The woman in the ring adjusted her grip on the hilt of her sword, the weapon blazing with spiraling flames that crackled hungrily in the air. Her expression was fierce, her eyes glowing with the orange-red intensity of a firestorm. She moved suddenly, her figure vanishing in a blur of motion.

In a heartbeat, she was in front of the man, her flaming sword already descending in a sharp arc.

Clang!

The clash of steel echoed through the arena, scattering embers in every direction. The impact forced the man to stagger back, his boots sliding against the scorched floor. He narrowed his eyes, switching his sword to his left hand in one smooth motion. His right hand glowed with an earthen hue as he began channeling mana, the air around him trembling with latent energy.

Without warning, he launched forward, his fist encased in jagged rock, delivering a devastating punch aimed at her midsection.

Pow!

The blow landed with a force that shook the ground, but the woman had already anticipated it. Using her sword as a barrier, she absorbed most of the attack, the flames on her blade flaring briefly as they countered the impact. She grinned, her eyes shimmering with a fiery light as mana surged through her body.

The ground beneath her began to tremble, cracks forming and glowing with molten heat. Flames erupted from her skin, spiraling outward like living creatures eager to devour everything in their path. The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, their voices blending into a cacophony of excitement and bloodlust.

Emma stood on the outskirts of the gathered spectators, her posture stiff and her ears aching from the deafening noise. She had deliberately avoided getting too close, the fervor of the crowd making her uncomfortable. Yet, she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the combatants in the ring.

The woman’s flames licked at the edges of the arena, their heat palpable even from where Emma stood. The man, undeterred, raised his arms, calling forth a protective shell of rock that encased his body. The earth rippled and solidified around him, forming a barrier as sturdy as a fortress.

This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

His lips curled into a defiant smile. “Bring it on,” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the roaring crowd.

With a thunderous roar, the two combatants surged forward, their swords flashing with raw magical energy. The woman’s flaming blade ignited the air with streaks of fire, while the man’s rocky defenses cracked and reformed under the strain of his movements.

Their clash sent shockwaves rippling across the arena, shaking the floating orbs of light above and causing some of the audience to lose their footing. The woman’s strikes were relentless, each swing of her sword leaving trails of searing heat in its wake. The man countered with brute force, using his earth magic to redirect her attacks and launch retaliatory blows that shattered the ground beneath her feet.

Emma observed intently, her analytical mind dissecting their movements. Despite their raw power, their technique left much to be desired. Their use of magic was flashy but inefficient, their mana expenditure erratic. Amateurs, she thought, though she couldn’t deny the spectacle was captivating.

In the ring, the fighters showed no signs of stopping. The man thrust his sword forward, aiming for the woman’s shoulder, but she sidestepped gracefully, her flames flaring in retaliation. With a swift spin, she unleashed a fiery arc that forced him to retreat, his rocky armor cracking under the intense heat.

“Impressive,” he admitted, his tone tinged with grudging respect.

The woman didn’t respond, her focus unyielding as she began gathering mana for her next move. Her body became a beacon of fiery brilliance, flames erupting from her form like an uncontrollable inferno.

The man braced himself, his defenses tightening as the ground beneath him rose in jagged spikes to fortify his stance. Both fighters lunged at each other, their swords gleaming with deadly intent.

Then it happened.

A thunderous boom shook the arena as their blades collided, sending a shockwave that rippled through the crowd. Emma felt the gust of wind hit her, making her hair whip around her face. She shielded her eyes, but as she did, her ears caught an urgent shout in elven language from the woman in the ring.

“Leave there!”

Emma blinked, her gaze darting around in confusion. The crowd’s noise had masked the warning at first, but then she saw it. A stray sword, dislodged from the earlier clash, was hurtling through the air—straight toward her.

Her breath caught in her throat. The blade was spinning wildly, its edge glinting in the light, and it was only inches away.

Emma’s body froze, her thoughts racing but offering no solutions. A cold shiver ran down her spine as time seemed to slow, her instincts screaming for action even though it was far too late.

Boom!

The ground shook once more, the sound reverberating through the arena, swallowing everything else.