Two days of rest were given before the quarterfinals began.
For most students, this time was spent relaxing, discussing outlandish theories, guessing who would win, and filling the academy discussion forums with information about the upcoming tournament matches. But for those of us still in the tournament... it felt different. A mixture of pressure and preparation.
That morning, Damian was training in the backyard of his dormitory building. Sweat was beginning to bead on his forehead, and a thin layer of ice was beginning to cover the training floor. He was trying out a new technique, still focused and calm.
Not far away, Elric could be seen climbing onto the rocks he had arranged and starting one-armed push-ups while singing a random song. He was enormous, and with each push, the rocks vibrated, but his face was relaxed, showing no signs of anxiety or fear about his upcoming fight.
Nero, as usual, had disappeared somewhere. But they all knew he was training too… secretly, in a hidden place.
Lucien sat under a tree, reviewing his notes. Even though he had lost, he remained serious. He analyzed techniques, strategies, and who knows... he might even help his friends later.
Liam sat under a tree, accompanying Damian and studying his fighting techniques. Although he was no longer a participant, he remained by Damian's side. He remained an observer, sometimes giving Damian advice, sometimes just silently watching him train.
"All eyes will now be on Master Damian, because Master Damian is the strongest in this school, but even so, Brakth, Ragnar, Rygar... they are not to be underestimated," Liam said.
Damian, hearing Liam's words, didn't answer and continued practicing with his sword, "Setsu'ryū." But the chill around him grew stronger.
The Zephyrus cafeteria was bustling as usual that day, but the table that was occupied by Damian, Elric, Nero, and Lucien felt quieter than usual. Each of them, except Lucien, was preoccupied with their own thoughts—about the tournament, about who their next opponent would be.
Soon, Tessa and Rin joined them. They had just gotten their food and were bringing warm soup to the table.
"It was crazy yesterday," Rin said as she sat down, her face still a little tense. "You saw Rygar fight, right?"
Elric nodded, his mouth still full of food. "He split the ground of the entire arena with one swing of his axe," he said after swallowing. "He's strong."
"Brakth too," Tessa added, stirring her soup slowly. "He was just walking slowly, and the aura of his power was already felt by all the students."
Lucien raised an eyebrow, looking at each of them. "That doesn't mean they can't be defeated."
Damian nodded slightly. "True. But to win against their opponents, they can't use ordinary strategies. They have to be more than that."
Tessa took a sip of her soup and then turned away. "Hey, do you guys know who's up against whom in the top eight?"
Before anyone could answer, the main speaker's voice echoed throughout the academy, loud and clear, instantly silencing the entire cafeteria.
"Announcement to all Zephyrus students. The draw for the top eight matches will begin soon."
Everyone turned to the crystal screen on the main wall of the cafeteria.
Zephyrus Academy – Cafeteria, Afternoon
A voice from the main speaker echoed throughout the cafeteria, cutting through the ongoing conversation.
"Attention, all students! The official brackets for the quarterfinals have been set! Please check your names and prepare for tomorrow morning's matches."
Instantly, the cafeteria hall erupted into a sea of voices and reactions. Large crystal screens in every classroom and school area projected a bright image:
Official Bracket – Quarterfinals
Damian Kade vs. Nero Valtzreid
Elric Draymore vs. Brakth Runebreaker
Vellia Darkfang vs. Ragnar Brimeclaw
Rygar Ardent vs. Kaelith Snowveil
A commotion erupted from all directions. "WAAAH! Damian vs. Nero?! Those are the two most outstanding kids of the new class, right?!"
"If Elric meets Brakth... honestly, I'm not sure who will be left intact after the duel."
"Vellia vs. Ragnar is like a shadow assassin meeting a giant tank. Who will emerge first: poison or hammer?"
"Rygar vs. Kaelith... that looks like it will be the most exciting match."
Some of the third-year seniors even came down from upstairs and joined the crowd in the main hall just to see the bracket results firsthand. Their faces were filled with curiosity; some were smiling, some were shaking their heads, and some were busy discussing each participant's chances.
Meanwhile, Damian and Nero remained seated at their table in silence, glancing at each other. Neither of them said anything.
But everyone knew... tomorrow morning, the arena would witness an unforgettable battle.
The afternoon sun slowly set behind the mountains, leaving the sky a pale orange. In the backyard of his dormitory, Damian stood alone.
He was practicing his focus, trying to maintain his composure before tomorrow's big day.
Soft footsteps sounded from behind.
Nero.
He emerged from behind one of the trees in the back area of Damian's dormitory, walking silently. His expression was, as usual, flat. Not cold or angry… just empty. But that calmness felt heavy.
They stood face to face, staring at each other in silence for a few moments.
"I hope you won't hold back when you fight me," Nero finally said, his voice calm but firm.
Damian turned. His gaze wasn't sharp, just firm. "I should be the one saying that to you."
There was no smile. No sarcasm.
There were no more words.
But in that silence, something felt clear. Their fight wasn't just a tournament match. There was something unfinished. Something to prove who was the strongest among them, and tomorrow morning, all would be revealed.
On the other side, in the eastern training grounds, the sound of the wind was constant. Elric Blazekraal sat meditating.
One eye slowly opened.
"Brakth, huh?" he muttered softly. "Alright. Let's see who falls first."
Meanwhile, elsewhere, the atmosphere was far more tense.
Brakth Runebreaker sat cross-legged in the center of the competition arena. His body was still, almost like a stone statue. But the air around him was blowing a strong wind, slowly swirling in a circle around him.
Every time Brakth opened his eyes, the pressure of his mana aura compressed the space around him. The ground beneath him even cracked slightly, as if unable to withstand his ever-increasing mana power.
There were no words. No emotions.
Just the preparations of two men who considered themselves the strongest in Zephyrus Academy.
Tomorrow they would duel, and Zephyrus would be the witness.
Later that night, on the balcony of one of the school's tallest towers, Vellia Darkfang sat alone. The night breeze blew through her long hair, but she remained motionless. Her eyes stared up at the star-filled sky, but her thoughts were elsewhere.
Since the announcement of the brackets, she hadn't said a word. No emotion. No comment. Just silence.
Meanwhile, the name of his opponent, Ragnar Brimeclaw, only made the students more nervous.
No one knew for sure where he lived. No one knew when he trained.
But rumors circulated about a tall, imposing figure who wandered into the back of the academy at nightfall, then vanished without a trace. No one was brave enough to pursue him. Even the instructors chose to remain silent.
In a dark, quiet place, far from the crowd, Ragnar sat cross-legged. His body barely moved, blending into the darkness around him. The air felt heavier, as if responding to his presence.
Suddenly, his eyes opened.
His left eye emitted a faint red light, brief, sharp, like a warning that only the darkness itself could understand.
And in an instant... he disappeared again, blending into the shadows.
Zephyrus Academy – Crystal Discussion Room
In the academy's central hall, the giant crystal board, the official venue for discussions and announcements, had transformed into a battlefield of opinions.
Ever since the top eight brackets were announced, a stream of magical text had been rolling nonstop on the screen. Student comments appeared every second, countering and arguing.
"If Damian vs. Nero is already revealed, then the rest will be even more brutal."
"I think Damian wins by a narrow margin. But Nero is so unpredictable, man."
"Elric vs. Brakth, it's like an arrow against a castle wall. They're both strong."
"The most mysterious one is Ragnar. He's never used 100% of his power. It's scary."
"Rygar? No comment. How will Kaelith fight that?! Seriously."
Some students even started making their prediction charts, complete with possible outcomes and who would advance to the finals. Some wrote extensively about strategies, while others wrote "RIP Kaelith."
Instructors passing by could only shake their heads at the students' enthusiasm. But one thing everyone knows for sure: this quarterfinal isn't just a competition.
This is the main stage to show who is the strongest in this school.
And all eyes are watching.
The night sky stretched out over Zephyrus, dotted with quietly twinkling stars. On one of the dormitory balconies, Damian Kade sat quietly, leaning back in a wooden chair. The cold wind gently caressed his face, mingling with the icy aura that lingered in the air.
Setsu'ryū, the sword he always guarded, leaned silently against the nearby wall. As if waiting, not for a simple battle, but for something deeper.
Damian said nothing. His gaze was fixed skyward, but his thoughts were far higher than those stars. He took a deep breath, then bowed his head slowly.
Tomorrow isn't just about the tournament.
It's not just about winning or losing.
Tomorrow is a show. A battle that will show how far Damian has come since entering this school, and the fate that is beginning to show its direction.
Damian closed his eyes. For a moment, there was only silence.
Then his lips moved, almost soundlessly.
"Let's finish this, Nero."