Episode 18: Ranking Ceremony Part 5

The roar of the crowd echoed throughout the arena.

Ven could feel the vibrations beneath his feet as thousands of spectators stomped against the ground, their anticipation building for the final round.

The Battle Royale.

Ten competitors.

Three winners.

Three future faces of the Tower of the Republic.

The atmosphere was electric. The crowd had been waiting for this moment, and their excitement filled every corner of the arena.

"Fight! Fight!"

"Let's GOO!"

"Rooting for you, Lox!"

The cheers grew louder as the competitors walked toward the center of the battlefield. The arena itself was simple—a square ring with boundary lines drawn across the ground and stands surrounding it, allowing the spectators to watch every movement.

Among those watching were the Masters, along with Kia, Nyx, and Enishi. They occupied the best seats in the arena, positioned close enough to see the battle clearly.

The competitors took their places.

Ven stood at one end of the ring.

The remaining nine stood opposite him.

Ezreal rose from his seat. "The rules are simple. If you cross over the boundary line, you will be disqualified. You have ten minutes to knock each other out. Anything goes, as long as you do not kill each other. The last three standing will be declared the winners."

His eyes briefly met Lox's before shifting toward Ven.

"Begin."

The moment the match started, eight competitors rushed toward Ven.

Fire and water erupted across the arena as they launched their attacks simultaneously.

"Was this planned?!" Ven shouted as he moved through the barrage. A grin appeared on his face. "I'll take you all!"

Flames erupted around his body.

Ven covered his right fist in fire and slammed it into the ground. A tidal wave of flames exploded outward, sweeping across the arena and overwhelming every attacker in its path. One after another, the competitors were thrown beyond the boundary line.

Eight competitors.

Eliminated instantly.

For a moment, the arena fell silent, Then the crowd erupted.

"Well, that's new," Nyx commented.

Kia chuckled while Enishi watched with an amused smirk.

The spectators stared at Ven in disbelief, unable to process what they had just witnessed. Even the Masters exchanged quiet remarks.

Only Ezreal remained silent. His expression gave away nothing.

As the flames faded, Ven looked across the battlefield and assessed the results.

Eight down.

His eyes moved toward the only remaining competitor.

Lox.

The final opponent.

"Well, I must admit..." Lox said, a smile forming on his face. "I wasn't expecting that from you." Ven turned toward him. "That was quick. I thought they would've put up more of a fight." Lox brushed the ash from his shirt and stepped forward. "Ah, well. I've been waiting for this," His expression hardened. "Especially after what you did to Merrick."

Ven's eyes narrowed. "You mean after what he tried to do to me?" He scoffed. "He got off easy."

Lox's gaze darkened. "I'll make sure you won't."

Without another word, Lox launched himself forward and closed the distance in an instant. Their fists collided as the two exchanged a rapid series of blows. Ven matched his speed effortlessly, slipping past Lox's attacks and responding with strikes of his own. Every movement was calculated, every exchange deliberate. Neither fighter gave the other an opening. Ven followed with a combination of punches before launching a kick toward Lox's side. Lox twisted away and countered with a whip of water. Ven leaned backward, barely avoiding the attack, before releasing a burst of flames toward him. Lox moved out of the way just in time, and the clash between fire and water filled the arena with steam, briefly hiding their movements.

Then Lox appeared through the mist., his fist connected with Ven's jaw.

Ven slid backward several feet before regaining his footing. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Lox with a grin. "Done warming up?"

Lox smiled. Instead of answering, he raised his hand.

Water gathered in his palm, twisting and shaping itself into a sword. He took a slow breath, and a layer of ice spread across the weapon until it froze solid.

"Let's play."

Lox charged. The frozen blade moved wildly through the air, each swing cutting toward Ven with enough force to force him back. The attacks appeared reckless, almost careless, but something about them bothered Ven.

His movements...

Ven continued dodging, his body moving naturally around each strike.

They're different from what I expected.

Lox's attacks were wild.

Unpredictable, almost sloppy. But Ven knew better. Lox wasn't someone who would fight without a reason.

He's setting something up.

The realization came too late.

Suddenly, Lox stopped attacking.

The ice sword melted away, returning to water before disappearing completely.

"This fight is over."

Ven tilted his head. "What?"

Lox looked at him calmly. "All that movement. All that dodging." A faint smile appeared on his face. "You still haven't noticed."

Ven frowned. "Noticed what?"

Lox raised his hand.

A wave of water shot forward and struck Ven, forcing him backward. The attack itself wasn't powerful. It was barely enough to move him.

"That was weak." Ven stepped forward, then he froze. A sharp pain shot through his arm. He looked down and saw a thin cut had appeared across his skin, blood slowly dripping from the wound.

"What the..." He turned around.

Floating in the air behind him was a nearly invisible strand of ice.

Ven's expression changed. He carefully shifted his weight.

Another sharp pain, this time from his heel.

He immediately stepped back.

Every movement I make...

His eyes scanned the battlefield.

I'm getting cut.

The realization hit him.

Lox's sword had never been meant to land a direct hit. Every slash had placed thin strands of ice throughout the arena, turning the battlefield itself into a trap.

Ven gritted his teeth. "You bastard."

Lox laughed. "I expected more from you." He began walking forward. "After all your training with Kia, I thought you would've learned to pay closer attention."

Ven lowered his stance, carefully watching the battlefield around him.

For the first time since the match began...

Lox had taken control.

Lox continued forward, confident that the fight was already decided. Another blast of water erupted from his hand. Ven blocked the attack, but the force still pushed him backward. The moment his foot shifted, another invisible strand of ice sliced across his body.

Pain shot through his arm.

Then his leg.

Every escape route had been sealed.

Lox wasn't trying to overpower him, he was controlling him.

"He's in trouble," Kia said quietly. She leaned forward, her eyes locked onto the battlefield. "Lox isn't just attacking him. He's forcing him toward the boundary."

Nyx nodded. "He's using the ice as a cage. The moment Ven panics and moves without thinking, he'll eliminate himself."

Enishi remained silent, his eyes never left Ven.

Inside the arena, Ven struggled to find an opening. Lox continued his assault, firing wave after wave of water. Each attack forced Ven closer to the invisible blades surrounding him.

Blood stained his clothes.

His breathing grew heavier.

"This is disappointing," Lox said. "I expected more from a Tenaris."

Ven clenched his fists. He tried moving forward and a line of ice cut across his cheek.

Blood dripped down his face.

Lox walked closer, his expression filled with disappointment. "I don't understand." He at Ven.

"Merrick was supposed to be stronger than this. The Tenaris were feared for their power. Their ruthlessness." His smile faded. "But you're just lying on the ground."

Ven tried to raise his head, but another strand of ice cut across his skin.

Lox clicked his tongue. "Careful. You might ruin that pretty face."

Ven's vision blurred as blood dripped into his eyes.

Then Lox raised both hands. Water gathered above him. The pressure in the arena changed as the water began spinning, forming a massive whirlpool above Ven.

"I'll make this quick." Lox brought his hands together. The vortex collapsed. Ven was lifted from the ground and swallowed by the rushing current. Inside the whirlpool, everything became chaos. The force of the water tossed him around violently, slamming him from every direction. He tried to steady himself, tried to breathe, but the water filled his lungs before he could react.

His chest burned.

His body grew heavier.

I'm going to drown...

Outside the vortex, Lox watched calmly. "Had enough?"

There was no response.

Ven's body convulsed inside the water. Lox smiled before raising his arms and bringing them down.

The whirlpool exploded, and Ven was hurled across the arena. He crashed onto the ground, his head striking the arena floor with enough force to shake the ring. The impact rattled his entire body. He coughed violently, blood and water spilling from his mouth. For several seconds, he struggled to remain conscious, fighting to keep his eyes open, but his body refused to listen.

His vision blurred.

The roar of the crowd faded into a distant murmur.

His eyes slowly closed and the darkness took over.

Three minutes passed and Ven still hasn't moved.

Lox stood over him, staring down at the defeated fighter. A mixture of disappointment and disgust crossed his face.

"Master Ezreal," He turned toward the stands. "It's over. He's out."

When no one stopped him, Lox looked back at Ven one final time. "Pathetic."

He turned and began walking away.

Then...

A voice reached Ven.

Soft.

Unknown.

Inviting.

Ven. The voice whispered his name.

Wake up.

Ven found himself surrounded by darkness. He couldn't see anything. He couldn't hear the crowd or feel the arena beneath him. There was only the voice. It was strange. Unknown. Yet somehow familiar. There was something comforting about it, something tempting. The voice didn't demand anything from him.

It offered.

This is only the beginning.

Ven's body felt heavy. Every injury and every ounce of exhaustion weighed him down.

Give them a taste of your true power.

The voice grew closer.

Don't you want to know what you are truly capable of?

Ven's breathing slowed. Somewhere deep inside him, something stirred. Something that had always been there. Something he had refused to acknowledge.

You know.

You feel it.

You've always had it.

A strange sensation spread through his body.

Heat.

Not the warmth of his flames.

Something deeper.

Something ancient.

Let it out.

The voice became a whisper.

Let it go.

For a moment, Ven remained completely still.

Then his stomach growled.

The sound echoed through the darkness.

Once.

Then again.

Louder.

Ven’s eyes suddenly opened.

“LOX!”

The roar of his voice shook the arena.

Lox stopped walking. He slowly, he turned around. The confidence on his face disappeared.

Ven was moving.

His hands pressed against the ground as he pushed himself upward. His body was battered, covered in cuts and bruises, but something about him had changed. A faint red glow surrounded him, and the air around him felt heavier.

The entire arena fell silent.

"What... is this?" Lox stared at him, unable to hide his confusion.

Ven lifted his head. His eyes were different. His irises burned crimson. His ears had become slightly longer, and his canine teeth had sharpened. The person standing before Lox was still Ven. But it was also something else. Something dangerous and Ven could smell Lox's fear.

The crowd watched in silence. Even the Masters stopped speaking.

Kia slowly stood from her seat. "Ven..."

Nyx stared at the arena, his expression tense. "Did he just..."

He couldn't finish the sentence.

No one had an answer.

Ven looked directly at Lox.

There was no hesitation.

No fear.

Only rage.

Then he disappeared.

Lox's eyes widened.

He couldn't follow the movement.

One moment Ven was standing across the arena.

The next, he was directly in front of him.

"How—"

Lox barely managed to raise his hands before Ven struck. A wall of water formed between them, but Ven tore through it as if it wasn't there. His hand wrapped around Lox's throat, and the strength behind the grip was overwhelming. For the first time in the battle, Lox felt helpless.

Ven lifted him into the air with ease and slammed him into the arena floor. The impact echoed throughout the stadium. The same person who had been defeated moments ago had completely overwhelmed Lox in a single attack. The arena fell silent. Nobody understood what they had just witnessed. Moments ago, Ven had been defeated. Now he stood over Lox's unconscious body, surrounded by a strange red glow.

Kia and Nyx watched in disbelief. "You saw that, right?" Kia whispered.

Nyx's expression remained tense. "Yeah."

The Masters murmured among themselves, but two people remained silent.

Ezreal and Enishi.

Ven stared down at Lox without moving. Then he raised his fist.

The impact echoed through the arena and the crowd gasped as Ven struck Lox's unconscious body again and again. There was no technique behind his movements anymore. 

No control. 

No restraint.

Only rage.

"Ven!" Enishi's voice reached him, but Ven didn't respond. The arena disappeared around him. The only thing left was Lox.

"Ven, stop!" Enishi turned toward Ezreal. "Do something!"

The Master remained seated. "They still have time remaining," he said drly.

Enishi stared at him.

"He will kill him."

Ezreal said nothing.

That was enough.

"Enough!"

Enishi leaped into the arena and grabbed Ven from behind, pulling him away from Lox. "Ven!"

A low growl escaped Ven's throat.

The red glow intensified as his body began changing. His ears and canine teeth stretched longer, and his movements became more animalistic.

This isn't anger. Something else is taking over.

"KIA!" Enishi shouts toward the stands.

Kia appeared instantly and placed her fingertips against Ven's forehead.

The rage in his eyes flickered and the strange red glow faded. A few seconds later, Ven collapsed.

Silence filled the arena.

Enishi stood over him, breathing heavily, before turning toward Ezreal.

The Master had seen everything.

The defeat.

The awakening.

The loss of control.

And he had done nothing.

"Ezreal..."

Ezreal looked toward him and smiled. It wasn't amusement and it wasn't relief. It was the smile of someone who had just confirmed something he already knew.

Enishi felt a chill run through him. Ezreal wasn't looking at Ven as a student but as a discovery.

Whatever had awakened inside Ven....Ezreal was pleased.