Toma was in serious trouble.

  No matter how hard he tried to swim toward the surface, Velk’s power dragged him back down, deeper and deeper, toward the bottom of the arena.

  Velk, who could breathe perfectly underwater, simply hovered there and watched—amused.

  Yes! Drown already! Drown! Drown! Drown!

  Toma forced his racing mind to focus.

  Damn it… how do I get out of this?

  The Full Current… that might work!

  Blue beams of light burst from both of his hands, blasting downward as he forced his body upward. The pressure finally gave way, and he broke through the surface.

  The instant his head emerged, Toma gasped desperately, dragging air into his lungs in huge gulps.

  He didn’t get to rest.

  The water surged violently. Massive waves rose around him, wrapped him up, and yanked him along like a rag doll. Before he could react, Velk formed a gigantic vortex, the spiraling current dragging Toma straight back down into the depths.

  Toma filled his lungs as much as he could, but he already knew the truth.

  I can’t last much longer like this.

  Velk stood at the bottom, arms spread, controlling the currents with ease. The water pulled Toma closer.

  Deeper.

  And deeper.

  When Toma was finally within reach, Velk struck.

  Fists slammed into Toma’s face again and again, each blow heavy with water pressure. Pain exploded through his head as his vision blurred.

  He was running out of air.

  Running out of time.

  With every punch, his chances of victory slipped further away.

  Damn it… is this really how it ends?

  Am I seriously going to get knocked out by this asshole?

  He can’t even punch properly… Damn it all!

  ***

  In the infirmary, Arvian and Aron lay side by side on their beds.

  They would have been watching the match too—if they could see.

  Blind, exhausted, and worn down by the aftermath of their injuries, they had drifted off to sleep without realizing it. The broadcast continued to play loudly, the commentator’s voice echoing through the corridor and into the neighboring room.

  Lyrien was still asleep, but even in her dreams, the noise reached her.

  Her eyes slowly opened.

  “…Huh? Where am I…? Is this a hospital?”

  She sat up and looked toward the window. Warm sunlight poured through the glass, bathing her in gentle heat. The comfort lasted only a second.

  She heard it.

  The TV.

  Her heart skipped.

  Toma’s match…

  Lyrien rushed into the next room. Arvian and Aron were asleep, their breathing steady. She gently pulled blankets over them, careful not to wake them.

  Then she looked at the screen.

  Her breath caught.

  “Oh no—!”

  She clamped a hand over her mouth instantly.

  Idiot… I’ll wake them.

  Lowering the volume, she quietly returned to her own room and sat down in front of the screen, eyes locked on the broadcast.

  Her fingers curled tightly together.

  “Come on, Toma… please don’t give up.”

  ***

  In the VIP section, tension hung thick in the air.

  Captain Elarion exhaled slowly, his arms crossed as he watched the arena below.

  “It appears this is as far as Toma Sorien can go. I find him likable, but the difference in power must be acknowledged.”

  Zarek glanced sideways toward Captain Silren.

  “Looks like he’s really going to lose after all.”

  Silren, however, remained exactly as he always was—standing tall, smiling calmly, as if nothing unexpected were happening.

  “Good grief… the fight isn’t over yet. I never misjudge these things. The blue-haired boy will still win.”

  Nearby, Thalia sat rigid in her seat, nails between her teeth as she chewed them anxiously. She didn’t say a word.

  Beside her, Captain Lysell finally spoke—his voice flat, unbothered.

  “Defending against an attack like that isn’t particularly difficult.”

  Zarek turned toward him in disbelief.

  “Well, sure, Uncle Matas, that’s easy for you to say. You could freeze the whole arena in an instant.”

  Lysell didn’t even look at him.

  “That’s not what I mean, you foolish blockhead. The blue-haired boy is also capable of neutralizing an attack like this.”

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Zarek blinked.

  “…Then why isn’t he doing it?”

  Lysell’s gaze remained fixed on the arena.

  “Because,” he said calmly, “he hasn’t realized how yet.”

  ***

  Beneath the water-filled arena, Velk continued his assault without mercy.

  Blow after blow crashed into Toma’s body, each strike fueled by rage and pressure.

  “Rot in hell! Rot in hell! ROT IN HELL, YOU BLUE RAT!”

  With a violent surge of water, Velk launched Toma upward, following him into the air. Toma broke the surface coughing, choking, dragging in air in short, desperate gasps—but the relief lasted only a heartbeat.

  Using brute force, Velk hurled him straight back down.

  Toma sank again.

  Deeper.

  Further.

  Through the water, he could see the sun above, its light filtering down toward the surface. As he was falling, he reached out with one hand toward the distant light.—

  Then Velk crashed down after him.

  Water exploded outward as Velk seized Toma by the forehead and slammed him straight into the ground, driving him even past the lowest point of the arena’s basin. The impact nearly knocked Toma unconscious.

  Velk didn’t stop.

  The beating continued.

  Toma’s thoughts spiraled.

  Damn it… this can’t be real. This can’t be the end!

  With no other option, he fired a Blue Nova beam at point-blank range.

  Velk twisted aside, the beam slicing harmlessly past.

  A mocking laugh echoed through the water.

  “How pathetic. Underwater, you can’t attack me fast enough for me not to dodge, you idiot.”

  The blows resumed.

  But this time, Toma’s thoughts sharpened.

  Is this really all I’m capable of? Such a weak attack?

  Am I really going to lose?

  No. No. No. No—damn it!

  I have to win for Lyrien.

  I have to win for myself.

  I have to win for my dream.

  I have to reach the finals and fight Arvian. He’s already there. I can’t keep him waiting.

  Blue Nova works underwater. I know it does.

  So there has to be a way.

  Velk shifted tactics.

  The water currents wrapped around Toma’s body, dragging him like a puppet. He was slammed into one thick glass wall, then another, before being tossed into a massive vortex where he could only drift helplessly.

  “Just drown already, you peasant!”

  But while his body drifted, Toma focused inward.

  I can’t last much longer… but I have to.

  I need more Aima before I suffocate.

  I just have to endure.

  His aura ignited.

  Blue flames began to swirl around his body, visible even from outside the arena. Beneath the water, a deep blue glow spread outward. Velk froze, unable to understand what he was seeing.

  Then—

  A massive blue explosion erupted from the depths.

  The force was overwhelming. Space itself seemed to tremble, the atmosphere shuddering under the sheer pressure of released Aima. The water flooding the arena was swallowed by the blast, thrown violently upward.

  At the center of the arena stood Toma.

  Panting.

  Gasping.

  The water fell from above, crashed down onto the ground, and soaked the spectators.

  Even the commentator lost composure.

  “This—this is unbelievable! Toma Sorien has unleashed an enormous Aima explosion, completely neutralizing Velk’s ability! Just when it seemed over, he survives!”

  The crowd erupted.

  Cheers thundered through the arena, an overwhelming wave of support that crashed into Velk just as hard as the explosion had. He stared at Toma in disbelief.

  “No… no, this can’t be real! How—how is this possible!? Why won’t you die!? WHAT DO I STILL HAVE TO DO TO KILL YOU?!”

  Toma stepped forward, eyes steady.

  “Someone like you will never defeat me.”

  The moment the words left him, he moved.

  Faster than he ever had before.

  The difference in speed was absolute. Velk couldn’t even perceive it.

  Toma’s hand clamped onto Velk’s forehead, slamming his head into the ground. He grabbed Velk by the sweater and hauled him upright. Velk tried to brace himself, but blows rained down from every direction—too fast to see, too fast to react to.

  Velk’s legs gave out.

  To finish it, Toma spun and delivered a double spinning kick straight to Velk’s head.

  Velk collapsed, unconscious.

  Toma raised his hand, Blue Nova gathering for a final strike aimed at Velk’s head—

  Then deliberately shifted it aside.

  The blast struck the ground next to him.

  “Unlike you, I don’t keep beating someone who can’t fight back, I’m not weak or pathetic enough to humiliate the helpless while trembling before those stronger than me.”

  Velk lay motionless, completely drained. Still, a faint, broken voice slipped from his lips.

  “No… this… can’t… be the e—end…”

  Toma looked down at him, his expression unreadable.

  “I don’t feel anger toward you. Only pity. I won’t convince you to apologize to Lyrien—someone like you never would. But remember this: with the personality you have now, your life as a warrior won’t be a long one.”

  The referee stepped forward.

  “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one and ZERO!”

  The announcement rang through the arena.

  “The winner—Toma Sorien!”

  ***

  Lyrien had been watching everything on the TV.

  By the time the match ended, tears were streaming down her face.

  “He did it… Toma won!”

  Before she even realized what she was doing, she was already running toward the arena.

  She rushed through the infirmary room where Arvian and Aron were sleeping. The noise startled Arvian awake, but by the time he looked up, he only caught a glimpse of her disappearing down the corridor.

  “Lyrien? Did she just run through here…?”

  Then another realization hit him all at once.

  “…Wait. I can see again. My sight’s back! Don’t tell me I seriously slept through Toma’s match!?”

  Next to him, Aron remained completely undisturbed, sleeping peacefully—and even snoring a little.

  ***

  “People, this is absolutely unbelievable!” the commentator’s voice rang through the arena. “When we all thought Toma Sorien was finished, he stood back up and refused to give up! He had a trump card no one saw coming!”

  The crowd exploded.

  The only sound left in the arena was a single name, chanted over and over again.

  Toma.

  In the stands, Arlen lifted Vira onto his shoulders, laughing loudly.

  “That’s it, Nira! Your big brother won!”

  “Long live big brother Toma!”

  Nearby, Toma’s mother, Demia, crossed her arms with a proud smile.

  “That’s my son.”

  Emion couldn’t stay still, practically dancing in place.

  “That’s my wife’s son! Well done, Toma!”

  But the celebration didn’t stop in the stands.

  Inside the arena, Toma was surrounded by cheers and applause, while Velk was carried away on a stretcher toward the infirmary.

  Then, suddenly, someone ran onto the field.

  It was Lyrien.

  When Toma noticed her, his eyes widened.

  “Lyrien!? You’re awake? What are you doing here!?”

  She didn’t answer right away. Tears filled her eyes as she ran up to him.

  “Thank you… Toma!”

  She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly.

  After a moment of surprise, Toma wrapped his arms around her as well, smiling softly.

  “Have I told you already that you don’t have anything to thank me for, silly? You fought bravely too. I’m proud of you. And most importantly—we won. Let’s celebrate.”

  Before they could move, a new presence made itself known.

  A slender woman of average height with dark brown hair stepped in front of them.

  It was Thalia, captain of the Water Division.

  The moment Lyrien recognized her, she jumped out of Toma’s arms, her face turning bright red.

  Then something no one expected happened.

  Thalia knelt down and bowed deeply before Toma.

  “Thank you… for saving my cousin’s life, and for putting Velk in his place.”

  Toma froze, completely flustered.

  “Ah—no, that’s really an exaggeration!”

  Thalia shook her head.

  “No. Lyrien is precious to me. I love her dearly. But ever since I became captain of the Water Army, I couldn’t stay by her side the way I should have.” Her voice softened. “Please forgive me, Lyrien. I love you as if you were my own sister. What Velk did… it shocked me. I didn’t know how to stop him.”

  She looked back at Toma.

  “That’s why I thank you, Toma Sorien, for protecting my little sister when I couldn’t.”

  Toma scratched his cheek awkwardly.

  “For me, it’s already more than enough that you finally told her how you feel.”

  Lyrien started crying even harder, but this time Thalia stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace.

  Even the commentator broke down.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this before! Such a touching championship—what a beautiful moment!”

  Not long after, Arvian appeared in the arena as well.

  “Well done, Toma! See you in the finals!”

  “Looks like you recovered quickly, Arvian.”

  Before they could say more, the crowd flooded into the arena, completely overtaking the field.

  Everyone was cheering. Everyone was shouting Toma’s name.

  Laughing, Arvian lifted Toma onto his shoulders so he could be seen above the crowd.

  From up there, Toma stared at the sea of people in disbelief.

  This atmosphere… it’s unbelievable.

  I’ve never felt anything like this before.

  I think… I’ve already won.

  ***

  From the VIP section, the captains watched the scene with satisfaction.

  Elarion nodded slowly.

  “He turned the match around from the worst possible situation and won. I’m glad I was wrong. Toma Sorien is an extraordinary talent.”

  Zarek grinned.

  “So in the end, you were right, Silren. Toma really did win.”

  Silren smiled calmly, as always.

  “Good grief, I told you—I never make mistakes. That blue-haired boy extinguished the fire burning within the Vandemire family. An excellent warrior, with a truly determined gaze.”

  Zarek snapped his fingers.

  “Now I get it. That’s why Thalia was so nervous. She was rooting for Toma too…”

  Meanwhile, Captain Lysell was already turning to leave.

  Zarek blinked in surprise.

  “Uncle Matas, leaving already? You’re not staying for the celebration?”

  “I’ve seen everything that mattered, And I’m too old for this kind of noise.”

  Zarek looked toward Silren.

  “At least you’re staying a bit longer, right?”

  “I have duties to attend to soon as well. But this match was worth watching. Toma Sorien is an interesting boy. He may become a very powerful warrior in the future.”