The temperature rose instantly, almost beyond manageable even for Atheline. Amerula and Sandy moved further back.

Flames spiraled upwards around him violently while the spear began glowing brighter and brighter crimson with a bit of blue in the middle.

"Fire Dominion"

Sandy’s expression paled immediately, goosebumps forming on her skin.

"No..." she mumbled to herself.

A massive crimson of fire spread beneath Igrad’s feet, the heat wave forcing Atheline back a few steps.

’What in the world?’

Atheline looked at the spectacle in front of him in shock. He had not expected this kind of power blowout. It seems like Igrad was focusing all his power on the flames around him.

The entire forest shook. Everyone who had been heading to the exit stopped and looked towards the centre of the forest. Shock spread through anyone who saw it, they could feel the overwhelming pressure even from their position.

The sky above the forest was ignited in crimson hues.

Thousands of gigantic flaming spears formed overhead slowly, all pointing downwards towards the battlefield. The surrounding forest began burning from the heat alone.

Igrad raised his spear towards the heavens.

’So this is his ultimate move’

"I don’t normally use this as you can see," he said with a smug tone," it’s quite consuming and the damage is extensive but we all know right... What happens in the Spitting Harrows stays in the Spitting Harrows."

"You’ll corrupt yourself with how much Aether you’re squandering," Atheline couldn’t help but say.

His eyes observed every one of his movements and how much Aether he had used.

"It’s taken me ten years to perfect this technique, I know what I’m doing, " he replied.

The flames around him blazed even further.

"I think I’ve gotten it now," Atheline muttered to himself," Anchor."

At the same time, he slowly lifted his bow again. Just as Igrad had done, wind screamed around him and across the valley. Burning flames went off while some froze inside ice.

Frost gathered endlessly overhead. Igrad gaze lifted. His face paled the moment he saw what was happening above him, the smug smile dropping.

Giant arrows began forming in the sky above him too.

"How... this is not possible... Why are you copying me!"

Hundreds of arrows floated above, pointing upwards intercepting every spear. Lightning and spinning currents of wind wrapped around each one of them.

"It’s not that hard," Atheline said in the most nonchalant tone he could master.

Igrad’s eyes went red. The insult hit deeper than it was supposed to. Atheline had not seen him this angry even after losing their first battle.

The battlefield trembled under the pressure of the two powers.

Igrad lowered his spear slightly, then froze.

A blade pierced through his back, the squelching sound of flesh ripping open dominating the quiet battlefield.

Blood spilled from his mouth.

The flaming spears overhead flickered violently but still held.

Behind him stood the seven-tailed fox beast man, Amerula, muscles trembling as he forced the sword deeper.

"You?! mutt!"

Atheline was also surprised. He had seen him approach but had chosen to ignore him. Who was he to prevent him from seeking death? Truthfully, he had not thought the man would be that courageous.

’Saved me a bit of time and energy anyway’

"Did you forget I’m a fox," Amerula whispered.

Rage exploded across Igrad’s face. The flickering flames surged wildly around him but Atheline moved immediately.

He saw the opening and chose to end it before the ultimate attacks could descend.

Wind exploded beneath his feet and he crossed the battlefield instantly.

The sword flashed once, a clean silver arc. Igrad’s head separated from his shoulders before he could react.

The flaming spears vanished from the sky almost instantly having lost their anchor and the giants’ ice arrows dissolved into drifting frost.

Any flame that had still been burning was put out in the process.

Silence finally swallowed the ruined valley.

Atheline was quiet for a moment, just trying to regulate his aether circulation. Creating those massive arrows had left a strain on his core.

While Igrad understood the concept of the skill, Atheline had copied it and only wielded the shell of it which Igrad had failed to comprehend.

Atheline rolled his shoulder then his gaze moved to Amerula who had been staring at him the whole time.

He raised a brow.

"Is something the matter?" He asked.

Amerula was quiet for a moment then he suddenly bowed.

"It’s nothing serious your highness but I do hope you can have mercy on my people and me."

Atheline slightly tilted his head in confusion.

"Prince Igrad had requested that we both kill you and I had taken the..."

A sword was pointed at his throat before he could even finish his words.

"Continue."

"You’re highness, please don’t..." a female voice cut through the tense silence," please don’t your majesty, I was the one who told him to accept, or else Prince Igrad would have killed both of us."

Atheline’s gaze narrowed but he didn’t lower his sword.

"Really."

She nodded vigorously and limped towards them her hand on her side.

"That’s why we were fighting earlier, to buy time and think of a way out."

His lips curved into a small smile.

"Really, and if I had not arrived?"

"I would have died loyal to my queen."

That seemed to have done the magic. Atheline stepped back, his smile widening. He extended his hand towards her.

"This belongs to you, Lady Sandy."

Sandy nodded and stepped forward. " Thank you. "

"Not a problem," he turned to Amerula," lift your head."

He did but avoided his eyes.

"I will forgive this transgression this time, no one will know of what happened here."

’Except by wife’

Both of them nodded.

"We should leave, there are only ten minutes before the competition ends."

Sandy hesitated." Your highness..."

"Yes," he responded with a smile.

"What about the prince’s death," she glanced at the head on Atheline’s feet," will that affect the kingdom?"

Atheline shrugged. He touched the head, it vanished, and he did the same to the body. He wiped his hands and turned back to the two.

"Don’t worry about that, we’ll deal with it."