The arena trembled with the energy of three nations gathered under one sky. Light screens shimmered above the battlefield, projecting names, rankings, and vibrant symbols of the competing grades.
President Yuna Akira stepped forward.
Her aura glowed calm and firm — the type of presence that didn't need to display power to command respect.
"Japan. China. Korea. Kuzuremono," she declared.
"Let the Supernova Clashes… begin."
A roar exploded through the arena.
The first fixture appeared in huge letters:
Fixture 1 — AETHER CLASS
HISHIMIYA ITSUGOYOROZU (Japan)
vs.
KANDAIWA (Japan)
Even though they were from the same country, Aether tradition demanded they face each other.
Hishimiya stepped onto the arena floor with her casual stride, twirling a strand of hair.
Kandaiwa approached like a shadow — eyes cold, expression unreadable.
His aura pulsed with two colors: black and gold.
Kaito whispered from the sidelines, "That's Opposing Virtues… he can rewrite someone's energy flow."
Akihiro nodded. "If she slips even a little, he'll turn her own Eien Ryoku against her."
Sayaka's hands tightened. "But Hishimiya is Celestial Grade… she's above the threshold."
The referee raised a hand.
"Begin!"
Aether Battle 1: Hishimiya vs. Kandaiwa
Kandaiwa moved first — no spell, no chant — just a sudden shockwave of invisible force.
Hishimiya leaned backward elegantly, letting it pass over her shoulder.
"Ooh, fast," she laughed.
"But predictable."
Kandaiwa didn't respond.
His palms glowed with mirrored colors — gold and shadow.
"Opposing Virtues: Reversal Bind."
A ripple bent the air around Hishimiya. For an instant, she felt her Pure Fate flicker — her probability threads trying to shift the ripple away — but Kandaiwa grabbed one and yanked.
Hishimiya froze mid-step.
Her eyes narrowed. "So you can bind the starting motion. Annoying."
Kandaiwa clenched his fist.
The air twisted—
Hishimiya's own Eien Ryoku flickered toward him—
But then her spider companion Ino-ku manifested on her shoulder in a soft pink glow.
Hishimiya smirked.
"You forgot something, Kandaiwa. You can rewrite energy…"
She burst free of the bind with a snap of pink light.
"—but not destiny itself."
The battlefield bent around her.
Kandaiwa's Virtues tried to mirror and reflect it — but every time he redirected one probability, three more branched behind him.
The arena sparkled with shifting light.
Neither attack landed violently — but both powers collided in waves, throwing sparks of fate and virtue across the stadium.
Finally, Hishimiya flicked her wrist lightly.
"Luck Coin."
A tiny pink coin spun into the air.
Kandaiwa frowned. "That ability—"
The coin landed on its edge.
A gust of pressure lifted Kandaiwa off the ground and pinned him gently yet firmly to the arena wall — a decisive immobilization.
The referee raised his hand.
"Winner — Hishimiya Itsugoyorozu!"
The crowd erupted.
Hishimiya winked at the trio.
"See? Easy."
Fixture 2 — AETHER CLASS
SAE SHINAZUKI (Japan)
vs.
GWAN SEO-YOUNG (Korea)
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Gwan Seo-young stepped forward — a woman with calm dark eyes and frost trailing behind her steps.
Her Eien Ryoku: Frost Mirage.
Sae Shinazuki walked in, blade sheathed, posture relaxed — but her aura radiated immense pressure.
"Try not to freeze me too quickly," Sae teased.
Seo-young didn't smile.
"Try not to underestimate me."
Aether Battle 2: Sae vs. Seo-young
The ground froze in a wide circle around Seo-young.
Mirrors of ice exploded upward, creating hundreds of reflections — each one a false image of her.
Sae closed his eyes.
When they opened, hir irises glowed silver.
Eien Ryoku — Threaded Insight.
He drew his blade halfway — not even a full unsheathing — and tapped the ground.
A single ringing echo filled the arena.
In that echo, every reflection froze.
Only one kept moving.
Sae vanished.
A gust of displaced air swept across the stadium — and Sae reappeared behind Seo-young, blade resting lightly against hir shoulder.
No cuts.
No blood.
Just absolute precision.
Seo-young surrendered with a breath.
"Winner — Sae Shinazuki!"
The stadium shook with applause.
Kaito swallowed hard.
"So that's the gap between Aether and everyone else…"
Fixture 3 — KRAKEN CLASS
TENKEI KAITO (Japan)
vs.
LIANG XUANWU (China)
Eien Ryoku: Dragon Pulse Convergence
Xuanwu walked with disciplined calm.
He carried no weapon.
His fists alone radiated a heavy, martial pressure.
Kaito breathed out slowly.
Akihiro slapped his back. "Don't die."
"Very helpful."
Sayaka smiled, "You'll do great."
The referee raised his arm.
"Begin!"
Kraken Battle 1: Kaito vs. Liang Xuanwu
Xuanwu bowed politely — then vanished.
Not teleportation.
Pure speed through compressed air.
"Dragon Pulse — First Style!"
A pressure-wave slammed into Kaito.
He crossed his arms instinctively, sliding backward across the arena.
"That was just a warmup?" Kaito muttered.
Xuanwu appeared again, fists glowing sapphire.
"Your Celestial Covenant. Summon something — or you'll lose quickly."
Kaito grinned.
"You asked for it."
Celestial Covenant — Spirit Pact: Astra Lupus!
A radiant wolf made of starlight materialized, growling with cosmic energy.
Xuanwu smiled for the first time.
"Good. Again!"
He leapt upward — spinning mid-air — his Dragon Pulse rippling through the arena like a shockwave.
Astra Lupus roared back, absorbing part of the wave.
But the remaining force hit Kaito, staggering him.
Xuanwu dashed again.
Kaito activated his second ability.
Hikari–Yami Fusion: Radiant Eclipse!
Light and darkness spiraled around him as he punched forward.
Their fists collided — flashing bright enough to blind half the spectators.
The collision didn't break bones or spill blood; instead, arcs of energy spiraled outward like a firework, shaking the foundation of the arena.
Xuanwu skidded backward, feet digging into the ground.
Kaito breathed heavily — but smiled.
Xuanwu wiped sweat from his brow.
"You're strong… stronger than I expected."
"Likewise," Kaito said.
They charged each other one last time—
Kaito's Radiant Eclipse burst at the last second, overpowering the Dragon Pulse just enough to force Xuanwu backward until he slid out of the ring's edge.
The buzzer sounded.
"Winner — Tenkei Kaito!"
The Japanese section roared.
Even Yami, watching from a distance, tilted her head with curiosity.
Kage whispered,
"He grows faster than I expected."