The arena smelled of smoke, scorched stone, and the lingering energy of clashing powers. Vemy Lula's chest heaved, his silver-blue hair plastered to his forehead from sweat. His body, still slender and lithe, glimmered under the flickering blue flames of his Azure Flow.
Aruto Samaki stood opposite him, crimson aura blazing like molten metal, fists raised, eyes narrowed with both frustration and excitement. The rivalry had escalated beyond training—it was a contest of survival, of pride, and of sheer destructive power.
"You've grown… but not enough," Aruto said, stepping forward. His aura flared violently, forming jagged crimson spikes that threatened to crush the arena floor. "Your tricks won't save you."
Vemy's lips curled into a faint smile. He could feel it—the next step, the fourth ring, whispering inside his soul. The Azure Manifestation was waiting, demanding expression, demanding risk. He closed his eyes briefly, centering himself.
The air around him thickened. The blue flames flared, coalescing into shapes that defied reality. His aura wrapped around him like armor, forming shards of energy that hovered and spun in perfect formation. Ethereal wings extended further, larger and sharper now, their tips glowing like blades.
When he opened his eyes, Aruto staggered back, shock written across his face. "What… what is that…?"
Vemy raised his hands. From the blue shards, a weapon materialized—a long, flowing energy glaive, humming with pure Azure power. It sliced through the air, leaving arcs of light in its wake. His body moved with grace and lethal precision, every curve highlighted by the deadly blue aura.
"The Azure Manifestation," Vemy whispered, voice steady, calm. "My essence… my choice… my weapon."
Aruto growled, rushing forward like a crimson storm. But Vemy was ready. The Azure glaive swung in a wide arc, intercepting Aruto's strike and sending a shockwave rippling across the arena. Dust and debris swirled, sparks of blue and red colliding violently.
Vemy's body flowed with the energy of the fourth ring, every movement both beautiful and terrifying. His slightly feminine curves, highlighted by the aura, made him appear almost untouchable—graceful yet deadly, a living weapon. Each attack left trails of light that danced like fireflies, mesmerizing as much as they destroyed.
"You've improved… far beyond what I expected," Aruto muttered through gritted teeth, forcing himself backward. His aura flared violently, pushing back against the blue flames with raw crimson force.
Vemy didn't relent. With a swift motion, he split his glaive into two spinning blades, each controlled by his will. They moved independently, attacking from multiple angles, forcing Aruto to dodge, block, and counter simultaneously. Every move Vemy made was a lesson in control, mastery, and the deadly allure of his Azure Path.
The battle escalated to a spectacle of light, sound, and raw energy. The Aether Circle watchers could only gasp as the two rivals tore through the arena, each clash sending shockwaves that rattled the walls.
Finally, Vemy leapt high, energy wings flaring fully, and brought both glaive blades down in a synchronized strike. A massive explosion of blue energy engulfed the arena, forcing Aruto to crash to the ground, barely holding his aura together.
Vemy landed gracefully, chest heaving, aura flickering around him like living flames. He looked down at his rival, calm, collected, and terrifyingly beautiful. "This… is the power of Azure Manifestation," he said softly. "My essence made real. My rings… my choice."
Aruto coughed, crimson aura flickering as he stared at Vemy. "I… I underestimated you…"
Vemy's gaze hardened. "This is just the beginning. The path ahead… is infinite. And I will rise. I will burn this world blue."
A whisper inside him stirred—the fifth ring waiting, promising even greater power, control, and dangerous beauty. And deep down, Vemy knew: every ring would demand more than his strength. It would demand his body, soul, and identity.
And he was ready to pay the price.