Noah vs Shadow Prince (Round 1)

A dark, suffocating pressure descended over the academy grounds.

Within the radius of the Shadow Prince's sealed domain, the world turned eerily still. Time seemed slower, as if the shadows themselves devoured each passing second. A throne of darkness hovered midair—his figure seated with one leg crossed, arms draped lazily over its arms, and atop his head…

A crown forged of pure void shimmered.

Shadow Prince.

The true harbinger of despair.

All sound died.

Noah stood a few meters ahead, Olivia's bloodied form cradled in his arms. Her breathing was faint, her once radiant light flickering like a dying ember. His blade trembled in his grip—not from fear, but fury… and helplessness.

The Shadow Prince stared with a calm that cut deeper than any weapon. "You feel it, don't you?" he said, voice echoing like a lullaby of death. "The weight of this world. Its filth. The lies that built your hope."

Noah clenched his jaw.

"Heroes don't exist, boy. They either die early… or become monsters that protect the status quo."

"…Maybe." Noah lowered Olivia gently to the ground. "Maybe this world is cruel. But that doesn't mean I'll let it stay that way."

The Shadow Prince smiled. "Bold. But empty." He stood, his crown flickering like a dying star. "Come then, show me your resolve."

The battle erupted.

Noah vanished, using Phantom Edge and Gale Dance in seamless harmony, his blade whistling through air as it met the Shadow Prince's claws. Explosions of mana rippled outward. Each blow from the Prince cracked the earth. Noah parried with gritted teeth, his speed pushing the limits of his body.

But it wasn't enough.

The Prince was toying with him.

"You call that power? That flame of yours… why do you hesitate?" the Prince sneered.

Then Olivia groaned.

Noah looked back for a split second—

CRACK!

A shadow blade pierced his side.

He coughed blood, barely keeping his footing.

"Do you see now?" The Prince's voice turned bitter. "You care. And because you care… you bleed."

That's when Noah's Domain erupted.

A howl of pure will burst from him—Mana Domain: Celestial Bloom. Within it, his control sharpened, every particle of mana answering him. His Divine Eyes gleamed like stars, and his flame—Azure Blue Flame—exploded outwards.

But the Shadow Prince laughed.

He raised his hand. "Shadow Dominion."

The world inside the domain shifted again. Shadows swallowed light. The vines of Radiant Bloom withered. Time and space bent around them as shadow beasts crawled from the walls of the domain, clawing their way into existence.

And behind the veil of the domain, the outside world burned.

Civilians screamed. Shadows slaughtered them mercilessly. The few professors who tried to breach the domain were blocked by swarms of Peak-A rank elite shadows. Even Ms. Elsa was forced back, bloodied and enraged.

Within the domain—only Noah and Olivia remained.

"You are alone," the Shadow Prince whispered, walking toward him. "You will break. And then… you'll understand me."

Noah fell to his knees.

He remembered everything—his past life, his weakness, his helplessness. He remembered how he swore to stand above all. To protect those who had no strength.

And now, he couldn't even protect the one who believed in him the most.

"I'm sorry… Olivia…" he whispered.

A warm tear fell.

But then, his blade pulsed.

The Protector's Flame within him—long dormant—awoke.

He remembered her words: "Willpower shapes the blade."

He remembered his mother's words: "Protect… not to kill. That is strength."

The sword, once cold, burned in his hand.

The Azure Flame turned gold.

The shadows retreated.

A gentle voice echoed in Noah's mind—"You are not alone anymore."

[ Protector's Flame: Awakened ]

The flame spread across his body—not consuming, but empowering. His wounds stopped bleeding. His eyes blazed with golden fire. And with one swing, Shadow beasts turned to ash.

The Shadow Prince's eyes widened for the first time.

"Impossible…"

"You're wrong," Noah said, rising slowly. "The world is cruel. But I still have people worth protecting."

He raised his sword toward the Prince, the flame trailing behind it like a comet's tail.

"I don't need to defeat you. I just need to protect what matters."

To be continued…