The Divine Stadium shifted once again, reshaping into a wild battlefield of jagged volcanic ridges and stormy cliffs. Sparks danced across the broken ground, and waves of raw elemental energy swirled through the air like snakes ready to strike. The arena was unstable—perfect for what was about to happen.
The Divine Board shimmered high above:
Match 4
Kairo Vallen – Light School
vs.
Galen Harth – Elemental School
The crowd buzzed with excitement. This wasn't just a match—it was going to be a battle of pure power.
From the Light School's platform, Kairo Vallen stepped into the arena. Blue flames flickered around his boots, each step glowing with calm fire. His face was still, but his eyes… they burned.
On the opposite end, Galen Harth appeared like a walking disaster—tall, broad, cloaked in layers of molten stone. Sparks rolled off his shoulders as the ground beneath him cracked with every step.
"This isn't going to be a fight," Syleria whispered from the sidelines. "It's going to be an explosion."
Veloria's eyes stayed locked on the field. "Kairo won't hold back. Not today."
The Divine Bell rang.
The match began.
---
Phase One – The Elemental Clash
Galen didn't waste a second. Twin boulders, glowing with lightning, flew toward Kairo at full speed. The air ripped apart with a loud crack.
Kairo raised both palms, forming his signature dual-flame spiral—fire and water spinning in perfect sync. He fired twin blasts that sliced through the boulders mid-air, turning them into steam that rose high into the sky.
"You're strong," Kairo said calmly. "But I've danced with storms before."
Galen charged in, fists covered in molten lava, slamming them down as rock pillars shot up behind him. Kairo moved like a flame in the wind—fast and smooth—redirecting heat waves and slowly building toward something greater.
Then—for one breathless moment—their fists collided.
Flame met stone. The ridge exploded outward, sending shockwaves through the arena.
The crowd went wild.
---
Phase Two – The Rising Storm
Galen growled and summoned a massive serpent made of fire and stone. It slithered through the cliffs, circling in, trying to trap Kairo in a cage of deadly elements.
But Kairo was already in the air, standing on a narrow ledge high above. Fire and wind gathered between his arms.
"Let's see you survive this," he shouted.
In a brilliant flash, he fused the two elements into a spinning tornado of fire and blades. The storm howled through the field, cutting through the serpent and splitting the land in two. Galen staggered, pushed back for the first time.
From the Light School balcony, Lyrion leaned forward. "His control has improved."
Veloria nodded slowly. "He's starting to awaken…"
But Galen wasn't done. With a roar, he sent a storm of attacks—earth, flame, thunder. Kairo spun midair, his whole body surrounded by a vortex of elements. They weren't just obeying nature anymore—they were obeying him.
---
Phase Three – Kairo's Awakening
Kairo landed hard on the main ridge, the stone cracking beneath him. His chest burned—and then it happened.
A glowing symbol appeared near his collarbone: ancient, sharp, and powerful.
The mark of the Elemental God.
It wasn't complete—it flickered, unstable—but it was real.
"This... this is our flame!" Kairo shouted.
He clapped his hands together. Fire, wind, water, and lightning swirled out like a raging storm. The elements bent around him, roaring like wild beasts under his command.
Galen made one final charge.
But it was already over.
Kairo shot forward, wrapped in a spiral of four elements, and slammed into Galen with such force that the ridges shattered, the crystal barrier cracked, and Galen was launched across the arena.
Galen fell—and didn't get up.
---
Result – Divine Board Update
Winner: Kairo Vallen – Light School
Status: Qualified – Super Elite (4/20)
The crowd exploded with cheers—louder than any match before.
Ray exhaled in disbelief. "That was way beyond what I thought he could do."
Rika smiled. "He's finally shining the way he was meant to."
From the divine balcony, the Elemental God Kaion narrowed his glowing eyes.
"He heard the song," he said quietly.
Beside him, Valera's voice was soft and calm. "And answered it with fire."
---
Aftermath – Stadium Exit Corridor
Kairo stepped out of the arena, bruised but glowing faintly with divine power. His friends were waiting.
"You're insane," Syleria said, shaking her head.
Kairo grinned. "But alive."
"Barely," Aria added with a laugh.
Veloria stepped forward, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. Her eyes were proud.
"You didn't just fight," she said. "You claimed your legacy."
Kairo looked up at the sky, where divine energy swirled like stars.
"One step closer," he whispered, "to becoming who I'm meant to be."
---
To Be Continued…