Chapter 5: The Earth Shakes - Reyon vs. Hedson

The arena was vast, the ground hardened, and the air was thick with tension. Students packed the bleachers, their voices a distant hum as Reyon stood at one end, preparing for his first official battle in the tournament. Across from him stood Hedson, a burly figure with broad shoulders and a defiant sneer. Hedson was well-known for his control over Earth Magic, and he had a reputation for using his immense physicality to overpower his opponents. Today, Reyon was his target.

Reyon's heart raced, but his face remained expressionless. He couldn't afford to let the nerves take hold—not today. This was only the first match, and he knew that the path ahead would only get harder.

The announcer's voice echoed through the arena, booming into the stadium. "The first match of the tournament begins now! On the left, we have Hedson, a master of Earth Magic. On the right, Reyon Phoenix, a promising student of the Phoenix House! Let the battle begin!"

The moment the bell rang, Hedson grinned and slammed his hands into the ground. In an instant, the earth beneath him trembled, and massive earth spikes shot toward Reyon like giant spears. They moved with brutal speed, and Reyon had only seconds to react.

Without a moment's hesitation, Reyon stepped back and thrust his hands forward. Mana surged from his body as he channeled it through his Vectors. A thin, but durable, Vector Shield emerged in front of him, forming a translucent barrier that deflected the earth spikes with ease. The impacts sent small tremors throughout the arena, but Reyon's shield absorbed the force.

"Not bad, Phoenix. But you're still not fast enough!" Hedson yelled, his voice filled with mockery.

Reyon's eyes narrowed as Hedson raised his hands again, sending shockwaves through the ground. The ground cracked beneath his feet, and new earth spires began to rise, faster this time.

"Not fast enough?" Reyon muttered under his breath. He knew what Hedson was doing—creating a series of terrain-changing attacks to force Reyon into a corner. But Reyon was different from most magicians. He had his Vector control, a power that was both precise and efficient. The more complex the terrain, the more vectors he could manipulate.

As the earth spikes surged toward him, Reyon's mind raced. Instead of defending, he suddenly altered his position, his feet moving with precise control as he sidestepped the spikes and directed his Vectors to collapse the earth around them. The spikes shattered as his vectors tore through them, sending shards flying harmlessly in all directions.

The crowd gasped in surprise. Even Hedson's grin faltered for a brief moment. But he quickly recovered.

"Impressive. But I can do more than just that," Hedson sneered, slamming his fists together. A wave of earthquake magic radiated outward, shaking the entire arena. The ground beneath Reyon's feet cracked violently as if the earth itself was rebelling against him. It was a basic spell, but one that could quickly destabilize a foe.

Reyon gritted his teeth. He had to stay focused. Instead of retreating, he stood his ground, using his Vector Shield to stabilize his body as the tremors intensified. His control over the surrounding mana allowed him to anchor himself, preventing the shockwaves from knocking him off balance. The tremors were strong, but they were nothing compared to the gravity manipulation he had dealt with in previous years.

"Do you think a little shaking will throw me off?" Reyon said coldly, his voice steady as he raised both hands.

With his eyes locked on Hedson, Reyon initiated a series of Vector Adjustments to counter the quake's force. Vectors spiraled in the air around him, redirecting the energy of the tremors away from him and toward the ground. He felt the weight of the spell, but his mana pool was strong enough to endure.

Hedson's eyes narrowed, realizing that Reyon wasn't struggling as much as he had expected. This kid was a lot more resilient than he thought. Still, Hedson wasn't about to back down.

"Fine," Hedson growled. "If you want to stay grounded, I'll just have to make you sink."

With another roar, Hedson lifted both of his arms, and the earth beneath Reyon suddenly collapsed like quicksand. The ground began to cave in, and Reyon felt himself being pulled downward. His shield was still active, but it couldn't keep up with the volume of mana Hedson was feeding into his earth manipulation. The ground was eating away at Reyon's footing, threatening to swallow him whole.

"Not this time," Reyon whispered, his fingers curling into fists as he focused all of his energy into his Vector Control.

In that split second, Reyon's Vectors expanded like a web around him. He altered the density of the mana in the surrounding air, creating a solid platform beneath him. His vectors pushed against the ground, halting the collapse and forcing the earth to stabilize.

For a moment, it seemed as if Reyon was trapped, but his Vector Manipulation had already found a way out. His platform shot upward, and with a sudden burst of energy, Reyon propelled himself into the air, rising above the collapsing ground.

"You think you've won?" Hedson shouted, his frustration mounting. "You're just delaying the inevitable."

Reyon's eyes flashed. "I don't need to win now. I just need to survive."

Hedson was quick to react. The moment Reyon was airborne, Hedson slammed both hands into the earth again, and earth spikes erupted from every angle, targeting Reyon as he soared above the ground. The barrage was relentless, each spike a death sentence if they hit.

But Reyon had anticipated this. With his vectors still active, he pushed himself higher, dodging the spikes as they shot toward him. He used the Vector Control to redirect some of the spikes into the air, breaking them apart before they could reach him. His control was flawless—every spike that came near him was neutralized before it could strike.

"You're a coward, hiding behind your tricks!" Hedson yelled.

Reyon smirked, his eyes full of focus. "It's not cowardice; it's strategy."

The next moment, Reyon summoned a massive fireball, his palm glowing bright orange with mana. He hurled it toward Hedson, the intense heat radiating off of it. The fireball exploded upon impact, sending a shockwave across the arena.

Hedson grunted as the explosion sent him skidding backward. He raised his hands in a futile attempt to block the flames, but the intensity of the fire overwhelmed him. His earth armor was scorched, and his stance wavered. The audience was on their feet, cheering for the unexpected turn of events.

"You… you actually hit me!" Hedson exclaimed, his voice hoarse.

Reyon was calm. "This battle was over the moment you underestimated me."

Hedson's body trembled with rage, but his energy was visibly depleted. He had fought with everything he had, but Reyon's control over his vectors had outmatched his raw power. The earth around them settled, and the arena was silent, except for the sound of Reyon's steady breathing.

With a heavy sigh, Hedson raised his hands in surrender. "I yield. You've won."

Reyon didn't say a word. He simply nodded and turned away, walking to the edge of the arena. His victory was hard-earned, but it was only the beginning. Hedson had been his first opponent, and as Reyon looked to the next round, he knew the battles ahead would only grow more difficult. The crowd erupted in applause, but Reyon's mind was already focused on the future—on the next battle, the next step toward proving his worth.

Post-Fight Reflection:

After the match, Reyon retreated to his quarters to prepare for the next round. His body ached, his muscles strained, but he could feel a new sense of purpose coursing through him. Hedson's defeat was only the beginning of his journey.

Sitting in front of his mirror, Reyon's eyes locked onto his reflection. He didn't see a failure anymore. He saw a man who was in control. He saw someone who could still rise above, no matter how hard the world tried to knock him down.

But Reyon knew that he had to be careful. Each victory brought him closer to his ultimate goal, but it also meant facing stronger opponents. Alice, Ryan, Arthur—each one of them was a challenge in their own right. And if he was going to stand against them, he needed to keep pushing, keep training, keep evolving.

As the sun set outside his window, Reyon made a silent vow to himself. He would win this tournament. Not just for his own sake, but for everyone who had ever doubted him. He would prove that even with low magic reserves, a master of control could reach the top.

The tournament was just getting started, and Reyon was ready for whatever came next.