The Battle Against Light and Darkness

"Here's the rule for today's sparring. Three rounds, sparring match. You must only utilize your Zodiac Constellation powers and summoned beasts. Using your Ophiuchus powers means a foul and losing the match. No limit to the number of Zodiac constellations and beasts used. You can start whenever you are ready," Master Savius announced with his usual stoic tone.

We locked eyes, a silent understanding passing between us. Today wasn't just about winning or losing. It was about pushing each other to the limits, testing the boundaries of our strength—and maybe, just maybe, discovering new ones.

I'm eager to face Xander. He's powerful, and for the first time, we're on equal ground in rank—though I only just leveled up myself. But more than that, I'm itching to see his summoned beasts in action.

Xander flashed me his signature grin, the kind that said he knew exactly what he was doing. "My favorite junior," he teased, "what I'm about to show you might just blow your mind."

I rolled my eyes at his theatrics. "I'm your only junior."

He chuckled, but his smile didn't waver. And in that moment, the air around him shifted.

A dark, unsettling aura emerged, surrounding him in a mist that pulsed with an eerie, supernatural energy. I could feel it seep into the ground, spreading through the arena like roots of darkness. The hair on the back of my neck prickled in warning.

Without warning, Xander summoned his beast.

The Eclipse Chimera materialized before him in a flicker of shadow and light—a creature unlike anything I'd ever seen. Its very form was an exquisite fusion of light and darkness, an ethereal masterpiece that seemed to shift in and out of sight, almost as if it existed in two worlds at once.

Its wings arched wide, dark as the abyss yet rimmed in a radiant glow that danced with a surreal beauty, illuminating the edges of its shadowy figure. The creature moved with the grace of a feline, each step powerful and precise, exuding a quiet confidence that sent a chill down my spine.

This wasn't just any beast. It had the raw strength of a lion and the poise of a majestic bird, making it both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Just standing in its presence felt like witnessing the delicate balance of light and darkness come to life.

Xander flashed me a smirk. "Meet Pixie."

I stifled a laugh. "Pixie? You really named that thing Pixie?"

He shrugged, his smirk widening. "I like irony. Besides, don't let the name fool you. Pixie's got quite a bite."

From the sidelines, Aira's voice cut through the tension, loud and clear. "Kick his ass, Avant! Don't let that punk intimidate you!"

"Hey, not fair! I'm part of the team too!" Xander shot back, feigning hurt, but his expression quickly shifted, his eyes narrowing with focus.

"I'm going to warm up with pixie here. I hope you'll entertain me today". The mischievous glint was gone, replaced by a sharp intensity that could slice through steel.

The arena fell silent.

Xander's power was mysterious, dangerous, and now, fully on display.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself, before summoning my own beasts, Sirius and Blitz. Sirius's gleaming fur shimmered in the dim light, while Blitz's eyes glowed with an otherworldly, electric blue. The two of them stood by my side, their presence filling me with confidence.

Without warning, Xander made his first move.

A strange, dark flame shot from Pixie's mouth, a burning black that seemed to devour the light around it, leaving a trail of shadows in its wake. It twisted and danced as it approached me, mesmerizing and deadly.

I only snapped out of it in time to activate Temporal Leap, blinking backward just as the flame grazed the spot where I'd stood a second earlier.

"That was close!" I shouted, more to myself than to him.

"Nice reflexes!" Xander called out, grinning with wild delight. "But let's see how you handle this."

Pixie released a series of brilliant, blinding flashes, a dazzling explosion of light that seared through the air.

My vision swam, the world around me dissolving into a haze of colors. And then, just as suddenly, I felt a presence behind me—a split second too late.

Xander's fist came out of nowhere, his blow landing square between my shoulder blades. The force of it sent me staggering forward, right into the path of Pixie's next attack—a second wave of those strange, burning shadows.

For a second, I thought I was done for. But then, in the nick of time, Sirius's passive skill, Temporal Vision, activated.

Time slowed, each movement stretched and elongated, like watching the world through molasses. I twisted, narrowly dodging the flame.

With a quick mental command, I activated Void Trap, pouring all my focus into channeling space energy.

The air around Xander and Pixie wavered, distorting as I created a pocket of void around them. For a brief moment, they were locked in stasis, cut off from the world around them.

"Blitz, now!" I called.

Blitz responded immediately, launching seven energy-charged feathers, each one shimmering with a brilliant, otherworldly glow. The feathers sailed through the air like arrows, three aimed at Xander, four at Pixie. They hit their mark, erupting in a flurry of sparks upon impact.

The momentary burst of triumph I felt quickly died down as the dust settled, revealing Xander and Pixie completely unharmed, a shimmering barrier of light and darkness shielding them from my attack. The barrier pulsed, absorbing the energy from the impact, and then, with an unsettling hum, it released that energy back toward me.

I barely had time to react as the backlash struck, a searing wave of force that sent me sprawling across the arena. Pain exploded across my body as I crashed to the ground, my ears ringing from the blast.

I blinked, dazed, trying to gather my bearings.

When my vision finally cleared, I saw Xander standing over me, a triumphant grin plastered across his face. "Well, that was swift. You really had me there, lil' monster."

I groaned, rolling onto my back, and muttered, "I admit defeat this round."

He laughed, extending a hand to help me up. I took it, his grip firm and steady. As I pulled myself to my feet, I shot him a wry smile. "The next round's mine."

Xander chuckled, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "That's the spirit. Your beasts are impressive, Avant. Honestly, I thought Pixie had you back there."

"So did I," I admitted, glancing over at Blitz and Sirius, who were still on guard, watching Pixie with wary eyes.

Despite the loss, a spark of determination ignited within me. This spar might have gone to Xander, but there was still another round, and I was determined to turn the tide.

Master Savius cleared his throat, drawing our attention. "Prepare for the second round. You may take a brief respite to restore your energy."

I took a deep breath, feeling the residual ache from the impact fading as my natural Ophiuchus healing powers kicked in.

It wasn't a full recovery, but it was enough to shake off the worst of it.

This time, I'd play it smarter. Xander's dual affinity for light and dark was tricky to counter, but that didn't make him invincible.

"Think you can handle another round?" Xander asked, a cocky grin on his face.

"Oh, I'm more than ready," I replied, my voice hard with resolve. This round wouldn't go the same way. I'd learned from my mistakes, and I knew now that I'd need to go all out. Sirius and Blitz were still strong, and I had a few tricks up my sleeve that Xander hadn't seen yet.

Xander readied himself, his stance relaxed but alert, his gaze locked onto mine with a fierce intensity.

This time, I wouldn't hold back.

The countdown to the second round began, each second ticking down with an agonizing slowness. My pulse quickened, adrenaline surging through my veins, a thrill building in the pit of my stomach.

I was ready.