Astral Academy – Main Training Arena
The air shifted.
A ripple passed through the academy grounds like a silent drumbeat. Word spread like wildfire:
"Anay is going to spar with Sato!"
Students came flooding in—first from the dorm wings, then the elemental practice halls. Even Wing A and Wing B students, usually too proud to join casual matches, trickled into the wide viewing balconies.
The sun hung high above the open training arena, casting soft golden light over the polished stone tiles. Two figures stood at its center.
One in black and white robes, silent and still.
Sato.
And across from him—
Anay.
Clad in his simple academy tunic, wind brushing his hair back slightly, eyes half-lidded with calm intensity.
The murmurs hushed when Principal Elren himself appeared near the edge of the balcony, arms crossed.
Center Ring – Start of the Duel
Sato lifted his hand. A dozen crystal shards bloomed from thin air around him, each hovering with razor precision. They reflected the sunlight like miniature mirrors, catching flashes of violet and blue.
"Ready?" he asked.
Anay smiled faintly. "Always."
The bell sounded.
In a blink, the shards launched.
But Anay didn't move.
The entire arena held its breath.
In the heartbeat before impact—Anay stepped. Just one step.
The crystals passed through empty air.
The next moment—Sato turned sharply, raising a wall of diamond-shaped shields. Anay's afterimage shimmered beside him, just a fraction too slow to be real.
"You're faster," Sato noted calmly, not out of surprise, but acknowledgement.
Anay didn't reply. He simply slid into motion again—one foot weaving behind the other like a river through stone.
Sato countered—his crystals forming a sword this time, clashing directly with a blow Anay delivered with only his palm.
The ring echoed with shockwaves of each blocked strike. The students watching flinched with every exchange.
But those paying close attention began to realize:
Anay wasn't attacking seriously.
He was matching Sato's pace. Blocking, parrying, dodging—but never pushing too far. It was like he was testing something… or waiting.
Sato, however, fought with focus. He had grown—faster hands, more refined counters. His control over crystal formation had become seamless. His composure never broke.
Then—
A sudden crystal spear from above.
Sato had baited Anay in close—but Anay raised two fingers and tapped the spear as it fell.
Tap.
The weapon shattered into dust.
Gasps erupted from the audience.
Sato narrowed his eyes. For the first time, a faint crease appeared on his brow.
"You're holding back."
Anay looked at him gently, almost apologetically.
"I wanted to see how far we've both come."
Sato lowered his stance, understanding dawning.
"Then allow me to test where your limits now lie."
He closed his eyes.
The ground trembled slightly. From the stone tiles, crystal vines erupted—not sharp, but fast, wrapping the arena in radiant patterns of light.
He raised both hands.
A massive crystalline formation spiraled behind him—a lotus-shaped construct, its petals floating mid-air, sharp as blades.
Students leaned forward. Even Ashwajeet straightened, surprised.
But Anay…
He exhaled.
His aura shimmered for the first time.
A deep violet pulse spread outward like a quiet breath.
And in that instant—
He vanished.
Three steps.
One flash of energy.
And Sato's formation fractured.
The lotus broke in half with a delayed shatter. The crystals collapsed into dust before even hitting the ground.
Sato's stance trembled.
He stood still for a moment… then gently lowered his hand.
He didn't fall.
But he knew.
"I yield," he said, soft but clear.
A moment of silence.
Then thunderous cheers erupted from the balconies.
But Anay didn't raise his hands in victory. He walked to Sato, extending a hand.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. "You've grown even stronger, Sato."
Sato accepted the hand, and nodded once.
The crowd's cheers slowly faded as the two stood together.
Then, Sato spoke quietly, just between them.
"Anay… you shouldn't stay here."
Anay blinked. "What?"
Sato met his eyes.
"You've outgrown these halls. Your aura, your presence… it's on another level now. This place might not sharpen you anymore."
Anay looked away, the sunlight warm on his face.
"I thought that too. But… I wasn't sure."
Sato's tone was clear.
"Go outside. Even the monster territories. Face real danger. Not just to fight—but to experience the world. To understand your own strength… your path."
Anay closed his eyes for a moment.
Zettai Anant pulsed faintly inside his soul, almost in agreement.
The crowd had gone back to murmuring, now scattered.
But for the two standing at the center, the world was silent.
Anay nodded, quiet resolve settling into his voice.
"You're right."
"Then I'll go."