Charles stood in the arena's center, exhaustion weighing on his shoulders like a suit of armor.

'I did it…'

His hands trembled, the pain from his earlier explosions still throbbing in his fingers, and his soaked black tunic clung to his skin.

The victory over Darion Veth had given him an adrenaline rush, but now his body was demanding payment.

He breathed heavily, each inhale scraping his throat.

As Darion limped away, head bowed, the announcer's vibrant voice boomed from the stands, amplified by the resonating artifact.

"Folks, what a spectacle we just witnessed! Rian Cole defeated Darion Veth in a twist no one saw coming! But don't go anywhere, because the night's not over! Rian's next opponent is none other than Syris Kael, the fire master trained by the spirits of the Southern lands! Get ready for a blazing fight!"

The crowd erupted in a deafening roar, some clapping, others chanting Syris's name.

"Let's go!"

"This guy's fighting twice?"

"This is nuts…"

Charles frowned, trying to recall what he knew about his next opponent.

'Syris Kael,' he thought, wiping water from his face with a shaky hand.

From the other side of the arena, Syris Kael strode in with confidence.

Tall, with sun-bronzed skin, his close-cropped black hair and dark brown eyes seemed to absorb the light.

His red robes, embroidered with gold, gleamed under the coliseum's lamps.

He held a short staff carved with unfamiliar symbols, and his presence seemed to warm the air, as if the rain evaporated before touching him.

The announcer kept the energy high.

"And here comes Syris Kael, ladies and gentlemen! Trained in the scorching Southern deserts, this fire warrior is ready to heat up this arena! But the question is… Rian Cole, after that brutal fight, are you sure you want to keep going?!"

Charles lifted his head, feeling the crowd's eyes on him.

Did he really have the option to back out?

The rain kept pelting his face, and exhaustion made him want to collapse for a week.

But then his gaze met Kaira's in the stands, leaning against a pillar with arms crossed.

Her red eyes glinted under the lights, that relaxed yet challenging smile still there.

Beside her, Lira watched—not with the anger he expected, but with a complex mix of surprise and… expectation?

Charles frowned, confused.

Kaira raised a hand, wiggling her fingers excitedly.

"Come on, Rian!" she shouted, barely audible over the crowd. "Let me take your spot! I'll handle this guy!"

Truth was, she was thrilled.

She wanted to face this guy, supposedly a master like her, but one who controlled spirits.

Charles blinked, caught off guard.

The offer was tempting.

He was drained, his hands ached, and his energy was at 41%, per the system.

But something inside him resisted.

He wasn't about to let Kaira, Lira, or anyone see him quit.

Plus, there was something else.

"System," he muttered, keeping his voice low. "Show my status window."

A blue tab appeared:

Name: Rian Cole

Element: Lightning

Level: 6

Stats:

- Health: 51/100

- Energy: 41%

- System Intelligence: 4

- Control Level: 2

- XP: 2174/3200

- Available Upgrade Points: 0

Charles's stomach knotted at the numbers.

'2174 XP,' he thought, heart racing. 'Only 1026 more to hit level 7.'

Winning this fight could push him close to upgrading his skills, maybe even unlocking something new in the system.

The thought sparked excitement despite his fatigue.

'I'm not passing this up,' he decided.

He looked at Kaira, still waiting for an answer, her confident smile unwavering.

Charles shook his head, a slow but firm motion.

Kaira raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

Lira, catching the exchange a second late, frowned and stepped forward, raising her voice.

"Rian, withdraw!" she shouted, her tone sharp but tinged with urgency. "Let Kaira fight! You don't have to do this!"

Charles ignored her.

He turned to the announcer, who watched from above with curiosity and anticipation.

"I'm staying," Charles said, raising his voice for all to hear. "I'm not backing out."

The announcer's eyes widened, then a huge grin spread across his face.

"No way!" he bellowed, his voice echoing through the coliseum. "Rian Cole's not quitting, folks! This man wants more! After that brutal fight, he's ready to face Syris Kael! The bets are hotter than ever, and I dare say this arena's about to burn—literally!"

The crowd roared, some clapping, others shouting in excitement.

"RIAN! RIAN!" a section of the stands chanted, while others waved their arms, hyped by the announcer's quip.

Charles felt a surge of adrenaline, though exhaustion still dragged at him.

He looked at Syris, now a few meters away, watching with a respectful expression.

"I commend you, Rian," Syris said, his deep voice calm with a slight Southern accent. "I admire your courage. My spirit companions and I saw your last fight. Those explosions of yours… they're curious. Too precise for just lightning, you know?"

Charles let out a nervous laugh, a chill running through him.

"That's how the Storm Clan rolls," he replied, shrugging like it was no big deal.

Syris tilted his head, not entirely convinced.

"Interesting," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm curious how you moved so fast against Veth. That wind barrier wasn't easy to break. What method did you use?"

Charles opened his mouth to answer, but the announcer cut in.

"Alright, folks, get ready!" he shouted, raising a hand. "The fight's about to start! Three! Two! One! FIGHT!"

Before Charles could process, Syris dropped into a combat stance, his eyes blazing with determination.

The air around him heated up, and two fire creatures materialized beside him.

The first was a small lizard, no bigger than a cat, with scales glowing like embers.

The second was a larger monkey, flames dancing on its fur, its tail leaving a trail of sparks.

Both hovered slightly above the ground, untouched by the rain.

FWOOSH!

The creatures' heat evaporated nearby water, creating faint steam.

The announcer didn't miss a beat.

"And there you have it, folks! Syris Kael's not messing around! He's summoned his fire spirits right from the start! Rian Cole's got a blazing challenge ahead!"

Charles blinked, water streaming down his face.

This was insane.

Did he really have to fight those two spirits, too?

'Shit,' he thought, heart racing.

The creatures stared him down, the lizard hissing and the monkey growling with a sound like a crackling campfire.

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