“So if any of you dare say another word about him… I swear, that’ll be the last thing you say.” Gyoda’s voice cut through the arena, sharp and unyielding.

Kenta, Karna, and Reiko watched him in silence. Kenta’s stoic gaze softened ever so slightly, while Reiko’s eyes glimmered with quiet appreciation.

From above, the crowd saw flames burst forth from Gyoda’s arm, climbing up to his elbow. The atmosphere grew heavy, tension pressing down on everyone present.

“He can use elemental magic?!” Uma gasped. “He was hiding it all along.”
“They know why we’re here,” Adheera muttered, his eyes narrowing. “Of course they’d keep their strength a secret.”
Han stared, wide-eyed. “He didn’t even flinch at Bagi’s attack.”
Adheera’s voice dropped further. “We underestimated them… these guys are strong.”

Gyoda’s eyes locked onto Bagi, burning with anger and resolve. Without a second thought, he charged forward.

Bagi unleashed a torrent of flames, a roaring stream like a flamethrower, but Gyoda met it head-on. He raised one arm to block while fire erupted from the other, driving him onward through the inferno.

“These guys… they’re blocking elemental attacks with their bare hands,” Tenko muttered, disbelief lacing his words. “Just who the hell are they?”

Bagi gritted his teeth and poured more power into the blaze, but Gyoda never faltered. Step by step, he closed the distance, finally shoving Bagi’s hands aside. The attack broke, and Bagi staggered back, off-balance, his eyes widening in shock as Gyoda raised his fire-cloaked fist.

With no time to dodge, Bagi hastily summoned a thick, reinforced shield. But the instant Gyoda’s punch connected, the shield shattered like brittle glass.

Bagi’s face twisted in horror as he desperately reinforced his arms with magic, bracing for the inevitable. Gyoda’s fist slammed into him, unleashing a shockwave that shook the entire arena. The walls trembled, the deafening sound forcing the spectators to cover their ears.

Bagi was hurled backward, crashing into the wall before crumpling to the ground, blood dripping from his mouth. The arena fell silent. He spat blood, struggling to rise.

Gyoda’s eyes bored into him. “Stop calling people weak and worthless when you know nothing about them.”

Then, with a calm expression, he raised his arm. “I admit defeat.”

“Gyoda forfeits! Bagi is the winner!” Hatake’s voice echoed across the hushed arena.

Gyoda turned and walked away, leaving behind a stunned silence. Even as Gyoda starts walking away, no one dared to boo.

“They admit defeat, yet display overwhelming power and silence the crowd,” Tenko whispered, his face pale. “Just what are they after?”

Charles, adjusting his monocle with deliberate precision, still reading his book. “Pray tell, why would one elect to yield when their strength is so undeniably manifest? The logic eludes me entirely.”

George, swirling his teacup with a slow, exacting motion, peered over the rim. “Ah, that is what occurs when one is so engrossed in literary pursuits, Charles. But pray, attend now — their associate earlier made it abundantly clear that victory was never their aim. Their designs diverge, and undoubtedly concern those cloaked individuals with whom we had the… prior engagement. I entreat you, observe with the utmost diligence.”

Albert’s voice, smooth and tinged with restrained admiration, followed. “Yet I must confess, that fellow’s defense of his teammate was most commendable. He acts more from the heart than the mind, and his display of raw power—utterly captivating. Were it not for the circumstance, I would much rather have faced Gyoda myself than have witnessed Bagi’s futile attempt. Truly, he is a most formidable opponent.”

Back in the waiting room, Karna, Kenta, and Reiko watched quietly as Gyoda passed by without a word, his posture unyielding despite the minor burns and scratches that marred his arms and hands. Every step he took carried the weight of the battle, his calm demeanor belying the fire that had raged in the arena moments ago.

Reiko approached him silently, kneeling beside his seat. Her hands moved carefully, applying a cooling ointment to the burn marks along his arms, her touch deliberate and steady.

“You always end up scarred after a fight,” she murmured, her voice carrying a mixture of exasperation and quiet concern.

Gyoda’s gaze remained fixed on the arena beyond the window, unflinching. He said nothing.

Meanwhile, Bagi limped into his own waiting room, frustration etched across his face. Not a single word was spoken by his team.

The whole arena fell silent, shaken not only by Gyoda’s overwhelming display but also by the words he left behind. His presence lingered in the air, heavy and undeniable.

Hatake’s voice finally broke the silence. “Next up—Goro versus Karna!”

In an instant, the quiet shattered. The crowd erupted with renewed fervor, anticipation crackling through the air.

Charles, who had been utterly absorbed in his book, closed it with a sharp snap and set it aside, his eyes at last fixed upon the arena.

George gave a soft chuckle, swirling his teacup with deliberate grace. “My, my! Look who has finally emerged from the refuge of his pages. Yet I cannot fault your timing, Charles. This is, after all, the very fellow who toyed with us as though we were nothing more than stray cats. I must confess, I too find myself most eager to observe his performance.”

Edward leaned back with a languid sigh, his tone insufferably measured. “Indeed. But let us not forget—his opponent is the Twilight. The weakest specimens humanity has to offer. One can only hope Goro restrains himself enough not to snuff the poor wretch out entirely.”

Karna sat in the waiting room, his whole body brimming with excitement. “Finally, I get to fight him,” he muttered, a wide grin spreading across his face.

When he stepped into the arena, the silence caught him off guard. Not a single boo or jeer rose from the stands. The weight of Gyoda’s earlier display still lingered, silencing the crowd completely.

Adheera glanced at the unmoving audience. “That Gyoda really shut everyone up.” he said quietly.

Fumiko’s eyes narrowed as she fixed her gaze on Goro. She remembered the moment he had first called Karna the Twilight, the name still echoing in her mind.

Han leaned forward, a sharp gleam in his eyes. “This is the match I’ve been waiting for. The guy who handled us with ease… versus the weak Twilight.”

Karna’s eyes wandered toward the stands, unable to resist. His face flushed red as he admired the girls watching, his usual sparkle returning as brightly as ever.

But the moment Goro entered the arena, Karna’s expression hardened. His playful gaze turned sharp, his excitement tempered into focus as his eyes locked onto his opponent.

The two stood facing each other, tension crackling in the air between them.

“Begin!” Hatake’s voice thundered, commanding silence once more.

As the fight started, Hatake watched intently. This Goro guy is very strong. This should be over in an instant.

Karna made the first move, sprinting toward Goro while firing magic spheres. Goro dodged them all with ease, his movements smooth and precise. As Karna closed in, he launched a kick aimed straight at Goro’s face, but Goro caught it with his palm and grabbed hold of his leg.

In the next instant, lightning crackled across Karna’s foot. Goro’s eyes widened as he immediately released his hold and fell back.

The arena froze in stunned silence before erupting into shouts of disbelief.

“Is this guy really a Twilight? He’s actually strong!”
“Aren’t Twilights supposed to be weak? Weaker than even non-magic folk?”
“That Twilight just used lightning? How’s that possible? Their clan was the reason the Lightning Spirit stopped blessing humans!!!”
“How can a weakling like the Twilight wield such a powerful element?!”

Adheera’s voice grew tense. “The Twilight isn’t so weak after all.”

Han’s eyes remained locked on the fight, his face pale with shock. “These guys… they’re good. Really good.”

Uma’s thoughts cut through the tension. This guy… he’s pretty strong for a Twilight.

Albert gave a low, amused laugh. “My, my! What a fascinating specimen he is—and not merely he, but his entire company. To think they cloaked their strength so artfully until now. How utterly diverting.”

Charles remained speechless,  disbelief flickering across his face. “Yet one thing eludes my comprehension. How is it that a Twilight—creatures renowned for frailty—can exhibit such formidable strength? Surely, Albert, your vaunted intelligence has erred. ”

Albert’s smile thinned, his voice smooth but certain. “All of my intel regarding Ashijikis and Twilights is beyond reproach, this is no error. Either he is a singular anomaly among his kind… or he is not a Twilight at all. Though, I find that improbable—no rational being would willingly bear such a name. There is, without doubt, some hidden facet to him of which I remain… uninformed.”

George swirled his teacup with slow precision. “What perplexes me most is his command over lightning. Even in Lycia, it is well-accepted that the spirit has withheld its blessing from mankind for centuries. How, then, does a mere Twilight wield it?”

Albert’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Precisely my point. He is a trove of enigmas. He would serve perfectly as the centerpiece of my final year thesis.”

Karna channeled lightning into his hands and fired it toward Goro. A thick magical barrier shimmered into existence before him, the crackling bolts of lightning splashing harmlessly against its surface.

Tenko leaned forward, his expression sharp. “That Twilight can control lightning? It’s already shocking enough that he has such a rare element, but being able to direct it… that’s unbelievable.”

One of his teammates frowned. “But the lightning looks weak.”

“Still,” Tenko replied, “the fact that he can guide it at all means he’s trained hard. From what I’ve heard, controlling lightning is like putting a wild beast on a leash. You never know where it’ll strike. Back when people were still born with the lightning element, they had to undergo brutal training just to keep it under control.”

A spectator nearby gaped. “Wow! How do you know so much about lightning magic?”

“I’m from the Ikazuchi clan,” Tenko said casually.

The man’s jaw dropped. “Wait—the Lightning Clan? From the Five Ancient Clans?!”

“Yep.” Tenko smirked. 

“No way! Are you a direct descendant of one of the first three generations?”. Asked the spectator in shock.

Tenko burst out laughing. “What? Of course not. Those guys are beasts. Even a five-year-old from the pure bloodline could wipe the floor with everyone here. I’m just a regular member.”

“Still, you’re from one of the Five Ancient Clans! That means… Can you use lightning too?”

Tenko sighed. “Obviously not. The Lightning Spirit stopped blessing us centuries ago. Without its aid, mastering lightning takes decades.”

“Then how the hell is the Twilight able to use it?”

“That’s what’s bugging me.” Tenko’s eyes narrowed as he sank into thought. Did he somehow receive the Lightning Spirit’s blessing? No, that’s impossible. And he couldn’t have mastered it through sheer training. Even top-tier mages need decades to conjure lightning without the spirit’s help…

BACK IN THE ARENA

Karna and Goro charged at each other. Karna threw a punch, but Goro caught his arm, pulling him in close. Leaning in, he whispered, "THAT’S HIM!! IN THE VIP BOX. THAT IS MAWANG KYOFU"

Karna’s eyes flicked upward. Through the distance, he could barely make out a lone figure seated in the VIP section. The details were obscured, but the presence was undeniable.

From the highest box, Mawang watched their exchange, quickly piecing things together. A knowing smile spread across his face.

Karna snapped his attention back to Goro and tried to punch him in the stomach. Goro blocked it and stepped back.

Adheera’s voice carried over. "He’s actually keeping up with that Goro guy. The Twilight… he’s not half bad. Though Goro is barely using his strength."

Goro smirked. "Guess I should use a little more power. Be warned."

Karna grinned in response.

Goro conjured a magic sphere and fired it. Karna raised a shield, bracing for impact. The sphere crashed into it, shattering the barrier, but the explosion canceled out the attack, sending Karna stumbling back from the force.

Goro’s eyes were sharp. "Karna, it’s been a while since we fought. You’ve gotten stronger."

Karna returned the gaze with a smile. "Thanks, senpai."

Bagi’s team, Hatake, Fumiko, and several other participants all froze, voices rising in unison. "Senpai?! What?!"

(*Writer’s note: Senpai (先輩) is a Japanese term used for someone slightly older or more experienced, often a mentor figure. Using this word implies the two know each other personally, with the elder guiding the younger. )

Reiko smirked, her tone teasing. "That’s right. He’s our senpai—Goro."

The crowd erupted in shock.

Tenko- “Did that Twilight just call him Senpai??”

Albert leaned forward, a grin tugging at his lips. “Ah, delightful. And here I thought the stage had already revealed all its cards.”

Charles, eyes glimmering with interest. “Intriguing. More intriguing, in fact, than the pages I was just reading. To think the Twilight still harbors such secrets.”

They shouldn’t have been surprised—not if they knew what had happened one week ago.