The storm of fire and wind slowly faded. Heat still lingered in the air, and the arena floor was cracked and scorched in multiple places.

The barrier around the ring, which protects the crowd from the spells and attacks shimmered faintly, strained from the harsh impact.

Both of them stood.

Elizabeth lowered her hand slightly, her breathing steady but heavier than before. Flames still danced faintly around her body, wrapping her like a second skin.

Across from her, Elowen remained calm.

Not a single strand of her white hair was out of place. Wind moved gently around her, invisible yet ever-present, like a silent guardian.

Then, Elizabeth moved again.

She raised her hand, as this time, the flames did not explode outward, instead they gathered and condensed.

The fire around her body began shrinking, compressing into her palm. The temperature in the arena rose sharply as all that heat focused into a single point.

The crowd grew quiet.

Even the instructors leaned forward. Elowen’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

She lifted her hand as well. Green wind gathered calm and ever flowing.

It compressed to an unnatural degree, as if the air itself had been trying to turn into something solid.

Elizabeth thrust her hand forward.

The condensed flame shot out like a beam of pure, concentrated fire tearing through the air with terrifying speed.

At the same instance Elowen moved.

Stepping forward.

Her palm met the incoming flame.

For a split second, fire and wind collided directly.

Then...the flames split.

The compressed wind cut through it like an invisible blade, dividing the attack into two streams that passed harmlessly on either side of her.

The arena erupted in shock.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened for the first time. Without waiting Elowen closed the distance instantly.

Wind wrapped around her legs as she appeared in front of Elizabeth in a blur. Her palm moved.

"Swift..."

Before she could finish her words, Elizabeth reacted.

Flames burst outward from her body in a sudden explosion, forcing Elowen back.

The impact pushed both of them apart again.

Elizabeth stepped back, exhaling sharply.

"That was close," she muttered. Her eyes narrowed as she didn’t waste a moment.

She stomped her foot on the stone. The ground beneath her cracked again.

Multiple pillars of fire different from Lunive’s erupted around the arena, forming a blazing field. Heat waves distorted everything in sight, turning the battlefield into a burning domain.

Elowen responded easily, as the wind surged outward. Then for a moment her eyes widened slightly.

The flames were pushed back, but not extinguished. Instead, they twisted, merging with the currents into a chaotic storm of fire and air.

Then, in the chaos of fire and heat. A single snap shattered the moment. The flames coalesced around Elowen.

And then erupted.

BOOOOM!

A massive explosion of fire swallowed her completely, flames roaring high into the air as heat waves distorted the entire arena.

The crowd gasped, some even standing from their seats as the blast spread across the ring.

’Got Her.’

Elizabeth stood just outside the explosion, her hand still extended. Her breathing was ragged but her eyes sharp.

Watching.

Her mind echoed with the words she had heard before...

"Listen then... It’s very simple, confidence."

She had frowned back then.

"Ah pardon?"

"Yes, it’s confidence. You see, child... power has a way of making people overconfident. And that overconfidence turns into arrogance."

Elizabeth had listened quietly.

"She... the princess of high elves. A child new to power. She must have that arrogance in her. Pick up on that. Catch her off guard. That’s the only way you’ll have a chance to win."

For a moment, Elizabeth had thought about those words.

Then smiled.

"I understand."

The flames were still raging. Without hesitation Elizabeth dashed forward. She stepped straight into the explosion.

The crowd erupted in shock.

"What is she doing?!"

"She’s going in?!"

Fire wrapped around her like a cloak of burn and agony as she pushed through the blazing inferno, her body moving with absolute intent. Her fist ignited, flames condensing tightly around it.

She broke through the flames and froze.

There in the havoc of orange and crimson, Elowen stood there serenely.

She was untouched. As not a single burn, not a single mark was there on her. Wind flowed gently around her, shielding her from the inferno completely.

Their eyes met.

For the first time since it started Elowen spoke during the battle.

"It won’t work," she said calmly. "You’re too easy to read."

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. And before she could react Elowen blurred from her place. She was fast...too fast for Elizabeth to even catch her shadow.

In a single blink, Elowen covered the distance between them, hovering just inches away from her face.

Elizabeth’s eyes widened. From her perspective it was like Elowen had almost teleported in front of her.

Thus, she didn’t even see or feel when her palm swirling with mana and air lightly touched her chest.

"It was a good battle." Elowen said.

"Huh—Ack." Before Elizabeth could even speak, wind knocked out her lungs. As she felt her breath giving out. It felt like someone had hit her with a force of tons as she was thrown like a ragged doll.

Bam!

From the force of the strike, the smoke and fire were cleared allowing everyone to view as Elizabeth’s form blazed through the air like a bullet out of a gun.

Gasps were taken and as jaws dropped when they saw her flying through the air.

However just as Elizabeth was about to strike the barrier a feeble concentrated blast of fire halted her advance as she fell on the edge of the ring.

"CoughCough" Blood flowed out of her mouth as she coughed harshly, barely keeping her consciousness alive.

’What the hell? Ugh, just one move!’ She thought in her mind, shocked and in disbelief.

Her chest felt as if it had been struck by an elephant, every breath was filled with agony as it felt like thousands of needles were stabbing her lungs.

Yet her eyes were defiant. Her fist clenched so hard that they drew blood. Pushing through it all, she stood up.

"Haa haaa."

Raising her eyes, she found Elowen staring at her ostensibly waiting for her to

stand up.

She looked bored almost as if this wasn’t a duel but just a simple walk. Elizabeth found it infuriating, however she also knew that it was because she was the weak one.

She was the reason why Elowen didn’t particularly look interested in the battle.

’Damn it, if only I could use all of my affinities in the duel. I could somewhat heal my injuries.’ She thought bitterly.