From the corner of the arena, a boy with dark hair and a cocky grin sat cross-legged, arms resting casually on his knees.
"This dumbass might be helpful after all," Ren Hayashi muttered under his breath, observing Akio's overwhelming display.
No sooner had he spoken than three students approached from behind, intent on taking him out while he was distracted.
Ren smirked, barely moving.
"Accelerate."
In an instant, he blurred past their attacks, moving so fast that the sound waves themselves seemed to shatter, a resonating crack echoing across the arena. Gasps rippled through the audience, and even Akio's sharp eyes narrowed, intrigued.
Ren's hand grazed the arena wall. A magic circle glowed beneath his fingers, and a spear formed, materializing from pure alchemy.
Akio froze, jaw slightly open. That's alchemy… he created the weapon with a magic circle and incantations…
Ren narrowed his eyes, his inner thoughts calm but cautious. I better keep this blunt… wouldn't want to kill them accidentally.
Effortlessly, he dispatched the approaching students, the spear a blur of controlled power. The arena announcer's voice rang out, stunned:
"Nine more… remain."
Without hesitation, Akio blinked forward, charging Ren in the time it took to inhale. Ren's eyes widened in shock.
Thinking quickly, Ren tightened his grip, sharpening the spear to a lethal point. The announcer's voice cracked in disbelief, and Mr. Isakawa, the future class teacher, muttered under his breath:
"This… this madness…"
The spear shot forward like a silver lightning bolt, piercing straight toward Akio's head. The crowd froze, horror and anticipation mingling in the air.
Akio's lips curled into a confident smirk.
"Reform."
In a flash, his body rewrote itself, regaining balance and vitality. He swung a powerful punch toward Ren's face. Ren barely dodged, a shallow scar forming across his cheek, the sheer force of Akio's strike leaving an impression.
Akio removed the spear effortlessly from the air, smirking.
"Do you really think you stand a chance against an immortal being?" he taunted, voice calm and confident.
Ren met his gaze, eyes serious. For a heartbeat, time seemed to pause.
And then… both of them erupted into laughter, loud and unrestrained. The crowd around them froze, confused and weirdly entertained, murmuring at the unexpected display of camaraderie amidst chaos.
The stage was set. Two powerful forces, equally cunning and confident, had met for the first time—and the sparks of rivalry and friendship had already ignited.