Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ☆)

2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration

Armis Hand: Left Foot + Hand + Right Shoulder – 2nd Form Condensation

Everyone took a deep breath, their chests visibly expanding as their bodies prepared for the coming battle. The aether flowing through them manifested, and the armor components of each element began to materialize. Astrel's army, dominated by Ignis users, glowed with fiery hues, while Nero's Aqua-focused forces shimmered with fluid blues.

As Nero's army advanced, their footsteps thundered across the battlefield. Our side held position, weapons ready, preparing for the inevitable clash. I stood in the very front row, the tension palpable. Behind me, Tim hid among the bulkier Ignis and Terra users, shielding himself from the brunt of the impact.

I could see it clearly—if I faced this head-on, the result was obvious. I’d be flattened and eliminated before even proving myself.

"Row number one, prepare for the rush!" Astrel's voice boomed, sharp and commanding.

Everyone tensed, their stances firming as they braced for the first impact. Aether surged and swirled, the battlefield vibrating with raw energy.

Right before contact, I'll dodge upward, I thought, beginning to channel aether into my body. The battlefield transformed in my mind’s eye as I activated the my territory, every movement and opening laid bare to my heightened senses.

"Receive the attack without dodging!"

Tim’s voice snapped from behind me, his tone laced with condescension. The command was recorded instantly by the jacket I wore—its purpose to enhance performance but also to penalize disobedience. A vein pulsed angrily on my forehead.

Okay, you bastard, I thought bitterly, we’ll see how this turns out.

The armies collided with explosive force. The deafening sound of weapons clashing and the crackle of aether rippled through the battlefield. Waves of raw energy surged outward, making the air dense with tension.

My opponent was a warrior with an Aqua constitution, wielding a heavy battle axe. He charged at me, swinging horizontally with precision and intent to cut me down in one strike.

Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ☆)

1st Stage: Territory Formation

As his axe closed in, I moved. My knee, guided by my territory, shot upward, aiming directly for his chin. He managed to halt his attack, narrowly avoiding my strike. Using the momentum, I spun past him and vaulted above him.

With practiced ease, I drew an arrow and nocked it, the bowstring taut as I prepared to eliminate him.

Suddenly, Tim darted forward from behind the cover of his allies. He targeted the Aqua warrior, whose focus was entirely on me. Tim’s sword slashed diagonally, and the strike landed cleanly. The enemy’s jacket turned red, signaling his elimination.

"Attract their attention, and I’ll take them down," Tim declared, his voice smug and unapologetic.

He had stolen my elimination point, and now he wanted to use me to boost his score further. Frustration simmered, but I had no time to react.

A girl wielding a spear lunged at me. Her attack was swift and precise, the point of the spear aimed directly at my side.

In a flash, I grabbed the spear mid-thrust, gripping it tightly. With a sharp pull, I yanked it toward me, disrupting her balance. Her footing faltered for just a moment—enough time for me to maneuver and get back to the ground, ready to counter.

Tim appeared again, and with a swift horizontal slash, he eliminated the girl who had lost her balance. His attack put him in front of me for a brief moment, drawing the enemy’s attention toward him. But instead of standing his ground, he quickly retreated behind my back.

"What are you doing, loser? Attack!" Tim barked, his voice brimming with mockery.

"Ha ha," I muttered under my breath. Motherfucker.

The pattern repeated for a while. I deflected, dodged, and disoriented the enemies in front of me with Territory Formation, while Tim exploited their blind spots, delivering finishing blows and retreating to safety. It was a humiliating dance. Together, we created a clearing in the battlefield, but as soon as space opened, more enemies rushed in to fill the gap.

This time, I intentionally left an opening, forcing Tim to step forward. Predictably, he pounced on the opportunity, eliminating another opponent and adding another point to his score. However, his attack drew the attention of a nearby group. Five enemies turned toward him and began advancing.

I moved closer to Tim, watching as he prepared to retreat again. Just as he started to leap backward, I grabbed him firmly by the head.

BOOM!

His face smashed into the ground with a satisfying impact.

"How are you feeling? Are you okay? Am I protecting you well?" I asked mockingly, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

Tim’s jacket turned red immediately, marking his elimination. He lay motionless on the ground, likely unconscious from the force of the blow.

The enemies who had been targeting Tim now shifted their focus to me. I quickly stepped back, nocking an arrow onto my bow as they advanced.

Five enemies surged toward me, their footsteps pounding the battlefield. Without hesitation, they trampled over Tim’s limp form, treating him like the dirt beneath their feet.

Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ☆)

2nd Stage: Wind Slash

I released the arrow, not aiming to hit any specific target. Instead, it flew through the group, passing between two of them at neck level. A sudden burst of aether released two razor-sharp wind blades. Before they realized what had happened, the two were eliminated, their jackets glowing red.

Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ☆)

1st Stage: Territory Formation

Using my Territory, I vanished from their sight, disappearing into the chaos of the battlefield. Confused, they turned in all directions, searching for me. Before they could react, another jacket in their group turned red.

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

Panic set in. They spun around, trying to locate me, but I eliminated another from behind, my movements swift and precise.

I grabbed Tim by the jacket and, with no concern for subtlety, hurled him back toward our army like a ragdoll. Then, with deliberate calm, I reached for another arrow from my quiver.

1st Stage: Territory Formation

I appeared directly in front of the last opponent in the group. His sword slashed toward me in a desperate attempt to fend me off. With a quick step back, I avoided the attack entirely, my movements fluid and controlled.

Lowering my body close to the ground, I dashed forward with explosive speed. In one smooth motion, I drove the arrow into his side, eliminating him as well. His jacket turned red, signaling his defeat.

I turned back toward my allies, watching as the gap created by Tim and me quickly closed with new enemies flooding in to fill the space.

Fuhhh.

The last twenty minutes had been an unrelenting blur of confrontation. My stamina was almost completely drained. Unlike the regular troops who rotated periodically on the vanguard line, I’d been stuck in the thick of it all this time.

I glanced at the scoreboard above the battlefield: 52% red, 41% blue.

Astrel's team was inching closer to victory.

Interesting. I wonder how things are progressing in the other areas...

My gaze dropped to Tim, sprawled unconscious nearby.

Mana Armis: Head – 2nd Form Condensation.

As the aetheric armor activated, my vision sharpened. Time seemed to slow, and everything I focused on became clearer, like a magnified view. I made sure no one noticed the subtle glow of the armor—it seemed everyone’s attention was locked on the chaos in the vanguard.

Activating Territory Formation, I leapt into the air, gaining a high vantage point. From this new perspective, the battlefield unfolded below me, chaotic and brutal.

The places where Din, Avelyn, and Tarian had started were now obscured by the dense fighting. Serena stood near the rear, accompanied by her assigned partner. Lyra and Elysia remained in the vanguard, their exhaustion evident, yet both still clung to their swords, fending off enemy attacks. Behind them, Astrel’s team members loomed, clearly exploiting their “human shields” to secure better results.

My gaze shifted toward the central confrontation. Luna’s situation was nothing short of grim. Astrel was using her as a literal puppet, thrusting her forward to block Nero's attacks. Each time Nero lunged, Astrel maneuvered Luna into the path of the strike, forcing Nero to redirect or halt his assault. Astrel then exploited these openings, relentlessly chipping away at Nero’s strength.

I descended back to the ground, landing silently.

If you’ve been using us this whole time, it’s only fair I start using you.

I grabbed Tim by the jacket, still unconscious, and dragged him toward a nearby hill that overlooked the battlefield. It was higher ground, away from the immediate fray, but perfect for observing the chaos below.

From the hilltop, I had a clear view of my remaining teammates. Elysia and Lyra were still holding their positions in the vanguard, but fatigue was evident in every move they made. Even so, they pressed on, their swords parrying attacks and keeping their enemies at bay.

Then I noticed a change in Elysia’s fight. She’d managed to create an opening in her opponent’s defense, a decisive moment. But just as she did, I saw one of Astrel’s lackeys—a parasite who thrived on snatching points others earned—moving toward her target, ready to steal the elimination.

Don’t rush so much. No one’s faster than an arrow.

Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ☆)

1st Stage: Guided Arrow

Wshh!

The arrow shot forward, slicing through the air with precision. Thanks to my head armor, I could see better the wind currents, each one a subtle path guiding my arrow to its mark. The technique revealed its true potential, allowing me to empower the shot.

Boom!

The arrow struck true. Astrel’s parasite didn’t even make it halfway to Elysia’s hard-earned points before the arrow slammed into his chest. He flew back into the enemy ranks, his jacket glowing red.

Elysia barely spared a glance in my direction, but I could tell she knew.

It’s not a lie when people say that the true potential of the bow blooms at a distance.

I glanced at my quiver—25 arrows remained. That meant 25 more points waiting to be claimed. Without hesitation, I began eliminating fighters from Nero's army. Each shot caused ripples of panic to spread through their ranks. Our troops seized the moment, pressing forward with their remaining strength, exploiting the disarray.

My other priority was clear: prevent Astrel's teammates from racking up more points. Whenever they moved to engage or exploit an opening, my arrow would fly in their direction, halting their advance and eliciting visible frustration. The scowls on their faces were worth every shot.

But Nero's army was not inactive. Changes emerged in their strategy as archers began climbing hills, attempting to counterattack Astrel’s troops. Their arrows, however, lacked the range and impact to deal any significant damage. Each attempt fell short, scattering harmlessly in the dirt.

The scoreboard continued to shift: 48% red, 32% blue. My involvement had turned the tide of the battle. Victory for Astrel's army was now almost assured. Yet, the situation remained dire for Luna. She had collapsed, no longer able to stand. Astrel now gripped her by the neck, using her like a shield. Each time Nero attacked, Astrel dragged Luna into the path of the assault. Occasionally, he loosened his grip just enough to keep her conscious, but it was clear she was near her breaking point.

I still have one arrow left. The right choice would be to stay out of this, but Astrel has gone far beyond what’s acceptable.

I nocked my final arrow and began channeling aether into it, keeping a sharp focus on the unfolding battle between Nero and Astrel. The two were locked in what could only be described as a final rush. Aether crackled around their weapons as they prepared their decisive strikes.

Nero made the first move, lunging forward with his weapon engulfed in aether. Astrel prepared to block with his sword, bracing for impact. But at the last moment, Nero shifted direction, redirecting his attack toward Astrel’s neck.

Astrel reacted instantly, yanking Luna’s head upward into the path of the strike. Nero, forced to pull back at the last moment, still left a shallow cut on her face.

Astrel, unfazed, threw Luna to the ground. Gripping his sword with both hands, he raised it high above his head, preparing to strike.

Not so fast, psychopath.

A clash of metal was heard. My arrow struck Astrel’s sword, shattering his grip and sending the weapon clattering to the ground.

Nero wasted no time. With a swift motion, his spear surrounded and empowered with the aqua element. His attack connected with Astrel, the force sending him flying across the battlefield.

-Finish, the captain of the red army has been defeated. Winner: Blue Team!

The robotic announcement echoed across the field, followed by cheers from Nero’s army.

I exhaled deeply, throwing my now-empty quiver as far as I could. Spotting Tim’s sword lying nearby, I picked it up. Tim was beginning to show faint signs of regaining consciousness, but before he could speak, I used the weapon to destroy the barrier, my jacket turning red.

Tim groaned, placing a hand on his head. "What happened?"

"An intruder came up behind you and attacked you with a hammer. I managed to get you out of the fight, but I took a hit myself in the process."

Timco’s expression darkened, anger flashing in his eyes. "Damn it! When I find out who did this, I’ll bury them alive!"

The battlefield began to return to its original state, the aether-generated terrain fading away, leaving behind the barren ground. One by one, everyone started heading toward their assigned courses, the battle officially over.

Suddenly, a thunderous roar broke through the noise, sharp and furious like a tiger’s growl.

"WHO?!"

The voice’s source was obvious. Astrel stood amidst his teammates, his face a mask of pure rage.

"Admit it, you fucking rat! Own up to it in front of me!"

His words were a tirade of aggression, a continuous stream of curses and threats. Nero’s side, however, paid him no mind, ignoring the outburst entirely. Astrel’s supporters, on the other hand, scrambled to calm him down, trying to contain his fury before it escalated further.

I didn’t stick around to see how it played out. Without sparing another glance, I made my way to the equipment warehouse to leave the equipment.

Lia’s definitely going to love hearing about today’s chaos, I thought, a small smirk tugging at my lips.