The battlefield was silent. Only the sound of crackling fire and faint echoes of poison dripping from Seraph's aura filled the air.
Across the cracked arena floor, two figures stood together:
🔥 Show — engulfed in his Rising Fire Mode, crimson flames spiraling upward like a roaring inferno.
✨ Raelyn — in his Shining Radiance Mode, golden light cascading from his body, his aura stretching like wings of pure brilliance.
Facing them, staggering yet grinning madly, was Seraph, the Poison Commander. His body was battered, blood dripping from his lips, but his aura still boiled with malicious darkness.
Seraph (snarling): "You think this is enough? You think you two children can erase the might of Plutrion?!"
His dark poison surged outward, covering the field like a black sea. The sky darkened, lightning flashing violet across the horizon.
Show (cracking his fists): "Doesn't matter how many times you stand back up…"
Raelyn (calmly): "…because this time, you won't."
---
The Fight Begins
Seraph roared, sending a storm of poisonous spears shooting across the arena. They rained down like arrows of death, each tipped with lethal toxins.
Show stepped forward, fists blazing. With a punch, he created a wall of fire that melted through the incoming storm. Raelyn leapt above, his body glowing like a sun, slicing the spears midair with radiant arcs of light.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions shook the battlefield, fire and light carving paths through Seraph's darkness.
But Seraph wasn't slowing down. He unleashed his Poison Lord's Fang, summoning enormous serpents made entirely of venom. They lunged with snapping jaws, aiming for both Ancient Wizards.
Show dove forward, flames bursting from his feet.
Show: "Ancient Fire—Inferno Breaker!"
A colossal flaming fist erupted from his hand, smashing through the first serpent, burning it into vapor.
Raelyn followed, golden light gathering into a bow in his hands.
Raelyn: "Radiant Magic—Celestial Arrow!"
He fired a brilliant golden arrow that split into hundreds mid-flight, each piercing a serpent's head, erasing them in showers of light.
The audience gasped. Even Hibiki, usually arrogant, was frozen in awe.
Hibiki (whispering): "They… they're fighting like gods…"
---
Seraph's Counterattack
Seraph, furious, slammed his hands into the ground. Black poison erupted into towering pillars, wrapping around the arena. The entire battlefield became a toxic swamp, bubbling and steaming.
Seraph (laughing): "Let's see you burn through this! My poison is endless!"
The swamp bubbled and formed hundreds of poison clones, each carrying blades of venom. They charged, screaming with twisted echoes.
Show grinned.
Show: "Then let's burn it all away!"
He slammed his fists together, igniting the ground beneath him. Flames surged outward like an expanding sun, reducing dozens of clones to ash.
Raelyn dashed through the rest, his radiant aura cutting down the clones like light tearing shadows apart. Each step he took left trails of golden brilliance, his strikes blinding the poison illusions until nothing remained.
But Seraph was waiting. From behind, a massive torrent of venom surged like a tsunami, ready to engulf them both.
Raelyn: "Show—above!"
They leapt together, flames and light spiraling around their bodies as the wave passed beneath them.
---
Twin Counterattack
In the sky, they glanced at each other, a silent understanding passing between them.
Show extended his hand, flames circling his arm.
Raelyn mirrored him, light swirling around his bow.
Show (yelling): "Ancient Fire—Blazing Surge!!"
Raelyn (yelling): "Ancient Radiance—Solar Burst!!"
Flame and light intertwined mid-air, forming a spiraling dragon of fire and brilliance. It roared as it descended, crashing onto Seraph with overwhelming force.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground split. Poison evaporated. The arena shook violently as Seraph was smashed back, screaming in rage and pain.
---
The Final Clash
Bloodied but still alive, Seraph rose. His aura twisted, turning darker and heavier, merging with the swamp beneath him.
Seraph (screaming): "I AM SERAPH, LORD OF POISON! YOU CANNOT ERASE ME!!"
His body swelled, transforming into a monstrous form—wings of venom, claws dripping with black ooze, his eyes glowing with demonic fury.
The students screamed, teachers held their breath.
But Show and Raelyn did not flinch.
Raelyn (to Show): "Together."
Show (grinning): "Wouldn't have it any other way."
They both raised their powers to the maximum. Firestorm and Radiance collided, blending into a single spiraling vortex of flame and light.
Seraph charged, his monstrous claws slashing forward.
The two Ancients charged too, their voices united:
Show + Raelyn: "Ancient Magic—Eternal Nova Strike!"
Their combined attack exploded outward, a blazing sun of fire and light swallowing Seraph whole. The shockwave tore through the arena, pushing the poison clouds away, ripping apart the dark sky above.
The heavens cleared.
For the first time in days—sunlight broke through.
And then… the rain fell.
Soft, gentle rain poured across the battlefield, washing away the last remnants of Seraph's poison. His monstrous form crumbled, collapsing lifelessly to the ground.
The battle was over.
---
Victory & Grief
The students cheered, but it was weak, hesitant. Their hearts were heavy.
Show and Raelyn stood side by side, victorious… but their expressions were grim. Their flames and light faded, leaving only exhaustion and sorrow.
Because in the end, even though Seraph had fallen—Professor Jespry was gone.
The rain mixed with their tears as everyone gathered.
Lina and Karen knelt where Jespry's body had been laid, crying openly. Hibiki, for once, said nothing, his jaw tight. Criss bowed his head, fists clenched. Even Drake, usually stoic, was biting his lip to hold back emotion.
Show walked forward silently. He placed a hand on Jespry's chest, lowering his head.
Show (whispering): "…You saved us all. And we weren't strong enough to save you."
Raelyn stood beside him, his golden aura faint like a flickering candle.
Raelyn: "He carried all our poison. Every wound, every burden. And he smiled through it… until the end."
At that moment, figures appeared at the edges of the battlefield. The teachers, freed from captivity, staggered in shock. Principal Alden was among them.
He saw Jespry's still body. His proud, fiery face crumbled instantly.
Alden (falling to his knees): "Jespry… my boy… you gave everything, didn't you?"
Professor Mira covered her mouth, her tears falling. Professor Eldren clenched his staff so tightly it shook.
Even the strongest adults in Arcania were powerless to stop the grief.
---
The Announcement
Principal Alden stood after a long silence, his voice rough and broken.
Alden: "This battle is over. But… we've lost one of our finest. Professor Jespry… will be honored, as he deserves."
The teachers and students bowed their heads, the rain still falling like the world itself mourned with them.
Alden (declaring): "A funeral ceremony… will be held. For the man who gave everything to protect his children."
The chapter closed with the image of Show, Raelyn, and the others standing in the rain, victorious yet mourning—their hearts burning with both pride and sorrow.
To be continued…
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