Chapter 151: The Duo Tournament [I]

The day had finally arrived.

Kalon and Thea stood in the competitor tunnel of The Garden Arena.

The structure was the largest combat venue in the city, a wide circular field surrounded by steep tiered stands that rose high enough to block most of the surrounding skyline.

Reinforced barrier pillars lined the edge of the fighting floor at regular intervals. Overhead bulbs flooded the arena with clean white light.

The air already carried the mixed noise of thousands of voices.

The stands were packed. Students from the Academy of Systems filled entire lower sections. Across from them, large blocks of Awakened School students sat in their own assigned seats.

Public spectators, talent scouts, and major organisation observers filled the remaining rows.

Cameras hovered at points above the field.

Large display screens were mounted around the arena to better show the fights.

Kalon adjusted the standard tournament wraps on his wrists. The sparring gear given to him for the event was light and flexible, designed to work cleanly with the death-prevention field that would activate the moment the match began.

The field itself was a familiar piece of tournament technology, it would knock a fighter unconscious and begin stabilisation the instant their health dropped below the safety threshold, which was 5.

No one died in these matches, but losing still ended a team’s run.

Thea stood beside him in matching gear. Her blue eyes moved across the packed stands, then settled back on the closed gate that led out onto the field.

"They’re louder than I expected," she said.

"They’re here for a show," Kalon replied calmly. "Most of them only know the footage that got out. Fire. Earth. The Ten Dragons visit. Declining the contract. People want to see if any of it was exaggerated. They also want to see if you can live up to your mother’s name."

In the lower Academy section, Theodora Bluegale sat with her arms folded and a serious look on her face.

She wasn’t the only high ranked fighter in the crowd. Kalon spotted members of the dragons, and even Atlas himself somewhere.

He also spotted his entire year group, and even the older years in the crowd. This was an event that no one wanted to miss.

A clear chime sounded through the competitor tunnel. Green lights activated above the gate. The heavy barrier doors began to slide open. The noise from the stands rose immediately.

Kalon and Thea walked out onto the field together.

The Garden Arena floor was a broad circle of reinforced dirt.

Across from them, two figures stepped out of the opposite tunnel at the same time.

Adrien Fontaine and Claire Fontaine.

Adrien was taller, broad through the shoulders, with short dark hair and a focused expression. He had a Lightning affinity, and was a close-range specialist.

Claire walked half a step behind him, lighter in build, pretty face, already scanning the field the way a support fighter did. She had a Life affinity, and was a Healer.

Their coordination was the main reason they had earned a place in the Year One bracket.

The four of them stopped and faced off with each other.

The barrier pillars around the field hummed as the protective dome stabilised.

A soft blue shimmer rose into a translucent wall that sealed the combat area from the stands.

The death-prevention field layered over it a second later.

The main announcer’s voice carried cleanly across every speaker in the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, students and guests, welcome to the opening round of this year’s Duo Tournament, Year One division. The Garden Arena is proud to host the first matches of the bracket."

The crowd noise lowered just enough for the voice to remain clear.

"In the west gate representing the Academy of Systems, Kalon Manchester and Thea Bluegale!"

A wave of reaction spread through the stands.

Some cheers. Some boos. A few louder voices calling Kalon and Thea’s name, hoping to get in their good books.

The display screens switched to their profiles.

Kalon’s listed affinities, Fire and Earth, drew visible attention and a fresh surge of talk. Thea’s water affinity appeared beside his.

Kalon had to stop himself from laughing.

If only they knew how many affinities he really had.

"And in the east gate representing the Awakened School, Adrien Fontaine and Claire Fontaine."

The response for the Fontaines was positive. It was clear they were well loved by their academy.

They were also well known for being incredibly powerful, and perhaps even a match for Sun and Moon, from their own school.

Lightning and Life was a great combination.

Several sections of the Awakened School stands shouted in support. Their profiles appeared on the screens a moment later, listing Adrien’s close-range lightning work and Claire’s stabilising life affinity.

The announcer continued.

"This is a standard elimination match under full tournament rules. The death-prevention field is active. The match ends when both members of one duo are rendered unable to continue, or when the field judges a clear surrender. Weapons and Skills are permitted."

The four competitors didn’t draw any weapons, as they were confident in their skills.

Adrien rolled his shoulders once and let a faint crackle of static run across his fingers.

Claire’s hands rested loosely at her sides, already prepared to channel Life.

Thea’s stance relaxed, just as Kalon had told her to be before the fight.

Kalon stood in a ready position, eyes moving between the two opponents without visible tension.

The stakes were straightforward.

A win here moved them forward in the Year One bracket. Further ahead waited harder competition, including Richard and Ruby on the same side of the bracket, and the much-watched pairing of Sun and Moon from the Awakened School.

A loss ended their run on the first day.

Kalon could not lose. He knew it.

He has fought much harder opponents on other planets.

"Competitors, take your positions."

The announcer paused for a moment, making sure that the tension was high.

Then, he roared.

"Begin!"