The arena was swallowed by ashes and smoke after the explosion.
A thick gray cloud spread across the battlefield, covering everything in sight. The once roaring crowd fell into uneasy silence as people leaned forward, narrowing their eyes, desperately trying to find Leo and Shinzu within the chaos.
But the smoke was too dense.
Neither of them could be seen.
"This… this has never happened before!" the Announcer shouted, his voice trembling slightly as it echoed across the arena.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Even the cheers had vanished.
"Check on them!" King Henry commanded sharply.
The Royal Knights immediately rushed forward, but as they approached the center, they were forced to stop. The heat, the pressure, and the sheer density of the ashes made it impossible to get close.
"What's happening?" Queen Ella asked, her voice filled with worry.
King Henry's expression darkened.
"No… it can't be…"
Before anyone could question him—
A radiant glow pierced through the smoke.
A soft yet powerful Holy Light shone from within the ashes, illuminating the entire arena like a beacon.
"Is that…?" someone from Lucindor whispered from the stands.
The light grew brighter for a brief moment—
Then suddenly faded.
The smoke began to thin.
And what the crowd saw next made their hearts stop.
Leo stood at the center of the arena.
A radiant Holy Light surrounded him, floating and pulsing like a living aura. It wrapped around his body as if it had chosen him, as if it belonged to him.
In front of him—
Shinzu lay on the ground.
He was conscious, but barely. His breathing was heavy, his body trembling. One of his wings—his left wing—was broken, twisted unnaturally from the explosion.
He tried to move.
Tried to crawl away.
But his strength was fading.
Leo took a step forward.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Menacing.
His right hand began to glow intensely, Holy Light gathering around it, swirling like compressed energy ready to burst. His eyes no longer looked human—they shone with pure, blinding light.
"What… is that…?" Shinzu muttered weakly, fear creeping into his voice.
Leo didn't answer.
He just kept walking.
Each step echoed in the silent arena.
The audience watched, frozen in shock.
"That aura… it's similar to the Lightlock…" someone whispered.
"The Holy Light…?"
"That can't be an Awakening… right?"
"This is something we never expected to see today!" the Announcer said, trying to regain control of the situation.
"Stop the fight!" King Henry suddenly roared.
But it was too late.
Leo raised his glowing fist—
And swung it down toward Shinzu.
Before the strike could land—
A blur shot across the arena.
BOOM!
King Henry appeared instantly, intercepting Leo mid-attack and slamming him to the ground with overwhelming force.
The impact cracked the arena floor.
Leo struggled beneath him, his body shaking as he tried to break free. The Holy Light around him flared violently, resisting.
But King Henry's strength was absolute.
Leo couldn't move.
"Great Wizard—teleport us back to the castle!" King Henry ordered without hesitation.
From the stands, the Great Wizard immediately stood, raising his staff.
Leo's movements began to slow.
His glowing eyes dimmed slightly.
He looked… almost unconscious.
But then—
The Holy Light surged again.
Cracks formed beneath him as he tried to rise once more.
Before anything else could happen—
A portal suddenly erupted beneath them.
A swirling vortex of energy opened instantly.
And in the next second—
King Henry and Leo vanished.
Gone without a trace.
The arena fell into complete silence.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
"What… the hell?" Shinzu muttered, still lying on the ground, staring at where they had disappeared.
Queen Ella covered her mouth, unable to process what had just happened.
"Where did they go?" Ken asked, his voice low.
"I knew something was off…" Rein whispered, her eyes fixed on the empty space.
"I just didn't expect… this."
The Announcer quickly turned toward the judges, panic evident.
"What is the ruling? Leo was about to win—but the King interfered!"
Meanwhile, the medical team rushed in, carefully lifting Shinzu and escorting him toward the medical room.
The crowd erupted into arguments.
"It should be a rematch!"
"Leo had that fight!"
"No—he left the arena! That's a disqualification!"
Voices clashed across the entire stadium.
Ten minutes passed in chaos.
Then—
A portal opened once again near the Announcer's platform.
King Henry stepped out.
Alone.
His presence alone silenced the entire arena.
"The victory goes to Shinzu," he declared firmly.
The judges immediately began to protest.
"But Your Majesty—"
"I said enough!" King Henry's voice thundered, echoing across the arena with authority.
Silence.
"Leo wasn't able to finish the match," he continued, his tone colder now.
"Give the victory to Shinzu."
Queen Ella clenched her fists.
"Our son was about to win…" she whispered, frustration evident in her voice.
"I said enough!" King Henry snapped again, his gaze unwavering.
The judges hesitated—
Then nodded.
The Announcer swallowed hard and raised his voice.
"We… have a winner!"
"The champion of this tournament is—"
"Shinzu Raven!"
The reaction was mixed.
Some cheered.
Some protested.
Some simply stood there, unsure of what to feel.
Moments later, Shinzu returned from the medical room, supported by knights. His injuries had been treated, but he still looked exhausted.
He walked toward the center of the arena.
The judges and high officials were already waiting.
From the opposite side, King Henry and Queen Ella approached slowly.
Queen Ella handed the medal to the King.
As he placed it around Shinzu's neck, she leaned closer and whispered—
"Are you happy now?"
Shinzu bowed respectfully, then shook hands with the officials.
The crowd slowly began clapping.
Some shouted in support—
"Shinzu Raven!"
"Champion!"
But others weren't satisfied—
"You didn't really win!"
"We wanted a rematch!"
The Announcer quickly spoke again to regain control.
"The final rankings!"
"Shinzu Raven — Gold Tier, nearing Special Tier!"
"Leo Lightlock — Silver Tier, nearing Gold Tier!"
Gradually, the crowd began to disperse.
Within thirty minutes, the arena was nearly empty.
*****
Far from the remaining crowd—
Queen Ella confronted King Henry.
"Why did you do that?" she demanded.
"Let me expl—"
"Stop! Our son was about to win!" she cut him off, her voice sharp.
"You don't understand," King Henry said quietly.
"Then make me understand."
"I will… when we return to the castle."
Before she could press further, the Royal Knights approached.
"Your Highnesses, the event has ended. Shall we escort you back?"
"…Yes," Queen Ella replied, casting one last angry glance at the King.
They left together.
*****
Back in the stands—
The Great Wizard approached Rein, who remained seated, watching as reporters surrounded Shinzu.
"Rein…" he called gently.
She quickly wiped her tears.
"I'm sorry, Gramps…"
He smiled warmly.
"I'm proud of you, dear."
Rein stood and hugged him tightly.
He returned the embrace without hesitation.
"Thank you… Gramps," she whispered.
*****
As the sun began to set, workers moved in to clean the destroyed arena.
One by one—
Everyone left.
The echoes of the battle faded.
But the questions it left behind…
Were only just beginning.