The Crest of Ruin

Fight 3: Lucien vs Lysandra Merren

The arena had gone eerily quiet.

Lucien stepped forward into the dueling circle, his violet eyes calm, unreadable. His black battle robes flowed behind him like a storm cloud, embroidered with faint silver threads—the mark of House Velentis.

Across from him stood Lysandra Merren—messy brown hair falling lazily over half-lidded green eyes. She looked like she'd rather be asleep. Her expression was almost bored, but her mana… it crackled in the air like frostbite on skin.

"...Can we get this over with?" she muttered, stretching. 

Lucien didn't respond.

"Begin!" the senior mage announced.

❄️ Lysandra moved first.

Without warning, an arctic gale burst from her palm—"Frigid Bloom." Ice flowers exploded around Lucien, trying to root him in place.

He sidestepped—fast.

Before the frost could spread, Lucien slammed his palm forward.

"Mana Lance."A straight burst of condensed mana flew like a javelin. Lysandra tilted her head lazily and raised a finger.

"Mirror Chill."A reflective frost barrier caught the spell and shattered it mid-air.

"Hm… not bad," she mumbled, stepping forward. Her feet never made a sound as she glided across the field, frost forming beneath her.

Lucien narrowed his eyes. She wasn't putting in even 50%—and still…

"Cryo Coil."Ice serpents slithered from her shadow, coiling toward Lucien. He raised his hand—

"Burst Flare!"An explosion of crimson light erupted, melting through the icy coils.

The crowd gasped. Aria clutched her seat, tense. Kael's expression remained unreadable.

Lysandra yawned. "You sure are flashy, Lucien."

"I could say the same about you" he replied coldly.

She blinked.

Then she vanished.

No, not teleport—"Frozen Step". A movement spell. Lucien's instincts kicked in, and he barely ducked as frost daggers passed over his head.

She stood behind him now, her hand glowing.

"Glacial Wrath."A wide-range ice explosion spell.

Lucien had no choice.

He spun, his cloak flaring as he summoned:"Arcane Pulse!"

Mana erupted around him like a shockwave, neutralizing her blast before it could form.

They both skidded back.

For the first time, Lysandra… smiled.

"Now we're talking."

Lucien adjusted his stance.She was still holding back. He couldn't afford to.

"Mana Surge: Twin Arc!"Two beams—one fire, one kinetic—spiraled forward. Lysandra raised a "Crystal Bloom Shield", but the flames scorched the edge of her sleeve.

The audience was on their feet now. One of the noble kids muttered, "They're both monsters…"

Lysandra tilted her head again. "Wanna end it?"

"I already did," Lucien replied.

And then—

Boom.

The ground beneath her feet cracked—his earlier mana lances had quietly burrowed underground, like mines.

"Mana Detonate."

The explosion wasn't lethal—but it sent her flying back, landing flat with a cough of frost.

The senior mage raised his hand. "Match Over! Winner: Lucien Velentis."

After that the last battle:-

Lucien Velentis vs. Kallis Derroth

The arena reset. Scorch marks from the last battle still smoldered faintly, but the crowd's attention had already shifted.

Lysandra had walked off without a word—curled up near the edge with her hood pulled over her eyes again.

Lucien stood still, posture straight, hands calmly behind his back.

Across from him, Kallis Derroth entered.

His brown hair was tousled, faint arcs of lightning crackling around his shoulders. His green eyes were sharp, focused—not with arrogance, but anticipation. The mana around him pulsed like a storm held on a leash.

No drama. No smug smirks. Just a quiet breath as he faced Lucien.

"I've been looking forward to this," Kallis said simply.

Lucien nodded. "Then don't disappoint me."

No need for bravado.

The referee raised his hand."Begin!"

⚡ The moment the signal dropped, Kallen moved.

"Storm Veil: Breakpoint."

Wind exploded outward from his body—razor-sharp currents surged toward Lucien in tight, unpredictable arcs.

Lucien's robe fluttered as he stepped back, one hand glowing blue.

"Mana Screen."A translucent barrier formed just in time to block three slashes. The fourth scraped past, slicing the edge of his shoulder.

He didn't flinch.

Kallis didn't stop.

"Tempest Drive."He surged forward, boots crackling with lightning. Lucien pivoted, countered with "Flame Coil"—a twisting spiral of fire that lashed toward him.

Kallis ducked low, skidding across the arena floor, then snapped upward with a wide-angled "Thunder Palm."

Lightning roared.

Lucien's feet slid from the impact. Sparks flew across his chest.

He exhaled—tightly. The taste of iron touched his tongue.

He's good. Fast. Fluid....Still not enough.

"Still quiet?" Kallis asked, backing up, breathing heavier.

Lucien wiped the blood from his lip. "Still breathing?"

Kallis smirked. "Barely."

Lucien extended his staff. The tip hummed with power."Pulse: Arc Fissure."A wave of compressed mana blasted out, warping the air. Kallen raised a barrier—"Wind Shell"—but the attack pushed him back.

Dust burst around his feet.

Can't push too hard, Lucien thought. If I go all out… I'll end up revealing the spatial magic. Can't afford that.

Not yet.

Kallis gritted his teeth, then raised his arm skyward."Heaven Cry: Chainstorm."

Dozens of lightning bolts arced from the sky, striking the arena in controlled bursts—zigzagging like chained serpents.

Lucien moved quickly—dodging, sliding, shielding.His robe now scorched, sweat forming at his brow.

Kallis landed in front of him, both fists glowing.

"You're holding back."

Lucien said nothing.

Lucien raised a brow. "And yet here you are, still behind."

Kallis chuckled—then launched his strongest yet.

"Storm Arc: Heaven's Descent!"

A thunderstrike fell—cracking the arena beneath their feet.

The whole area shook. Dust flew up like a veil.

Nothing could be seen.

Silence.

One silhouette stepped out.

But the dust hadn't fully cleared.

Spectators leaned forward, breath caught. Even Kael's fingers curled tighter around his chair.

The figure swayed... then steadied.

One eye opened through the smoke.

But whose?