Chapter 46: THE CLASH OF TITANS BEGINS

The sun rose high over Arcadia, casting golden rays across the vast tournament grounds. The arena walls shimmered with mana-imbued wards, their glow reacting to the influx of early crowds. Today was no ordinary day. Today marked the beginning of the Quarterfinals—where prodigies would either ascend to glory or crumble under pressure.

The nobles arrived first, escorted in rune-etched carriages and gliding beasts of prestige. From one of the entrances, the Starwind family stepped out—Noah Starwind in a deep navy cloak, his wife Emily beside him, graceful and serene. And Lilith Starwind walking at the front.

At the same time, the Smith family approached from the opposite direction.

Emily offered a warm smile. “Mrs. Smith.”

Alice nodded, a rare softness in her eyes. “Emily… thank you. For healing my son. I heard how you took care of him. I mean it.”

Emily’s smile deepened, and she gently touched Alice’s hand. “He’s a remarkable boy. I’m happy I could be of help. And as a healer, it’s my duty to help whoever is in need.”

Their words were private but not missed by Rudeous and Noah, who exchanged polite smiles of mutual respect.

As they entered the balcony on the second floor, the crowd began to roar. Every seat was packed. Commoners hung over railings; nobles reclined in sky-balconies. Magical panels lit up across the stadium, each displaying the title:

Quarterfinal Match 1: Lilith Starwind vs. Vaylen Mord

Down below, the waiting stage began to glow. At its center stood a 12-year-old girl with silver hair cascading like moonlight—Lilith Starwind. She hadn’t gone up to the second floor with her parents. As her match was first, she came directly to the stage.

She wore a sleeveless black dueling robe, silver trim lining the edges. Around her, the air shimmered. Lightning crackled faintly from her fingertips. She radiated confidence—tinged with arrogance—and a smug smile hung on her face.

Across from her stood Vaylen Mord—his robe darker, more rugged. His black hair was tied back, and tattoos of twisting snakes crawled along his arms. He bowed stiffly, summoning droplets around him that swirled into an orb of compressed moisture.

The announcer’s voice rang out, amplified by magic.

“Match One! Lilith Starwind versus Vaylen Mord!”

The crowd erupted in cheers even before the referee could finish his words.

Three!

Vaylen took stance.

Two!

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Four elemental affinities. Tier Two at just age twelve. Let’s see if all the ruckus is true.”

“You’ve heard of me? How unfortunate—I can’t say the same about you.”

Vaylen’s brows furrowed. “So your mouth is really as foul as people claim.”

This time Lilith was mildly angered. A mosquito trying to provoke a lioness? The world truly doesn’t deserve mercy, she thought.

One!

“Begin!”

The first second passed in stillness.

Then Lilith vanished.

Boom!

She reappeared midair, twenty feet above Vaylen, electricity sparking from her palms. A disc of air launched her downward like a cannonball.

Vaylen reacted instantly. Water surged upward in a twisting spiral to block her.

But the moment the water touched her skin, it was repelled by an unseen force—a gravity field. Lilith flipped midair and struck with a compressed lightning burst. It cracked the spiral, sending arcs across the platform.

The crowd gasped.

“Did she just fly and attack at the same time?”

“Wait—someone tell me honestly. Is she really just twelve?!”

In the noble balconies:

“That girl’s a monster,” muttered a viscount. “Four affinities? Tier Two? And just twelve? Why is the world so unfair? My son only has one. And he’s barely Tier One—and already eighteen.”

“Maybe the word ’prodigy’ was invented just for her,” one chuckled.

Back on the stage, Vaylen snarled. He slammed both palms into the ground. A tide of water exploded from below, forming a dome-shaped shield.

Lilith hovered above, eyes narrowed.

“You’re not bad,” she said calmly. “But bad luck. You matched against me.”

She clenched her fists—gravity magic condensed beneath the water dome.

CRACK.

The shield buckled.

Then air blades shot from every angle, slicing through moisture, tearing gaps in the dome. Lightning surged through those gaps next.

BOOM!

Water vapor exploded skyward.

Vaylen stumbled out of the mist, panting, his robes soaked. His defenses were torn apart—but he wasn’t finished yet.

He roared, pulling all the surrounding mist toward him. A massive wave formed behind him—at least twenty feet tall.

From the betting corner, a man shouted, “Twenty gold on the water boy! That’s a tsunami if I’ve ever seen one!”

Another booed. “You’ll lose your coin! That girl hasn’t even broken a sweat!”

The wave crashed forward.

Lilith stood calmly with a smirk, hand raised.

Her aura pulsed.

Gravity Field—Compression.

The entire wave slowed in midair.

Time seemed to crawl. The water, frozen mid-surge, trembled as if resisting a mountain’s pressure.

Lilith raised her other hand.

“Air Slice.”

A thin blade shimmered forward—almost invisible.

It struck the center of the wave.

And the entire thing shattered—not exploded—shattered like glass, turned into mist in an instant.

The audience lost it.

“WHAT WAS THAT?!”

“She sliced water—how is that even possible?!”

In the balconies, Kael Thorne muttered under his breath, “…Starwind bloodline. Her power is beyond Tier Two already.”

On the field, Vaylen dropped to one knee, gasping. His mana was depleted.

But he still rose. Coming this far, no one wanted to lose.

A final spear of ice formed in his palm. He charged.

Lilith stepped forward once.

Lightning flared from her palm—no words, no chant—just pure intent.

It struck his spear, shattered it, and jolted through his arm, sending him collapsing face-first onto the floor.

Silence.

Then—

“Match One—Victory: Lilith Starwind!”

The crowd thundered in applause. Even some nobles stood in appreciation.

Lilith turned, expression unchanged, and walked off the stage. Calm. Collected. As if the match hadn’t even mattered.

In the balcony, Alice exhaled.

“She’s really strong,” she said.

Emily nodded, her smile faint. “I worry more for the one who faces her next.” Today, the Starwind family and Smith family sat together.

Below, Lilith walked past the entrance tunnel and looked up at the next set of names projected overhead:

Quarterfinal Match 2: Prince Rowan Hale versus Arven Skell

She glanced at the seating balconies and caught a glimpse of Logan Smith standing behind his family, where both her father and mother were present—enjoying the match like they were watching it for the first time.

Is he really that curious… or just pretending? she wondered.

Lilith smirked to herself.

“Let’s hope you make it to the finals. Otherwise, this will be boring.”

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