The arena had become unrecognizable.
Black wind spiraled around Maris.
The ground beneath his feet trembled.
Dust and debris floated through the air as if gravity itself had begun losing its authority.
Foshi stared at him.
His eyes widened.
For several seconds, he couldn’t speak.
Then, almost under his breath, he whispered, “Finally…” His expression was filled with disbelief.
“He’s showing the true legacy of his clan.” The black vortex intensified.
Foshi’s eyes followed every movement of the wind.
“Level 3 Wind…” His voice trembled.
“Cyclone.” He looked toward the other students.
“These students…” He swallowed.
“They’re not ordinary.” His gaze shifted toward Sophria.
“First Sophria.” Then back to Maris.
“Now him.” Foshi shook his head.
“This is beyond imagination.” Pinezoku stared at Maris.
His usual confidence had vanished.
“His…” He struggled to find the words.
“His body… that black air…” Maris stood motionless at the center of the storm.
Pinezoku’s voice became quieter.
“What is he?” Liberia’s mouth hung open.
For once, she had no insult prepared.
She whispered, “Are you…” Her eyes narrowed.
“…really a Fruing?” The black wind answered with a violent roar.
WHOOOOOOOSH!
The entire arena shook.
Behind Maris, something began to form.
The small Wind Dragon that had once been little more than a technique— expanded.
Its body grew larger.
And larger.
And larger.
Black currents wrapped around its enormous form.
Its wings stretched across the arena.
Its eyes glowed with a deep, unnatural light.
Melio stared upward.
His expression became serious.
“So…” Fire ignited around his fists.
“He really did it.” Maris looked at him.
Melio clenched his teeth.
“Wind Level 3.” His eyes narrowed.
“Cyclone.” He remembered the old stories.
The ancient records.
The techniques associated with the greatest Wind users in Fruing history.
“The ancient air…” Melio breathed.
“I’ve only read about it in legends.” The dragon opened its jaws.
ROOOOOOAR!
The sound shook the arena.
Students covered their ears.
The spectators fell silent.
Maris slowly closed his eyes.
The black wind moved around him.
He could feel it.
Not simply around his body— but inside him.
Every breath.
Every heartbeat.
Every movement.
Something about the wind felt strangely familiar.
Then a memory surfaced.
His mother.
Manglet.
Cold.
Precise.
Unshaken.
Maris thought, “This…” The black wind curled around his hand.
“This is the air my mother mastered.” His expression softened for a fraction of a second.
“The same power she carried…” He opened his eyes.
“…without me ever knowing.” The dragon hovered behind him.
Maris looked toward the sky.
He thought, “Maybe you knew this day would come.” A faint smile appeared.
“Thank you, Mom.” His expression immediately hardened again.
Melio noticed.
“So you’re thinking about her.” Maris looked at him.
“Yes.” Melio’s flames grew brighter.
“Then fight.” Maris nodded.
“I will.” The dragon suddenly vanished.
BOOM!
It launched forward.
The speed was absurd.
Melio’s eyes widened.
“Already?!” He jumped sideways.
The dragon passed him.
Its enormous wing swept across the arena.
Melio barely avoided the full impact, but the pressure forced him backward.
He landed and slid across the ground.
SKRRRRT!
Melio immediately raised his arms.
The dragon turned.
Its wings folded.
Then— It attacked again.
Melio jumped.
The dragon tore past beneath him.
The shockwave threw him higher.
Melio twisted in the air.
“Damn!” He extended both hands.
FWOOM!
A massive fire blast erupted.
The flames filled the space between him and the dragon.
“Burn!” The dragon flew directly into the attack.
For a moment, the fire completely surrounded it.
Melio smirked.
“Got you.” Then— The black wind split apart.
The flames were pushed to either side.
Melio’s smile disappeared.
“What!?” The dragon emerged from the fire untouched.
Its wings twisted.
The air around the flames distorted.
The attack bent away.
Melio’s eyes widened.
“It redirected my fire?!” The reflected flames rushed back toward him.
“Damn!” He crossed his arms.
BOOM!
The impact sent him crashing onto the arena floor.
Dust erupted around him.
The crowd gasped.
“Melio!” Sophria instinctively stepped forward.
Maris remained still.
His eyes stayed fixed on his rival.
The dust slowly cleared.
Melio was on one knee.
His breathing was heavy.
His hair was disheveled.
His confidence had been shaken.
But he was smiling.
“Heh…” He pushed himself upright.
“So that’s what you’ve been hiding.” Maris said nothing.
Melio looked at him.
“All this time…” His flames reignited.
“…you were carrying this?” Maris slowly raised his hand.
The dragon circled above him.
“I didn’t know.” Melio’s eyes widened.
“You didn’t know?” Maris nodded.
“I only knew I had Wind.” The black vortex expanded.
“Then Lightning.” A spark of electricity appeared.
“Then Fire.” Flames flickered around his other hand.
“And now…” The black wind roared.
“Cyclone.” Melio stared at him.
A strange excitement appeared in his eyes.
“That sounds like you.” Maris raised an eyebrow.
“What?” Melio smiled.
“You’ve always been unpredictable.” Maris gave a faint smirk.
“You’re just slow.” “Shut up.” For the first time since the battle began— both smiled.
Then their expressions became serious again.
Maris closed his eyes.
Memories flashed through his mind.
Manglet.
Gurren.
Mangorak.
Sophria.
Foshi.
Melio.
Everyone who had shaped him.
Everyone who had pushed him forward.
He thought, “All of them…” His fist tightened.
“My family.” The wind intensified.
“My friends.” The cyclone expanded.
“My promises.” The dragon descended behind him.
“And everything I’ve endured…” His eyes opened.
“I fight for all of it.” Melio raised both fists.
Fire exploded around him.
“And I fight because I promised you something too.” Maris stared at him.
Melio’s eyes burned with determination.
“I won’t let you win just because you awakened some legendary technique.” Maris smiled.
“I wouldn’t want you to.” Melio stepped forward.
“Good.” The fire around his body grew.
“Because I’m still your rival.” Maris lowered his stance.
“And I’m still your friend.” The black Wind Dragon roared.
The flames around Melio exploded outward.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire arena shook.
Foshi stared at the two boys.
He thought, “They’re not merely fighting anymore.” His eyes moved toward Maris.
“They’re testing the limits of everything they’ve become.” Pinezoku clenched his fists.
“This is insane…” Liberia whispered, “Those two are monsters.” Sophria watched Maris silently.
She thought, “Maris…” The black cyclone expanded.
The dragon spread its enormous wings.
Maris raised his hand.
“Come.” Melio’s flames erupted.
“Gladly.” The dragon screamed.
Melio charged.
Maris charged.
Wind and fire collided.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
A massive shockwave exploded across the arena.
The spectators were forced backward.
The walls trembled.
The sky above the academy seemed to darken.
And at the center of the storm— the Dragon of Black Wind met the strongest flames Melio had ever produced.
This was no longer simply a battle between two students.
It was the collision of two childhood friends.
Two rivals.
Two promises.
Two paths.
And neither intended to step aside.
The ultimate showdown had entered its true phase.