The first round of the Celestial Crown Tournament began with an explosion.
Literally.
A second-year student from the Fire Division launched himself into the arena with a dramatic flame spiral, fireworks trailing behind him. His red armor shimmered. His entrance music—yes, he had entrance music—blared across the crowd.
"I am Blaze Ignis, Flame Prodigy of Pyra Kingdom!" he shouted, arms raised.
The crowd went wild.
Meanwhile, Kael stood at the edge of the platform, hoodie up, sipping tea from a cup that somehow hadn't spilled despite the nearby inferno.
He looked over to Lyra in the stands. "Is… this part of the fight?"
She shouted back, "Yes! He's making a name for himself!"
Kael blinked. "Loud."
---
Announcer's Voice boomed across the arena.
"Welcome to Match Five! On one side, Blaze Ignis, second-year flame knight and holder of five regional dueling titles! And on the other… Kael Vaelthorn, first-year tea enthusiast and towel preservationist."
The crowd laughed.
Kael sighed. "Why do I feel insulted?"
---
Arena
Blaze pointed at Kael. "Prepare yourself, silent one! Today your flames will be extinguished by mine!"
Kael held up a finger. "Wait."
Blaze paused mid-pose. "...Huh?"
Kael reached into his robe and pulled out a sealed pouch of leaves. "I forgot to steep this."
He conjured a small flame beneath his kettle using minimal mana, carefully adjusted the temperature, and gently dropped in the tea.
The arena was dead silent.
Even Blaze hesitated.
"Are… are you seriously making tea?"
Kael stirred it once. "Give me two minutes."
Blaze blinked, confused. "I—I'm going to attack now!"
Kael glanced up. "Sure."
---
Blaze launched forward, sword blazing. The flames twisted into a serpent. The crowd screamed. A wave of heat blew across the arena.
Kael didn't move.
As the serpent approached—
ACHOO!
Kael sneezed.
A ripple of invisible mana burst out.
The serpent vanished.
The platform cracked.
Blaze was flung across the arena like a wind-tossed leaf, crashing into the barrier with a thud.
The announcer gasped. "A… a single sneeze!?"
The crowd exploded.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?"
"DID HE EVEN CAST A SPELL!?"
"THE TEA HAS POWER!"
"DIVINE SNEEZE TECHNIQUE!!"
---
Medical Tent
Blaze groaned, half-conscious. "He… he didn't even draw his weapon…"
---
Outside the Arena
Kael held his now-steeped tea and walked calmly out. He waved politely to a small group of first-years chanting his name.
One bold fan handed him a headband that read "Tea God."
He blinked. "That's not accurate."
Lyra jogged beside him, wide-eyed. "Kael. KAEL. You sneezed and created a pressure wave. Do you realize what kind of compressed mana that takes?!"
Kael shrugged. "I was allergic to fire smoke."
Lyra clutched her head. "You just beat the second-year top seed by accident!"
He took a sip. "Hmm. Good tea."
---
Elsewhere – Shadow Society Enclave
Shadow Envoy Report:
Observation 344:
Subject unleashed a new ability: Divine Sneeze Disruption.
Likely a suppressed form of ancient internalized magic.
Outcome: 1 unconscious opponent, 34 tea leaf fragments undamaged.
Conclusion: Strategic sneeze? Confirmed.
Cult status: Elevated.
New chant among surface agents: "Bless us with breath, O Silent One."
---
Meanwhile – Dragon Continent, Flame Sovereign's Court
A wyvern messenger arrived with the news.
The dragon king, Asianet the Crimson Tempest, raised a scaled brow. "A human boy sneezed away a flame serpent?"
The court fell silent.
Asianet's tail curled slowly. "...Interesting."
---
Academy – Evening
Kael sat in the gardens again, sipping his tea peacefully.
Lyra appeared beside him with a scroll.
"You've been formally invited to the Flame Kingdom's dueling banquet."
Kael frowned. "Is this because of the sneeze?"
"They want to give you a title."
Kael looked away. "If they name me 'Lord of Allergies,' I'm leaving this continent."
Lyra grinned. "Too late. It's already trending."
---
End of Chapter 33