The tournament grounds pulsed with excitement as the crowd roared, cheering on their favorite adventurers. The semifinals had begun, and Red stood quietly in the waiting area, arms folded, his bastard sword resting against his shoulder. He glanced at his opponents and smiled. The random gacha had given him a… frying pan this time.
Anna, already in the arena, was loosening her shoulders. She looked calm—but focused. She'd come a long way since the first day of training. Her eyes flicked to Red, and a smirk formed on her lips.
"Don't go easy on me, Red," she called out. "I've been waiting for this!"
Red chuckled. "No promises. Gacha gods, lend me something cooler than a kitchen tool."
The horn blared. Their match began.
Anna vs. Red
Anna charged forward, twin daggers slicing through the air. Red met her head-on, parrying with surprising finesse using the frying pan. Sparks flew with each clash. The audience was stunned—not just by the pan, but by how fast Red adapted.
Anna weaved low, trying to sweep him, but Red jumped and responded with a swift arc of the pan, sending her skidding back. She gritted her teeth and stood.
"I'm not done!" she yelled. Her daggers glowed faintly—imbued with her rising skill.
Red's eyes lit up. "Now we're talking!"
He activated another random gacha skill—this time summoning a bubble wand. The crowd laughed. Anna did too.
But Red used it effectively, blowing massive shimmering bubbles that disoriented her sightlines. She burst through them, blades poised to strike. Their final exchange was a blur of movement, ending with Anna disarmed and on her knees, breathing hard but smiling.
"You've improved," Red said softly, offering a hand. "You're almost there."
Anna took it, grinning. "Next time, you're going down."
Sephyra's Withdrawal
Later, the audience murmured in surprise when Sephyra stepped forward and officially **forfeited** her match.
"I… choose to withdraw," she said, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "I have another path I must focus on."
No one questioned it. Red looked at her and nodded, sensing the fire behind her words. She was preparing for something far greater than a tournament.
Sephyra's Journal (Later That Night)
*"Day 12. I've finally translated part of the Celestial Script… 'When the stars fall and time folds, the veil between realms shall tremble.' I felt it tonight. Something shifted. A summoning circle pulsed when I touched the page. I'm close—I can feel it. I must be ready when the moment comes."*
Sephyra sat in the empty training field, eyes closed, focusing on her breathing. Wisps of glowing spirit energy shimmered briefly around her hands before vanishing.
"I'll summon you," she whispered. "No matter what it takes."
The Meteor
That same night, far to the north, the skies tore open with a flash of burning starlight. A meteor plummeted through the clouds, crashing into a remote mountainous region.
Back at the academy, Red looked up at the sky, his expression suddenly tense. Sephyra's journal flickered with light. A wind stirred.
In another town, a cloaked traveler stood watching the meteor's trail. His blade gleamed faintly.
"So it begins again…" he muttered, turning toward the horizon.
End of Chapter 9.