Adela PoV

I gulped as a wave of energy struck the barrier around the ring.
Koukyuu quickly reinforced the barrier while also allowing some energy to escape to avoid hurting the boys inside.

"Lei!" Yen said, standing up. She winced and quickly sat back down.

Lei must've been in a lot of pain...

Kun gulped as smoke encircled the battlefield. He was panting like Yen. "Lei..."

The smoke was dense and choking, blurring the vision of everyone present. The battlefield looked like an ancient ruin, scarred by the ferocity of Lei's wind and lightning magic clashing with Burai's flames. Every nerve in my body was on edge, anxiety gnawing at my insides.

"Lei," I murmured, my hands clasped tightly together in prayer. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, the rhythm irregular and heavy.

The smoke began to clear, revealing Lei on one knee. Apart from his tattered clothes, Burai was injured.

"No," I whispered, shaking my head.

Burai smirked and put his hands into the pockets of his shorts. "Looks like I win."

Lei smiled and looked up at him, his gaze still defiant.

Burai laughed and kicked him, but Lei sidestepped it. The two became a blur as they zipped throughout the battered ring.

Hal gasped. "His movements are similar to mine and Xue's there."

Xue nodded.

"And mine," Yen muttered. "I wonder if It's his knives' new ability or if it's his battle genius at work."

Kun chuckled. "Could be both."

I watched in disbelief as Lei moved with a speed and precision that seemed impossible given his condition. His movements were fluid, a blur of motion that was hard to track with the naked eye.

"No," I whispered again, but this time in awe. "He... he's still fighting."

Burai's smirk faltered slightly as he struggled to keep up with Lei's sudden burst of speed. He was clearly taken aback, his surprise evident in the slight widening of his eyes.

"Looks like you're not the only one full of surprises, Burai," Lei taunted, his voice echoing across the battlefield. His tone was light, but there was an undercurrent of determination that was impossible to miss.

The crowd erupted into cheers, their earlier shock giving way to excitement. The atmosphere was electric, filled with anticipation and hope.

Despite the odds, Lei was turning the tide of the fight. He was pushing back, refusing to give in. And in doing so, he was inspiring everyone watching.

"Go, Lei!" Yen cheered, her voice hoarse but full of fervor.

Kun was grinning, his eyes shining with admiration. "That's our Lei," he said, a touch of pride in his voice.

But the fight was far from over. Burai was a formidable opponent, his skills honed to near perfection. He wasn't going to go down without a fight.

I could see the determination in Burai's eyes, the resolve hardening his features. He was ready for a fight, ready to meet Lei head-on.

But so was Lei. His eyes were ablaze with a fierce determination, his spirit unbroken despite the odds.

As I watched them clash, magic crackling in the air around them, I knew that this was a fight that would be remembered for ages. It was a clash of wills, of determination and spirit.

And I knew, deep down, that Lei could win. He had the strength, the will, and the heart to win. And we, his friends, were there to cheer him on, to give him the strength he needed to keep fighting.

"Come on, Lei," I whispered, my words lost in the roar of the crowd. "You can do this. I believe in you."

And as I watched Lei clash with Burai, their magic lighting up the battlefield, I knew that he believed it too. He was fighting with everything he had, refusing to back down. Even if he were to lose, he would do so without regrets.

Burai's laughter echoed across the battlefield, the sound grating against my ears. "You're impressive, Lei Lan," he admitted, his eyes glinting with a newfound respect. "But this is where it ends."

I felt my breath hitch as Burai's form began to glow, a bright, searing light that was almost blinding. The heat radiating from him was intense, a manifestation of his raw magical power. He was no longer holding back. This was his true strength.

The crowd fell silent, their cheers dying down as they watched in awe. Even from a distance, I could feel the immense pressure emanating from him. It was an oppressive force, threatening to crush everything in its path.

Lei did not falter. He stood tall, his turquoise eyes meeting Burai's without fear. His determination was unwavering, his spirit unbroken.

"Burai," he said, his voice carrying across the battlefield. "Bring it."

Burai grinned, the expression chilling despite the heat. With a swift motion, he raised his hand, a ball of fire forming in his palm. It grew larger and larger, the flames flickering menacingly.

With a swift throw, he hurled the fireball towards Lei. It moved with a speed that was almost impossible to track, leaving a trail of scorched earth in its wake.

I watched with bated breath as Lei moved. His speed was incredible, a blur of motion as he dodged the fireball.

But Burai was not done. He followed up with a barrage of fireballs, each one larger and faster than the last. The battlefield was alight with his magic, the heat so intense that it was almost suffocating.

But Lei was relentless. He dodged and weaved, his movements a dance of wind and lightning. His eyes were focused, his expression calm despite the chaos around him.

"Lei," I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest. "You can do this."

But even as I said the words, I could see the strain on Lei's face. The constant dodging and weaving was taking its toll on him. He was tiring, his movements becoming slightly sluggish.

And then Burai launched his final attack. A giant fireball, so large that it blotted out the sun. It moved with a speed that was terrifying, heading straight for Lei.

"Lei!" I cried out, fear gripping my heart.

But Lei did not move. He stood his ground, his eyes locked on the approaching fireball. His lips moved, and although I couldn't hear his words, I knew what he was saying.

"I will not back down."

The fireball hit. The impact was massive, the explosion lighting up the battlefield. The shockwave sent everyone reeling, the protective barrier around the ring barely holding.

When the smoke cleared, Lei was on the ground, his clothes burnt, and his body battered. But he was smiling, a small, satisfied smile.

"Is that all you've got, Burai?" he asked, his voice weak but clear.

Burai looked at him, surprised. Then he laughed. "You're one heck of a fighter, Lei," he said, offering him a hand. "You may have lost, but you've earned my respect."

Lei gave him a slight smile.

As I watched Lei accept his hand, pulling himself up with a grimace of pain, I felt a surge of pride. He really had grown a lot during the past year. He used to be such a hot-head before.

I stood up. Now, it was my turn to fight.

My eyes went to Koharu, who was smiling at Burai's victory.

She glanced at me and then back at the destroyed ring. Lei and Burai's battle had done a big number on not only the ring, but also the center of the stadium.

Koukyuu and the other teachers quickly got to work fixing it.

"Say, why do they take so long to fix the ring?" Carter asked.

Yuzu yelped and turned around. "Carter! What are you doing down here?"

He grinned. "I wanted to get a closer look at the matches, duh!"

Nat chuckled. "Cart, these seats are reserved to the quarter finalists of each year."

He pouted. "I got to top eight."

Enkai hummed. "Although you had fewer people to fight than Shuai and I did."

Cart grumbled. "Are you saying I got to the top eight easily? I'll have you know that Jude wasn't exactly easy to beat."

He snorted. "You only fought one person besides Nate?"

"Enkai, be nice," Nate said, laughing nervously.

Carter crossed his arms. "Hmph!"

I sighed. "Boys, please don't argue about that. As for your question, Carter. It's because a good magical construct takes longer to make. The ring is prepared to ensure there's no injury from it getting destroyed."

"So, the ring is sorta like bullet-proof glass?"

I nodded, appreciating Carter’s attempt to understand.

“Exactly. It has to absorb and redirect energy from powerful spells. The last thing we want is for collateral damage to hurt anyone in the audience or the fighters. With the level of destruction we just witnessed, it’s going to take some time to restore it properly.”

Carter raised an eyebrow, still curious. “But doesn’t that mean the fights are kind of dangerous? What if someone gets hurt?”

“Every fight has its risks,” Yuzu chimed in, her tone serious. “That’s why our teachers work hard to make sure everything is ready. It's not just a matter of reforming the ring like most would think."

Ning nodded her head.

Carter hummed. "I see."

Nat smile as Koukyuu and the other teachers reformed barriers and ensured the rebuilt ring was up to par for the next match. Given it would be me versus Koharu, they knew the ring and barriers would have to be sturdy to contain all our power.

Lei waved as he and Burai finally reached us.

I stood up and put my hands on his shoulder. He winced. "Let me heal you."

He shook his head. "No, you need to save your prana for your match against Koharu. You'll need every bit of it."

Burai grinned. "Yup! Koharu is tough."

Koharu turned away. Was she blushing? Wait, did she like Burai? That was... unexpected. I thought she saw him like a kid brother.

I felt a pang of frustration as I looked at Lei. I wanted to help him, to ease the pain he was clearly in after that intense battle. The determination in his eyes was admirable, but it didn’t mask the toll it had taken on him.

“Still, Lei, I wish I could—” I began, but he cut me off.

“Adela, please. You need to focus on your match. I’ll be fine,” he said, trying to sound convincing, though the strain in his voice betrayed him.

Burai chimed in, “Seriously, Adela. Koharu’s not someone to take lightly. You need all your strength for this.”

I nodded, but my heart still ached for Lei. I hated seeing him hurt, especially when he had fought so bravely. “If you say so, but please, just take care of yourself.”

Lei smiled, the warmth of it reaching his turquoise eyes despite the vanishing bruises and burns. If not for the powers of the abysmal within him, he would be in worse shape.

“I will. Besides, I have a little something from Mama.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial filled with a shimmering purple liquid.

"Is that one of Harmonica's potions?"

“Yeah,” he replied, his grin widening. “Mama made me a batch before departing. It should help me recover a bit quicker. Just a little boost.”

I watched as he uncorked the vial and downed the contents in one swift gulp. The potion glowed faintly as it slid down his throat, and I could see the color in his cheeks returning, the pain in his eyes easing slightly. “See? I’ll be good as new in no time,” he said with a wink, though I could tell he was still weary.

“You better be,” I replied, a smile breaking through my concern. “I’ll need you cheering me on from the sidelines.”

Burai chuckled, nudging Lei with his elbow. “After that display, I think you’ll have the whole crowd rooting for you too, Adela.”

I felt the anticipation swell within me again. With Koharu as my opponent, I knew the stakes were high. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I still have to earn it,” I said, my voice low but steady.

As I glanced over at Koharu, who was stretching and preparing for the match, I could feel the resolve inside me harden. She was going to be a tough opponent. I couldn’t afford to underestimate her. Chances were I would lose to the honor student, but like Lei, I didn't wish to give up without a fight.

**Solar Note: Long time no see! Sorry for the delay. Hope you enjoyed the chapter ^^. Like the last few, it's a mix of my own writing with some parts written with the help of A.I.**