Chapter 3 originally published on ScribbleHub . Cross-posted here with permission.

Chapter 3: Storm and Steel — Clash with Kaien

[Scene: Zenrai Institute — Combat Arena Alpha, Later That Week]

A swirling dome of energy lit up the night sky above Arena Alpha. Students filled the stadium seats, buzzing with anticipation. This wasn’t just another trial—this was the academy’s First Ranked Sparring Match.

Two names hovered on the central screen, glowing in red and blue:

Kaien Vaelheart vs. Aizen Caelmir

The crowd lost it.

“No way! They’re putting Kaien against the no-mana kid?!”

“He’s dead. Kaien’s a monster!”

“Or… maybe they want to see how broken that Caelmir kid really is.”

[Scene: Arena Floor]

Aizen stepped into the ring, his sword resting lazily across his shoulder. Calm. Still.

Across the platform, Kaien spun his twinblade in a slow circle, the air warping slightly around him from compressed mana.

“Didn’t think they’d match us this early,” Kaien said, smirking.

Aizen tilted his head. “Neither did I. Thought I’d have more time to study your weaknesses.”

Kaien laughed. “You’re welcome to try, Aizen. But let’s be honest—”

FWOOSH.

A sudden surge of mana exploded beneath Kaien’s feet. He vanished.

CLANG!

Aizen spun and blocked just in time. Sparks flew as steel clashed with steel.

“You talk too much,” Aizen muttered, pushing Kaien back with a twist of his blade.

Kaien landed smoothly and charged again, his movement fluid, blades whistling like wind through a canyon. Aizen sidestepped, his foot gliding in a faint ripple of Noirvein. He moved unnaturally—no footsteps, no sound, just shift.

CRACK!

Aizen’s sword came down like a thunderclap. Kaien barely raised his blade in time, and the shockwave sent dust spiraling.

From the crowd:

“Holy crap, that Caelmir kid isn’t normal.”

“That’s not mana. That’s something else…”

[Scene: Upper Spectator Deck — Sumiko’s View]

Sumiko stood silently, arms folded. Her Azure Sight was fully active.

“Noirvein… he’s using it, but barely. His output’s intentionally suppressed. He’s hiding something.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“And Kaien… he hasn’t tapped into his Blood Art either. They’re both holding back.”

[Scene: Arena, Mid-Fight]

Kaien’s blade hummed with violet energy. “Let me show you something interesting.”

He slammed his twinblade into the ground. Mana erupted outward like a wave.

Mana Art: Mirage Echo.

Three illusory clones split from Kaien, dashing toward Aizen at once.

Aizen didn’t flinch. His eyes glowed faintly violet.

He whispered, “Shift.”

His feet shimmered. He weaved through the clones like water—twisting, slipping, cutting.

SHINK! CRASH! WHOOSH!

All three clones dissipated. Aizen landed behind Kaien, Noirvein flaring subtly at his heels.

But Kaien turned fast, faster than expected.

“Gotcha.”

BOOM!

A point-blank burst of mana blasted Aizen across the arena.

He slid, rolled, and came up coughing.

“Not bad,” he muttered.

He stood. Noirvein flared again, this time brighter, licking up his arm like a black flame.

The crowd gasped.

Kaien braced. “You done holding back?”

Aizen’s voice was low. “I’m only warming up.”

[Scene: Final Exchange — Arena]

Both fighters launched themselves forward at the same time.

Kaien’s blade crackled with dense mana. Aizen’s Noirvein surged up his weapon like a serpent.

They collided.

BOOM!

A flash of light. Then silence.

Both lay on the ground, breathing heavily, weapons beside them.

The dome flickered.

“Draw.”

A hush fell over the arena.

Then a roar of cheers.

“They both… crashed?!”

“That was insane!”

“No winner?!”

[Scene: Medical Wing, Later That Night]

Aizen sat on a cot, bandaged shoulder and a bruise across his ribs.

Kaien lay on the next bed over, arm in a sling, smiling.

“Looks like we’re evenly matched, huh?”

Aizen smirked. “Or both bad at holding back.”

They shared a short laugh.

From that moment on, a silent agreement passed between them:

They were rivals—not to destroy, but to push each other higher.

And no one knew who was stronger.

[End of Chapter 3]

Next: Chapter 4 — “Storm Class Begins: The Arrival of the Instructors”