The Final Battle Of Varek And Stroud.

Stroud's star-infused speed made him a blur, his glowing trail streaking across the battlefield like shooting stars. Each kick he delivered struck Varek with precise impact— one to the ribs, one to the shoulder, another to the leg. The sheer speed made it hard for Varek to keep up, and the audience could hear the thuds echoing through the arena.

Varek gritted his teeth, his body aching from the barrage. He's fast… but he's not invincible.

Then, Stroud suddenly stopped. His shimmering star mana shifted, condensing around his body like a protective celestial armor. His once-speedy form now stood firm, the twinkling aura reinforcing his durability.

"You hit pretty hard for a Bronze," Stroud yawned, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see how hard you can hit now."

Varek smirked. His bronze mana flared—shimmering, rippling across his muscles like molten metal. If you want to tank hits, then let's see how much you can take.

He dashed forward, his fist pulling back.

BOOM!

Varek's punch connected with Stroud's chest, sending a shockwave through the arena. Dust kicked up as the impact shook the ground beneath them.

But Stroud barely moved.

"Ow," he muttered flatly. "That kinda tickled."

Varek's eyes narrowed. Tough, huh?

Stroud grinned. "My turn."

With a shift of his mana, Stroud's durability faded—his speed returned.

He disappeared again, circling Varek in streaks of light before landing another brutal kick to his back, then to his stomach, then to his ribs.

Varek staggered, coughing, but before Stroud could continue—

Varek surged his mana into his strength.

As Stroud went for another strike, Varek caught his leg mid-air.

The arena fell silent.

Stroud's eyes widened slightly. "Oh."

Varek's grip tightened. "Not this time."

Then, with a burst of power, Varek swung Stroud and slammed him into the ground.

As Stroud's body hit the ground, it shimmered—then suddenly vanished in a burst of stardust.

Before Varek could react, a crackling force struck his back.

THWACK!

The impact sent him stumbling forward, nearly falling to one knee. The crowd gasped as Stroud reappeared behind him, his leg still raised from the kick.

"He vanished?!" someone in the audience exclaimed.

Keiran narrowed his eyes. "No… he didn't vanish. He's just that fast."

Vikas smirked. "That guy finally got serious."

Stroud stood lazily, stretching his arms as if warming up. "You're pretty good," he admitted. "Guess I can't just sleep through this one."

Varek steadied himself, rolling his shoulders. His bronze mana still shimmered, enhancing his durability, but he could feel the strain creeping in.

Stroud, however, was shifting his mana. The shimmering stardust around him split into two distinct auras—his legs pulsed with star-speed, while his fists burned with star-strength.

"Now let's mix things up," Stroud said with a lazy grin.

He vanished again.

Varek's instincts screamed, but before he could turn—

BOOM!

A star-powered punch crashed into his ribs, launching him backward. Before he could land, Stroud flashed in front of him and kicked him mid-air, sending him flying sideways.

The audience erupted into cheers and shock as Stroud blurred around the battlefield, attacking from all angles—each strike perfectly balanced between speed and raw force.

Varek gritted his teeth, rolling to his feet. He clenched his fists, his bronze mana flaring brighter.

He knew now—this wasn't just about durability or strength.

This was about matching Stroud's unpredictability.

And Varek wasn't about to lose.

Varek planted his feet firmly on the ground, his breaths steady but deep. His bronze mana shimmered again—but this time, it pulsed even stronger, rippling across the battlefield like a rising tide.

The air grew heavier.

Then—BOOM!

A second Mana Surge erupted from Varek's body. His bronze aura expanded wildly, wrapping around him like a radiant storm. The arena trembled under the raw energy, sending shockwaves through the air.

The entire audience froze.

"What the hell—?!" one student gasped.

"H-He activated a second Mana Surge?" another stammered.

Keiran's eyes widened. "Twice in one battle?" He clenched his fists. "That's not supposed to be possible…"

Even Vikas, who rarely showed surprise, narrowed his eyes. "This just got interesting."

Up in the stands, Varek's parents stared in disbelief.

Aeliana Solin covered her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. "Thalion… how is he doing this?"

Thalion Solin, Varek's father, was just as stunned. "This… shouldn't be possible. A Mana Surge is a limit break. Pushing past it twice—no one in history has ever done that."

Aeliana turned back to the battlefield, watching as Varek's bronze aura solidified, giving his body an almost metallic sheen. His once-average mana now radiated pure power, forcing even Stroud to take a step back.

Stroud blinked, rubbing his sleepy eyes. "Huh… well, that's new."

He rolled his shoulders, his star mana crackling in response. "I guess I should start taking this seriously."

Varek lifted his gaze, his bronze energy pulsing through his veins.

He charged forward.

And this time—Stroud didn't see it coming.

Varek suddenly vanished and reappeared in Stroud's face.

Before Stroud could react, Varek's fist was already in motion. With all the force of his second Mana Surge, the punch landed squarely against Stroud's gut. A shockwave erupted from the impact, sending cracks through the ground as Stroud's body was hurled backward like a shooting star.

The audience gasped. Some stood in disbelief, while others barely processed what had happened. Varek had moved too fast for the eye to follow.

Stroud crashed hard, his body bouncing against the stone floor before skidding to a stop. He coughed violently, specks of blood dripping from his lips. For the first time, true pain flickered in his usually lazy eyes.

Varek stood firm, his bronze mana still shimmering, his breath heavy but controlled. He stared at Stroud, unwavering.

"You always say you'll take things seriously every time I get stronger," Varek said, his voice low and steady. "But you never actually do."

A moment of silence.

Then—Stroud laughed. Weak, raspy, but still amused. He wiped the blood from his mouth and pushed himself up, shaking off the pain.

"Heh… I guess you're right," Stroud muttered, his star mana beginning to rise once more.

Stroud stood up, dusting off his clothes lazily.

"Heh… I guess you're right," he muttered, rolling his shoulders.

Then—BOOM!

A second explosion of star mana erupted from his body.

His first Mana Surge activated. The battlefield shimmered as his golden energy twisted around him like a spiraling galaxy. His once sluggish stance sharpened—his posture still relaxed, but his aura told a different story.

The audience fell silent.

Stroud cracked his neck. "Man… I really didn't want to do this, but you're making it hard for me to slack off."

Then, in an instant—

Stroud disappeared.

A flash of golden trails followed his movements as he reappeared behind Varek, already mid-kick.

CRACK!

His foot slammed into Varek's side, sending him flying across the arena. Before Varek could even react—

BOOM!

A second kick smashed him into the ground.

A crater formed beneath him.

Stroud landed effortlessly, stretching his arms. "See? I can be serious too."

Varek vanished.

Stroud vanished.

The battlefield exploded with movement—blurs of bronze and gold clashing in a storm of raw power.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Shockwaves rippled through the air as fists collided, kicks clashed, and bursts of mana illuminated the arena. The ground cracked beneath their overwhelming speed, their bodies flickering in and out of visibility like afterimages dancing across the battlefield.

Varek's punch flew forward—Stroud blocked.

Stroud's kick swung in—Varek dodged.

CRASH!

They slammed into each other midair, sending a devastating shockwave that shook the stadium.

The crowd roared in excitement. Some couldn't even keep up with their movements, only seeing sparks of light flashing like falling stars.

Stroud grinned, his golden aura swirling. "Now this is fun."

Varek smirked, his bronze mana surging. "Try to keep up."

They both disappeared again—

Stroud unleashed his star ability, his voice echoing through the arena—"Constellation Attack!" The air shimmered as countless glowing star-shaped projectiles rained down, converging toward Varek.

In response, Varek poured every ounce of his bronze mana into a massive, swirling energy sphere. The bronze light crackled with raw power as he launched himself forward. Boom! Their attacks collided in a blinding explosion, shaking the battlefield and momentarily drowning everything in golden and silver brilliance.

As the light faded, the audience gasped. Varek stood, his body trembling, barely able to keep his balance. Across from him, Stroud lay embedded in the cracked ground, his body bloodied, his breathing ragged. Yet, despite his injuries, he let out a weak chuckle.

"Heh… maybe not being lazy once in a while isn't so bad," he muttered, a faint grin crossing his lips before his vision blurred.

After the First Day of the Tournament

As the sun set, the competitors of the tournament made their way home, each with their own victories, struggles, and reflections.

Varek's Home – The Solin Family

Varek walked alongside his parents, Thalion Solin and Aeliana Solin, their faces filled with pride yet laced with confusion.

"You were amazing out there, son," Thalion said, patting Varek on the back. "But… two Mana Surges? That's unheard of."

Aeliana nodded, concern slipping into her voice. "Varek, how did you do that? Even among high-ranked vault users, no one has ever achieved that level of power in a single fight."

Varek, still feeling the weight of the battle, rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't really know," he admitted. "I just… felt like I couldn't give up. Something inside me told me I had to push further."

His parents exchanged glances, both amazed and puzzled. But for now, they chose to celebrate his victory.

As they reached their home, the warm glow of lanterns welcomed them. The night passed with laughter, a well-earned meal, and an unspoken excitement for the battles ahead.

---

Keiran's Home – The Trizk Family

Keiran stepped into his grand, silver-adorned mansion, its cold elegance reflecting his prestigious status as the 1st ranking Silver student. His father, John Trizk, and mother, Yuru Trizk, stood waiting.

"Congratulations on your victory," John said, his tone even and composed.

Yuru smiled faintly, nodding. "You fought well."

Keiran merely bowed his head slightly in response. After that, silence filled the room. No further words of praise, no celebration—just the quiet presence of expectation.

Without another word, Keiran walked up the long staircase to his room. He lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought. Victory had been his, but something about today's fights unsettled him. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes, letting exhaustion pull him into sleep.

---

Vikas's Home – The Prius Family

Unlike Keiran's silent return, Vikas was greeted with warmth and excitement. As he entered his home, the rich aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. His parents, Cliff Prius and Lode Prius, were already waiting at the dinner table.

"That was incredible, son!" Cliff laughed, patting Vikas on the back. "You fought like a true warrior today."

Lode beamed with pride. "We made a feast to celebrate! You deserve it."

Vikas grinned, his eyes lighting up at the sight of the delicious spread before him. He sat down eagerly, ready to enjoy the rare moment of family warmth.

However, as the night progressed, Cliff and Lode exchanged a knowing look. Eventually, Cliff cleared his throat.

"We have to leave tonight. Work calls," he said, his tone apologetic.

Vikas, though used to this, felt the usual pang of loneliness. "I understand," he said, forcing a smile.

His parents left shortly after, and soon the house fell silent. Vikas sat alone at the table, the celebration food still warm in front of him. He slowly ate, staring at the empty chairs.

Despite his victory, an odd emptiness settled within him.