The enormous explosion engulfed the battlefield, sending waves of scorching heat and brilliant white light sweeping across the ruined streets of the replica Kingdom of Ryūgū. Violet's Fire Dragon: Hellfire Breath had collided head-on with Ryūsei's Meteor Dragon: Photon Ray, creating a tremendous eruption of energy that shook the surrounding buildings and sent debris flying in every direction.
A thick cloud of smoke rose into the sky, obscuring both combatants from the spectators watching through the arena's magical holographic screens. The ground trembled beneath the pressure of their opposing powers, while flames spread across the shattered pavement and the remnants of Meteor Dragon energy flickered like white stars before gradually dissolving into the air.
For several seconds, neither fighter could be seen.
Then, as the smoke began to thin, Ryūsei emerged from the haze with his Photon Blade firmly gripped in his right hand. His clothes had been disturbed by the blast, but he remained on his feet, his eyes fixed intently on the woman standing on the opposite side of the battlefield.
Violet appeared completely composed. Not only had she survived the tremendous collision, but she seemed almost unbothered by the destruction surrounding her. She stood amid the scattered debris with the relaxed posture of someone who had merely finished a warm-up exercise.
Ryūsei narrowed his eyes as he recalled the spell she had used.
That was Kasai's spell.
He had recognized the nature of the flames immediately. Their intensity and destructive force reminded him of Kasai Hono's Fire Dragon techniques, particularly the overwhelming power behind his Hellblitz attacks. However, Violet's version had possessed a similar ferocity despite being cast by someone Ryūsei had never seen fight before.
Is she also a Fire Dragon Sage?
The thought had barely formed when Violet raised one hand, interrupting his attempt to understand her abilities.
"Ash Dragon: Scorch Eagle!"
A tremendous surge of energy erupted around her. The air above the battlefield darkened as numerous fiery birds materialized, their bodies formed from scorching ash and concentrated Dragon energy. Their enormous wings spread wide, sending trails of burning embers spiraling through the air as piercing cries echoed between the damaged buildings.
The Scorch Eagles circled above Violet for a brief moment before suddenly diving toward Ryūsei from several directions. Their formation was calculated to overwhelm him, leaving little room to dodge without exposing himself to another attack.
Ryūsei immediately raised his right hand.
"Meteor Dragon Impact!"
Brilliant white energy gathered around his palm before exploding outward in a rapid barrage of Meteor Dragon projectiles. The beams streaked across the battlefield, meeting the incoming Scorch Eagles head-on.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each collision produced a burst of fire and white light. One Scorch Eagle after another disintegrated into clouds of ash, while the remaining projectiles continued toward Violet, forcing her to shift her position to avoid being struck.
Ryūsei watched the exchange with growing disbelief.
That's Moyasu's spell!
He remembered the destructive power of Moyasu's Fire Dragon techniques and the battle in which he had confronted Arashi Ryūgū's former disciple, the Scorcher. Yet Violet had just used an Ash Dragon spell after demonstrating a Fire Dragon technique.
His grip tightened around the Photon Blade.
What's going on?
He had no time to find an answer. Violet was already preparing for the next exchange, and remaining still would only give her another opportunity to attack.
Ryūsei abruptly changed his approach. Pulling his arm back, he hurled the Photon Blade directly toward her.
The white sword spun through the air at tremendous speed, its sharp edge cutting through the lingering smoke as it crossed the distance between them.
Violet remained remarkably calm.
"Aurora Dragon: Frost Shield."
The temperature around her plummeted. Moisture crystallized almost instantly, forming a translucent shield of ice in front of her. Layer upon layer of frozen energy overlapped, creating a thick defensive barrier that shimmered with pale blue and violet light.
CLANG!
Ryūsei's sword struck the shield, sending a sharp vibration through its frozen surface. For a brief moment, the blade seemed to hold against the barrier, but it failed to penetrate. Instead, the weapon rebounded slightly, its trajectory altered by the shield's extraordinary durability.
Violet smiled as she watched the sword fall away from her.
"Is that all you—"
"Meteor Dragon Switch!"
Her sentence was cut short.
The instant Ryūsei activated his spell, his body vanished from its original position in a flash of white light. A second flash appeared beside the sword, and he materialized directly next to the weapon, catching it before it could fall to the ground.
Violet's eyes widened.
"He's fast—!"
Ryūsei had already closed the distance between them.
"Meteor Dragon Photon Fist!"
Meteor Dragon energy surged around his right fist, concentrating into a brilliant sphere of white light. The air trembled beneath the pressure of the gathered power as he drove his punch directly into Violet's Frost Shield.
BOOOOOOM!
The defensive barrier shattered.
Fragments of ice exploded in every direction, glittering beneath the light of the arena's magical displays. The force behind Ryūsei's punch tore through the remaining layers of frozen energy as though they were nothing more than fragile glass.
Violet barely had time to react before Ryūsei followed through with a powerful kick, striking her squarely and sending her backward.
"Gah!"
Her feet left the ground as she sailed several meters through the air. She landed in a controlled slide, her boots scraping against the broken pavement until she finally regained her balance.
For the first time since the battle began, genuine surprise appeared on her face.
That boy destroyed my Frost Shield with a single punch?
Ryūsei refused to give her time to recover.
"Fire Dragon: Grand Flame!"
Violet thrust both hands forward.
An enormous amount of Fire Dragon energy erupted from her body, gathering into a gigantic wave of flames. The fiery mass surged toward Ryūsei, consuming the space between them and bathing the entire battlefield in an intense orange glow. The sheer heat distorted the surrounding air, while sparks and burning fragments spiraled away from the advancing inferno.
Ryūsei immediately summoned his weapon.
"Meteor Dragon Photon Blade!"
A sword composed of brilliant white Meteor Dragon energy materialized in his right hand. He planted his feet firmly against the damaged pavement and swung the blade toward the approaching wall of flames, intending to split the attack apart before it could reach him.
The Photon Blade cut into the enormous wave.
For an instant, it appeared that Ryūsei might succeed. A narrow path opened through the fire as the white blade carved into its center, but the sheer volume of flames proved too great to overcome with a single slash. The edges of the attack surged around his weapon, spilling toward his arms before he could completely escape its path.
"Gah!"
Ryūsei leaped backward, but the flames still scorched parts of his hands. He landed several meters away, clenching his teeth as he examined the injured skin. The burns stung sharply, and the lingering heat made it difficult to ignore the pain. Nevertheless, he forced himself to remain focused on Violet rather than allow the injury to distract him.
What's going on?
His confusion had only deepened.
How is she able to use more than one Dragon Art?
Until now, Ryūsei had encountered Elementalists whose powers were associated with their respective Dragon Arts. Even the strongest fighters he had faced relied on their own distinctive abilities and techniques. Their powers might have been extraordinary, but there had always been some connection between their abilities and the Dragon Art they wielded.
Violet was different.
She had attacked with Fire Dragon and Ash Dragon techniques, defended herself with Aurora Dragon energy, and switched between them without the slightest hesitation. Each spell had carried the characteristics of a different Dragon Art, yet she used them as naturally as though they all belonged to her.
Her abilities seemed to disregard the limitations Ryūsei had come to expect.
Violet noticed the troubled expression on his face and chuckled.
"Trying to figure something out?"
Ryūsei remained silent, unwilling to reveal more of his thoughts than necessary.
She tilted her head, clearly enjoying his confusion.
"Don't worry. You'll understand soon enough."
With that, Violet raised her right hand toward the sky.
"Lava Dragon: Catastrophic Calamity!"
The instant she spoke the spell's name, the ground began to shake violently.
BOOOOOOM!
Ryūsei's eyes widened as the battlefield trembled beneath his feet. Cracks spread through the already damaged pavement, splitting the streets into jagged sections. Nearby buildings groaned as their foundations shifted, and chunks of stone tumbled from their walls.
"What's going on?!"
He struggled to maintain his balance as another tremor surged beneath him.
"Why is the ground shaking so hard?!"
The shaking intensified. Then, from the fissures spreading across the battlefield, a brilliant red-orange glow began to emerge.
Molten lava rose from beneath the earth.
Streams of liquid rock poured through the cracks, spreading across the ruined streets and forming a blazing ring around the two combatants. The temperature climbed rapidly, turning the surrounding area into a furnace. Waves of heat rolled across the battlefield, and the pavement beneath Ryūsei's feet began to glow along its fractured edges.
He leaped onto a relatively stable section of ground as the lava continued to spread, carefully watching the widening ring of molten rock.
Across the battlefield, Violet stood calmly amid the rising heat.
"I'm taking this fight to the next level!"
She spread her arms, and the lava surrounding her began to move.
Instead of flowing away from her body, the molten rock rose into the air and wrapped itself around her limbs. Layers of glowing material gathered over her shoulders, torso, arms, and legs, gradually hardening into an enormous suit of armor. Its surface pulsed with intense heat, glowing like the heart of a volcano.
Violet flexed her fingers. Molten droplets fell from her armored hand and sizzled whenever they struck the ground.
The transformation made her already intimidating presence even more overwhelming. She looked less like an ordinary Elementalist and more like a warrior clad in the living power of a volcanic eruption.
"Are you ready, Ryūsei Ryūgū?"
Ryūsei watched her carefully, his expression growing serious.
He understood that the battle had changed. Violet was no longer merely testing his reactions or measuring the strength of his attacks. She was beginning to reveal the power that had earned her the title of a legendary Gādian.
He took a deep breath and steadied himself.
"Dragon Sage Secret Art: White Meteor!"
A mysterious white aura erupted around his entire body.
The energy spread across his shoulders, arms, and legs, enveloping him in a brilliant glow that resembled starlight shining through pale mist. The aura pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat, reinforcing his physical abilities and allowing his body to move with greater speed and power.
As the energy intensified, the ground beneath his feet cracked under the pressure.
Ryūsei slowly raised his head and met Violet's gaze.
"I am."
His voice was steady despite the pain in his hands and the overwhelming heat surrounding him.
"I'm ready."
For the first time since the battle began, neither of them moved immediately. They stared at each other across the molten battlefield, each waiting for the other to make the first move.
Then Violet smiled.
"Good."
She lowered her stance, the lava armor shifting around her body with a deep, grinding sound.
"Let's see how long you can keep up!"
"Lava Dragon: Catastrophic Fist!"
Lava Dragon energy gathered around Violet's right hand, forming a massive, blazing fist encased in molten armor. The air warped around her as she launched herself forward with astonishing speed despite the apparent weight of her armor.
The ground shattered beneath her first step.
Ryūsei responded immediately.
"Meteor Dragon Photon Fist!"
Meteor Dragon energy concentrated around his right hand, forming a brilliant white glow that illuminated his face. He rushed forward to meet her, determined to intercept the attack before Violet could bring the full force of her molten fist down on him.
Their fists rapidly closed the distance between them.
But just as the two attacks were about to collide, Violet suddenly changed her form.
"Shadow Dragon: Cloak!"
Her body dissolved into darkness.
The transformation happened so quickly that Ryūsei barely registered what was happening. Violet's physical form became a shadowy silhouette, allowing his incoming punch to pass straight through her without making contact.
Ryūsei's eyes widened.
"What—?!"
His fist cut through empty space.
Before he could turn around, Violet reappeared beside him.
"Too slow."
Her Lava Dragon Catastrophic Fist struck him with devastating force.
BOOOOOOM!
The impact sent Ryūsei flying across the battlefield. He crashed through the outer wall of a nearby building, shattering stone and sending a thick cloud of dust billowing into the street.
"Gah!"
Fragments of masonry rained down around him as he struggled to recover. His entire body ached from the impact, but the White Meteor aura continued to surround him, allowing him to push himself upright before the remaining debris could bury him.
He brushed dust from his face and looked toward Violet.
She turned her body into a shadow?
He recalled the moment his fist had passed harmlessly through her.
So that's how she avoided my attack.
He had barely begun to consider how he might counter that ability when Violet raised her hand once more.
"Ice Dragon: Blizzard Bow!"
Ice Dragon energy gathered between her fingers, taking the shape of an elegant bow made from translucent ice. Its limbs shimmered with pale blue light, and delicate frost patterns spread across its surface as the weapon completed its formation.
Violet drew the bowstring.
An arrow began to materialize, its shape growing more distinct as frozen energy condensed around its shaft.
"Ice Dragon: Blizzard Blast!"
Concentrated Ice Dragon energy gathered around the arrowhead, forming a brilliant sphere of frozen power. As the spell intensified, the surrounding temperature dropped sharply. Frost spread across the broken buildings, and the lava covering portions of the battlefield began to cool at the edges. Moisture in the air crystallized into countless tiny snowflakes that drifted through the smoke.
Ryūsei slowly raised his head.
A strange sensation passed through him.
He had felt this kind of cold before—not the ordinary chill of winter, nor the freezing temperatures produced by a typical Ice Dragon spell. There was something familiar about Violet's energy, something that reminded him of the Elementalists he knew.
This feeling...
His gaze remained fixed on the arrow.
It's familiar...
His expression became increasingly troubled as he tried to understand the sensation.
It's like I'm fighting...
He tightened his grip on his Photon Blade.
"...against all my friends."
Violet released the bowstring.
The arrow shot forward with extraordinary speed, leaving a trail of frozen air in its wake. Everything along its path began to freeze, from the shattered pavement to the remaining fragments of stone suspended in the air. The temperature plunged so rapidly that a thick layer of frost spread across the battlefield in the blink of an eye.
Ryūsei reacted immediately.
"Meteor Dragon Photon Shield!"
Meteor Dragon energy surged in front of him, forming a gigantic white shield. Its surface shone with concentrated light as the enormous defensive construct materialized just before the Ice Dragon arrow reached him.
BOOOOOOM!
The arrow collided with the shield.
For a brief moment, the Photon Shield held firm. Its surface glowed brightly as it absorbed the impact, resisting the freezing energy concentrated within the projectile.
Then the arrow exploded.
A tremendous wave of freezing energy burst outward, swallowing the entire area surrounding the shield in an overwhelming blizzard. Ice spread across the ground, climbed the walls of nearby buildings, and enveloped the debris scattered throughout the battlefield.
Within seconds, a gigantic iceberg formed around the point of impact.
The Photon Shield disappeared beneath layers of ice, leaving no visible sign of Ryūsei within the frozen mass.
Violet slowly lowered her bow and watched the battlefield carefully, searching for any sign of movement.
"Did that finish him?"
For several seconds, no answer came. The battlefield remained eerily silent, with only the faint crackling of expanding ice breaking through the stillness.
Then—
SHING!
A white sword suddenly shot through the air and pierced Violet's leg.
"Ah!"
She staggered, immediately reaching down to examine the weapon embedded in her armor. The blade had pierced through the material protecting her leg, and an intense burning sensation spread from the wound.
Violet's eyes widened.
"What's going on?"
She grabbed the sword and pulled it free, but the burning pain continued to spread through the injured area.
"Is there another Elementalist nearby?"
She examined the weapon, searching for an explanation. Yet the more she studied it, the more confused she became. The wound felt strangely different from the damage caused by an ordinary blade, and the heat radiating from it refused to fade.
"And why does this wound burn so much?"
Violet looked around, trying to identify the source of the attack. The sword had come from somewhere beyond her immediate field of vision, but the surrounding streets offered no obvious answer.
Before she could locate her unseen opponent, a familiar voice rang out from above.
"Meteor Dragon Photon Star Blade!"
Violet immediately looked up.
High above her, a figure stood against the sky.
It was Ryūsei.
Somehow, he had escaped the enormous iceberg and repositioned himself above the battlefield. His white aura continued to shine around his body, while several weapons formed from Meteor Dragon energy floated nearby.
In his hand, he held a four-bladed, star-shaped weapon whose edges glowed with brilliant white light.
Violet's eyes widened.
He escaped the ice?
Ryūsei hurled the Star Blade toward her.
The weapon spun through the air, its four blades reflecting the surrounding light as it descended with terrifying speed. Violet immediately raised her hand, preparing to summon another defensive spell.
"Water Dragon—!"
Before she could finish casting, another white sword shot toward her.
SHING!
It struck her in the leg.
"Gah!"
The sudden impact disrupted her stance, and Violet lost her balance, falling to the ground as the Star Blade continued its approach.
Her expression sharpened. She had little time to evade, and the weapon was already closing in.
"Void Dragon: Nebula Vanquish!"
A black aura erupted around the incoming Star Blade.
Darkness spread across the weapon, swallowing its brilliant white energy. For several seconds, the Star Blade struggled against the mysterious force surrounding it, its glowing edges flickering as the darkness continued to consume its power.
Then, little by little, the weapon began to disappear.
Its four blades dissolved into particles of light before vanishing completely.
Violet released a breath she had not realized she was holding.
"That was close."
She looked toward the sky, her expression a mixture of surprise and caution.
"He almost got me."
Ryūsei descended toward the battlefield and landed on a relatively stable section of ground. The floating swords returned to his side, arranging themselves behind him with two blades on either side of his body. Their white edges gleamed ominously as he faced Violet.
Despite the intense exchange, Ryūsei wore a cheerful expression.
"You're pretty powerful."
He tilted his head slightly, glancing at the wounds he had managed to inflict.
"Even with that opening, I still couldn't hit you properly."
Violet slowly rose to her feet. Despite the injuries she had sustained, she maintained much of her composure. She brushed some dust from her clothes before looking at Ryūsei with newfound respect.
"You're not that bad yourself."
Her eyes shifted toward the floating swords behind him.
"Actually, you're pretty strong for someone your age."
Ryūsei smiled.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It is."
Violet studied him carefully, her expression becoming thoughtful.
"Now I can see why you were able to defeat Moyasu."
She considered him for another moment before continuing.
"You're an F-Rank Elementalist, but your skills are beyond A-Rank."
Ryūsei scratched his cheek, accepting the assessment without boasting.
"Thanks."
His smile widened.
"This fight gives me the will to become even stronger."
For a moment, Violet simply stared at him.
There was something remarkable about the boy standing before her. Despite the extraordinary power he possessed, he still regarded the battle as an opportunity to improve himself. He was not merely trying to prove his superiority or secure an easy victory. Every exchange seemed to teach him something new, and even when he was injured or forced onto the defensive, his determination remained intact.
Violet found that quality intriguing.
She slowly straightened her posture.
"Well then..."
Her expression changed. The playful smile remained, but the atmosphere around her began to grow heavier, as though the battlefield itself were responding to a shift in her intentions.
"It's time I showed you why they call me the Synthesis Sorceress."
Ryūsei's smile gradually faded.
The floating Photon Blades behind him shifted slightly as he adjusted his stance. He could sense the change in Violet's presence, and every instinct warned him that she was preparing to reveal something far more dangerous than the techniques she had used so far.
I'd better not let my guard down.
Ryūsei focused his attention on Violet, carefully watching her movements and the strange energy gathering around her.
I can tell something big is going to happen.
Violet raised one hand.
The air around her began to tremble, and the energy surrounding her body stirred with an unfamiliar intensity. The legendary Aries Gādian stood before him, ready to reveal the true nature of the power that had earned her such a fearsome title.
Ryūsei tightened his grip on his Photon Blade, bracing himself for whatever came next.
The battle had only just begun.