Monday's expression hardened as they hovered above Rain, their stern gaze locking onto her. If this foolish child wanted to push things to their limit, then Monday would grant her wish. The battle would end now, and Monday would ensure it was a lesson Rain would never forget.

With a cold resolve, Monday summoned the full fury of Paradisa's wrath. A massive surge of divine light crackled through the air, descending upon the arena with an overwhelming force that shook the very ground. The attack was relentless, impossible to evade, a tempest of raw energy that bore down on Rain like the judgment of the heavens.

The bolts of holy energy multiplied, suffocating the arena with their sheer intensity. Every inch of space seemed to crackle with power, the air itself becoming heavy and oppressive, pulling every last bit of energy into the vortex that Monday had created. The crowd gasped in unison, eyes wide as they watched the terrifying spectacle unfold.

Rain barely had time to react. Her instincts kicked in, and she threw up her arms to shield her eyes, but it was futile. The water she had so carefully manipulated to fight Monday evaporated in an instant, the oxygen in the air consumed by the ferocious onslaught. She was left defenseless, her power stripped away by the sheer magnitude of Monday's attack.

The light bore down on her, suffocating, blinding, and all-consuming. Rain could feel the heat searing against her skin, the power pressing in on her from all sides. Panic welled up inside her as she realized just how outmatched she was.

This was no mere duel—this was a force of nature, a power beyond her comprehension. Monday wasn't just fighting her; they were crushing her, making it clear that she was nothing in the face of true divine power.

Rain's heart pounded in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tried to hold on, tried to find some way to survive the onslaught. But it was hopeless. The light was too strong, too overwhelming, and all she could do was stand there, helpless, as the arena around her was swallowed by Monday's wrath.

In that moment, Rain understood. She wasn't ready—not for this, not for the kind of power Monday wielded. All her training, all her bravado—it was meaningless in the face of such overwhelming force.

And Monday, hovering above her, knew it too. Their eyes bore into her, cold and unforgiving, as they watched her struggle. They had warned her, mocked her, and now they were delivering the final blow, showing her just how small she truly was.

Rain's vision began to blur as the light intensified, her strength fading rapidly. She could feel herself slipping away, the edges of her consciousness beginning to fray. 

But just as the light reached its peak, as the final wave of energy prepared to crash down upon Rain, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her, her presence as startling as it was unexpected. A brilliant, pure light emanated from the girl, but this magic was different—softer, warmer, and more comforting than the harsh, divine energy that Monday wielded. It felt like the embrace of a long-lost friend, a beacon of hope in the midst of the chaos.

"Stop!" The dark-skinned elf commanded, her voice strong and unwavering. The moment the words left her lips, Monday's magic faltered and then dissipated entirely, as if it had never existed. The immense pressure in the arena lifted, the air no longer crackling with suffocating energy. The light that had threatened to consume Rain vanished into the ether, leaving only the girl's gentle glow.

Rain, still shaking from the intensity of Monday's attack, stared at the elf in disbelief. How could someone—anyone—deflect an archangel's power so effortlessly? And more than that, how could she emerge unscathed from such an overwhelming assault? It was inconceivable, yet here this girl stood, a calm in the eye of the storm.

The crowd, equally stunned, collectively held their breath. Whispers spread like wildfire through the stands, disbelief and awe mixing in equal measure. It was unheard of—no one had ever dared to interfere in an arcane duel, let alone confront an archangel in such a manner. The rule was absolute: only the headmaster or the academy's staff could intervene in such matters. And yet, this girl, a mere student, had done the unthinkable.

Monday's eyes narrowed, their serene, confident expression cracking ever so slightly. They regarded the elf with a mix of curiosity and irritation. "You dare to command me?" they demanded, their voice laced with a dangerous edge. "You should know better than to interfere in an arcane duel. This is a grave offense."

The elf met Monday's gaze without flinching, her expression calm but resolute. "I couldn't stand by and watch you hurt this child," she replied, her voice steady, carrying a weight of authority that seemed almost unnatural coming from someone so young. "This fight is over."

Rain's heart pounded in her chest as she took in the scene. There was something strangely familiar about this elf, something in the way she carried herself, in the way her magic felt so pure and true. But the thought was fleeting, overtaken by the sheer disbelief of what had just happened.

Monday's wings flared slightly, their eyes still locked onto the elf. "You have no idea what you're dealing with, child," they hissed, the divine energy within them swirling just beneath the surface. "Do you truly believe you can stand against me? An archangel?"

The elf didn't waver, her own magic swirling around her like a protective shield. "I don't need to stand against you," she said softly, her words carrying a strange, undeniable power. "I only need to protect those who can't protect themselves."

The arena was deathly silent, every eye on the two figures standing at its center. Rain could feel the tension in the air, thicker than ever, as if the entire world held its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

But Monday didn't make another move. Instead, they studied the elf for a long moment, their expression unreadable. Then, slowly, the divine energy that had filled the arena began to dissipate, retreating back into the archangel as they let out a long, frustrated sigh.

"Whatever," Monday shrugged, their once stern demeanor shifting to something more relaxed, almost careless. "I was just giving the audience a show and Rain exactly what she wanted. You must be new here." They smirked, trying to downplay the intensity of what had just happened, as if their near-fatal attack had been nothing more than a spectacle, a misunderstanding, not at all their fault.

"Lyra!" Kloud's voice cut through the tension, drawing all eyes to him as he sprinted across the arena. His gaze immediately fell on Rain, who looked more shaken than he'd ever seen her—her face pale, her eyes wide with lingering fear.

He approached her quickly, his concern palpable. "Rain, are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with the kind of worry only a protective brother could have.

Rain's eyes flickered between Kloud and Lyra, her breath still coming in short, uneven gasps. She nodded slowly, but the tremble in her hands betrayed her fear. "I'm... I'm fine," she stammered, though her voice was weak, uncertain. She tried to stand tall, but the weight of what had just happened was crushing her, leaving her vulnerable in a way she wasn't used to.

Kloud's brow furrowed, unconvinced. He glanced at Lyra, who was now standing protectively in front of Rain, her back now turned to Monday. There was a strange intensity in Lyra's stance, something he hadn't seen before—something fierce and unyielding.

"Lyra," Kloud said, his voice more cautious now, "Why did you jump in like that? You could've gotten hurt."

"I couldn't just stand by and watch," Lyra said, her voice steady despite the adrenaline pumping through her veins. "Monday was going too far. This wasn't a fair duel—it was about to turn into something much worse."

Monday tilted their head, amusement dancing in their eyes. "Oh, was I now?" they teased, their tone still light but laced with a hint of sarcasm. "I didn't realize I was supposed to hold back for children's sake. But if you're that concerned, maybe Rain should reconsider who she picks fights with."

"Enough," Lyra snapped, her tone commanding, leaving no room for argument. "Whatever point you were trying to make, you've made it. You won. Now, back off."

The crowd was silent, the tension thick as everyone watched the confrontation unfold. The power dynamic had shifted, and now all eyes were on Lyra, who seemed to be radiating a quiet, authoritative strength. Even Monday's usual smugness was starting to crack under the weight of Lyra's unwavering stance.

"I've seen enough!" 

The tension in the arena snapped as the Headmaster's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. She stepped forward from the crowd, her presence instantly drawing every eye.