I Was Born With A Bloodline That Ended The World-Chapter 93: Roars of the Arena

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE ECLIPSE ACADEMY TOURNAMENT!"

The announcer’s voice boomed across the entire campus, each word echoing off the stone walls of the courtyard and carrying through every hall.

"EVERYONE, ARE YOU READY!!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, the energy almost crackling in the air.

Students, instructors, and visitors from outside the academy had filled the arena and the balconies above, the buzz of excitement rivaling that of a festival.

Banners hung from the balconies, painted with the names and insignias of the academy’s different classes and combat clans.

Even from where he stood at the edge of the stage, Rhian could feel the heat of the excitement.

He had never seen the school so alive, so loud, so united in purpose.

For all the rivalry, for all the whispered insults and hidden tensions, today was different. Today was about strength, skill, and who would rise.

The arena itself was massive, circular, with reinforced walls that bore the marks of countless training duels and competitions.

Dust and sweat still lingered from the last fight, the scent of old clashes mixing with the electric buzz of anticipation.

Rhian watched as the other fighters lined up around the perimeter. Nia stood a few paces away, her expression focused but calm.

Ash lounged further back, looking more amused than serious, his eyes flickering over the crowd with that knowing glint.

Aras was there too, stoic as always, his gaze steady and unreadable.

Iris, meanwhile, stood further back, her eyes locked onto the ground as she whispered quiet words to herself, a ritual she had kept since they first started training.

Mr. Callor walked through the lineup, his broad shoulders and cold stare silencing the noise of the students nearest to him. He didn’t bother with a speech. His presence was enough.

Rhian clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the moment.

He was ready.

The announcer’s voice thundered again, pulling him back.

"TO ALL PARTICIPANTS. STEP FORWARD! IT’S TIME TO SEE WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF!"

One by one, the fighters stepped into the ring, the eyes of everyone on them.

For a brief moment, Rhian closed his eyes.

He let the noise wash over him, let the tension sharpen his focus.

And then he opened them, a small smile curving his lips.

He was ready to show them what he was made of.

Rhian moved to the edge of the stage, waiting his turn and studying the crowd around him. His posture was relaxed but his eyes were always moving, tracking everyone and everything.

He noticed three of his closest friends, Iris, Aras, and Ash, standing off to the side. None of them had stepped up to join.

They’d made it clear they weren’t interested in competing, so their absence didn’t surprise him. Still, a small part of him wished they were there beside him.

Rhian shifted his attention back to the students filling the arena.

Rows of first years, second years, and even a few upper-year students he recognized but hadn’t spoken to.

The noise was constant, but it didn’t bother him. He thrived in it, his heartbeat steady and calm.

His eyes scanned the competitors, moving from one fighter to the next, and paused when he spotted Nia.

She was in the crowd, standing with a quiet confidence that almost matched his own.

Her dark hair was tied back, and she wore the academy’s training gear, but it was her focused gaze that caught him.

Their eyes met for just a moment, and she gave him the faintest of nods.

He answered with a small grin, feeling a flicker of excitement in his chest. This was what he lived for, the chance to test himself, to fight and grow stronger.

The crowd around them roared again as the first match was called, but Rhian didn’t pay attention to the noise.

His focus was locked on the arena, the weight of the moment pressing against his shoulders. He took a slow breath, rolling his neck to loosen the tension.

He didn’t know who he would face first, but it didn’t matter.

He was ready for all of them.

The first two to be called were a Mystical and a Physical. Both of them stepped forward, and the atmosphere in the arena changed immediately. Conversations quieted, replaced by the heavy silence of focused anticipation.

The Mystical was a tall girl, her eyes glinting with a pale green energy that shimmered even in the bright arena lights.

She looked calm, her expression smooth and composed, but the way she flexed her fingers and shifted her weight said she was ready to explode at any moment.

Her uniform was neat, but around her wrists she wore simple, rune-marked bands, likely for her abilities.

Across from her was the Physical, a broad-shouldered boy with cropped brown hair and a sharp jawline.

His arms were wrapped in leather bracers, and he cracked his knuckles as he squared off with her.

There was a thin line of a scar across his nose, and his eyes had that steady, direct look of someone who didn’t bother with illusions or fancy tricks.

He was built for close-quarters brawling, and he didn’t seem worried at all.

The instructor called for the match to begin, and both fighters bowed quickly. Then they launched forward.

The Mystical moved first, her hands weaving patterns in the air.

The green glow around her eyes pulsed as she summoned what looked like ethereal vines, shooting out of the ground in front of the Physical.

They snaked toward him, aiming for his legs to tangle and trap.

But the Physical was already moving. He dropped low, using the momentum of his dive to roll under the vines.

His boots scraped the stone floor as he pushed forward, a burst of speed carrying him closer to the Mystical girl.

She shifted her stance, pulling the vines back and wrapping them around her arms like whips.

The Physical grunted, his muscles straining as he shot up from the crouch, aiming a brutal uppercut at her jaw.

She twisted at the last second, the punch grazing her shoulder instead of hitting clean. Still, the force of it knocked her back a step, and she staggered.

She didn’t stop though, her hands blurred, and the green glow around her eyes flared. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

A shield of shimmering energy formed in front of her, just as he lunged forward again.

His fist met the shield with a crack, green sparks spraying as the energy shivered and buckled.