The crowd's cheers from the first fight were fading when the announcer raised his hand again.

"Next up! Contestant Number Two, Rynar Revalis, versus Contestant Number Thirty-One!"

Instantly, the arena grew louder.

"The twin's up!"

"Let's see if he's really grown strong just like he says he is!"

Rynar then walked into the arena calmly, and from the opposite side, a young man with short orange hair entered.

He had a smug grin on his face, and also he had a curved blade on his waist.

He took out his sword and pointed it at Rynar.

"So you're Rynar, huh? The so-called troublemaker who ran from the clan. Can't believe you came crawling back."

Some in the crowd laughed, while others whispered.

Rynar didn't even react. He just scratched the back of his neck and yawned. "You talk too much."

The boy snorted, stepping closer.

"Even if you trained hard somewhere out there, you're still weak. I'll make sure everyone remembers that."

Rynar tilted his head. "Sure, sure. Can we start already?"

The boy's grin faltered slightly. "Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you."

He coated his curved sword with his flaming mana, making it bright and wild, and then charged forward.

"Blazing Slash!"

He slashed his blade down in a diagonal arc, cutting through the air with a sharp hiss.

The crowd leaned forward, eyes wide.

But before the slash landed, Rynar moved. He didn't dodge or even block. He just raised one hand and caught the boy's wrist mid-swing.

The boy's eyes went wide. "W-What…?"

Rynar looked down at the burning sword, then at him, and said flatly.

"Is this all there is from you?"

The boy tried to pull away, but Rynar's grip didn't even budge. His arms even began to tremble.

"How... how can you stop it with one hand?!"

Rynar smiled faintly, calm and lazy. "You said I was weak, right?"

He clenched his other fist. "Let me show you how weak I am."

He punched once.

A simple, clean strike to the gut.

The air went out of the boy's lungs.

His eyes went blank for a second before his knees hit the floor.

The sword dropped from his hand, flames fading instantly.

Gasps spread through the entire arena.

The boy groaned once, then slumped to the side, completely unconscious.

The announcer stood frozen for a second, jaw open, before finally raising his voice.

"...W-Winner! Rynar Revalis!"

The crowd exploded.

Cheers, shouts, and disbelief were all mixed into one deafening roar.

Back down in the arena, Rynar looked at the unconscious fighter on the ground, then shrugged.

"Guess that's that."

The announcer, still buzzing with excitement, shouted again.

"A shocking victory! One strike and Number Thirty-One is down! The twins are not to be underestimated!"

The crowd's noise grew louder again, waves of cheers and shocked laughter filling the air.

Rynar turned toward the stands, grinning slightly. "Next?"

The referee blinked, still stunned. "Uh… yes! Next!"

He waved toward the crowd.

"Contestant Number Three, Rynor Revalis, versus Number Thirty!"

The audience erupted once again.

"The second twin!"

"Is he the same as his brother?!"

"No way they both win like that!"

Rynar walked off the stage slowly, hands in his pockets, while Rynor stepped forward, cracking his knuckles with a grin.

"Your turn," Rynar said over his shoulder, smirking slightly without turning back.

Rynor smirked, rolling his shoulders. "Yeah, yeah. Don't worry, I'll make it quick too."

From the opposite side, a young man stepped in. He had short yellow hair and held twin daggers.

He spun one easily in his hands, and sparks of electricity flickered faintly around his boots.

The boy pointed one dagger toward Rynor, grinning confidently.

"I'll admit that your brother's strong. That punch from him was no joke."

Rynnor tilted his head, smiling faintly. "Oh? You admit it, huh?"

The boy nodded.

"Yeah, and it was impressive... but don't think everyone's weak just because you trained somewhere fancy."

Rynor stretched his neck lazily.

"That depends. You planned to talk to death or fight?"

The boy smirked. "I'll make you eat those words."

Lightning mana crackled around his legs as he shouted. "Lighting Step!"

The boy vanished, and a yellow streak appeared and shot around the arena.

The crowd gasped.

"He disappeared!"

"Too fast!"

Rynor stood perfectly still in the center of the arena, hands in his pockets, eyes half-open like he was barely interested.

A low voice suddenly came from behind him, calm but smug.

"Even if you're strong, can you see me? Or even better… hit me?"

No answer came from Rynor. He didn't even turn around.

The boy chuckled under his breath. "Heh. Not much of a talker, huh?"

"You've changed for the better, I'll give you that. But don't think that means you can beat me."

He crossed his twin daggers, lightning exploding around him like a thunderclap.

"And now…" he shouted, jumping forward. "Lightning Cross!"

The crack of thunder shook the air. Sparks streaked toward Rynor from behind.

But before the blades could touch him, Rynor moved.

Just one step. One smooth motion.

His leg swung back like a whip.

THUD!

The kick landed square in the boy's stomach, and the lightning vanished instantly.

The boy's body then shot backward, rolling across the floor until he hit the wall and crumpled to the ground.

The arena fell silent for a moment.

"W-What just happened?"

"Did he... did he just kick him mid-attack?!"

"I didn't even see it!"

Rynor lowered his leg slowly, dust swirling around his boot. "Lightning Step, huh?"

He brushed off his leg. "My senior sister moves even faster than you."

The crowd erupted. Cheers and shocked laughter filled the air again.

The announcer was blinking rapidly, still processing what just happened.

Then he shouted. "W-Winner! Rynor Revalis! Another instant victory!"

The stands went wild.

"Two matches, two knockouts!"

"Are they even human?!"

Rynar leaned against the railing of the waiting area, smirking.

"Not bad, brother. You took one more second than me, though."

Rynor turned and grinned back. "Please. I was just being polite."

Dahlia, watching from above, couldn't hide her small smile.

"Those two really don't know how to hold back."

Clara laughed. "They're just showing off because Master's watching."

Garion stood with his arms folded, watching calmly. He was quite satisfied with them.

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