It was possibly the last match of the day, or at least that was what all of the Wilton students and teachers believed as they sat together in the waiting room. After everything they had witnessed, after watching Raze fight and seemingly lose before, they could not picture anyone defeating him again. Even if the opponent was Kayzel, the son of one of the most powerful Grand Magus in existence, their faith in Raze remained unshaken.
Just before stepping out, Raze paused and turned back to face them all. His expression was calm, his white hair catching the glow of the lights in the room. His voice, though soft, carried an edge that made every word heavy.
"I need you all to be ready for what might come," Raze said. "Iâll do my best to make sure none of the Wilton students or teachers get dragged into this. As for those from Pagna, it may be far more difficult to leave quietly, there are too many eyes watching us here. But if an opportunity arises, I wonât let it slip. Be prepared."
The Pagna group nodded solemnly. They understood what he meant without him needing to explain it. Raze suspected that Ibarin, the principal of Central Academy, was already reaching his breaking point. If Raze defeated Kayzel in front of everyone, it might finally push Ibarin into acting. If not, then on the final day of the tournament, Raze was certain Ibarinâs self-control would crack.
The teachers shifted uncomfortably, swallowing hard. They still didnât know the full truth of why Raze and the Pagna students were here, disguised and hidden among Wiltonâs delegation. They had only fragments, whispers of a mission far larger than a school tournament. The uncertainty left them uneasy.
For Yolden and Chiba, the weight was different. The two girls looked at Raze with a quiet heaviness in their eyes. They couldnât help but wonder, once he accomplished his goal, would they ever see him again? Or was he destined to disappear from their lives the moment his mission ended? And beneath that worry lay something else, something sharper. A fear that whatever Raze was planning was far too dangerous, something that could very well cost him his life.
When Raze finally stepped out onto the stage, the reaction from the audience was noticeably different compared to Liamâs match. There were cheers, of course, but they were far less enthusiastic. Liamâs previous battle had been thrilling, and the crowd had come to expect the same level of spectacle. For this one, most of them believed the outcome was already decided. Kayzel was expected to win, and once he did, the true final, the clash they had all been waiting for, would begin.
In the stands, conversations buzzed.
"So, do you think weâll finally get to see Kayzel unleash his full potential in this match?" one BIMM student asked, standing beside Lee Roy.
"I think we definitely will," Lee Roy replied, his arms crossed. His tone was thoughtful. "But the way you phrased that makes it sound like youâve already written Wilton off as the loser."
"Hey, hey, donât get me wrong," the student said quickly, raising his hands. "Iâm not a hater. But come on, itâs Kayzel. Everyone knows his strength. If it were that mysterious magic swordsman fighting instead, then sure, maybe Wilton would have a good chance. Theyâve proven themselves enough to make me believe that much. But Raze? Against Kayzel?" He shook his head. "I donât see it."
Lee Royâs gaze lingered on the screen that displayed Razeâs image, the white-haired boy standing silently at the edge of the stage. His mind wandered back to the chaos outside the arena, back when the barrier had been tested. He remembered what he had seen then.
"Werenât you there when that commotion happened?" Lee Roy asked quietly. "Did you really look? All of them, the Pagna students, the Wilton fighters, they were protecting him. Not the other way around. And he didnât hesitate to step forward, even through danger. If you ask me, itâs obvious. They see him as their leader. And there must be a reason for that."
The student frowned, but said nothing.
On stage, Kayzel stood tall, his eyes locked onto Raze. A wide smile stretched across his face as he extended his arms outward in a dramatic gesture.
"You made it!" Kayzel called. His voice carried effortlessly, infused with confidence and charisma. "Finally, I get to face you myself! I know things have been going well for Wilton, and Iâll admit it, youâve all worked incredibly hard to get this far. But unfortunately for you, it all ends here. I wonât be going easy on you."
The crowd roared at his words, feeding off his bravado.
Raze, however, didnât respond. He stood still, his eyes calm, his face expressionless. He didnât care for Kayzelâs theatrics. He didnât care about his ego, his background, or his feelings. This was just another fight. One that Raze would win.
The silence stretched, and Kayzelâs smile faltered ever so slightly. The announcerâs voice boomed.
"And the match begins!"
Kayzel wasted no time. Agitated by Razeâs indifference, he decided to strike first. Sparks of lightning burst from his fingertips, splitting into multiple bolts that crackled and hissed as they tore through the air, all converging toward Raze.
The attack was fast, faster than most could follow. But Raze did not move.
Just before the lightning struck, he raised one hand. His palm glowed faintly as strands of lightning coiled around his arm. He rotated his wrist in a smooth, circular motion, and the crackling bolts bent unnaturally. Instead of striking his body, the magic twisted and gathered, funneling around his forearm.
The crowd gasped. Even Kayzelâs eyes widened slightly. He continued casting, forcing more lightning outward, but it didnât matter. Every bolt curved, inexorably drawn to Razeâs arm.
"I see," Raze said at last, his voice steady and cold. "You thought you could deal with me the same way you dealt with the last one."
With a sharp swing of his arm, he redirected the energy. The lightning slammed into the ground beside him, exploding in a shower of sparks. Dust and smoke billowed upward, but Raze stood untouched.
Kayzelâs jaw tightened.
"Try something better," Raze said, his eyes narrowing. "Because if you donât... this match will end very quickly."
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