The crowd was already screaming when the whistle blew.
Heat rolled across the Soul Court, the air trembling like it couldn't breathe. Riku's shoes scraped the crystal floor, violet sparks flickering under each step. Across from him, Kaori stood like a living flame — her hair burning brighter, her aura stretching high behind her, a phoenix's wings unfolding with a scream that shook the arena.
The firebird's cry was more than sound — it was command. Every student in the stands went silent for a heartbeat, caught in the weight of it.
Riku's grin was sharp. "So this is the top scorer of the East Division?"
Kaori's eyes narrowed. "And you're the idiot who bonded with a soul-devouring queen. Let's see which curse burns hotter."
The referee spirit's whistle flared once more — and the match began.
Kaori moved first, faster than thought. Her dribble left trails of fire, each bounce echoing like explosions. She crossed right, faked left, and vanished — teleportation through her spirit flame. The next instant, she reappeared behind Riku, launching a blazing shot at point blank.
He didn't dodge.
Lira's voice echoed in his skull. Now.
He raised his arm — shadows burst from his palm, forming a spectral barrier shaped like a spinning ball. The flaming shot collided — boom! — shattering the floor in a burst of molten crystal.
The stands roared.
Kaori leaped back, landing lightly. "You really blocked that?"
Riku flexed his fingers, smirking. "You hit hard. I hit smarter."
She didn't respond — she moved.
The next minute was chaos. Fire and shadow blurred into streaks of color. Kaori was a storm of motion — behind him, in front of him, above him — her phoenix splitting into afterimages as it mirrored her moves.
Every shot she took burned through the court's barriers. Every block Riku made drained his soul energy like water through sand.
She's fast, Lira thought. But predictable. Her rhythm follows tempo — one-two-three-burst.
Riku grinned. "Then let's change the beat."
He bent low, phantom ball pulsing in his hand. The court beneath his feet turned violet, energy rippling through every motion. His old streetball instincts returned — raw, unpredictable, impossible to read. His dribble wasn't just fast; it was alive. Each bounce echoed like a heartbeat, syncing with his own.
"Lira," he whispered, "Resonance Boost — 60%."
"Fine," she said, appearing beside him like a ghost. "But don't die before I'm impressed."
Violet shadows swirled, fusing around his body. His movements blurred into streaks, leaving ghostly copies that faked every direction. Kaori lunged left — but he wasn't there. He was behind her.
"Too slow," he murmured.
He spun — phantom energy coalescing around his leg — and drove forward, slam-dunking the ball with enough force to crack the soul barrier above.
The arena shook.
The score flared in the air: Phantom: 1 | Blaze: 0
Kaori landed hard, breathing out flames. Her smirk returned. "So that's how it is."
"Your turn," Riku said.
"Gladly."
Her aura erupted — golden and crimson flames engulfing the entire arena. The phoenix behind her shrieked and dissolved into pure energy, merging with her body. The heat was unbearable.
"Full Soul Fusion," Lira muttered. "She's going all in."
Riku shielded his face, the air distorting around them.
Kaori's form shifted — fire dancing along her skin like armor, her eyes burning gold. "You talk big, Riku. But power without control means nothing."
Her next move was faster than sight. She launched a blazing comet-shot — no ball, just pure flame shaped by spirit resonance.
Riku didn't think. He felt.
His hand reached back, and Lira's spectral form wrapped around him — two souls syncing, heartbeats aligning.
"Phantom Resonance: 80%," Lira whispered.
Shadows burst upward.
The comet hit — and for a split second, everything froze. Fire and shadow collided, each devouring the other in silence. Then the explosion came.
The audience shielded their faces as the blast tore through the court. Crystals shattered, barriers screamed, flames consumed air.
When the light faded, both players still stood — smoke rising from their bodies.
Kaori wiped blood from her lip. "You're tougher than you look."
Riku smirked. "You too."
They both lunged at once.
No tricks now — just speed, instinct, soul. The ball bounced between them like lightning, every dribble a clash of wills. Kaori's fire left streaks in the air; Riku's shadows cut through them. When they collided mid-court, the impact sent shockwaves across the stands.
Students shouted. Professors leaned forward. Spirits howled.
Then — for the briefest second — the flames turned violet.
Kaori's eyes widened. "What—?"
Their resonance had synced — fire and shadow dancing in harmony. It wasn't supposed to happen. Two opposing spirits couldn't merge like that. But for an instant, their powers harmonized, creating something new — a golden-violet pulse that made even the referee's whistle shatter.
Lira gasped. This energy… it's divine.
The phoenix screeched in pain; the court trembled. Riku's knees buckled, his vision going white. He heard Kaori cry out, her aura cracking under the overload.
"Stop!" Vale's voice echoed from the stands. "End the match before they—"
Too late.
The fusion burst.
A column of flame and shadow shot into the sky, splitting the clouds. The entire Academy vibrated, alarms flaring.
When the dust settled, Riku lay flat on his back, smoke rising from his clothes. His hand trembled, but he was still conscious. Barely.
Kaori knelt across from him, her uniform scorched, her flames finally dimming. Her phoenix reformed behind her — smaller, weaker, but alive.
She met his eyes — exhausted, but smiling. "You're insane."
Riku laughed weakly. "You started it."
The referee spirit's fragmented voice echoed, "Match… draw."
The crowd erupted — half in awe, half in disbelief.
Vale rushed down from the platform, her water spirit already releasing healing mist. "You two nearly broke the Academy's core!" she scolded.
Kaori stood slowly, brushing soot from her uniform. "Worth it." She looked down at Riku, extending a hand. "Welcome to the Spirit Academy, Phantom."
Riku took it, still grinning through the pain. "Guess I passed."
"Barely."
As they shook hands, both felt it — a strange warmth in the air, a faint link between their spirits. Not a bond, but something close. A recognition.
Lira materialized beside Riku, arms crossed. "You attract chaos like it's a sport."
He glanced up at her. "It kind of is."
Kaori chuckled, turning to leave. "Enjoy your rest, street king. Next time we play, I'm not holding back."
When she was gone, Riku collapsed against the court wall, staring up at the drifting lights above.
Lira floated beside him, silent.
He finally said, "We almost died again."
She looked down at him, her tone softer than ever before. "Yes. But you smiled through it. You remind me of someone I once knew."
Riku turned his head. "Who?"
Lira didn't answer right away. The phantom glow in her eyes flickered, distant — almost sorrowful. "A player who believed the game could save souls. He was wrong."
"Maybe he just didn't have the right teammates," Riku said, eyes closing.
For once, Lira didn't tease him. She just floated closer, her form fading into mist as he drifted toward sleep.
Far above, in the divine courts, unseen figures watched the replay of their match on floating mirrors.
"Flame and Phantom resonance detected," one said. "Impossible."
Another figure leaned forward, smiling faintly. "Not impossible… destined."
And somewhere deep within the Soul Realm, a voice — ancient and amused — whispered through the void:
The game has begun again.
To be continued...