Two days later, the vast square in front of the Twilight Tower was packed with a vibrant, buzzing crowd. The air itself hummed with excitement and animated chatter.
"In just a little while, the Silver Dragon Prince and the Thunder Dragon King will officially face off! I can hardly wait!"
"It is true! Both of these figures are legendary. Everyone is watching to see which one will prove stronger."
"I still think Odin has the edge. He has been a famous, respected name across the continent for centuries. The Silver Dragon Prince has only risen to prominence in the last few years."
"That is not necessarily true. Leon is a prodigy. You cannot measure strength by reputation alone."
"You have a point."
"Hey, it is already past eight. Why has it not started yet?"
"Relax, look! The Tower Master is coming out!"
"The Tower Master!"
The crowd erupted into roaring cheers as the Tower Master made his appearance.
From her VIP seating, Noah could see the elegant elderly man standing at the center of the square. Amid the applause, he offered a graceful bow before addressing everyone.
"Thank you all for gathering here to witness this pinnacle of magical combat."
"I know many of you have been eagerly awaiting this event since it was announced..."
"Well, I will delay no longer. Behold, the stage!"
With a theatrical wave of his hand, the Tower Master summoned his spatial magic.
The ground trembled slightly as massive, polished recording stones rose around the square, positioning themselves to give every spectator a crystal-clear view.
On the stones' surfaces, a spacious, otherworldly arena was displayed. The floor was dotted with numerous raised stone platforms, perfectly sized for combat. The walls and surfaces were impossibly smooth, as if carved by a divine blade.
Atop the two highest and most central platforms stood the duel's main contenders.
On the left platform stood Leon Cosmodeous, clad in his gleaming silver armor, a long spear held firmly in his hand.
On the right platform stood Odin, a wiry figure in simple white robes, his presence commanding and immense despite his slender frame.
Above them, a giant, magical hourglass hung suspended in the air, with the last few grains of sand trickling down.
This signaled that the duel was about to begin.
"As you can see, the two combatants have entered the independent spatial dimension I created for this battle," the Tower Master's voice echoed, explaining the scene. "This long-awaited duel is now commencing."
"Please, watch closely. Do not miss a single moment."
With a final, grand gesture, the Tower Master vanished from the square.
He reappeared moments later in the exclusive viewing area at the very top of the Twilight Tower. A large, central recording stone displayed the same arena. The room was filled with the other Dragon Kings who had arrived over the past few days, alongside the faculty and student observers from St. Heath Academy.
Noah's heart beat faster. She knew Odin's name and legacy well; his feats were legendary, taught repeatedly in the academy's advanced courses on draconic magic. His mastery of lightning was considered the very foundation of the art.
Though she had absolute faith in her father's strength, she could not help the nervous flutter in her stomach. This was going to be a fierce, historic battle.
Nearby, Rossweise and Isha sat together, their quiet conversation reaching Noah's ears.
"Little Rose, what do you think my dear brother-in-law's chances are?"
"I... I am not sure."
"Seven to three," Isha said, a playful glint in her eye.
Rossweise, too tense to catch the teasing tone, took her sister's words at face value. "Only thirty percent? Is that not too low?"
Isha chuckled and nudged her sister lightly. "I meant he knocks Odin down three times for every seven exchanges. A seventy-thirty split in his favor."
Rossweise finally caught the joke and allowed a small, relieved smile. "I hope you are right, sister."
Meanwhile, little Muse waved her tiny hands from Rossweise's lap, trying to use one of the few clear phrases she had learned. "Dad... Dad... Will... win!"
Noah raised an eyebrow and gently pinched her younger sister's chubby cheek. "You sure know how to pick your moments, little sis. I think Dad will win, too."
Across the room, Hefei glanced at Noah and Muse before turning her attention to her own father.
Constantine's usually stoic expression was unreadable, but a rare tension held his body rigid, his gaze locked intently on the recording stone.
Hefei hesitated for a moment, then reached out her small hand to hold his.
"Hefei," Constantine said softly, without looking away from the screen.
"Father?"
"This battle... it might be the only one of its kind we will witness in our lifetimes. Watch every move. Do not miss a thing."
"Yes, Father."
Tick. Tock.
The room fell into a hushed silence, save for the sound of a large clock on the wall.
In the arena, Leon and Odin stood facing each other.
Though the air within the spatial dimension was perfectly still, the atmosphere was thick with palpable tension.
They both understood this was not a casual spar.
"Leon," Odin said suddenly, his voice calm yet carrying immense weight.
Leon met Odin's unwavering gaze, his own tone equally steady. "What is it?"
"There is something I have always wondered," Odin began. "Why had I never heard your name before you became the Silver Dragon Prince? With power like yours, your reputation should have reached me long ago."
[Leon, internally: Who said you never heard my name? I terrorized your entire Dragon society for years under the title 'Man in the Black Armor.']
Leon's external smile did not falter. "Perhaps I never had the right opportunity to stand out before."
Odin did not press further. Slowly, he settled into his combat stance, faint, dangerous arcs of lightning beginning to crackle and dance around his frame.
"Let us both give this everything we have," he declared.
Leon nodded, stepping back slightly to ground himself. "I would not have it any other way."
As the final grain of sand fell in the floating hourglass, both combatants vanished from their platforms simultaneously.
They reappeared a split second later, directly in the space where the hourglass had been. Odin's knee shot upward in a devastating strike aimed at Leon's chin, while Leon twisted, raising his armored elbow to block. The brutal impact of their first blow released a concussive burst of white lightning, shattering the magical hourglass beneath them into a million glittering motes.
The sheer, raw force of the exchange drove Leon back a half-step through the air, and in that instant, he realized the true, formidable depth of his opponent's power.
Though Odin's appearance suggested an age greater than even Leon's old master, his speed, strength, and reflexes were terrifyingly undiminished.
Leon felt a wave of immense pressure, but it was instantly washed away by a surge of pure, unadulterated exhilaration.
A fierce, genuine smile crept onto his face. A challenge like this—this was exactly what he had been searching for.