Chapter 26: Tournament(2)

The Grand Arena buzzed with excitement as the first round of the First-Year League began. The crowd's cheers echoed through the massive stadium, their energy fueling the competitors as they stepped into the spotlight. The holographic screens above the arena displayed the brackets, and the announcer's voice boomed through the coliseum, introducing the first match.

The first duel featured Aria of Celestia Academy against Garrett of Terranova Academy. Garrett was a stocky boy with a reputation for his earth-based techniques, but Aria's fiery determination and speed made her the clear favorite.

As the match began, Aria darted forward, her daggers wreathed in flames. Garrett raised a wall of earth to block her, but Aria shattered it with a single, precise strike. The crowd gasped as she closed the distance in an instant, her movements too fast for Garrett to track.

"Too slow," Aria said, her voice calm but firm as she disarmed him with a flick of her wrist. She pressed the tip of her dagger to his throat, her golden eyes gleaming with confidence. "Yield."

Garrett raised his hands in surrender, his face flushed with embarrassment. The announcer's voice rang out: "Winner: Aria of Celestia Academy!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, but Aria's expression remained stoic as she stepped off the arena. She had expected an easy victory, and this was just the beginning.

The next match featured Antares of Aetheris Academy, the fiery prodigy. His opponent was Lila of Lunara Academy, a quiet girl with a talent for water manipulation.

From the moment the match began, Antares made it clear that he wasn't taking Lila seriously. He stood with his arms crossed, a smug grin on his face as Lila summoned a wave of water to crash toward him. With a flick of his wrist, Antares unleashed a burst of flame that evaporated the water in an instant.

"Is that all?" he taunted, his amber eyes gleaming with arrogance. "I expected more from Lunara Academy."

Lila's expression hardened, and she summoned a barrage of water bullets, but Antares dodged them effortlessly. He closed the distance in a flash, his movements too fast for her to follow. With a single, devastating punch, he sent her flying out of the arena.

"Winner: Antares of Aetheris Academy!" the announcer declared.

The crowd cheered, but Antares didn't even acknowledge them. He stepped off the arena with the same smug grin, his confidence unshaken.

The third match showcased Cyrus of Solaris Academy, the sound-based prodigy. His opponent was Erik of Terranova Academy, a boy with a talent for wind manipulation.

From the start, Cyrus's movements were fluid and rhythmic, almost like a dancer. He dodged Erik's wind blades with ease, his body moving in perfect harmony with the vibrations in the air. With a flick of his fingers, Cyrus unleashed a deafening sonic pulse that sent Erik stumbling backward.

"You're too predictable," Cyrus said, his voice calm but carrying an edge of amusement. He finished the match with a powerful soundwave blast, sending Erik flying out of the arena.

"Winner: Cyrus of Solaris Academy!" the announcer declared.

Cyrus gave a small, confident smile as he stepped off the arena, his performance leaving a lasting impression.

The matches continued and soon the final match of the first round was to begin, the one everyone had been waiting for. The announcer's voice boomed through the coliseum: "Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for! Representing Celestia Academy, the prodigy who has been the subject of much speculation—Luciel!"

The crowd erupted into murmurs and cheers, their curiosity piqued. Luciel's absence during the opening ceremony had only added to the mystery surrounding him, and now, they would finally get to see him in action.

"And his opponent," the announcer continued, "representing Lunara Academy—the talented ice user and younger sister of Selene, Elara!"

Elara stepped into the arena, her silver hair glinting in the sunlight and her icy blue eyes calm but focused. Her reputation as one of Lunara Academy's top first-years preceded her, and many saw her as a serious contender for the tournament's top spots. She had already proven her skill in an earlier match, and the crowd was eager to see how she would fare against the rumored prodigy.

The seconds ticked by, and the crowd grew restless. Where was Luciel?

Just as the murmurs began to grow louder, a faint sound echoed through the arena—silent steps, so quiet they seemed to resonate in the minds of everyone present rather than in their ears. With each step, the atmospheric mana rippled like water disturbed by a falling droplet, the undulations growing stronger and more pronounced. The air itself seemed to bend under the weight of an invisible force, sending a cold shiver down the spines of every person in the stadium.

...

In the VIP box where the members of the Divine Council sat, a slender man with green hair shot to his feet, his eyes wide with shock. "Mana resonance!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with disbelief. "How is this possible? He's just a first-year!"

The other council members were equally stunned, their expressions a mix of awe and confusion. Only two individuals remained unfazed: Gabriel, who wore a gentle smile as if he had expected this all along, and Aurelius Soldrake, the golden-haired, purple-eyed head of the Union and the strongest awakener in the Human Domain. Aurelius leaned back in his seat, his sharp gaze fixed on Luciel. "Interesting," he murmured, his voice low but carrying an edge of intrigue. "A first-year with this level of control... Gabriel, you've outdone yourself."

As Luciel's figure came into view, the crowd fell into a stunned silence. His golden eyes glowed faintly, but his gaze was distant, as if he existed on a different plane of reality altogether. Those who locked eyes with him felt an inexplicable weight pressing down on their souls, a sensation that left them breathless.

Elara, standing in the arena, felt the full force of Luciel's presence. Her icy blue eyes widened in fear, her body trembling uncontrollably. She had faced strong opponents before, but this... this was something entirely different. It wasn't raw power she felt—it was absolute control, as if the very mana around her had turned against her.

Kaelith, standing at the edge of the arena, felt a surge of exhilaration. His sharp blue eyes gleamed with anticipation as he watched Luciel step into the arena. "Mana resonance... at this level?" he muttered under his breath. "He's already rivaling the control of an S-rank awakener. But how? His rank is only C+..."

Kaelith's mind raced. Mana resonance was a phenomenon where an awakener's presence influenced the surrounding mana, bending it to their will. It was a skill that even A-rank awakeners struggled to master, and only those in the S-rank could wield it with true precision. For Luciel to achieve this at C+ rank was unheard of. It wasn't a matter of raw power—Luciel's strength was still far below that of an S-rank—but his control over mana was on an entirely different level.

Katharine, standing beside Kaelith, felt a different kind of tremor run through her. Her red eyes, usually filled with mischief and confidence, now reflected fear and sorrow. The Luciel she had grown to care for—the kind, determined boy who had opened up to her—seemed like a distant memory. The figure before her was cold, detached, and utterly alien. "Luciel..." she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What happened to you?"

In the stands, Aria and Arthuria watched in stunned silence. Aria's green eyes were wide with disbelief, her fiery demeanor momentarily extinguished. "That's... Luciel?" she muttered, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "He's... different."

Arthuria, her silver hair shimmering faintly in the sunlight, nodded slowly. Her icy blue gaze was fixed on Luciel, her expression unreadable. "His control over mana... it's beyond anything I've ever seen. But it's not just that. He's... changed."

Luciel stepped into the center of the arena, his movements calm and deliberate. The referee, visibly unnerved by the oppressive atmosphere, raised his hand and shouted, "Begin!"

Elara, despite her fear, summoned her ice element, creating a barrier of frost around her. She knew she had to act quickly, but before she could even take a step, Luciel spoke a single word:

"Kneel."

The word was soft, almost a whisper, but it carried the weight of an avalanche. The atmospheric mana surged, pressing down on Elara with overwhelming force. Her ice barrier shattered instantly, and she crumpled to the ground, her body unable to withstand the pressure. Her vision blurred, and she lost consciousness before she even hit the floor.

The arena was silent, the crowd too stunned to react. Even the referee stood frozen, his mouth hanging open in shock. After a moment, he regained his composure and announced, "Winner: Luciel of Celestia Academy!"

The stadium erupted into cheers, the crowd's excitement reaching a fever pitch. Luciel's display of power—no, his display of control—had left an indelible mark on everyone present. But amidst the cheers, there were whispers of unease. What did this mean for the tournament? What did this mean for Luciel?

Kaelith's smile widened, his excitement barely contained. "This is just the beginning," he murmured. "Luciel, show them what you're truly capable of."

Katharine, on the other hand, felt a pang of sadness. The boy she had come to care for seemed to be slipping further and further away, replaced by something... colder. "Luciel," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please... come back."

As the crowd erupted into cheers, Kaelith stood at the edge of the arena, his sharp blue eyes fixed on Luciel. A faint smile played on his lips, but his mind was racing. He had always known Luciel was special, but this... this was beyond anything he had expected.

"Mana resonance at C+ rank," Kaelith muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with both admiration and disbelief. "His control is on a completely different level. But..."

He paused, his gaze narrowing as he assessed Luciel's performance. While the display was undeniably impressive, Kaelith knew better than anyone that control alone didn't equate to raw power. Luciel's ability to influence the atmospheric mana was extraordinary, but his strength—his physical and magical output—was still far below that of an S-rank awakened.

"If I were to fight him right now," Kaelith mused, his tone thoughtful, "it would probably take me at least five minutes to knock him out... if I didn't hold back at all. His control might be unparalleled, but his strength hasn't caught up yet. He's still limited by his rank."

Kaelith's words were a reminder of the crucial distinction between control and strength. Mana resonance was a skill that required precision and mastery, not sheer destructive force. Luciel's ability to bend the atmospheric mana to his will was a testament to his unparalleled control, but it didn't mean he could match the overwhelming power of an S-rank awakener. This distinction would become crucial as the tournament progressed. Opponents would soon realize that while Luciel's control was unmatched, his physical and magical strength still had limits.