CHAPTER 237: CHAPTER 237: SPARKS AGAINST SHADOWS

The arena buzzed with energy. Despite being buried beneath the mountain, the noise from the crowd echoed clearly across the stone walls.

Noel stood calmly, gripping Revenant Fang with one hand. His gray uniform with red trim was neat, but practical. Across the arena stood his opponent—Tamira, from Luceria Grand Academy, wearing the signature all-purple uniform. She was massive, close to Garron’s size, but her stance was relaxed, precise.

Shadows curled around her feet, while thin cracks in the ground revealed signs of earth mana building below.

’Big, but she’s not a brawler. Shadow and earth magic, huh?’

The announcer’s voice rang out from above.

"Next match: Noel Thorne of the Imperial Academy of Valor versus Tamira Vael of Luceria Grand Academy!"

Cheers followed.

Noel let out a slow breath and tightened his grip on the sword.

"Ignition Surge."

A wave of fire burst from his hand, coating Revenant Fang in flames. The black steel shimmered, heat rising around him.

Tamira reacted by stomping the ground lightly. A thin layer of shadow spread beneath her as stone pillars rose to surround her position.

The bell rang.

Noel dashed forward, his sword blazing.

The battle had begun.

Tamira raised one hand.

"Shadow Spear."

Tendrils of darkness shot up from the ground like jagged spikes. Noel twisted to the side and rolled under the first wave.

He kept moving, weaving between columns of stone. One snapped up beside him—he parried it mid-run with Revenant Fang, then responded sharply:

"Fire Arc."

A searing crescent of flame cut across the field, slicing a stone pillar in half. The upper section crumbled and fell toward Tamira’s position.

"Stone Rise!" Tamira shouted, slamming her palm to the ground.

A thick wall of earth emerged, absorbing the debris just in time. The clash of stone on stone echoed through the arena.

Noel didn’t stop.

"Voltage Needle."

A piercing line of electricity zipped toward her. Tamira grunted, dodging, but the bolt grazed her shoulder—her cloak singed, smoke curling from the fabric.

"Shadow Step!"

She vanished into a pool of darkness and reappeared on the other side of the arena. Her stance widened.

"You’re persistent," she said, breath steady. "But you’re just throwing fire and lightning."

Noel smirked. "That’s because you haven’t given me a reason to take this seriously."

He raised his hand again.

"Flamethrower."

A stream of fire erupted, scorching the space in front of him. The flames washed over the battlefield, pushing Tamira back and melting parts of her defensive wall.

Tamira’s eyes narrowed. "Then let’s raise the stakes." She began channeling again, and shadows started writhing around her feet.

Noel stood his ground, flame still roaring from his hand.

The second round had begun.

Tamira stomped the ground again.

"Stone Coffin."

Massive slabs of rock burst from the arena floor, attempting to trap Noel between converging walls. At the same time, shadow tendrils slithered in from above, seeking to bind his arms.

Noel narrowed his eyes. ’Trying to box me in and immobilize me at once. Smart.’

He darted forward, sliding under the first stone wall before it sealed shut behind him.

"Frost Wall."

A barrier of thick ice erupted at his back, halting the shadows mid-grab and buying him seconds.

Without hesitation, he countered:

"Chain Flash."

A bolt of lightning shot from his palm and struck the center of Tamira’s position. It split instantly—branching like a spiderweb—cracking against her stone pillars and one of her defensive runes.

Tamira winced, the electric backlash throwing her off balance.

"Shadow Bind!"

From her crouched stance, black ropes lashed toward Noel, but he was already moving.

"Glacialis."

A sharp projectile of ice flew forward, hitting the base of one of her runes and freezing it in place. The spell locked up, disrupting her shadow formation.

Tamira gritted her teeth. She tried to cast again, but the delay gave Noel all the opening he needed.

He flashed forward with Revenant Fang blazing.

"Ignition Surge."

The fire coated blade slammed against her crumbling stone shield, breaking it in half. Sparks and ash erupted between them.

Tamira jumped back, her breathing heavy now.

Noel raised his blade in reply, the air around him crackling with fire and lightning.

The next strike would decide the fight.

Tamira raised both hands.

"Shadow Collapse!"

A dome of darkness surged downward from above, while jagged earth spikes began to crackle under Noel’s feet, primed to erupt.

’Too late.’

Noel’s body tensed for just a breath.

"Stormpiercer."

A blinding bolt of lightning exploded from his position—pure speed and force compressed into a single strike. In less than a blink, he reappeared behind Tamira, arm fully extended, Revenant Fang humming with residual electricity. The impact had already happened before her body reacted.

Her protective device activated. Sparks flew as her body was thrown forward and crashed hard into the dirt. Her staff rolled away from her fingers.

She groaned and pushed up to one elbow, but Noel was already there, calm, composed.

He stepped in, grabbed her arm, twisted, and brought her down in a flawless takedown. With one knee on her chest, he held Revenant Fang at her throat—still flickering with lingering sparks.

Tamira clenched her jaw. "I yield."

The bell rang. Thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

Noel stood and retracted his sword. He didn’t look to the crowd, only toward the stands.

’Torwan saw that. Good.’

He turned and walked toward the exit tunnel, passing the healers as they moved toward Tamira.

"Victory—Noel Thorne of the Imperial Academy of Valor!" the announcer declared.

Noel stepped off the arena floor, his footsteps steady, calm. A faint murmur of the crowd still lingered behind him, but he ignored it. Revenant Fang rested on the left side of his belt, humming faintly with residual heat from the fight.

He climbed the short stairs toward the seating area, scanning briefly until he spotted Balthor leaning back in a shaded corner, a steaming cup in hand.

Noel dropped into the seat beside him, exhaling.

"Alright... now let’s see if the rest of the matches go the way Torwan said."

Balthor smirked without looking away.

"Let’s hope so, lad. I’ve got coin riding on every last one. We’ll use that money to pass ourselves off as Estermonts."