The entire campus flooded toward the training grounds, even the famous Rui family together with their matriarch, covered in a red hood, came to watch. The air buzzing with excitement. Students from every course gathered until the field transformed into a full-blown arena. Professors lined the perimeter, curious to witness the clash between two rising names:
Kael Santos — the teen who defeated an evolving Beast-Type Abberant.
and
James Rui — the academy’s notorious spoiled prodigy.
The Journalism Course broadcasted everything live across the academy. Their voices echoed through hovering camera drones:
“Ladies and gentlemen, at the center of the ring is the instructor of the Battle Course and the youngest professor of Aurora Academy, Lieutenant Cain Smith, serving as today’s referee!”
Cain raised a hand, projecting his voice across the arena.
“This is an official duel recognized by Aurora Academy. A forcefield will activate around the ring to prevent any stray spirit energy from affecting spectators. The use of Spirit Drive, Armor Synchro, and Weapon Synchro is fully permitted. The duel will continue until one combatant is knocked out or voluntarily yields.”
A hum resonated as the forcefield dome formed, transparent, but pulsing with steady energy.
Cain continued, “Since both duelers possess two spirit creatures, both are permitted to equip their spirit creatures during the match. Now… let us welcome our fighters.”
He gestured to the right.
“On the challenger’s side, Kael Santos! Known throughout the academy as the cadet who slew an Abberant during its evolution!”
A roar erupted from the crowd.
Then Cain motioned left.
“And on the other side, the eldest son of the prestigious Rui family, James Rui!”
The applause shifted to scattered claps, though a number of students from the Elite Course cheered loudly for James.
Cain lowered his arm.
“Duelers, activate your Spirit Drive.”
Kael and James each pulled out their chosen spirit cards. Their voices rang in unison:
“Spirit Drive!”
White-blue light engulfed Kael. When it faded, he stood clad in his upgraded Light-Type armor, intricate salamander patterns glowing across its plates. On both hands, his retractable light claw gauntlets, he opened his hand the blue claws flashed into existence, sharp, bright, and pulsing with energy.
Opposite him, James burst into azure flames. His armor manifested as a blue wolf-themed armor with glowing streaks along the limbs. Both his hands were fitted with tekko-kagi steel claws, their edges shimmering like sharpened ice.
Cain raised his hand once more.
“Duelers, assume your stances.”
Kael slid one foot back, claws angled forward, posture firm.
James bent low, wolf-like, muscles coiled and ready to pounce.
A hush swept through the audience.
Cain’s hand sliced through the air.
“BEGIN!”
James moved first.
With a sharp burst of spirit energy, he launched forward, azure armor streaking across the arena. Gasps erupted from the audience, James was fast, far faster than most cadets could ever hope to be.
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But to Kael’s eyes…
He was crawling.
James lunged, claws raised.
“You’re done, you bastard!”
Kael’s expression didn’t even twitch.
He closed his hand, light claws snapping into position across his knuckles, and stepped cleanly into James’ strike. His fist shot forward in a perfectly timed counter.
WHAM!
Kael’s punch buried itself in James’ gut.
The impact launched James across the ring like a ragdoll, slamming him into the forcefield with a thunderous echo.
The arena froze, silent for a heartbeat, then erupted into wild cheers.
James staggered upright, clutching his stomach, eyes burning with humiliation and rage.
“You… you little, BURST FLAMES!”
His tekko-kagi ignited, erupting into azure fire, licking up to his forearms, turning his claws into blazing fangs.
Kael responded in kind.
He raised his hand.
“Light Javelin.”
Five radiant spears materialized above him, humming with energy. Kael pointed toward James, and the javelins fired one after another, streaks of white-blue light cutting through the air.
James roared and slashed wildly, shattering each javelin with his flaming claws as he charged. He closed the distance in seconds, swinging a burning strike toward Kael’s head—
But Kael vanished.
A blur. A streak of blue light.
James stumbled forward, confused. “Where—?!”
Kael appeared beneath him, crouched low, claws gleaming.
“Flash Strike.”
A beam of light tore forward as Kael thrust upward, piercing through James’ shoulder armor with explosive force.
James dropped back, clutching his wound, his fury twisting into something feral. The crowd roared again as the duel intensified.
James staggered back, clutching his pierced shoulder, rage twisting his face.
“You… peasant… you bastard… HOW DARE YOU!”
Spirit energy surged around him.
“Azure Wisp!”
A ring of blue fire wisps flared to life, orbiting his body like vengeful spirits. With a scream, James thrust his hands forward—
FWOOOM!
The wisps shot toward Kael one after another, blazing trails cutting through the air.
Kael dashed aside, weaving between the incoming fire. Each wisp exploded behind him as it missed, shaking the arena with bursts of blue flame.
James kept firing, reckless, furious, ignoring the pain, ignoring everything except the hatred burning in his chest.
“RUN ALL YOU WANT! I’LL BURN YOU ALIVE!”
But Kael wasn’t running.
He was closing the distance.
Step by step, burst by burst, he maneuvered through the hail of azure fire until he was just a breath away from James.
James barely had time to widen his eyes—
Kael struck first.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
Three rapid blows slammed into James’ ribs, gut, and jaw, each punch enhanced by the shimmering light gathered around Kael’s gauntlets.
James swung wildly, landing a punch to Kael’s cheek, another grazing his side, two more connecting out of sheer desperation.
But Kael’s strikes were cleaner. Faster. Sharper.
James’ third hit landed, but Kael’s ninth answered it.
Their fists collided again and again in the center of the ring—
Kael methodical and precise,
James frantic and enraged.
By the end of the exchange, James was staggering backward, breath ragged, armor dented and smoking from the energy impacts.
Kael, though scuffed, stood firm, light claws humming, stance steady, eyes locked on his opponent without fear.
James staggered backward, panting, fury boiling over.
With a snarl, he canceled his Spirit Drive, blue flames dying around him. He reached into his belt pouch and pulled out another spirit card, its surface shimmering like an ocean storm.
“SPIRIT DRIVE!”
A torrent of water burst upward, engulfing him in a spiraling column. When it dispersed, James now wore silver armor etched with shark motifs, jagged and predatory. His weapon morphed into a grotesquely serrated sword; its edge made of overlapping shark teeth.
He pointed the blade toward Kael.
“If I can’t beat you with speed…”
His lips curled into a feral grin.
“…I’ll crush you with power.”
James slammed the tip of his sword into the ground.
“TIDAL WAVE!”
A roaring wall of raging water surged forward. Kael reacted instantly—
“Flash Strike!”
He vanished in a streak of light, reappearing behind James… but James was ready.
“Got you!”
He spun and swung his shark-tooth blade. Kael blocked the strike with his gauntlets, but the impact was monstrous. The force blasted Kael backward across the ring, skidding him across the floor.
James threw his head back and laughed.
“Not so cunning now, peasant!”
Kawa, watching from Kael’s belt pocket, flared with anger.
“Holder, tag me in! Let me show this arrogant fool how to REALLY fight!”
Kael nodded, dismissing Kylon in a flash of light. The card returned to his hand. He grabbed Kawa’s card next.
“Spirit Drive!”
A surge of blazing fire erupted, engulfing him in crimson sparks. The flames peeled away to reveal Kael’s burning red armor, feathers of searing embers glowing along the edges. His sword radiated heat, the blade trembling with barely contained combustion.
James scoffed.
“You think fire can beat water? Don’t make me laugh.”
Kael stepped forward, tightening his grip.
His voice was calm, too calm.
“I can,” he said.
James barked out a laugh.
“Oh yeah? Then tell me how?”
Kael answered with a single word.
“Evaporation.”
He swung.
The blade cracked forward, extending into a whip-like bladed chain then a blazing whip of fire mid-strike. The extended burn-edge lashed across the ring, carving through the air—
SLASH!
It ripped across James’ torso, slicing deep and instantly steaming the water around his armor. A burst of vapor exploded from the wound.
James staggered, eyes wide, breath stolen by the sudden searing pain.
Wounded and trembling, James forced himself back onto his feet, fury burning in his eyes. He tightened his grip on his shark-tooth blade and roared:
“Aqua Cutter!”
He swung wildly, launching a rapid barrage of compressed water blades toward Kael.
Kael planted his foot back, raised his flaming sword, and whispered with calm precision:
“Feathered Flame.”
A burst of blazing feathers erupted from his blade, dozens of fiery embers that shot forward like scorching meteors. The Aqua Cutters met them head-on, but the moment water touched the flame—
hisss—
—steam exploded outward, the water attacks instantly evaporated.
The burning feathers continued their path, hitting James square in the chest and shoulders. Each impact knocked him back, tearing through his shark-motif armor. He staggered, bloodied, barely holding himself upright.
Breathing raggedly, James spat out:
“This isn’t over… you peasant…”
But his legs gave out.
THUD.
James collapsed, unconscious on the arena floor.
For a heartbeat, the arena was silent.
In the midst of the silence, the Rui Family matriarch stand up and left, she was then followed by the Rui family members.
Then—
“KAEL! KAEL! KAEL!”
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, the sound echoing across the entire hall. Kael stood there, stunned, then slowly let out a long breath of relief. A tired smile formed on his face. The system, then chimed in his mind.
[SYSTEM UPDATE — DUEL RESULT]
?? VICTORY: KAEL SANTOS ??
Duel between Kael Santos and James Rui has concluded.
Outcome: Kael Santos is the clear winner.
REWARDS GRANTED:
- ? +50 EXP (Added)
- ? +50 Spirit Energy (Added)
- ?? System Scan Level 2: UNLOCKED
STATUS CHANGES:
- Kael remains in the Battle Course
- James Rui’s Student slot revoked from the academy
- Duel record archived in Academy database
SYSTEM NOTES:
Spirit resonance stabilizing…
Kael’s combat proficiency has increased.
He canceled his Spirit Drive with a pulse of warm flame, his burning armor dissolving into sparks. Raising a hand, he waved at everyone, students, teachers, spectators shouting his name. The Journalism Course the announced to the whole academy,
For the first time anyone has ever done…
Kael Santos has defeated the eldest son of the Rui family.