Step

Step

Step

The ground shook, the earthen walls trembled as two individuals walked through a large hallway in tandem with each other.

The first stood at a height of 6 feet 5 and had a face as though carved by the gods with thorough attention, handsome as it was enchanting. A pair of piercing blue eyes that seemed able to pierce through anything.

This figure was donned in a dark blue trench coat that seemed to flutter as though caught in an invisible breeze as he walked, a normal-looking katana strapped to his waist.

His every step was precise and measured, his form radiating an aura of unflinching confidence.

The second, walking in tandem, had a more petite appearance and was donned in a simple red robe with fiery imprints adorned around it, adding to the fierceness of her crimson eyes. On her wrists were two golden bracelets, each emanating an incredible aura.

They both wore identical earrings on one of their ears.

These individuals were unmistakably Atticus and Aurora Ravenstein.

The day had finally arrived. It was a day that many, including the majority of the students and instructors in the academy, awaited with bated breath.

Aurora walked with an excited expression on her face, as though she couldn't wait and was anticipating an event.

While Atticus had a more reserved expression. He couldn't be said to be excited; he was neutral at best.

To him, this felt like a waste of time. He didn't feel like he would gain any valuable experience there.

And although the academy had been generous enough to promise incredible rewards for the winners, the fact that said rewards weren't specified in the first place was a huge turn-off for him.

Atticus just felt it was a normal competition that should come and go. But gazing at the obviously excited girl beside him, Atticus had already decided not to be a mood killer and simply go with the flow.

'I can't wait to get this over with and continue training my space element,' Atticus sighed inwardly.

He had just learned how to utilize the space element yesterday, and Atticus wanted to keep the momentum going.

He had been able to reduce the time it took for him to increase the gravity in a certain range significantly, but Atticus still hadn't been able to achieve zero gravity. He wanted nothing more than to train right now.

Rumble

Atticus felt the ground quake from beneath him, the large sturdy walls around them trembling.

Once the time had reached back at the camp, they had both been teleported to a random room and asked to go through the massive hallway to their destination by an AI.

The hallway was so large that it could fit 10 large trucks stacked upon each other on both sides.

If Atticus hadn't been sure before, from the trembling earth and the muted sounds he was hearing, it was very clear, they were heading towards the right place.

They had been walking for more than a minute now and could already see the end. An incredibly large double door was just ahead.

The trembling of the earth increased in intensity as they both neared the door, and after a few seconds, they reached its front.

Neither had said anything during the walk. Atticus was daydreaming about training his space element, while Aurora was also daydreaming, but instead about burning students into a crisp.

CREAK

The ginormous double doors at the end of the hall creaked open as they reached its front, the forms of the massive doors trembling, making the surrounding area shake and the ground quake.

And then, they started opening slowly, but this was just at the beginning.

As soon as a space, minute in its entirety, just enough for sound to pass through, formed, a wave as intense as it was forceful suddenly burst through the double door, sending their forms swinging backward, hitting the wall they were hinged to, sending shockwaves throughout the area.

The wave continued through the hallway, hitting Atticus and Aurora with intensity.

At this point, many would have assumed they were both under attack. There could be no other explanation.

But this assumption couldn't be more wrong. The intense wave that had just swept through the room was none other than:

WOAHHHH!!!!!

The loud and intense sound of resounding cheers rocked the whole space. Before, the double doors had been keeping the intense sound at bay, but now they were both opened, and nothing was stopping them.

As swiftly as lightning, Atticus and Aurora deployed their mana and protected themselves from the intense wave. Atticus had no doubt that no matter the intensity, it shouldn't be able to hurt him. But regardless, he had always been careful.

"Damn," Atticus heard Aurora mutter and immediately chuckled.

Atticus manipulated the air element, wrapping them both inside and drowning out the sound.

"What? Don't tell me you have stage fright," he remarked with a smile.

Atticus's words seemed to snap her out of her thoughts; her face immediately became flustered.

"W-what? N-no!" She instantly denied, but seeing Atticus's continued stare while giving her a smug smile, Aurora awkwardly cleared her throat and turned her gaze away from him.

"M-maybe just a little bit," Aurora muttered under her breath, causing Atticus's smile to widen. It was understandable, considering the current magnitude of the crowd.

"You don't have to be. It's just a normal competition where we get to beat the crap out of people, and knowing you, burn people to cinders,"

Atticus's last words seemed to bring a smile to Aurora's face as she raised her clenched fist, a raging fire materializing on top of it.

"We'll be together every step of the way," Atticus added with a smile, patting Aurora's head before turning and walking away, completely unaware of Aurora's abrupt change in expression.

Both her hands were lowered, her fists clenched as she stared at Atticus's back with determination, 'I have to stop relying on him,'

At the next instant, Aurora caught up to Atticus, the intense sunlight illuminating both their forms as they walked through the door.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WE FINALLY HAVE THE LAST PARTICIPANT!"

"LET THE LEADERS' SUMMIT BEGIN!"