A man named Ryan Zerian
"Crystal Mode: On!" a crystal-like skin was slowly emerging from Ryan. It started from his chest then it fully took over his whole body. "I didn't know that right from the start I have to use this." Ryan looked at Team 1 and smiled. "But the struggle ends here." he disappeared after he said that.
"Cast a shield on the three of you!" Rain suddenly shouted so Cora was startled. She quickly cast a small shield around her that protected the Ytra, Damien and her.
"Did you really think a puny shield could withstand my attack?" Ryan's voice was echoing throughout the stage. He was nowhere to be seen. The voice was coming from all of the direction. Team 1 wasn't panicking at all. It was within their calculation. They did anticipate that Ryan was their ace. Cora might look weak from the outside but her support skills were exceptional.
Rain focused his attention on the remaining two enemies that were visible on the stage. "I have to at least break his composure. Power Up. Produce and Transform." Rain summoned his shotgun and aimed it to Kyle and Veera. "Don't take it out on me." Rain shot a bullet that contained a wind element to Kyle and Veera. Veera tried to cast a barrier but the bullet was fast. Kyle used the chain to change the direction of the bullet but before he could hit the bullet it exploded and produced a wind that was strong enough to fly them out of the ring. It was a good move from Rain. The audiences were shocked by the strong wind from that one bullet. Kyle and Veera were soon swept out from the stage.
The audiences cheered. It was an awesome fight. The battle was tilting from Team 1's side. A lot of them thought that Team 2 will win because of their high ranks but they were eliminated 2 by 2. Only one remains and it was their leader.
Kyle gritted his teeth and he wished that Ryan could avenge them. They couldn't even showcase their talent and abilities. It wasn't a bad matchup. They were sure that they will win but unexpectedly Team 1 was stronger than they look. Veera was beside her and looked at Rain. She was quite surprised by the power of that bullet. She was supposed to support Ryan to take them out without spending his power. But it didn't go according to their plans. They were swept away by the gap of power.
Ryan looked at his team and then to team 1, specifically Rain. He was the wild card of their team. He knew he had to be wary of that guy since Liam and Zigz were paying attention to him. But he never knew that he was that strong. Maybe he was at the level of the two. He shook his head clearing his mind. He was sent here to learn a few things about the world. He couldn't stop here. He was a Zerian. He was also one of the futures of the Zeria Knightdom. He was a knight and also a brother. He promised to his sister that he would come back with the highest Ordee number. He will be one of the commanders soon replacing his father but maybe it was all but a dream. This was reality. He wasn't strong enough to face this adversity and win. He let go of all of his fears and thoughts. He needed to at least try to get to the top 10.
"Amazing. Truly Amazing." Ryan said from somewhere and started his attack. He attacked the barrier of Cora that was protecting them, cracks were visible on the shield. Cora gasped at the sudden attack and channeled her power to repair it.
Rain and Velker felt the shockwave from Ryan's fist. The cracks were proof of it. It was now time for Velker to show his power. He concentrated his mana into his fist and let it go. Sparks were all over his arm.
Rain saw Velker and let him do it. Velker said that he wanted to test his new move so he consulted Rain before the fight. Rain approved of it but he said he would step up if he saw it was dangerous.
Cora was becoming weaker by the relentless attack of Ryan. Damien was only looking at Ryan. It was pitiful. He was strong but he wasn't born as royalty like him. Damien wasn't happy with him being a royalty. He wasn't even allowed to tell it even to his friends but he told them. Ytra and Rain weren't surprised and even treated him like before but Cora and Velker weren't. They made a fuss about it but it was soon resolved by Ytra. She said that royalty or not, the truth about us being friends should not be hindered by status. Ytra looked at Damien and smiled. She knew that Damien has a soft spot to hardworking people. She was like him. They were both royalties yet they don't act like one. They were more on the people rather than power. Damien and Ytra were sent here to prove that they could protect their people once they would be crowned. Like Damien, she was also in line for the throne. She was most likely to be the first Empress who ruled from the Empire.
Damien and Ytra weren't even scared that Cora wouldn't withstand it. In fact, Cora's real ability lies in control. It was to control small particles of mana to it's most efficient way. She might be weak because of her ability but once she applied it through the use of support spells it was truly exceptional. Cora was weak but she was strong on controlling mana. She could even withstand one attack of Rain once so they were sure that the barrier could withstand most of the attacks.
Cora was sweating so much but she was fine. She could feel that her ability was growing. She could see small particles of mana and where to put it. She was gifted enough to be one of the special class so she wasn't afraid of anything. She fully trusted her allies.
Ryan kept attacking but only cracks were appearing. It was almost repaired after he hit it. It was an exceptional barrier that could repair, even Veera couldn't do it. A punch was thrown from his right so he was suddenly stunned for a second. Velker's lightning against Ryan's crystallization.
"Hooo... a lot of promising students was gathered this year, huh." Lance said and looked at Ryan and Velker.
"Zerian noble and Mc Garden noble. What promising students to have isn't it master?" Leonell asked her master Linnie for her input.
"Yes, but I was actually looking forward to Elina's student." Linnie said. All of the guest judges suddenly stopped for a moment. Elina, she was quite strong but she never really fought any of them beside Leonell. But, aside from Leonell, no one could definitely fight her on the same ground.
"So that witch truly have one, huh. I'd like to see how strong that student of her." Quinn looked at Rain and smiled mischievously.
"Don't do any mischief here. He might be one of the leading leaders soon." Krizzia looked at Quinn pointedly and the latter only clicked her tongue.
Frizzia looked at them one by one and only kept the information to herself. They have to see through their own eyes how strong these children were. Clint and Frizzia was the only one who knew how strong they were individually.
Ryan looked at Velker and smirked. He was getting surprised every moment. Ytra and Damien weren't doing anything yet they were already on the losing side.
"Fight me." Velker said to Ryan and the two of them looked at each other. They were both looking for recognition from their father. It was a battle between their pride on the line.
"I accept." Ryan and Velker soon faced each other. After a moment of silence, they soon charged at each other. Punches and kicks were exchanged and the two of them were both smiling. It was a good way to end the battle. Ryan and Velker were enjoying the battle so were the audiences and the judges. It was a great battle between two warriors. A punch was connected to Velker and soon he was driven out of the ring so was Ryan. It was a fight between two men, not as a student but two men with everything on the line. The audiences cheered. The first battle was finally over.
"The winner is Team 1!"