Gritting his teeth, Rune narrowly avoided the sharp edge of the polearm, deflecting it aside with a swift parry of his sword. The clash sent a numbing jolt through his arm, and he stepped sideways, his grip faltering momentarily from the sheer force behind the blow.

  Recovering quickly, Rune darted forward and threw a sneaky punch toward Zachary’s face.

  But Zachary, reading the movement just in time, leaned back as the fist grazed the air inches from his nose.

  Just as he expected, Rune spun on his heel in one fluid motion, twisting his body to deliver a wide, spinning slash aimed at his side.

  “Oh, that’s really good,” Zachary remarked.

  He then twisted his polearm, channeling wind through the shaft.

  A sudden whoosh followed as a sharp gust of air accelerated the weapon’s swing. Metal clanged against metal in a shrill, ringing clash, as Zachary had just managed to intercept the strike in time.

  “Gale Burst,” Rune muttered as he slid back.

  It was a simple, low-level Wind spell, one meant to summon minor bursts of air. But in the hands of a proficient wind user like Zachary, it became something else entirely. The currents of air compressed tightly around his weapon, forming a pressurized sheath that reduced drag and sharpened the motion, creating a faster, cleaner arc of attack.

  “You like that one?” Zachary teased before darting forward once more.

  He launched himself with another Gale Burst, propelling both his body and weapon in a sudden surge of motion.

  Rune didn’t move. He stood eerily still.

  Zachary didn’t understand it, but he didn’t stop. He thrust his polearm straight toward Rune’s chest, wind swirling at the tip.

  That’s when everything went wrong.

  The weapon suddenly jerked backward, violently and unnaturally, as though an invisible hand had seized it mid-strike and yanked both it and Zachary off balance.

  “What the—”

  He barely had time to react, his eyes watching as Rune was already moving.

  Ducking low, Rune burst forward in a blur, his blade cutting through the air toward Zachary’s chest.

  Instincts kicking in, Zachary tried to raise a guard, but everything felt sluggish and heavy, like he was moving through water.

  Then came the impact.

  The blunt side of Rune’s sword slammed into his ribs with bone-rattling force, the hit sending Zachary sprawling backward. His polearm clattered against the ground as he fell, air rushing from his lungs.

  You saw that?

  “Saw what?”

  Down below, Zachary shook his head as he regained his stability.

  “What did-”

  His question was answered when he noticed a faint red hinge at the top of Rune’s sword.

  Fire magic.

  I turned to Sys.

  “Rune used fire magic? How?”

  By absorbing the heat of the surrounding air into his sword, the loss of heat caused the surrounding air to become cold in an instant, which changed the local air pressure and resulted in a brief, inward pull for Zachary. And after Zachary tried to retaliate, he must have felt a sense of slowness from the pressure acting against him.

  I turned to the Arena.

  “Wait, you’re telling me air pressure and science stuff like that is known here?”

  Zarvendia was supposed to be set in the medieval times.

  Not to the extent back on Earth, but basic knowledge like how the weather works, medicine, and mathematics are still known here.

  Seriously?

  Remember back when Ms. Lonnie taught your class how lightning magic is formed? The chaotic energy of wind and whatnot?

  "I do."

  It’s a parallel world to Earth, remember?

  A parallel world-

  It’s similar to Earth, but it isn’t the exact same.

  It’s similar.

  The things I know like science are applicable here.

  So was that beehive, and so was that pressure point trick I taught Arthur to calm down. And so are the martial arts.

  What else is?

  What else can I use from Earth?

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Seeing Zachary dazed, Rune seized the opportunity and charged forward, determined to end the fight by pinning him down completely.

  But Zachary snapped out of his stupor just in time. He swung his polearm in a wide, horizontal arc, the wind slicing audibly through the air.

  Reacting quickly, Rune leapt upward, his sword aimed downward for a decisive strike, only to jolt in surprise when he felt the impact of another polearm strike him from below. The unexpected blow threw off his balance, and he stumbled as he landed.

  In that brief opening, Zachary regained his footing and slipped seamlessly back into a guarded stance.

  Rune brushed the dust off his clothes. “That was Silver Echo." He stated.

  Zachary grinned, twirling his weapon. “You got me.”

  Silver Echo is a Wind spell designed to condense and mirror the force of an attack, creating a delayed aftershock that followed the original strike. It was the perfect counter for opponents too focused on the first swing.

  Rune tightened his grip on his sword.

  Zachary still had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.

  The duel resumed with Zachary’s usual rhythm. He kept his distance, jabbing with his polearm while darting in and out, testing Rune’s guard. His plan was simple: wear Rune down and wait for the slightest lapse in focus.

  And then, he found it.

  Those sharp, snake-like eyes of his caught the smallest hesitation in Rune’s movement, being a fraction of a second where his stance faltered.

  Zachary pressed harder. Wind magic surged beneath his feet, speeding his every step. His attacks came faster, sharper, his polearm dancing in his hands.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Rune’s parries, though timed with near perfection, began to slow under the pressure.

  Until finally, Zachary felt it. He had felt the resistance vanish.

  He licked his lips.

  “Almost there.”

  To an onlooker, the scene might’ve looked familiar. The hunter and the hunted. The predator’s steady tightening of its grip. Like a serpent coiling around its prey, its cold, glinting eyes fixed on a trembling creature, lungs crushed, struggling fading, until the fight left its body entirely.

  And then the snake feasts.

  Zachary moved for the finish.

  He feigned a quick retreat, then pivoted sharply, his rear hand guiding the shaft as he flicked the front end of the polearm forward in a lightning-fast strike.

  Rune’s eyes widened, arms raising on pure reflex.

  But Zachary knew it was pointless. The attack was too fast, augmented by his Wind magic, with its velocity far beyond what any human could properly block. Even if Rune did meet it, the impact alone would shatter his defense.

  Or so he thought.

  A metallic clang echoed as his weapon veered off course.

  “What—?” Zachary blinked.

  His sharp eyes darted down. Rune’s sword gleamed faintly with a hint of blue, as it shone-

  Blue?

  “Water magic.” He said breathlessly.

  Rune had coated his blade in a thin film of water magic, to reduce friction and let incoming attacks slide off effortlessly, a great counter to Zachary’s speed and pressure.

  “But wait-” Zachary’s thoughts raced. “Didn’t he already use Fire magic earlier?”

  As he steadied his polearm, realization dawned.

  Rune wasn’t just skilled, but he was also versatile. And this fight was slowly, undeniably, tilting in his favor.

  Zachary backed up, forcing a breath to steady himself and plan his next move, but he froze as his lead foot sank slightly.

  He looked down and found a perfectly placed hole.

  “What is t-”

  He didn’t get to finish.

  Just as he felt something was wrong, and his eyes finally obeyed his instinct, he looked just in time to see Rune charging.

  Zachary hastily raised his guard, but his disbelief only deepened when Rune accelerated mid-dash, closing the gap in an instant.

  It was very fast, at a speed far faster than what Rune had shown earlier.

  It was a speed that was comparable to Zachary.

  “Bruh.”

  The word escaped him just before Rune crashed into him full force, knocking him clean off his feet.

  Zachary groaned as he hit the ground, staring up at the sky while Rune pressed the tip of his sword to his chest, pinning him down.

  Zachary let out a defeated sigh as he raised his arms.

  “Yeah, it’s your win.”

  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  Helping Zachary to his feet, Rune brushed the dust off his clothes.

  “Hey,” Zachary called out.

  Rune turned to him. “What?”

  Zachary scratched the back of his head, his expression caught somewhere between confusion and awe. “It’s honestly kind of insane when you think about it, but earlier, you used Fire magic, right?”

  “I did,” Rune replied simply.

  “But you also used Water magic on your sword,” Zachary continued, ticking points off his fingers, “and that hole I somehow stepped into, that had to be Earth magic. And then you used Wind magic to boost yourself mid-dash.”

  Rune stayed silent.

  Zachary’s brows furrowed. He stared directly at Rune, his voice quieter now. “Are you capable of using all four elements?”

  Rune looked away. "I’m not exactly a master of them, at least not compared to people like you,” he admitted. “But yes, I am.”

  Zachary gave a low whistle. “Isn’t that cool?” Slipping his polearm onto his back, he added, “Still, now that I think about it, being able to use a sword and control all four elements? You’re just like Zin.”

  Rune froze mid-motion.

  “I hope that's where your similarities end.” Zachary said with a knowing look.

  Rune said nothing. His silence hung thick in the air.

  Zachary didn't press further. While he did enjoy the fight, he felt something off about Rune. It had been a long time since the two had spoken. After all, the last time they had seen each other, that-

  “Hahahaha!”

  Both of them turned toward the sound.

  At the center of the arena stood Zin, his smirk stretched wide, his posture dripping with arrogance as he planted a foot on the chest of a collapsed Orion. The crowd of competitors—Mayern, Noll, and the others—watched in a mix of silence and disgust. Some shook their heads, others simply glared, while a few didn’t dare to move.

  “Woah, what’s up with—” Zachary stopped short when he saw Rune’s face.

  Rune’s jaw clenched, his grip on his sword tightening so hard his knuckles whitened. His eyes were now burning with rage, his mouth seething.

  Without a word, Rune started walking toward the center.

  “Rune,” Adam’s voice came sharply as he stepped in front of him, raising a hand. “Let me handle this."

  Rune’s eyes met his, hard and unyielding.

  He wanted to say no. He wanted to push past him, to shove Zin away and help Orion to his feet. Every part of him screamed to act. To do something.

  But the steady hand Adam placed on his shoulder made Rune pause.

  His grip loosened and his breathing slowed.

  And besides,

  Why was he trying to play the hero now?

  Who was he to do anything?

  Adam released his hold and strode purposefully toward Zin.

  “The battle’s over.”

  Zin lifted his head lazily, eyes narrowing in mock confusion. “Huh?”

  “I said the battle is over,” Adam repeated.

  Zin’s expression twisted into a smirk, dripping with condescension. “So?”

  Adam’s patience snapped. “Take your foot off Orion.”

  Zin huffed dramatically, settling himself more comfortably atop Orion. He rested his chin on one hand and locked eyes with Adam, arrogance radiating off him. “And why should I?” He leaned closer. “To the victor go the spoils. Shouldn’t I be entitled to the praise and applause that come with victory? Shouldn’t our loser here bear the shame necessary for me to shine?”

  Adam stayed silent, refusing to rise to the bait.

  Zin pressed on. “Is this not the purpose of a fight? To show who wins and who loses? We both came here with that intention, to prove ourselves to these foolish spectators. We both understood the stakes: the glory of victory, the humiliation of defeat. Shouldn’t I then demonstrate Orion’s position below me, to showcase both my strength and his weakness?”

  He leaned forward further, his grin twisting darker. “Is that not why we fight? Isn’t this how it works? Our battles, our reasons, and why we keep moving in a world that spins endlessly onward?”

  Zin let out a laugh before finishing. “To prove our places in the world.”

  Adam’s gaze didn’t waver. “I don’t care about any of that. Just get off Orion. It’s over.”

  Zin tilted his head slowly, mock curiosity in every movement. “Or what?”

  Adam didn’t answer with words. He stepped closer.

  “That’s enough.”

  Every head in the arena turned, all eyes drawn to the sudden, commanding figure of the knight that stood behind Adam.

  Rune was confused as to how he had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

  The armor wasn’t the hulking kind worn by knights who relied on raw strength, but a leaner design built for swiftness, each plate curved close to his form, shifting smoothly as he breathed. Thin streaks of gold traced along the edges of his chest plate and gauntlets, faintly pulsing whenever he moved, like veins of light alive beneath the metal. His pauldrons were small and angled, granting freedom to swing without catching, while his dark undersuit of padded cloth and leather straps held the armor snug against him. A short black cloak hung from his left shoulder, fluttering just above his knees. His sword rested at his hip, yet from how the knight stood right behind Adam, everybody knew that it could be brought out at any given moment.

  “Pattio.” Adam said.

  Pattio’s face carried the calm sharpness of someone who’d seen too much yet refused to falter. His features were lean and clean-cut, with a faint shadow beneath his eyes hinting at sleepless nights and old battles. His hair, a tousled mix of ash-brown and faint silver streaks near the tips, fell just past his ears, uneven as though he trimmed it himself between fights. A few strands always slipped over his forehead, brushing against eyes the color of cold steel. A thin scar traced from his left temple down to his jaw, below a sharp nose that matched his sharp demeanor.

  “There you are, Pattio,” Zin called, his voice carrying that infuriating arrogance.

  “Back away from Master Zin,” Pattio ordered.

  Adam let out a dry laugh. “Back away?” His eyebrow quirked. “Your master is the one breaking the tournament rules.”

  Pattio didn’t budge. “Even so, you’re not allowed to touch him. Step back.”

  Adam’s lips curled into a faint smirk as he turned to Pattio. “Really? What if I don’t want to?”

  Pattio rested a hand on the hilt of his sword. “Then, I’ll have to ask in a different manner.”

  Adam sighed as he looked down. Muttering under his breath, he spoke. “Ugh. This is why I hate knights.”

  Then he looked up, his gaze hardened, a small shadow of threat crossing his features. “Then I’ll have to give you another scar.”

  “Stop,” Zin interjected.

  Both Adam and Pattio turned toward him.

  Zin walked over to Pattio, a smirk softening into a faux-innocent expression. “Sorry, Adam. I was just joking around.”

  Adam’s eyes narrowed. “.........Is that so?”

  Zin waved him off lightly. “You take everything too seriously. Maybe a vacation would help? Relax a little.” He offered the suggestion with an annoyingly warm smile.

  Adam’s voice was strained, almost reluctant. “I’ll think about it.”

  Zin gave a final shrug and turned to leave. “Come on, Pattio.”

  Pattio glanced at Adam for a brief moment before falling in step beside Zin. Tristan emerged from the crowd of competitors and joined them as they exited the arena.

  As they were about to pass Rune, Zin’s gaze locked onto him.

  “Rune the rat,” he said, his tone dripping with mockery.

  Rune’s jaw tightened.

  Zin continued, his voice casual but cutting. “Your friend wasn’t that much fun.” He finally looked away, resuming his walk. “I hope you’ll be somewhat better.”