The next phase of the national tournament was underway, and the tension in the air felt like a coiled beast ready to strike. With Velmora's rankings officially announced, the top five students—Aeron Vale, Cassian Veyne, Kenneth Prince, Jaxon Pyre, and Zarek Volen—stood not only as champions of their district but as representatives of power itself.
Their next destination was the capital: Braggon Vale, the heart of the nation of Erevos. Towering skyscrapers fused with arcane architecture, lightning rails zipping above floating platforms, and colossal statues of legendary warriors from centuries past lined the central square. Braggon Vale was a metropolis where modernity and mysticism danced in perfect symmetry—and it was the seat of the nation's top student for the third year running.
Riven Skorn.
A name that echoed across the land like thunder before a storm. Few had seen his true form, fewer still had lived to speak of a fight against him. Riven's ability was transformation—not mere mimicry, but true ascension. He could take the form of any living being, mystical creature, or ancient entity, whether known or unknown. With each transformation came the complete knowledge, instinct, and combat prowess of that form.
When he became a dragon, he fought like one who had razed mountains. When he took the shape of a banshee, the screams shattered buildings. It was not just a power—it was dominance. And now, all four districts would send their finest to Braggon Vale for the national showcase.
Erevos was divided into four major districts: Braggon Vale, Velmora, Arvellen, and Draxil—each one a realm with its own philosophy, culture, and battle style.
In Braggon Vale, alongside the enigmatic Riven Skorn, stood four other titans:
Kyros Drelm, a cocky but brilliant tactician with duplication and heat vision, able to summon up to four identical, fully capable copies of himself.
Miraen Voss, the geomancer, who could mold the battlefield to her will—rising walls of stone, quicksand traps, razor-sharp spikes, and even earthen golems.
Talia Cross, a specialist in illusion casting and mental disruption. She could bend your senses and force hallucinations mid-combat while draining your focus.
Bennick Harth, who fused sound manipulation and speed enhancement, making his strikes travel faster than the eye could follow, with sonic booms capable of rupturing organs.
Braggon Vale was a district of elite, military-grade fighters raised for war. And the capital was where the world watched.
From the forest-covered peaks of Arvellen came warriors who were one with nature and the stars above. Their style was fluid, radiant, and precise.
Zenya Lune, their shining pride, bent light itself. She could weaponize solar energy, bend rays into spears of destruction, or intensify the sun's power on a battlefield until her enemies melted.
Kiro Vant, a dark-skinned archer with gravitational arrows and dimensional distortion, capable of shifting space to trap or mislead his foes.
Elara Venn, a swift and stoic girl with plant telekinesis and spore-based paralysis, often weaving vines through the soil unseen before striking.
Sareth Dune, who possessed aura mimicry and emotion projection, able to sap your will to fight or reflect your own rage back at you.
Thren Ovale, a silent warrior monk who used vibration control and bone reinforcement, turning his body into a shock-absorbing juggernaut.
Draxil, on the other hand, was infamous for its brutal training, war-torn history, and ruthless power. Their representatives weren't just strong—they were dangerous.
Kaelis Rourne, a scarred behemoth with metal skin, pyrokinesis, and berserker drive. Each injury made him angrier. And stronger.
Nyra Valez, a haunting beauty with blood control, shadow manipulation, and the ability to feed on pain.
Damon Cross, a swordsman who infused his strikes with anti-magic waves and possessed a third eye of clairvoyance.
Fex Gorran, a tactical brute who used gravity collapse, seismic punches, and a mental combat HUD to analyze enemies mid-fight.
Liora Vesh, wielding teleportation, ice chains, and hallucination mist—she didn't fight in the open, she fought in the dark.
And then, there was Velmora.
The district once mocked for being too balanced, too academic, now sent its strongest generation ever.
Aeron Vale, a cold, arrogant prodigy with foresight, teleportation, and super strength. His mind processed possibilities faster than light, making him nearly untouchable.
Cassian Veyne, the wildcard, who could copy abilities from anyone he touched. He was the chameleon, the tactician, the counterforce.
Kenneth Prince, powerful but mysterious. The academy knew of his fire, lightning, and ice powers, along with superhuman speed and strength—but the true scope of his hybrid blood remained a secret.
Jaxon Pyre, master of the unbreakable sword that nullified any ability it cut. With wind manipulation and blade skill, he was a living tempest.
Zarek Volen, silent and deadly, manipulating lightning and fire with expert control. His ability to command the skies gave him a divine presence in battle.
As the trains sped toward Braggon Vale, the atmosphere inside each transport was heavy with anticipation. Some teams sat in silence. Others trained, meditated, or observed holograms of enemy footage.
Inside Velmora's carriage, Kenneth sat by the window, watching the landscape blur. Jaxon polished his blade, calm as ever. Cassian paced. Aeron sat motionless, eyes closed but alert. Zarek simply stared ahead.
They were entering a battlefield that would make Velmora's arena look like child's play.
Because this time, they weren't fighting to be the best in their academy.
They were fighting to be the best in Erevos.
And Riven Skorn was already waiting.