The Coliseum waited.
Elois Varnholt stepped into the arena with his spear resting on his shoulder, a crooked smile on his lips, and fire disguised as ease in his eyes.Before stepping out, he turned to his friends.— "Get ready, Vex. I'll see you in the next round. I accept nothing less."Vex bumped fists with him, firmly.— "Go break him."Kaen only nodded.— "Do it for all of us."
The gates opened. The roar of the crowd was deafening.
Across the arena… stood Karg Molt.Cheered on by an entire section of students—mostly girls—chanting his name like he was a war hero.
Elois curled his lip.— "Fantastic. A fan club full of idiots."
Karg barely looked at him. He examined him with boredom… then with disdain.— "This will be quick," he said flatly.
In the stands, Vex and Kaen watched intently.Altair appeared behind them, sitting down without a sound.
— "This will be interesting," he said, as if announcing the rain.Vex greeted him, surprised.— "Why do you say that?"— "Because Karg can't move up. Even though he has the strength to be in Aegis… maybe even Ignis."Kaen narrowed his eyes.— "Then what's stopping him?"Altair looked toward the arena.— "The last spot in Aegis is held by someone no one's been able to displace. Not even me."Vex's jaw dropped.— "Not even you?"— "I forfeited in the final of our last match. Not because I couldn't keep going… but because I didn't want to unbalance the class."
Vex and Kaen fell silent.— "That boy," Altair continued, "he doesn't aim for the top. Not because he can't. But because the shadows are enough for him. And from there… everyone dances to his rhythm."
In the center, the bell rang.Kaen straightened up.— "It's started."Vex jumped to his feet.— "LET'S GO, ELOIS!"
Elois raised his spear and struck a theatrical pose.— "Prepa—"THUMP
One hit.Karg appeared in front of him like lightning and kicked him in the stomach.Elois flew back several meters, crashing into the ground with a strangled grunt.
Total silence.
Vex froze. Kaen clenched his fists. Altair only looked down.
— "Trash…" Karg muttered, turning away. "You're not worth my time."He started walking off.
But then…— "Where are you going…?" came a hoarse, pained voice.— "You think you're the main character or something? When the MC… is me."
Karg turned back, scowling.Elois was rising, using his spear for support. He was bleeding from the mouth… but laughing.— "Giving up so soon…? What a letdown."
The crowd murmured.Vex shouted again:— "COME ON, ELOIS!"
Kaen gave a cold smile.— "Take him down."
Elois charged. Exaggerated, theatrical movements. A dance.But Karg dodged with ease. His movements were sharp, exact.
— "Do you really think you can beat me, insect?"Elois blocked the next attack. Sparks flew.— "Do you really think I care?" he said with a fierce grin. "I'm not here to win. I'm here… not to quit."
The crowd began to roar.Karg stepped back, annoyed.— "I wanted to end this without showing you my sword. But I see trash wants attention."He drew his blade.— "You'll regret breathing."
Elois activated his rune.An amber flash ran up his neck and over his face. His gaze sharpened.— "Then show me what you're made of."
The spear moved. Each step firmer, more precise. His rune scanned the field, predicted patterns.The breath of his friends from the stands… ignited something more.
Karg gritted his teeth. His tattoo activated: pitch black, pulsing with a growl.Altair tensed.— "This isn't good…"— "What?" Vex asked.
And then—BOOOOOOM.
An explosion of dust. A crash that shook the walls.— "ELOIS!" Vex screamed, terrified.
When the cloud cleared…Elois was on his knees, bleeding.Karg's sword had run through his stomach.
The referee rushed in.— "Enough! Stop this!"— "No!" Elois cried. "Not yet…!"
He closed his eyes.Thought of his childhood. Of the times he received no love.Of the siblings who scorned him.The parents who ignored him.The house that only cared when his rune awakened.
And then…He thought of them.Vex.Kaen.The only ones who never treated him like a tool. Who never left him behind.
— "I made them a promise…" he whispered.
He stood.Bleeding. Broken. But standing.
The referee hesitated. He couldn't stop the match if the fighter was still on his feet.
Karg clenched his teeth.— "Enough… ENOUGH!" he roared.
And vanished.Pure shadow.
He reappeared instantly in front of Elois and—SLASH!SLASH!SLASH!
Three strikes. Fast. Ruthless. Cruel.
Elois collapsed.
And then—— "ELOOOOOOOISSSSS!!!"
Vex's voice echoed through the entire coliseum.A scream that didn't come from the chest… but from the soul.
Everyone went silent.The referee called for emergency. Magical medics rushed in.
Altair put a hand on Vex's shoulder.— "Don't do anything stupid."
But Vex couldn't breathe. He stared at Karg like the entire world had turned to hatred.— "I swear…" he whispered, trembling."On everything… you're going to pay for this."
The announcer spoke, but no one listened anymore.The entire stadium… was silent.
Later, Vex and Kaen ran to the infirmary.Elois lay on a stretcher, wrapped in healing spells. Mana tubes. Protective seals.
— "Is he… is he alive?" Vex asked.— "Yes," a healer replied. "But in an induced coma. His organs were on the verge of collapse.If not for his willpower…"
Vex stepped closer to his friend.Saw him there. Still.
He remembered every joke. Every shout. Every ridiculous phrase.
And he felt something new.A rage that didn't burn.A rage that froze.
— "…Kaen," he said softly. "I'm going to avenge him."
Kaen said nothing.He just looked at Vex……and knew he meant it.