The wind blew unevenly across the main arena.
Unlike the previous battles—
there was something in the air.
Expectation.
Pressure.
---
From one of the elevated sections of the Academy—
a girl watched in silence.
---
Blonde hair with faint bluish tones swayed gently with the wind.
Golden eyes—
deep.
---
Phoebe.
---
17 years old.
---
Her gaze was fixed on the field below.
More precisely—
on a single person.
---
Remiel.
---
— Interesting…
---
Her voice was low.
Almost a whisper.
---
— A new Path.
---
She tilted her head slightly.
---
— It's been a while since I've seen something like this.
---
Her eyes gleamed for a moment.
---
— Looks like this year…
---
A faint smile appeared.
---
— is going to be fun.
---
---
A translucent panel appeared beside her.
---
[ Name: Phoebe ]
[ Age: 17 ]
[ Path: ??? ]
[ Sequence: 4 — Low ]
[ Title: Eternal ]
---
The panel slowly faded.
---
Phoebe crossed her arms.
---
— Let's see how far you go…
---
Her gaze returned to the arena.
---
— Remiel.
---
---
Meanwhile—
at the center of the arena—
the atmosphere had changed.
---
Literally.
---
The sky darkened.
---
Clouds gathered above the field.
---
A man stepped forward slowly.
---
Long robes.
Steady posture.
---
A professor.
---
— This will be your final test.
---
His voice was calm.
But filled with authority.
---
— Remiel.
---
Remiel remained silent.
---
— Sequence 5…
---
A pause.
---
— Advanced stage.
---
The professor raised his hand slightly.
---
The wind responded.
---
— Path of Climate.
---
A subtle pressure fell over the arena.
---
— Unlike other elemental paths…
---
He began to explain.
---
— Climate does not specialize in a single element.
---
The air began to swirl.
---
— It commands several.
---
Drops of water formed in the air.
---
— Wind.
---
Currents began to circulate.
---
— Lightning.
---
The sky rumbled.
---
— And even ice… depending on the conditions.
---
A thin layer of frost spread across the ground.
---
— However…
---
He raised one finger.
---
— In exchange for this versatility—
---
The clouds churned.
---
— it loses specialization.
---
Silence.
---
— A pure water user…
— will surpass it in water control.
---
— A lightning user…
— will have more destructive attacks.
---
The professor looked directly at Remiel.
---
— Climate wins through adaptation.
---
A pause.
---
— And strategy.
---
Silence.
---
Laylah watched from a distance.
---
Her eyes focused.
---
— This fight…
---
She murmured.
---
— won't be like the others.
---
---
— Begin.
---
The moment it started—
---
The wind exploded.
---
Remiel didn't move.
---
But the attack was already coming.
---
Invisible wind blades.
---
— …fast.
---
Time stopped.
---
Absolute silence.
---
Remiel moved forward.
---
But—
---
the moment he tried to act—
---
something felt wrong.
---
The environment…
---
was still moving.
---
— …?
---
A slight distortion.
---
The wind—
---
hadn't fully stopped.
---
---
Time resumed.
---
— Interesting.
---
The professor was already looking straight at him.
---
— So that's your power.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel didn't respond.
---
— Stopping time…
---
The professor smiled faintly.
---
— But not completely.
---
He raised his hand.
---
— Let's test that.
---
⚡ BOOOOM
---
A lightning strike fell.
---
Remiel activated it again.
---
Time stopped.
---
He moved—
---
But this time—
---
the lightning…
---
was still advancing.
---
Slowly.
---
But moving.
---
— I see.
---
The professor spoke the moment time resumed.
---
— Duration limit…
— and range.
---
---
Laylah tightened her arm slightly.
---
— He's being analyzed…
---
Her eyes narrowed.
---
— step by step.
---
---
The battle continued.
---
Wind turned into blades.
---
Water into projectiles.
---
Lightning struck in patterns.
---
Remiel avoided—
---
or rather—
---
erased.
---
He entered erased time.
---
Moved beyond perception.
---
But—
---
the professor began to predict.
---
— You rely on intervals.
---
He said calmly.
---
— You can't use everything at once.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel appeared behind him—
---
but before he could strike—
---
a wall of wind blocked him.
---
— Predictable.
---
---
Laylah took a deep breath.
---
— He's forcing Remiel…
---
— to reveal everything.
---
---
Remiel stopped.
---
Observing.
---
Calculating.
---
Then—
---
Time stopped again.
---
But this time—
---
he didn't advance directly.
---
He entered erased time.
---
Moved.
---
Shifted position.
---
Changed the flow.
---
But—
---
the professor smiled.
---
— Got you.
---
The moment time resumed—
---
a full storm descended.
---
⚡🌧️🌪️
---
Remiel was hit.
---
For the first time—
---
he stepped back.
---
Silence.
---
---
From above—
---
Phoebe watched.
---
Her eyes shining.
---
— He's being pressured…
---
A faint smile appeared.
---
— Good.
---
---
Remiel breathed slowly.
---
His eyes were deeper now.
---
— Still… incomplete.
---
He murmured.
---
---
Laylah closed her eyes briefly.
---
— He hasn't recovered everything yet…
---
— and he's already at this level…
---
---
The battle continued.
---
Slower.
---
More intense.
---
More strategic.
---
The professor shifted between elements—
---
creating impossible patterns.
---
Remiel tried to break the flow—
---
but each use of time…
---
was analyzed.
---
Limited.
---
Punished.
---
— Your limit is three seconds.
---
The professor said.
---
— And you need intervals.
---
Silence.
---
— Your erased time…
---
He dodged an attack.
---
— can't be sustained indefinitely.
---
Remiel didn't respond.
---
But—
---
he didn't deny it.
---
---
Laylah clenched her fists.
---
— He figured it out…
---
---
Remiel tried once more.
---
Time stopped.
---
He moved—
---
but his body…
---
hesitated.
---
Unstable energy.
---
— …!
---
Time resumed—
---
and the attack came.
---
A massive burst of wind and lightning.
---
Remiel tried to erase—
---
but—
---
too late.
---
BOOOOM—
---
Dust rose.
---
Silence.
---
---
When it settled—
---
Remiel was still standing.
---
But—
---
injured.
---
His breathing heavier.
---
---
The professor lowered his hand.
---
— That's enough.
---
Silence.
---
— You pass.
---
A pause.
---
— But this fight…
---
He looked directly at Remiel.
---
— was my victory.
---
Absolute silence.
---
---
Laylah watched.
---
Her eyes… different.
---
— He lost…
---
But it didn't feel simple.
---
— No.
---
She murmured.
---
— He was stopped.
---
A pause.
---
— For now.
---
---
Phoebe smiled.
---
— Perfect.
---
Her eyes gleamed.
---
— Now it's truly interesting.
---
---
Remiel stood in silence.
---
But inside him—
---
time…
---
was still moving.
---
Incomplete.
---
Broken.
---
But—
---
evolving.
---
---
Laylah turned her face slightly.
---
— My Path…
---
Her eyes focused on the horizon.
---
— can't fall behind.
---
Silence.
---
But her thoughts—
---
were deep.
---
And dangerous.
---
---
The Wheel of Divinity kept turning.
---
And now—
---
new pieces…
---
were beginning to move.