The announcer's voice boomed, cutting the tension.
"Cadets, to your marks!"
The countdown flared on the megascreens, runes pulsing red.
10… 9… 8…
Andrea's gauntlets flared one last time, her amber eyes promising fire as she turned to her side of the pit, Javier at her flank.
7… 6… 5…
Sallie slouched, but his grip on the briefcase tightened, green runes pulsing brighter, his gaze locked on Andrea.
4… 3… 2…
Celeste's grimoire floated, sigils cycling, her stance rigid, ready to tether the inferno.
1… 0…
The klaxon screamed, mana grids igniting, and the pit erupted into chaos.
BEGIN
The crowd's roars cascaded from the rafters, Fourth High's blue-and-red scarves clashing with Seventh High's crimson-and-maroon banners. The klaxon's echo faded, signaling the imminent start of the second round's 2v2 Duel.
Sallie Mae Salcedo surged forward, his briefcase CAD snapping open mid-stride, green runes blazing as it morphed into a compact scythe, its counter-weighted hilt humming. His grin was sharp, eyes locked on Andrea, the calibrator tucked in his pocket as he weaved through a rebar cluster, boots skimming the concrete.
Sallie taunting "Let's see that fire, princess!"
Celeste Marie Salcedo held her ground, her grimoire CAD floating above her left palm, its steel plates unfolding with precise clicks. Silver sigils cycled across her HUD visor, her stance rigid, eyes unblinking as she traced Javier's lance CAD.
"Onii-sama, left flank—watch his kinetic!"
"Field Frame: Directive Bind!"
A hexagonal glyph flared beneath Javier's boots, silver tethers snapping to slow his charge.
Andrea Cervantes Fernandez was a wildfire unleashed. Her Tome of Embers Grimoire CAD pulsed crimson, runes igniting like molten veins. Her Mana Gauntlets crackled as she thrust her right hand forward.
Andrea snarling "Burn, Salcedo! Infernal Cascade!"
A roaring vortex of flame spiraled toward Sallie, scorching the concrete black, its heat warping the air as it aimed to engulf him.
Javier Castillo moved like a blade, his lance CAD's sapphire runes humming with kinetic force. He sidestepped Celeste's binding glyph with a burst of mana from his boots, breaking free with a sharp pivot.
His lance thrust forward, unleashing a cobalt shockwave that tore through the maze, aimed at Celeste's casting position to disrupt her tethers.
Sallie reacted instantly, his scythe CAD spinning in a wide arc.
"Form-3, Deflect Shell!"
The briefcase clicked, reconfiguring into a curved shield mid-swing. Green runes flared as Andrea's flames slammed into it, scattering in sparks. He rolled left, dodging a stray ember, and fired a disruption round from a side-barrel launcher.
The round detonated above Andrea, a flash of green mana meant to stagger her cast.
Celeste's grimoire pulsed, her sigils recalibrating as Javier's shockwave grazed her, cracking a nearby pillar. She slid back, boots scraping, but her focus held.
"Hexbind Vector: Anchor Trace!"
Silver tethers lashed out, targeting Javier's lance arm, their mana threads coiling to lock his next thrust. Her HUD flickered—Andrea's mana spike was coming—but she trusted Sallie to cover her flank.
Andrea snarled, her gauntlets flaring brighter as she countered Sallie's pulse, her Tome's runes spinning faster.
"You think that'll stop me? Ember Surge!"
She slammed her left gauntlet down. A wave of crimson flames erupted from the ground, racing toward Sallie's position like a molten tide.
Javier's eyes narrowed as Celeste's tethers grazed his arm, slowing his swing. He twisted, channeling mana into his boots for another burst-step.
"Kinetic Barrage!"
Three cobalt lances of force shot from his CAD, arcing toward Celeste in a tight spread, aiming to shatter her grimoire's alignment.
Sallie's grin widened. His briefcase CAD morphed again—this time into a sleek revolver, its barrel glowing green. He dove behind a concrete slab, Andrea's molten wave scorching the edge as he fired.
"Copy Shell: Ember Mimic!"
The revolver spat a crimson mana bolt, mimicking Andrea's fire spell, aimed at her Tome to disrupt her casting rhythm.
"Taste your own heat, Fernandez!"
Celeste's tethers tightened, her grimoire plates clicking as she countered Javier's barrage.
"Mirror Frame: Reflect Spike!"
A silver barrier flared, deflecting two lances, but the third grazed her shoulder. She hissed in pain but held her cast, sigils locking Javier's position for Sallie's next move.
The pit was a maelstrom—flames clashing with green mana, cobalt shockwaves splintering concrete, silver tethers weaving through the chaos. The crowd roared, megascreens flashing close-ups of Sallie's morphing CAD and Andrea's blazing gauntlets. Fourth High's 98.1% sync met Seventh High's 93.4%, a storm of chaos against an inferno of legacy, with neither side yielding.
In the bleachers, Angela Castillo clutched her SparkVita can, red eyes wide as she whispered to Angelina Kudou Shields.
Angela in awe "Sallie's copying her fire already!"
The USNA Stars operatives—Angelina, Cassandra Kwon, and Amon Reyes—watched in silence, their CADs muted, their eyes narrowing as the ManaTech-linked tech came into play.
Andrea's Tome of Embers Grimoire CAD flared crimson. Her Mana Gauntlets glowed as she unleashed an aggressive cast.
Andrea roaring "Scorching Helix!"
Amber eyes blazing with vendetta, she hurled a spiraling column of fire through the maze, melting rebar and aiming to engulf Sallie.
Sallie pivoted, his briefcase CAD snapping open mid-stride, green runes surging as it morphed into a sleek staff. The tip flared blue.
"Tidal Surge!"
A torrent of water mana burst from the staff, clashing with Andrea's flames in a hissing steam cloud. The crowd gasped as Sallie's grin flashed through the mist.
Javier seized the moment, his lance CAD's sapphire runes humming as he amplified Andrea's cast.
"Kinetic Amp: Flame Booster!"
He thrust his lance, channeling a cobalt wave that intensified Andrea's flames, reigniting the helix's heat.
Celeste's grimoire floated, silver sigils cycling rapidly across her HUD visor.
"Null Frame: Dampen Pulse!"
A silver mana wave surged from her position, smothering Javier's kinetic boost and dimming the flames' momentum. Her tethers lashed through the maze, anchoring Javier's lance arm to disrupt his rhythm.
Andrea and Javier pressed their advantage, their 93.4% sync operating like a storm engine. Andrea's gauntlets flared again.
"Blaze Barrage!"
Fireballs rained toward Sallie, scorching the pit. Javier followed with a kinetic salvo:
"Vector Barrage!"
Cobalt shockwaves arced for Celeste, pinning her movement.
The siblings fell back—Sallie sliding under fireballs, Celeste weaving through shockwaves, her grimoire flickering.
Seventh High's fans roared, sensing a rout.
But the Salcedos' 98.1% sync was no accident—it was bait.
"Now, sis!"
His briefcase shifted into a broadsword, green runes blazing. Celeste's tethers snapped taut.
"Hexbind Cascade!"
Silver chains erupted across the battlefield, locking Javier's lance mid-thrust and Andrea's gauntlets mid-cast.
Sallie lunged. "Gale Slash!"
Wind mana burst from his blade, scattering Andrea's fireballs and staggering her stance. The crowd erupted, the tide of the match turning.
Andrea snarled, shifting to defense. Her Tome of Embers flared again.
"Ember Aegis!"
A crimson flame shield enveloped both her and Javier.
Sallie's briefcase clicked, morphing into a heavy mace.
"Fortress Breaker!"
He swung hard, the anti-barrier mana crashing down and shattering Andrea's shield. Flame fragments scattered like embers across the pit.
The crowd roared. Fourth High's chants surged louder.
Andrea shifted back to offense, fury renewed.
"Infernal Wave!"
A tidal wave of fire surged toward Sallie. His briefcase morphed into a medieval shield—green runes forming a dense mana lattice.
He absorbed the flames, the heat warping around him. Then the shield's edge split—revealing a hidden slug-action shotgun.
"Scatter Slug!"
He fired point-blank, a burst of green mana pellets forcing Andrea back. Her Tome's runes flickered under the blast.
Javier retaliated, his lance CAD glowing bright.
"Kinetic Spear!"
A focused lance of cobalt mana fired toward Celeste's exposed flank. She spun on instinct, her grimoire reacting with a flare.
"Mirror Spike: Reflect!"
A silver barrier deflected the kinetic spear, sending it careening into a rebar wall that exploded in sparks.
Her tethers surged again, lashing around Javier's boots.
His movement faltered, locked by silver mana as her sigils blazed across her HUD.
The siblings moved in flawless tandem. Sallie's CAD never stopped shifting—staff to sword, mace to shield—adapting to Andrea's fire and dismantling her rhythm. Celeste's precision and null fields kept Javier's kinetic control pinned and his sync timing disrupted.
Even when pushed back, their retreat had been illusion. Their rhythm was all setup—each dodge, each flicker, a silent countdown.
Now, the trap had sprung.
The pit was a maelstrom—fire and water clashing in steam, wind carving paths through molten stone, cobalt shockwaves meeting silver anchors. Concrete cracked, rebar flew, and the megascreens lit up with each breathtaking exchange.
Andrea, her amber eyes blazing with vendetta, fought to keep Seventh High alive. Her Mana Gauntlets crackled, crimson runes pulsing as she slammed her right fist into the ground.
Andrea roaring "Hellfire Surge!"
Her Tome of Embers flared violently. A torrent of fire erupted beneath Sallie, flames licking up through cracked concrete, aiming to incinerate him.
Sallie's grin sharpened, his briefcase CAD snapping open. Green runes blazed as it morphed into a tank-like container, its surface rippling with blue mana.
"Aqua Vault!"
The container absorbed Andrea's fire in a single, humming pull. The clash of mana birthed a dense smokescreen—hissing steam that engulfed the pit.
Javier seized the moment. His lance CAD's sapphire runes pulsed as he thrust it forward.
"Kinetic Scan: Pierce Veil!"
Cobalt pulses sliced through the fog, scanning for Sallie's heat signature.
But Celeste was already casting, her grimoire CAD floating, silver sigils flaring across her HUD visor.
"Amplify Protocol: Surge Boost!"
A silver mana wave surged into Sallie's CAD, boosting his damage output. Without missing a beat, she turned on Javier.
Celeste continued "Scatter Bind: Arc Pulse!"
Invisible tethers whipped through the mist, striking Javier's lance arm with a shockwave that staggered him. His scan faltered, rune output flickering.
The steam began to thin. The crowd leaned forward, breathless.
From the haze, Sallie emerged. His briefcase CAD had morphed into an RPK machine gun, its barrel glowing with a fusion of green and crimson runes—his water mana fused with Andrea's copied fire spell.
"Flame Barrage: Piercing Volley!"
The weapon roared. A salvo of hybrid flamethrower bullets—fire-laced, water-tempered, smoke-tipped—screamed through the pit, armor-piercing rounds aimed at Andrea's position.
Andrea reacted instantly. Her Tome flared as she raised her left gauntlet.
"Ember Aegis!"
A crimson flame shield erupted around her, absorbing the fire. But the foreign mana—water and smoke—bypassed her defenses. Three rounds pierced her shoulder, her uniform singeing as blood mixed with steam.
She staggered back, her Tome's runes glitching.
Javier recovered. His lance CAD steadied as he lunged toward Sallie again.
"Kinetic Spear: Direct Strike!"
A cobalt lance of force shot forward.
Celeste's grimoire glowed brighter, her tethers reacting instantly.
"Mirror Spike: Deflect!"
A silver barrier snapped into place, diverting the spear into a rebar wall. Sparks flew. Her voice rang through the clash, calm but fierce.
Celeste continued "Onii-sama, now!"
Sallie's RPK morphed back into a medieval shield, its green runes forming an impenetrable lattice. Andrea's desperate fire burst slammed into it—harmless.
Then, mid-block, the shield's edge split.
Revealing a slug-action shotgun.
"Piercing Slug!"
He fired point-blank. A green-and-smoke mana slug slammed into Andrea's weakened shield, shattering it completely. She dropped to one knee, her breath ragged.
The crowd exploded. Fourth High's chants overpowered Seventh High's fading roar.
"Sal-ce-do! Sal-ce-do!"
Celeste's tethers lashed out again, binding Javier's boots as he moved to flank. Her amplify spell still pulsed through the mana field, fueling Sallie's relentless assault.
The Salcedo siblings moved like gears in the same clock—Sallie's wild morphs and elemental counters perfectly complemented by Celeste's disciplined control and battlefield awareness. Even as Seventh High pushed with ferocity and precision, the siblings had never truly been cornered.
Their rhythm was deliberate.
Their fallbacks were bait.
Their counters were devastating.
The pit was pure elemental warfare—fire clashing with water and wind, silver mana weaving through cobalt, and debris exploding beneath their feet as chaos reached its peak.
Javier Castillo, eyes narrowed with resolve, shifted to full offense. His lance CAD's sapphire runes blazed as he charged Sallie.
"Kinetic Lance: Storm Thrust!"
His lean frame blurred, unleashing a barrage of cobalt lances. Each strike tore through the maze with explosive force, splintering rebar and cratering concrete. His assault was a relentless push—every thrust calculated to overwhelm Sallie's chaos.
Sallie's grin widened, his briefcase CAD snapping open, green runes flaring as he met Javier head-on.
Sallie taunting "Let's dance, Castillo!"
The CAD morphed into a scythe, its curved blade humming with mana. Sallie weaved through Javier's lances, boots skimming the scorched ground.
"Gale Reaper!"
He slashed wide—wind mana arcing in a crescent that deflected a cobalt lance and grazed Javier's shoulder, sparks erupting. Then his CAD shifted again—scythe to polearm, then into a double-headed lance—each form answering Javier's offense with unrelenting rhythm.
Their melee was a whirlwind. Parries and strikes clashed like thunder, blades ringing, mana bursting. Shockwaves rippled through the pit.
Andrea, bloodied but unbowed, joined the fray. Her Tome of Embers pulsed crimson. Her Mana Gauntlets crackled.
Andrea snarling "You're mine, Salcedo!"
Andrea casting "Blazing Tempest!"
A vortex of flame spiraled toward Sallie, the heat warping the air, a trap to box him in between her fire and Javier's kinetic barrage. Her gauntlets flared brighter—each spell charged with vendetta.
Celeste reacted immediately, her grimoire CAD hovering, silver sigils flashing across her HUD.
"Onii-sama, hold the line!"
She dove into close range, drawing her grimoire's secondary blade—a sleek mana dagger—and sprinted through the chaos.
Celeste casting "Hexbind Barrage!"
Silver chains lashed toward Andrea, forcing her to pivot mid-cast. The fire vortex faltered. Celeste closed in, trading steel for flame as her dagger clashed against Andrea's burning gauntlets—sparks of silver and crimson exploding with each strike.
The pit became a hurricane of close-quarters combat.
Sallie and Javier locked into a brutal melee—weapon morphs blurring between scythe, glaive, warhammer—each form countering Javier's tempo.
"Thunder Crush!"
The hammer dropped, cratering the ground and forcing Javier into a burst-step retreat. Javier spun back, his lance sweeping.
"Kinetic Spiral!"
A spinning cobalt arc tore forward. Sallie's CAD switched again—into a tower shield. Green runes flared, absorbing the blast. Then—
Sallie grinning "Bet you forgot the flail!"
The shield fractured mid-deflect, revealing a spiked flail that Sallie swung wide, grazing Javier's ribs.
On the other side, Andrea struck hard.
"Ember Strike!"
Her burning fist shot forward. Celeste sidestepped, her dagger arcing.
"Mirror Slash!"
A silver wave of mana carved through the flame, singeing Andrea's sleeve. Her tethers snapped again, binding Andrea's left gauntlet—but the fire mage roared back.
"Flame Burst!"
A crimson explosion forced Celeste into a retreating roll, her grimoire pulsing to maintain tether integrity.
Even under pressure, the Salcedos' 98.1% sync held firm.
Sallie's morphing rhythm punished every overstep—chaos engineered into precision.
Celeste's tethers cut movement lanes while her blade and grimoire flickered between offense and suppression.
Andrea and Javier—bloodied and desperate—fought harder.
"Kinetic Fang!"
He lunged. Sallie parried with a newly-formed glaive, green runes pulsing.
"Tempest Strike!"
A wind slash rippled from the glaive's edge, staggering Javier again.
"Infernal Lance!"
A blazing spear hurtled toward Celeste. Her grimoire pulsed—no hesitation.
"Reflect Frame!"
A silver barrier exploded into being, deflecting the fire spear into a rebar wall, which melted in a shower of molten steel.
The crowd was on its feet.
The megascreens flashed with every strike, every clash.
Sallie's briefcase morphs. Andrea's burning wrath. Celeste's silver shields. Javier's cobalt rushes.
All of it collided in a ballet of survival and dominance.
Crowd chanting "Sal-ce-do! Sal-ce-do!"
Fourth High's roar eclipsed all others.
In the bleachers, Angela Castillo's red eyes were wide, SparkVita can forgotten as she clutched Angelina Kudou Shields' arm.
Angela in disbelief "They're trading blows like it's a street fight!"
Javier Castillo, eyes narrowed with resolve, traded lance blows with Sallie, his movements relentless. Then—an opening.
Sallie seized it.
His briefcase CAD snapped open, green runes flaring as it morphed into a riot shield. The mana lattice blocked Javier's Kinetic Fang! with a thunderous clang.
Sallie taunting "Gotcha, Castillo!"
His grin was sharp as he pivoted, keeping Javier at bay with the shield. Then, with a flick of his wrist—
A frag grenade materialized from the briefcase, pin already pulled. Sallie lobbed it into the air—toward Andrea, who charged with a blazing cast ready.
"You're done, Salcedo! Blazing Tempest!"
As the fiery vortex roared toward him, Andrea redirected the grenade with a quick reflex spell.
Andrea continued "Flame Redirect!"
The grenade flew—not at Sallie, but at Celeste.
But then—detonation. Not shrapnel. Smoke.
A thick wall of gray swallowed Celeste. Andrea's eyes widened.
She'd been played.
Inside the smoke, Celeste moved with surgical precision, her grimoire CAD pulsing silver.
"Hexbind Strike!"
Silver tethers lashed out toward Andrea's gauntlets. Andrea countered instantly.
"Ember Aegis!"
Crimson flames flared, burning the tethers to ash as Andrea held her ground.
Javier surged through, tackling Sallie with a burst-step. His lance CAD flared bright, and the riot shield cracked from impact. The briefcase flew from Sallie's grip, spinning in midair.
But Sallie's smirk never faded.
He flicked his fingers, feigning a pistol shot at the airborne CAD.
"Chain Bind!"
A green mana chain fired from the briefcase, catching Sallie by the wrist and yanking him upward like a grapple.
Midair, he recalled the CAD.
It snapped into a sleek spear.
"Gale Thrust!"
Wind-enhanced, the spear screamed toward Andrea.
Andrea raised her gauntlets in a flash, casting on instinct.
"Flame Bastion!"
The reinforced crimson shield held—the spear struck with a flare of wind and fire. Sparks scattered.
But Celeste was already moving.
She burst from the smoke, grimoire glowing, closing in on Andrea's flank.
"Mirror Spike: Arc Slash!"
Silver mana arcs slashed from her dagger, targeting Andrea's exposed back.
Andrea spun, countering with a surge of fire.
"Infernal Counter!"
Fire and silver collided, bursting in an explosion. Celeste took the heat, her uniform singed—but her stance held.
Andrea pressed harder, blood in her eyes, rage in her voice.
"Hellfire Pulse!"
A concentrated wave of fire roared toward Celeste. She braced, her grimoire shielding her.
Her boots skidded. Concrete cracked.
She stopped inches from the pit's edge.
The crowd gasped.
Seventh High's bleachers erupted in anxious shouts.
But Sallie had vanished.
The embedded spear pulsed green.
Teleport trigger.
In a flash of mana, Sallie reappeared at the spear—behind Andrea.
His briefcase CAD shifted mid-phase, forming a double-barreled super shotgun. Its barrels glowed with green and water mana.
"Game over, princess!"
Sallie casting "Piercing Hydra Slug!"
Point-blank.
Twin slugs fired—laced with water and smoke mana. They blasted through Andrea's weakened shield, the force of impact overwhelming.
Andrea's scream was cut short as she was hurled backward.
She crashed through a cracked concrete wall, skidding out of bounds. Her uniform was tattered. Her Tome clattered lifelessly beside her. She didn't rise.
The megascreens flashed red:
ANDREA CERVANTES FERNANDEZ — OUT OF BOUNDS
The arena exploded in sound.
Crowd roaring "Sal-ce-do! Sal-ce-do!"
Seventh High's side fell silent.
Javier stood alone now, staggering. His lance CAD flickered, sapphire runes dimming with exhaustion. He faced Sallie—who landed lightly, shotgun folding into briefcase form.
Green runes pulsed, calm and ready.
Celeste steadied herself nearby, her grimoire glowing, silver tethers primed.
The trap had been sprung.
Their feigned retreat, the smoke grenade ruse, and Sallie's teleport finisher—devastating in sync—had broken Seventh High's momentum.
The Salcedos stood, unshaken.
Javier Castillo, bloodied and breathing hard, gripped his lance CAD. Sapphire runes flared as he surged forward.
"Kinetic Lance: Barrage Blitz!"
His form blurred as a storm of cobalt lances tore through the pit. Each strike was precise, desperate—a final stand to reclaim Seventh High's honor.
Sallie's eyes narrowed. The laid-back grin vanished, replaced by a razor-sharp glint.
His briefcase CAD snapped open, green runes blazing. It morphed into a tower shield.
"Fortress Wall!"
He planted the shield. Each of Javier's lances slammed into the barrier, ringing like hammer on anvil. Sparks danced. The pit shuddered.
Celeste moved instantly, in perfect sync. Her grimoire pulsed silver.
"Hexbind Volley!"
Silver mana arcs fired from her grimoire, snaking through the maze to strike Javier's flank. He twisted mid-thrust to block.
"Kinetic Aegis!"
A cobalt barrier flared, absorbing the arcs—but it trembled under strain.
Sallie pivoted. The briefcase morphed into a sleek crossbow, runes glowing.
"Piercing Bolt!"
He fired. The bolt—water and smoke mana laced—sliced through Javier's weakened aegis and grazed his arm. Blood bloomed, mixing with cobalt sparks.
Javier staggered, his guard weakening.
Javier gritting his teeth "Kinetic Spear: Direct Strike!"
He lunged with a last thrust toward Sallie's chest.
Celeste casting "Mirror Frame: Deflect!"
A silver barrier snapped into place. Javier's spear veered, crashing into a rebar wall behind them. Debris rained down.
Sallie's crossbow shifted again, this time into a chain whip.
"Tempest Lash!"
The whip snapped across the pit, entangling Javier's lance arm. He faltered, pulled off balance.
The Salcedos advanced. Flawless in sync.
Sallie's whip became a scythe.
"Gale Reaper!"
A sweeping slash forced Javier back, boots skidding on scorched concrete.
Celeste pressed forward. "Arc Slash!"
Silver mana blades shot from her dagger, ripping into Javier's guard and singeing his sleeve.
Sallie's CAD morphed once more—into a revolver.
"Scatter Slugs!"
Green mana pellets peppered Javier, each hit draining his stamina. His lance runes flickered, dimming.
Still, Javier rose. One last push.
"Kinetic Overdrive!"
A massive cobalt shockwave erupted from his CAD, rushing toward the siblings.
Sallie blocked with a medieval shield. "Hold it!"
The shield absorbed the brunt with a deafening clang.
Celeste casting "Null Frame: Dampen!"
A silver mana pulse rippled from her, nullifying the shockwave's residue and shielding Sallie.
Javier fell to one knee, gasping.
Sallie switched to a polearm. "Thunder Strike!"
He slashed—a lightning-imbued blow that grazed Javier's ribs, dropping him further.
Now came the end.
Celeste's grimoire flared. Silver sigils formed a radiant mana construct—an astral bow, glowing with raw intensity.
Celeste declaring "Astral Bow: Starshot!"
The arrow shimmered with silver energy, aimed unflinchingly at Javier.
Sallie raised his briefcase, now morphed into a massive longbow. His green runes pulsed, syncing with Celeste's.
"Twin Tempest Shot!"
Their voices rose together.
They fired.
The colossal arrow—wreathed in green, silver, water, and smoke mana—screamed through the pit like a comet.
Javier tried to raise his defense.
"Kinetic Aegis—!"
Too slow.
The arrow punched through the shield like paper. It struck Javier in the chest, the explosion sending him flying.
He crashed through a concrete wall, landing outside the bounds. His CAD flickered and died.
The megascreens flashed in red
JAVIER CASTILLO — OUT OF BOUNDS
The arena detonated in cheers.
"Sal-ce-do! Sal-ce-do!"
Fourth High's section surged to its feet.
Sallie lowered his bow. The briefcase reverted, green runes dimming as he exhaled—finally. A faint grin returned.
Celeste's grimoire spun gently down beside her. Her silver sigils faded as she steadied her breath, sweat glinting on her brow.
Their 98.1% sync held to the final frame.
They hadn't just won.
They had crushed Seventh High's inferno.
The announcer—dressed sharp in his sleek IFRP-branded suit—leaped onto the central platform. His holo-mic pulsed orange, amplifying his voice through the mana-enhanced speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the Imperial Federal Republic!"
The crowd roared, rising like a wave, banners whipping.
"Your victors of the second-round 2v2 Duel—Fourth High's storm, Sallie Mae and Celeste Marie Salcedo!"
The megascreens lit up with the match's climax: the Salcedos' colossal dual bow unleashing its radiant arrow, green-and-silver mana spiraling as it blasted Javier through a concrete wall.
"With chaos and precision, they've crushed Seventh High's inferno, earning their place in the semifinals!"
Fourth High's bleachers exploded. Cadets screamed:
"Sal-ce-do! Sal-ce-do!"
Blue-and-red scarves surged into the air like war banners. The arena shook.
In the bleachers, Angela Castillo's red eyes gleamed. Her crushed SparkVita can lay forgotten as she jumped to her feet.
Angela screaming "They did it!"
Beside her, the USNA Stars operatives stood silent, weapons inactive—but their presence heavy.
Amon Reyes, dreadlocks swaying, pointed down at the pit. His grin was tight, edged.
"That's the kid."
His lance CAD remained clipped at his hip, golden runes dim.
"Cocky as hell, but that sync and CAD morphing? Dangerous."
Cassandra Kwon's sniper gaze narrowed, her gauntlet CAD pulsing faintly under her jacket.
"He's a walking cheat code."
Her voice was flat, but loaded.
"That teleport, those hybrid bullets—too advanced for a cadet. He's got something we're missing."
She watched as Sallie spun his calibrator in the pit, that ever-smirking edge back in place.
Angelina Kudou Shields stood still, eyes fixed on Sallie. Her Brionac bracelet pulsed faintly—just once. Her expression didn't shift, but her voice dropped to a whisper.
Her gaze shifted across the crowd. For just a second, she caught it—a fleeting figure, an ASEAN badge gleaming near a sponsor booth.
The announcer's voice boomed again, surging over the cheers.
"The Salcedos advance to the semifinals, where they'll face the victors of Third High's Trixie Andalucia Saavedra and Mateo Vargas versus Sixth High's illusionists!"
"Will Fourth High's storm conquer the Tamaraw Spear—or fade in the mirage? Stay tuned!"
The crowd roared louder.
The megascreens cut to replay: Trixie's golden lance piercing through illusions, Mateo's gauntlet disarming traps mid-cast. The next match was already drawing blood.
Back in the pit, Sallie and Celeste shared a glance.
His grin returned—wild, confident.
Her nod was steady—controlled, sweat-streaked, but certain.
Sallie slung his briefcase CAD over his shoulder. The green runes dimmed with a low hum.
He let out a lazy yawn.
Sallie drawling "Well, that was a workout."
He spun his calibrator between two fingers, eyes half-lidded like he'd just strolled through a park, not survived a battlefield.
"Guess we got a date with Trixie or those illusion clowns next. No biggie."
He stretched, the tattered remains of his blue-and-red uniform shifting. A smirk tugged at his lips as he glanced up toward the roaring Fourth High bleachers.
Celeste's silver sigils finally dimmed on her grimoire CAD. Her stance stayed rigid, shoulders taut, sweat streaking her brow. She snapped her violet eyes toward him—sharp, unamused.
"Onii-sama."
Her voice sliced through the noise like a tether spell.
"Could you at least pretend to take this seriously? We're in the semifinals, not some street brawl."
She holstered her grimoire, brushing a singed strand of hair from her cheek.
"Your yawning doesn't exactly scream 'Pinnacle contender.'"
Sallie just chuckled. His calibrator spun faster, a soft whistle in the air.
"Relax, sis. We smoked 'em, didn't we? That big arrow stunt was gold."
He leaned closer, voice dropping to a playful whisper.
"Besides, gotta keep the crowd guessing. Lazy vibe, lethal moves—keeps the Clans off our tail."
His eyes flicked toward the stands. A glint caught them—an ASEAN badge near a sponsor booth. The sharpness in his expression flickered back, just for a second.
Celeste's jaw clenched. Her hand twitched toward her grimoire—an old reflex, the muscle memory of wanting to tether him into focus.
"Your vibe is going to get us burned if you underestimate Trixie's spear or Sixth High's illusions."
She stepped in, her voice low, tight with warning.
"We're not just fighting cadets now. Mendez's eyes are on us. So are the Stars."
She glanced to the bleachers. Angela Castillo's cheers still rang out, but louder now was the silence from the USNA row. Angelina Kudou Shields stood there—watching them. Still. Cold.
Sallie's smirk faded.
His calibrator slowed.
He met Celeste's gaze—and this time, there was no teasing behind his eyes.
"Alright, alright. I hear ya."
He tapped the side of his briefcase. The runes pulsed, faint and steady.
"I'll lock in for the semis. Promise."
A beat. Then the smirk returned—softer, more worn.
"But let me have my fun, yeah? Keeps me sharp."
He turned toward the pit's exit. The crowd's chants surged again:
"Sal-ce-do! Sal-ce-do!"
He walked with a deliberate slouch—but each step steady, like someone who knew the weight of his next fight.
Celeste exhaled, the sigh thick with irritation—but also acceptance.
She followed.
Grimoire at her side.
Eyes forward.
The semifinals loomed.
So did the empire.
And the world was watching.
The air was cool but dense with anticipation. The crowd's roar outside was a distant pulse, muffled behind the reinforced doors of the prep chamber.
Trixie Andalucia Saavedra—Third High's Tamaraw Spear—stood with her arms crossed, eyes locked on a wall-mounted screen. Her golden lance CAD hung at her hip, runes pulsing faintly. Her crimson-and-gold uniform gleamed under the prep lights, sharp lines mirroring her focus.
The megascreens replayed the second-round 2v2 Duel.
Sallie Mae and Celeste Marie Salcedo's arrow of destruction.
Javier Castillo blown through concrete.
Fourth High—untouched.
Trixie's jaw clenched, lips pressed into a thin line. She watched not with fear—but calculation.
Trixie quiet, assessing "Fourth High's sync is tighter than I thought."
There was no resentment in her voice—only precision.
"Sallie's CAD morphs are a problem… and Celeste's tethers… surgical."
Her fingers tapped the shaft of her lance. Golden runes flickered, echoing her thoughts as her mind ran simulations.
On-screen, Sallie gave a lazy yawn.
Celeste glared at him.
Trixie didn't flinch.
She saw it for what it was.
Not showboating.
Masking.
The prep room door hissed open.
A tournament official—IFRP-branded suit crisp and voice clipped—stepped inside.
"Saavedra, Vargas—five minutes to pit entry. Sixth High's waiting."
Trixie nodded once. Sharp. Controlled.
She adjusted her lance on instinct, its weight as familiar as breath.
Her eyes flicked sideways to her partner.
Mateo Vargas leaned against the far wall, checking the alignment on his gauntlet CAD. Its indigo runes pulsed with latent power, ready to fracture illusions and spike mana fields.
"Ready, Mateo?"
Her tone was firm, unyielding. Focused.
Mateo smirked, pushing off the wall, his uniform catching the low light like a slow flame.
"Born ready, Trix. Sixth High's illusions won't touch us."
He flexed his gauntlet once. The hum of tuned disruption filled the space between them.
Their 91.2% sync had already dismantled First High's barrier squads. Now they'd walk into Sixth High's illusionist labyrinth—former UST glory, built on misdirection.
Trixie turned for the door, her boots clicking on the steel as her lance CAD flared.
"Let's break their mirage and set the stage for Fourth High."
Behind her, the screen flickered again.
Sallie, spinning his calibrator.
Smirking.
Waiting.
---
The sterile hum of the Mall of Asia Arena's medical wing was a stark contrast to the roaring chaos of the pit beyond its walls.
Dim fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting pale shadows across clean panels and mana-infused monitors. The air smelled of antiseptic—sharp, clinical. The faint echo of the crowd pulsed through the insulated walls like a distant heartbeat.
Andrea Cervantes Fernandez stirred.
Her crimson-and-maroon uniform was folded neatly nearby, replaced by a standard-issue medical gown. Her head throbbed, vision swimming as it slowly sharpened. Every muscle protested as she blinked, her hands gripping the blanket.
Her amber eyes landed on Javier Castillo.
He sat beside her, slouched but intact. A bandage wrapped his right forearm. A bruise colored his cheek, but his eyes were clear. His lance CAD rested against the wall, its once-bright sapphire glow now faint.
A cluster of Seventh High classmates stood nearby. Their scarves hung loosely. Relief mingled with regret on their faces.
Classmate gasping "Thank goodness you're awake, Andrea! We thought you were out for good!"
A short-haired girl clutched a half-empty SparkVita, her hands trembling with adrenaline.
Andrea groaned, pushing herself upright. Muscles flared in protest as she leaned back against the headboard.
Her Tome of Embers and gauntlets sat quietly on a nearby table—crimson runes dark, unresponsive.
"What… what happened?"
Her voice was hoarse, her gaze locking on Javier with raw focus.
Javier's jaw tightened. He leaned forward, sapphire eyes steady and heavy with the weight of it all.
"After you went down… it was me against the Salcedos."
His voice carried no embellishment. Just facts, like listing casualties.
"You got hit hard. Sallie teleported through his spear. Morphed it into a double-barrel shotgun—blasted you point-blank with some kind of water-and-smoke slug. You crashed through the wall. Out of bounds. Knocked unconscious."
Andrea's fists clenched. A flash of heat, then cold. That final moment replayed—the green flash, the pain, the breath ripped from her lungs.
But she didn't interrupt.
She nodded once. Go on.
Javier exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck, fatigue creeping into his posture.
"I tried to hold the line. Went all in—Kinetic Barrages, Overdrives, full pressure."
His voice faltered slightly, teeth clenched. Javier continued
"But their sync… it wasn't just clean. It was mechanical. Surgical."
He shook his head slowly.
"Sallie blocked everything. Shields, morphs. Celeste hit from angles—tethers, arc blades. I pivoted to defense, and he shifted again—crossbow, whip, sidearms. Never stopped."
His fingers curled around the edge of the chair, tension simmering.
"They wore me down. Pulled a finisher—Celeste summoned a massive silver bow, Sallie stacked his green one on top. Giant mana arrow, water and smoke laced. It went through my shield like it wasn't there. I hit the wall. Out of bounds."
He paused.
"Fourth High won. Clean. They're in the semis now. Facing either Trixie and Mateo or Sixth's illusionists."
The room fell into silence.
Seventh High's classmates exchanged uneasy glances. Andrea's recovery was a relief—but now, so was reality.
Andrea stared up at the ceiling, breathing slow but sharp.
Defeated.
Not just as a cadet—but as a Fernandez. Mage royalty of Metro Manila, brought low by Batangas-born stormbringers and a morphing briefcase.
Sallie's voice echoed. "Keep Shiba's name locked, Fernandez, or your clan's secrets burn brighter than your Tome."
Her jaw clenched, low, venomous "They played us."
Her voice was like cooled ash. "That smoke grenade… that teleport. It was bait. We fell for it."
Javier nodded slowly, his expression grim.
"Sallie's not just a loudmouth. That CAD's too versatile. And Celeste's precision… her tethers don't miss."
He leaned back, wincing slightly as his bandage tugged at his movement. "We gave 'em hell. But they were a step ahead."
The door hissed open.
Andrea's parents entered with imperial poise.
Lord Rafael Fernandez, towering in a perfectly tailored IFRP suit, wore the insignia of an Imperial High Councilor—servant to Emperor Aurelio Mendez III. His dark eyes were sharp, unreadable, forged by duty.
Beside him, Lady Sofia Fernandez swept into the room with measured grace. Her crimson robe bore the embroidered crest of the Fernandez clan. Her amber eyes—Andrea's mirror—were warm, but firm.
Behind them, two IFRP guards in gauntlet-equipped armor stood watch. Their mana runes glowed faintly, alert.
Sofia approached the bed first. "Andrea, mi hija…"
Her voice was warm, but tinged with concern as she laid a hand on Andrea's shoulder.
"You're awake. We feared the worst when we heard you were knocked out of bounds."
Her gaze moved to the nearby table. Andrea's Tome of Embers lay there, crimson runes cold. A relic of failure.
Rafael stood at the foot of the bed, arms crossed.
"The Fernandez clan takes responsibility for this loss."
His voice was low. Every word carried the gravity of the Empire behind it.
"Seventh High's defeat reflects on our name, and we will answer to His Majesty for it."
He fixed Andrea with a look that pierced through the haze of injury and regret.
"But we must address a graver matter."
The temperature in the room dropped with his tone.
"You spoke of Japan's strategic-class magician—Tatsuya Shiba—in public."
Andrea's fists clenched in the sheets.
"It was a mistake…"
Her voice was bitter, low, shame interwoven with anger. "Salcedo baited me, and I let it slip. But I didn't think—"
Rafael cutting in "You didn't think."
His voice never rose—but it didn't need to.
"Naming Shiba brings complications. You would unravel what we spent years protecting. The Empire's posture toward Japan hinges on secrecy. Your words risk emboldening them."
He stepped closer. The full force of the High Councilor loomed in the sterile medical light.
Rafael quietly, forcefully "Never mention him again, Andrea. Not a whisper. Do you understand?"
Andrea met his gaze—defiant, but tempered.
Andrea steady "Yes, Father. I won't."
Her jaw trembled slightly, but her voice held firm.
Sofia's grip on her shoulder tightened. Her voice softened—but not her urgency.
"The Salcedo household contacted us… after the Duel."
Andrea's eyes shot up, wide. Sofia's gaze held hers.
Sofia continued "They informed us of an imperial decree concerning Sallie and Celeste."
A pause. Then.
"Should they win both the Imperial Duels and the Conquest… Emperor Mendez has designated Tatsuya Shiba as Sallie Salcedo's primary target in the upcoming invasion of Japan."
The room fell utterly silent.
Andrea's breath caught.
Her amber eyes widened.
Javier stiffened beside her. The other Seventh High cadets exchanged alarmed glances.
Andrea barely a whisper "Shiba… is Sallie's target?"
The dots connected: Sallie's loaded taunts. His CAD's shifting complexity.
"That's why he was so protective of Shiba's name. He's not just fighting for glory… He's aiming for him."
Rafael's expression darkened. "The Salcedos are Mendez's chosen spearhead. Their victory over you proves their worth—but it also puts them under scrutiny."
His gaze flicked to the guards. His voice lowered.
Rafael continued "The USNA Stars are already here. The Ten Master Clans are circling. Some may try to sabotage the Games. Others may aim for His Majesty's head."
He turned back to Andrea, face shadowed.
Rafael dead serious "If Sallie exposes our clan's ManaTech ties—what you feared—it could unravel everything."
He leaned forward. Cold fury masked as command.
"You must redeem this loss. Train. Rebuild. Ensure the Fernandez name is feared, not pitied."
A beat.
Rafael lower, but sharp "And above all… keep Shiba's name under wraps."
A long silence stretched.
Then—Javier stepped forward. His sapphire eyes, still dull with fatigue, held clarity.
The door hissed shut behind Lord Rafael and Lady Sofia Fernandez, the soft echo of their departure leaving the room in a heavy silence.
Andrea sat frozen, her back straight despite the pain, amber eyes fixed on the now-closed door.
Javier glanced at her, then around at the others.
"Did they just say… the USNA Stars are already here?"
The room felt colder. Every cadet around the bed exchanged uncertain looks.
Short-haired Classmate murmuring "Wait, and… the Ten Master Clans too? Like… Japan's top magicians?"
She looked to Andrea, voice tight with disbelief.
Classmate continued "What does that even mean? I thought this was just an interschool tournament."
Andrea's hands trembled slightly on the edge of the blanket.
Her voice came out flat, hollow with realization.
"It's not just a tournament anymore."
She stared down at her dormant Tome of Embers—its runes cold, lifeless.
Andrea continued "The Games are just the stage. The real fight's already begun."
Javier stood stiffly, his bandaged arm shifting.
"If the Stars are moving and the Clans are watching… then it means everyone knows what Mendez is planning."
He looked toward the corner, as if the shadows themselves might be listening.
"And they're not here to cheer."
Long-haired Cadet worried "You think they'll go after Sallie and Celeste?"
Javier bluntly replied "If they think those two are the Emperor's spear…"
He didn't need to finish. The implication hung heavy.
Andrea leaned forward slightly, her voice low.
"Then they'll try to cut the tip off the spear… before it flies."
The silence returned, thicker now, threaded with fear.
Far beyond the insulated walls, the crowd still roared for the next match. Lights flared. Megascreens boomed.
But inside this quiet room…
…a storm far bigger than the Imperial Games was building.
And everyone who knew the truth could feel it.