The roar of the crowd rose like a surging tide, and the sky above the academy was lit by a blazing sun cutting through golden clouds.
Beneath it stretched the circular arena, paved with ancient enchanted stones pulsing with mysterious energy.
From the royal throne on the upper platform sat King Ragnar Lionheart beside Queen Halia Arlin, and next to them were Poseidon, King of Atlantis, with his wife Sia.
Behind them stood a row of rulers and generals, all watching the arena in tense anticipation.
Ragnar folded his arms and spoke in a deep tone:
> "So it begins… Let's see if this generation is worthy of the swords we earned in blood."
Poseidon, resting his cheek on his hand, replied lazily:
> "I don't know about the others, but my children will take the top ranks."
Krohan, with a mocking tone as he stood in front of the King of Shambhala, said:
> "My son is fighting this round. Watch closely, Poseidon. My heir won't lose to anyone."
Poseidon's eyes narrowed in irritation:
> "Your son will fall before mine even if he wins this fight."
Krohan retorted angrily:
> "Damn you… your son is the one who'll lose!"
Then Gagnar, King of the Orcs and son of the former ruler Tarok, growled:
> "You fools! You think my son will lose? You mock the might of the Orcs?"
Ragnar sighed and ran a hand through his hair:
> "What a headache… such foul mouths for kings."
Among the ranks of competitors sat Arthur Lionheart, his crimson eyes reflecting the sunlight. His heartbeat was strong — not from fear, but from hunger… for battle.
He whispered to himself:
> "This is the first test… Let's see who stands in my way."
---
Suddenly, the magical announcer's voice echoed from the observation tower, booming like thunder from the heavens:
> "Ladies and gentlemen! The first round of the entrance examination begins now!"
"The duel will be: Hoba of the Orc Kingdom versus Garan of the Kingdom of Shambhala!"
Silence swept across the arena.
Then another voice — firm, commanding — echoed from the judges' platform:
> "Zeus, High Judge of the Academy, will now commence the battle!"
---
Zeus, the greatest mage on the continent, rose to his feet.
His silver hair swayed with the magical wind surrounding him, and his blue eyes gleamed with the brilliance of lightning.
He lifted his hand and declared with authority:
> "Combatants, step into the arena!"
---
Hoba entered first, his heavy footsteps shaking the ground.
His massive, scarred body and iron-hard muscles made the students instinctively back away in fear.
> "Gods… he looks more like a monster than a man!" one student gasped.
Hoba laughed harshly, raising his colossal axe:
> "I'll show you how an Orc crushes human bones!"
From the opposite side, Garan advanced with calm, steady steps.
His body was lean, his face expressionless, holding a black spear gleaming under the sun.
His golden eyes didn't look at his opponent — they focused on a single point in the air.
> "That's Garan… son of Krohan, the warrior who served on the northern borders of Shambhala! They say he once slew a beast alone!" whispered another student in awe.
On the royal stand, the kings exchanged sharp looks.
The Orc King smirked proudly:
> "Beware the wrath of my bloodline. Hoba is of my kin — war runs through his veins."
Krohan chuckled softly:
> "Don't underestimate my son. He may look frail… but his strength is real. Let's see who stands last."
Queen Halia remained silent, her eyes filled with quiet concern — memories of ancient wars flickering in her mind, when even the skies themselves screamed.
---
Zeus raised his hand once more, his voice cracking through the air like thunder:
> "Begin the battle!"
---
Hoba roared — a sound so deep it made the earth tremble — and charged forward with terrifying speed for his size, his axe slicing through the air like a lightning bolt of steel.
But Garan didn't move.
He stood perfectly still until the last possible moment — then shifted his stance, his spear flicking in a single, precise motion.
The sound of metal cutting air echoed through the arena like the cry of a giant hawk.
A violent explosion of power followed as axe and spear clashed, shaking the ground and sending waves of dust through the stands.
> "What was that!?" shouted someone from the crowd.
Zeus chuckled under his breath, his eyes glinting with amusement:
> "Haha… a fine start. It seems this year's generation won't be ordinary."
---
Hoba grinned, veins bulging as he pushed forward with monstrous strength.
But Garan was gone — vanished.
He reappeared behind the Orc in a blur, his spear glowing faintly with azure light, and struck cleanly at Hoba's shoulder.
> "Fast…" Arthur muttered, eyes wide.
The spear tore through flesh, leaving a deep wound, but Hoba turned slowly, blood dripping, a mad grin spreading on his face.
> "Finally… a real fight!"
---
The air erupted with sound and fury again.
Each clash sent sparks of light dancing across the arena,
each strike louder than thunder.
The audience was on their feet,
and the kings leaned forward, their gazes locked —
they all knew this was no mere academic duel…
this was the birth of a new age of warriors.
---
Hoba slammed his axe into the ground, shattering stone and sending shards flying.
> "I will not fall to a weak human!"
He roared and charged again, his body a raging avalanche.
But Garan's calm didn't break.
Every motion of his opponent unfolded in his mind like an equation — predictable, flawless.
He twisted aside, lowered his stance, and countered with a flick of his spear — one strike to the knee, one to the shoulder.
> "He's not fighting… he's flowing," whispered a stunned student.
"No — he's fighting like the wind itself," replied another.
---
From the platform, Ragnar smiled faintly:
> "Hmm… perhaps he's even stronger than Arthur."
Krohan grinned proudly:
> "Of course he is."
The Orc King's eyes blazed:
> "Don't be so quick to judge — an Orc never falls easily!"
---
In a flash, Hoba raised his axe high, energy swirling around him in a violent storm.
> "Mountain Breaker!!"
A wave of green energy exploded outward, shaking the arena to its core.
Dust and light filled the sky.
Students shielded their faces; even Arthur raised an arm against the wind, his gaze never leaving the battlefield.
When the dust settled —
Garan still stood.
He was behind Hoba once again, his spear glowing blue.
Zeus murmured to himself:
> "Hmm… wind technique?"
Then came the final move.
A single, silent strike —
the spear halted a hair's breadth from Hoba's throat.
The entire arena froze.
---
Zeus lifted his hand, his voice booming across the academy:
> "Enough!"
"The winner of the first match — Garan of Shambhala!"
The crowd erupted like a storm.
Cheers, applause, and gasps filled the air.
Even the kings rose in respect.
Ragnar smiled:
> "A clean fight… as it should be."
The Orc King, though defeated, stood proudly and raised his fist:
> "You fought with honor, Hoba! You didn't lose — you granted your foe glory!"
Krohan laughed thunderously:
> "That's my son! Hahaha!"
Poseidon added coolly:
> "Hmm… an impressive duel, but my son will surpass them both."
---
Garan extended his hand to his fallen opponent, sweat dripping down his brow.
Hoba glared for a moment… then took the hand and laughed deeply.
> "You're a true warrior. Next time, I'll be the one standing."
"I'll be waiting," Garan replied with a calm smile.
---
The other contestants whispered among themselves,
their eyes burning with awe and tension.
> "If this is the first round's level… what about Arthur Lionheart?" one murmured.
Arthur's crimson gaze glowed fiercely.
> "Impressive, Garan… but I won't just watch. Next time… my name will be the one called."
---
Zeus' voice thundered once more:
> "The trial is far from over! The next round begins in ten minutes!"
And so,
the flames of rivalry ignited between kingdoms,
and in the eyes of the rulers,
a flicker of unease began to form —
For what they witnessed today was not merely a duel between students…
but the dawn of a new era of heroes.