A few minutes later, Fenix left the waiting area, glancing back at Aura longingly as he entered the arena. Aura held her cheeks, still shocked she'd made out with him in front of all the other contestants.
"Now welcome Fenix—an S-rank student! This battle is going to be a treat!" The announcer shouted.
The audience erupted into high-pitched screams as Fenix stepped onto the field, revealing his face on the Jumbotron. Aura calmed enough to get irritated by this.
"And his opponent—Fleet from the A-ranked division!"
The crowd cheered again, quieter this time, as Fleet stepped forward.
"Hah! Remember me?" Fleet asked, smirking.
Fenix tilted his head.
"Should I?" he replied politely.
"I'm the guy you attacked!" Fleet snapped.
Fenix paused, tapped his chin, and furrowed his brow, thinking: (That could be anyone…)
"When I was in front of Aura's room!"
That's when recognition clicked.
"Ah… so you're that asshole—the one who doesn't know how to clean up his own messes," Fenix said with a smile.
Fleet glared.
"Battle start!" the announcer yelled.
Fleet moved first.
"Now I can finally pay you back! There's no way I'm losing!" he shouted, swinging a punch at Fenix's face.
Before it connected, Fenix vanished.
Fenix had spun with the punch, then swiftly ducked into Fleet's blind spot. Fleet barely had time to react before a kick slammed into his back, knocking the air from his lungs. Another strike hit his side a second later, sending him skidding toward the edge of the ring—nearly a ring-out.
"You're pretty fast… Speed must be your power, hmm?" Fenix noted while squatting beside him with a smile.
Fleet pushed himself up, wiping blood from his mouth.
"Good. You can still stand," Fenix continued softly. "That means… I can kick it up a notch."
Both of Fenix's eyes began glowing orange. His hair lifted, moving like living flame.
Fleet clapped his hands together, muttering under his breath. His feet began to glow as he dropped into a fighting stance.
"Don't think I'm scared of you just because your power looks flashy. I can beat anyone when I get serious," Fleet declared confidently.
Fenix laughed.
With each chuckle, flames burst from beneath the concrete. The arena cracked... lava seeping through the fissures. An unbearable heat filled the area.
Fleet hesitated.
Fear flashed on his face for a second, but he didn't retreat. Instead, he doubled down and shouted,
"All I have to do is knock you out!"
Fenix scoffed. Fleet then charged forward at blinding speed—too fast for the audience to follow.
A barrage of strikes followed. The impacts boomed across the stadium, sending tremors through even the audience stands.
Fenix was the only one visible; he bent, twisted, and slipped through them effortlessly—his movements fluid, unnatural, almost inhuman. Even with blinding speed, Fleet couldn't lay a finger on him.
Thirty seconds passed.
Exhaustion set in, and Fleet slowed enough for the crowd to finally see him...
Panting.
Haggard.
And covered in burns.
He forced himself to strike again, throwing a feint punch and then a desperate kick toward Fenix.
As if he had been waiting for that exact moment, Fenix caught the leg with his right hand...
and drove his left elbow down into Fleet's knee.
A sickening crack echoed.
Fleet's scream tore through the arena, sending chills through the audience.
Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by whispers and then a long silence. Aura was shocked by Fenix's brutality... yet impressed and proud all at once. As everyone watched, Fleet writhed in pain on the concrete floor, screaming,
"I... forfeit! Please, someone, heal me... I—"Before he could finish, Fleet lost consciousness. Fenix watched him expressionlessly, and no one dared make a sound until—
"The victor is Fenix!" the announcer declared.
That's when the referee and paramedics tried to rush in, but the fire was too intense for anyone to get close.
The crowd seemed unsure of how to react, but after a while, everyone exploded into cheers.
Fenix sighed, eyes still locked on his opponent's limp body.
"That was no fun at all… too easy…" He muttered. "I didn't even get to remove my seal."
Fenix then rolled his shoulders and exhaled. As he relaxed, the flames sank back into the ground, and the lava cooled, sealing the cracks.
"You're a disappointment," he said coldly, looking down at Fleet once more.
With that, Fenix turned and walked away.
He returned to the waiting room. Only then did the healers feel safe enough to rush onto the field and retrieve Fleet—
"How did I do, Aura?" He asked, his eyes bright, hungry for praise, as he moved to her side.
She smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. "You were awesome."
Fenix smiled back. "Really?"
"Yeah. Super awesome." She raised both thumbs this time.
He kissed her quickly, sighed in satisfaction, then dropped onto the bench.
"But how did you burn him?" she asked, sitting at his side. "It looked like you were mostly dodging the whole match."
Fenix chuckled and lay his head on her shoulder,
"The heat around me was so high that I didn't need to touch him directly to burn him..." He yawned, then added, "It was more intense the closer he got to me."
He nuzzled into her neck, and Aura stiffened, her heart racing. After a moment, she leaned her head against his and replied,
"I can't wait to face you myself." Fenix didn't reply right away, but his breathing softened. Aura thought he'd drifted out until
"... Don't get too excited… Your match is next. If you lose, I automatically win our bet," he said, a cocky smirk tugging at his lips.
"…There's no way I'd lose! We're fighting in the finals!" Aura shot back, sticking out her tongue.
Fenix smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. Aura immediately wanted to ask what was wrong but—
"After your match, let's go somewhere…" Fenix murmured, already lying back and closing his eyes. His offer pushed everything else from her mind. All that was left was the excitement of traveling with him.
"Sure. It's only elimination matches today anyway."
When he didn't respond, Aura glanced over—
He was already asleep.
She stared at him for a few seconds, then reached out, gently brushed his hair away from his face, and kissed his cheek.
An hour passed, and it was her turn.
Aura threw a random shoe she found on the floor at him.
Fenix jolted upright, irritation flashing across his face—until he saw her smiling.
"Watch me!" she called, waving bye as she ran off.
His expression softened instantly.
"Okay, I will," he replied quietly.
As she entered the arena, her face popped up on the screen, and the announcer shouted,
"A crowd favorite—and last year's champion—Aura!"
The arena erupted.
"Her opponent—a fellow S-rank student—Shade!"
A boy dressed entirely in black stepped forward. The crowd cheered for him as well, so the announcer waited until they settled down before speaking again.
"Who will win?! Will Aura keep her title?! Let's find out! Now! Battle start!"
Neither of them moved.
They watched each other with caution.
Then—
Aura decided to attack first. That's when she realized she couldn't move.
Her body was locked in place.
A blink later, she sensed danger, and she forced herself free just in time to dodge. Shade had closed the distance, reached out with his hand, just barely missing her.
"What did you do?" Aura asked, glaring.
"I'll tell you if you win," Shade replied smugly.
Aura wrinkled her nose—then, instinctively, her eyes flicked toward Fenix.
In that moment of distraction, Shade lunged.
Again, Aura dodged cleanly. She created a gap between them, then said,
"You remind me of him…"
"Of who?" Shade asked, circling her.
She smiled.
"The person I love."
As the words hit, Shade flushed—
—and in that instant, vines erupted from the ground, wrapping him in a dense cocoon.
Six-foot-long thorns drove inward.
Shade didn't make a sound from inside, and Aura watched calmly—
Then blood began to seep through the cracks in the vines.
Aura lifted her hands, and the ball of vines rose higher, readying for a final strike.
But her eyes widened as she watched a shadow slip free.
It stretched and reformed into Shade, clutching his injured arm.
A deep cut ran across his cheek, legs, and torso.
"You escaped. Good job," Aura said, smiling.
Shade's glare sharpened.
"Don't patronize me."
He lowered his voice, muttering,
"Darkness beneath the light… creep forth and obey my will."
The arena plunged into blackness.
Total darkness.
Aura's vision struggled, her eyes straining to find light anywhere.
Ten seconds passed, and that's when
Shade struck.
Once—twice—three times.
Taking out both of her knees.
Then he drove a blow into her stomach.
Aura dropped, coughing, clutching her abdomen, still blind.
"You thought you could beat me," Shade said, stepping closer once again.
"This year, you were completely outmatched. Sucks, I expected more from the champion."
She couldn't see him—
—but she could hear him. His footsteps closed in, and once he was within range,
Aura moved.
She surged upward, and her fist cracked against his jaw.
His head snapped back.
Not missing a beat, she spun and landed a roundhouse into his side.
As he staggered, she dove forward, tackling him onto the arena floor—her shoulder slamming into his gut. As soon as his back hit the concrete, light flooded the arena.
The crowd gasped—
then exploded into cheers upon seeing Aura with
Shade pinned beneath her.
Before he could react, vines shot from the ground, binding his wrists and ankles to the arena floor.
He struggled.
It didn't matter.
"What kind of fucking plants are these?" he demanded.
"They're part of me," Aura explained calmly.
She sat on his stomach, leaning in close. Shade tensed, mesmerized by her. Her fuchsia hair shone, illuminated by the sun at her back, and as her lips inched closer to his face,
The crowd went wild.
Then—
She exhaled a soft green mist.
Instantly, his body went slack and
His eyes closed. The referee began to count. Shade stayed pinned and motionless, so the announcer declared,
"The winner is Aura!"
The audience roared.
After her victory, Aura stood and lifted her hand. A reddish liquid formed in the air, then dripped onto Shade's face.
His eyes fluttered awake.
"What—?" he coughed. She slowly willed her vines to release him, and he sat up, wiping at his face. "What happened?" Shade asked, confused.
Aura smiled.
"While you were taking a nap… I beat you," she said in a playful voice.
Then she offered him her hand, saying,
"You fought well."
He hesitated for only a moment
Then he took it.
"I thought I incapacitated you," he commented as he rose.
Aura giggled.
"It takes more than two broken kneecaps to incapacitate me. I'll explain later, since I won." Her words mimicked his.
Shade smirked, amused and captivated by her.
"I like you. You're interesting. We should do this again sometime..."
After speaking, he lingered a moment longer than necessary. Aura said nothing.
"Both battlers, please exit the arena," the referee called.
They both laughed lightly.
"I wish we had classes together," Shade muttered as he walked off.
Aura followed behind him; she barely registered his comment.
Her focus was already elsewhere.
On returning to Fenix, and who she would fight next.
As soon as she entered the waiting area, she threw her arms around Fenix's shoulders, and he spun her around.
"We should go now, since your fight is over," he said, holding her hand.
"Okay... lead the way," Aura answered, intertwining their fingers.
They snuck away before the preliminary rounds were finished.
Fenix led her through a stretch of trees just beyond the school grounds near the edge of the barrier.
"Where are we going?" she asked, noticing they had been walking for a while.
"Each time you ask a question, you'll receive a punishment… that's one," he replied, glancing back at her with a brief smile.
"That's not fair! That should've been a freebie! You didn't even warn me first!" she protested.
Fenix squeezed her hand gently.
"When I said it was a surprise before we left, that was your warning not to ask questions," he said.
Aura laughed. "Okay, sorry!"
Almost immediately after, Fenix stopped.
Aura looked up—
They stood at the edge of a wide, open valley, surrounded by forest.
"Aura, can you fly?" Fenix asked, releasing her hand and turning toward her.
"No."
"What?! Can't you? That's weird," he asked dramatically, acting surprised.
"You're weird!" Aura shot back.
Fenix chuckled.
Then—
Red, feathery wings unfurled from his back.
"I guess I'll carry you then… since you're a flightless little thing," he said, reaching for her.
"Most people can't fly!" Aura protested as she was speaking, but he had already scooped her up.
She instinctively clung to him as he lifted off the ground, rising higher and higher into the air, yet staying below the trees.
"Eeh—?! Put me down!" she yelped, tightening her grip, her fear of heights sinking in.
"Aura…" Fenix said softly, his voice calmer now, almost coaxing. "Care to play a game with me?"
She looked up at him. For some reason, meeting his eyes steadied her, easing her fear.
"…Sure," she said quietly. "Let's play."
Fenix's smile curved—slow, mischievous… and just a little dangerous.
"Alright." Fenix carried them further, to the very edge of the barrier's walls.
Then he slowly lowered her onto the ground.
She straightened her clothes and looked around.
Though it was still daytime, the shadows cast by the trees made it feel close to night.
"So what's the game?" Fenix landed beside her, his wings vanishing.
"Firstly..." he began, stepping closer to her and kissing her neck.
"Ahhnn... Fenix, that tickles!" Aura complained, pressing her hands on her shoulders.
She trembled as he licked her, sucked, and then bit her.
"Fenix?!" After that, he pulled away and said,
"Had to give you your punishment first." She glared at him, face burning hot. Fenix sat on the ground and patted the spot next to him. "Come sit." Aura sat beside him, pouting. Fenix chuckled, "The game... is a thought experiment."
"... What's the question?" she mumbled,
"If... you could be anything. Suppose you were allowed to leave this school. What would you do?" His question struck her hard. It was an impossibility, something she refused to consider. So her answer was delayed for several minutes.
"I think... I would want to be a teacher. I know it's not a glamorous job, but..." Aura fidgeted with her fingers, "I would love to know I impacted so many individuals at pivotal points in their lives." Fenix stroked her head then pulled her against him.
"Sounds glamorous to me," He said. She hugged him and laid her head on his chest.
"What about you?" Aura asked. Fenix sighed and looked up before answering,
"I... want to marry you," Aura tensed, and he continued, "I would want to be a fighter, someone who fights in a ring but then gets to go back home to a family at the end of the day, without persecution."
"Even if you were free, you'd still want to fight," he laughed lightly at her question.
"Yeah... I would train in multiple martial arts, win competitions, and earn medals... Have my skills officially recognized." Aura sat up to kiss him lightly,
"That sounds like a wonderful dream as well," she whispered.
He closed the gap so their lips could connect again and said,
"I also want three kids." Aura gasped,
"Three?!" she exclaimed.
"Minimum," he said firmly.
"Minimum?!" Aura repeated him in shock.
They spent the rest of the evening together talking about the future, cuddling, and kissing. Neither returned to their rooms.
No one saw Aura again until the next morning, when she entered the combatant area wearing a leotard that completely covered her arms, legs, stomach, and back—unlike the one she had worn the day before. This one even had a skirt added.
Mirror was surprised by the change in style. She wanted to comment on it, but something else caught her attention first.
"Is that a hickey on your neck?" she asked, stepping into the room with a bottle of water.
"N-no!" Aura shouted defensively, quickly trying to hide the mark.
Mirror smirked.
"So your relationship has already reached that level… Be careful, or he might deflower you," she wiggled her fingers teasingly.
"I wish he would—he won't even... t-try to do anything below the waist," Aura admitted with a heavy sigh.
"I was kidding… Haven't you only been dating, like, two weeks? Calm your tits," Mirror said dryly.
Aura glared at her.
Even if it hadn't been long, Aura wanted to be closer to him—and it irritated her that Mirror mocked those feelings.
Aura fidgeted with the sleeves of her outfit. It was comfortable—and Fenix had given it to her the day before,
"Please wear this for the remainder of the competition."
She had never thought her exposed skin could make him so uncomfortable, but when he added,
"It'll help me resist you in public,"
She understood.
…And briefly considered dressing more provocatively in private. As Aura was thinking of yesterday,
Mirror opened her mouth to ask about the new clothes, but the conversation was cut short as the announcer's voice boomed:
"Hello everyone, and welcome to Round Two of the Spring Festival Fighters' Tournament!"
The audience cheered.
"Yesterday, half the entries were eliminated. That means only ten fighters remain! I bet you're all excited for today's matches! First up—Fenix versus Vision!"
"Awesome!" Fenix said, grinning. "I've been hoping we'd get to fight."
His smile sharpened.
He entered the arena.
Vision stood across from him, and Fenix's first words were:
"Level one… release," he said it under his breath. No one else heard him, but the air around Fenix became hot and dry,
"Don't get cocky," Vision declared, not noticing the subtle change just yet, "Just because you won your first match doesn't mean anything. Only losers get eliminated in the prelims. I'm not like them."
"You shouldn't get cocky either," Fenix murmured, smiling and combing his hair back with his fingers—both eyes now visible, shimmering unnaturally.
"Alright, fighters ready?" the referee called, glancing between them.
They both nodded.
"Begin!"
Vision multiplied instantly—
Twenty copies.
Each one smiled at Fenix.
"Pick the wrong one and you're dead," they said in unison.
"Amazing! Twenty solid clones created by Vision! That's even more than last time!" the announcer shouted.
Fenix scoffed.
He stomped his foot.
The arena floor cracked—chunks of flaming earth surged upward—
With a flick of his fingers—
The flaming fragments shot across the battlefield like meteors.
All the clones exploded on impact, and a cloud of dust swallowed the arena.
"It's getting hard to see, but Fenix just unleashed something like a meteor shower! I've never seen anything like it!" the announcer yelled.
"Wait—the dust is clearing—only one Vision remains! He destroyed them all!"
Before the announcer could finish—
Vision was already moving.
He spun, launching a kick toward Fenix's jaw—
Fenix dodged at the last second, turning with the motion.
"I get the feeling you want to seriously injure me," Fenix said lightly.
"That's right," Vision replied, glaring. "I never liked you. That dark presence around you is disgusting… I don't know how Aura tolerates it."
The ground rumbled.
Cracks split the arena—
Lava burst through the cracks.
"That was the old me," Fenix said quietly. "Before Aura."
The fissures widened.
More molten rock poured through.
"I'm only going to do good things now… so she'll stay with me," Fenix added softly.
Vision leapt backwards, searching for safe ground... but it was already too late.
Lava surrounded him.
He pressed his hands together.
A glowing symbol formed beneath his feet.
"Defense field—spread!" Vision shouted. Several clones stood around him, holding transparent shields.
Vision stood in the center, sweat pouring down his face.
Fenix tilted his head slightly.
"Aren't you glad that I'm good now? Thanks to that, you're still alive."
The lava flowed upwards, melting through some of his defensive clones.
The rest barely held it at bay, taking several steps back as they struggled against the pressure and heat.
Then the lava hardened instantly, changing into jagged, sharp, pointed black stone—
They shot forward, still steaming as they pierced straight through Vision's barriers.
Destroying his remaining forces and piercing straight into his shoulder.
He screamed.
"Giving up would be smart," Fenix said calmly.
Vision coughed, blood spilling from his lips.
"I told you… not to get cocky," he reminded Fenix, then—
His eyes flared white—
The obsidian spears exploded.
When the smoke cleared—
He was standing.
Uninjured. Not even a hole in his clothing.
Fenix frowned.
Vision split again—five bodies this time—
and each one burrowed underground.
"How boring…" Fenix muttered.
Then he smiled.
"…No. Maybe this could be even more fun."
His hair flared, burning like a living inferno.
"It looks like Vision has gone underground! Who knows where he'll strike from next? What will Fenix do?!" the announcer shouted.
The audience buzzed in anticipation.
Fenix didn't move.
He sat down, cross-legged, eyes closed.
All the while, his hair continued to blaze violently.
One minute passed.
Then five passed.
Then ten.
The crowd began to grow restless.