a swirling storm of fire took shape. The heat radiating from Min-Soo's creation forced some spectators to shield their faces, while others watched in stunned silence.

Min-Soo's gaze locked onto Deokan and her clones, her expression reflecting the shock of what was about to happen. His voice rang out, calm and unwavering—

"Blazing Tempest."

With a swift downward motion of his hand, the flaming arrows launched forward all at once.

They screamed through the air like a meteor shower, streaks of fire descending upon the battlefield with deadly precision.

The sheer number of arrows created a wall of destruction, cutting off all paths of escape. Each arrow left a glowing trail, illuminating the battlefield like falling stars.

Princess Deokan's eyes widened in alarm. There was no time to dodge or command her clones. The only option left was defense.

Summoning every ounce of her power, she created an ice dome around herself, its surface as thick as the ice walls that lined the battlefield. It was her last line of defense.

The first arrow struck the ground, and an explosion erupted, sending embers and molten sparks flying. Then another. And another. A relentless barrage of fiery devastation rained down, shaking the arena with sheer force. The heat was suffocating, turning the very air into a furnace.

As the final arrow struck, a towering column of fire erupted skyward, consuming everything within its range.

Each of Deokan's clones shattered like shards of a broken mirror, vanishing into nothingness. The battlefield was left scorched, the stone floor blackened and cracked from the intensity.

At the center of it all, Min-Soo stood, his silhouette outlined against the flickering flames. He lowered his hands, his breathing steady, but his eyes still burning with fierce determination.

"That attack sure packed a lot of mana," he muttered under his breath.

For a moment, he thought he had won. But as the smoke began to clear, something caught his eye—a dome of unbroken ice, standing tall amidst the scorched battlefield. His heart pounded.

She survived.

From behind the ice barrier, Deokan emerged, her expression calm despite the near devastation. She brushed off the frost clinging to her sleeves, her lips curling into a small smirk.

"Nice attack back there," she admitted. "You almost got me."

Min-Soo's eyes flickered toward the ice dome, but before he could react, Deokan's voice cut through the air once more.

"Now it's my turn."

She slammed her hand onto the ground, and a frigid blue aura enveloped her. Ice surged outward in sharp, jagged formations. Glacial Thorns.

Glistening spikes of ice erupted across the battlefield, covering the ground in a deadly maze. Any step in the wrong place would lead to instant entrapment. The temperature dropped drastically, the air thick with freezing mist.

Min-Soo gritted his teeth. He activated Emberstep, his body flickering like a flame as he weaved between the icy thorns, closing the distance toward Deokan. But just as he gained momentum—

His feet stopped moving.

A chill spread from the ground up his legs. He looked down in shock. Ice had already crept over his boots, locking him in place.

Deokan's smirk widened as she watched realization dawn on his face.

"What… did you just do to me?" Min-Soo growled, frustration seeping into his voice.

She tilted her head playfully. "It was nice fighting you. You were truly a worthy opponent… but this is checkmate."

Above her, the air crackled with bitter cold. She raised her hands, summoning countless ice daggers.

Ice Dagger Barrage.

The deadly shards hovered, waiting for her command to strike.

Min-Soo clenched his fists. His mind spiraled, remembering why he was here. To restore his friend's honor.

A whisper echoed through his mind.

Set your heart ablaze.

The words rang through him like a heartbeat. Set your heart ablaze.

His body ignited in a fierce, golden aura. Flames erupted around him, hotter than ever before. His eyes burned with renewed determination. In one swift motion, he summoned his Flame Blade, its edges glowing brighter than the sun.

The ice binding his feet shattered instantly.

Deokan's eyes widened in disbelief. "He… he melted my ice? That's as dense as my strongest walls!"

Before she could react, Min-Soo vanished.

His speed was blinding—faster than before. Not even Deokan's sharp eyes could track him. Panic surged through her as she tried to summon an ice armor, but—

Too late.

Min-Soo reappeared behind her, his sword gleaming as he swung. The impact shattered her armor, sending her crashing violently to the ground.

The arena fell silent.

The referee rushed toward Deokan, checking her condition. Seeing that she could no longer move, he raised his hand and declared—

"Winner: Min-Soo!"

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Some praised Min-Soo's relentless attack, while others commended Deokan's resilience.

"Wow! That fire guy really pulled through in the end."

"The princess was so close! If not for that last attack, she might've won."

From the stands, the Hunter's Academy Director nodded approvingly. "Such an interesting fight," he mused, a proud smile forming on his face.

Amidst the celebration, Deokan let out a quiet chuckle. She turned to Min-Soo, her voice barely above a whisper.

"…Based on our promise before the fight, I take back everything I said about your friend."

Min-Soo extended his hand toward her, his expression calm. "You should at least say it louder. But… you were a skilled fighter."

She hesitated—then reluctantly took his hand. A silent acknowledgment of his strength.

From the stands, Rin grinned. "I knew he wouldn't lose to that girl."

Ji-Hyun, watching thoughtfully, remarked, "He didn't just win by brute strength. If he hadn't attacked while she was preparing her final move, the fight might've gone differently."

Rin rolled his eyes playfully. "Miss strategist, can't you just enjoy the fight for once?"

Ji-Hyun smirked. "No."

As Min-Soo left the arena, he clenched his fist, satisfaction settling in his chest. He had won—not just the battle, but the respect he fought for.