[INT. ILLUSION WORLD – JUST AFTER THE ATTACK ON RIKA]
Rika staggered, her shield cracking from the mage's assault. Blood trickled from her arm. The light in her eyes flickered.
> Mage (grinning):
"You're finished."
He raised his hand for a final strike.
Ray saw it — and didn't hesitate.
> Ray (shouting):
"RIKA!"
He leapt, body taking the full brunt of the spell meant for her. The blast hurled him back. His shoulder armor shattered, and he rolled across the ground, barely conscious.
> Rika (horrified):
"RAY!!"
Ray coughed, chest heaving. The energy had nearly torn through his core.
> Ray (weakly, smiling):
"Told you I'd... cover you."
---
[BATTLEFIELD – ELSEWHERE]
The moment Ray fell, something shifted in the Light School team.
They snapped.
Lyrion's eyes burned with divine light. He stepped forward like a blade unsheathed.
> Lyrion:
"No more mercy."
He surged ahead, blasting Volrik with a beam that cracked the illusion world's sky itself. The elemental heir tried to shield but was overpowered and hurled into the ground, vanishing in a burst of light.
Veloria dashed into the fray, manipulating time to trap Faryn in a loop of slowed perception while she disarmed and knocked her unconscious in one motion.
Kairo unleashed twin flame vortexes against Lysandra, forcing her back step by step until Syleria intercepted with a lightning spear — knocking her out of the competition.
Aria and Auron worked in perfect sync. Auron's illusionary doubles misdirected Korr while Aria's gravity field bound him mid-air before Auron's arc-light blade ended the duel.
Cyra and Sylion overwhelmed Vessiel and another of the Living Creation elites with coordinated twin strikes — one from above, one below — leaving them stunned and flickering out of the realm.
Seven students eliminated in less than a minute.
> Remaining enemies (shocked):
"T-They're too strong—!"
"Retreat!"
The survivors turned and fled, abandoning their fallen.
Silence settled over the grove. Only Rika and Ray were still on the ground.
The rest of the team approached them immediately.
---
[INT. PHANTOM GROVE – LIGHT SCHOOL CAMP, MOMENTS LATER]
Veloria began healing Ray, pouring time reversal threads into his wound.
> Veloria (focused):
"You're not dying on me, idiot."
Ray winced but grinned.
> Ray:
"Nice to know you care."
Rika crouched beside him, her eyes wet with relief and frustration.
> Rika (angrily):
"Why?! Why would you take that hit?! What if you got eliminated?!"
> Ray (softly):
"Because you were about to. And I... I couldn't let that happen."
> Rika (voice breaking):
"You idiot... you stubborn idiot..."
She pressed her forehead to his for just a moment. No more words were needed. Her heart had spoken through her fear.
The others watched in silence. No one interrupted.
---
[INT. STADIUM – CROWDS' REACTIONS]
The crowds of all six Divine Schools were stunned.
> Student (whispers):
"They… they fought like one body."
> Another (awe):
"Even under ambush… they didn't break."
The gods on the balcony watched as well.
> Light God Alarion (to Lyria):
"They've grown. Every one of them."
> Time God Aion (smiling faintly):
"Especially her."
---
[INT. OBSERVATION DECK – ZYREN'S BALCONY]
Zyren leaned forward.
> Zyren (quietly):
"So this is the Light School's bond…"
> Silent Death (beside him):
"And they're just getting started."
---
[DIVINE TALLY BOARD – ABOVE THE STADIUM]
80 Participants Remaining
30 Eliminated
Only the strongest remain.
---
TO BE CONTINUED…