SHATTERED REALM: FORGOTTEN ECHOES-Chapter 175: Damned Vs Space I

The announcer's voice rolled through the arena to every ear.

"Spectators… brace yourselves. From the storm-laden spires of Dragon Emperor Academy, the hybrid prodigy whose lightning has shattered records—Kaela Draycin!"

A roar exploded as Kaela stepped forward.

Her partial Damned Form had already surfaced—feathered wings sharpened into jagged metallic scales with arcs of lightning crawling across her forearms and tail.

Her true form was a manifestation with dragon wings, a tail that could sting, and the body of a cat. Her tail swayed behind her, electricity coiling around the segments like unstable serpents.

All eyes were on her, but Aramith glanced at Mozrael.

I never expected her to break down like that last night...

She felt his gaze and turned around to him. She smiled a small, shy smile, her cheeks flushing slightly. Last night still left a little sting of embarrassment on her.

"You don't really need to be here," she said, thinking he was tired or worried about his upcoming fight with Kesha. But she was far from the target.

Aramith shook his head.

"I want to see the fights. Maybe I'll learn something," he lied.

The place wasn't as full as it was in the earlier stages of the battle, now that their numbers had been reduced so much.

And Aramith remained very conspicuous where he sat with Mozrael and Sylvia.

So many eyes filled with hatred and jealousy burned into him, but he couldn't care less.

He looked up the seats to where Glacial Dominion should have been seated. Kesha didn't come today either.

The announcer's voice broke his wandering thoughts.

"And her challenger, representing Aetherbound Hall—the student who bends space as easily as her opponents have bent their knees...Valeis!"

Valeis descended one step at a time, calm as a still pond.

Air distorted around his feet with each movement—micro-rifts opening and closing like eyes blinking in the night. The audience gasped as the edges of his silhouette flickered, like reality was struggling to decide where he should exist.

This intrigued Aramith, as this was the third space user he would be seeing.

"Those bastards!" Someone from Dragon Emperor Academy shouted. He didn't care that others could hear him, and though he didn't intentionally shout, his voice was naturally loud.

Everyone turned to him.

"They weren't going to send in their only Space user, so why did they change their mind?"

Dragon Emperor Academy had done their research well enough to know their opponents, and Aetherbound had initially enlisted someone else—a plant user. With a space user stepping in, Kaela could be defeated.

At best, they'd be evenly matched.

Kaela frowned as well. Space users were very rare, and Aetherbound had kept Vaelis safe from any danger. Their reason for bringing him to Yumaris was so he could take advantage of the high density of Youm and grow stronger, so why were they throwing him out into battle?

The announcer's smile was clear even under his mask.

"Oh, it seems someone's displeased with the turn of events."

He turned to the boy who'd spoken out.

"Unfortunately, the initial student enlisted by Aetherbound sustained injuries from a duel, so he had to be replaced."

He pointed to the side, where the said student sat with his leg wrapped.

He was very close to where Aramith sat, and when Aramith observed him, a small smile crept up his face.

"That's interesting," he muttered. Mozrael turned to him. "Why?" She asked.

"Look at the way that boy is sitting. His right leg is wrapped so tightly like he broke some bones, but he's leaning his body on that leg."

Mozrael and Sylvia observed the boy's seating posture.

Aramith turned to Vaelis. "They did that to trick Dragon Emperor, so their guard would be down. If they wanted, they could heal him, especially since the Youm here is very thick," he added.

The two met in the center.

Kaela's storm-lit eyes narrowed. Vaelis gave a faint, respectful nod.

"I didn't think you guys would be the kind to use tricks," Kaela murmured.

Vaelis smiled. "I don't see what's wrong about standing in for an injured comrade. It's rather honorable, if you don't know. Unless you're afraid." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Aramith turned to Sylvia, suddenly remembering. "How's your brother?" he hadn't heard of them since that duel he had, and seeing Dragon Emperor Academy jogged his memories.

Sylvia shrugged. "I'm sure he's still recovering, and sis should be with him as well. You left him broken."

She showed no emotion with those words.

"Did it bother you that I did that to him?" Aramith asked.

Sylva shook her head even before he finished speaking. "He went against someone stronger than him. I'm grateful you agreed to fight in my place that day."

"It was a good chance to test how strong I'd grown," Aramith said. "Will he hold a grudge when he recovers?"

Sylvia chuckled. "He might, and that would be stupid of him. The Celestial Fang Kingdom teaches us to respect strength, and anytime we enter a battle, we must either pass with honor or fail with dignity."

Aramith frowned. Pass with honor, fail with dignity...where have I heard that?

A drum boomed, and the battle began.

A boom cracked through the stadium as Kaela vanished in a lightning dash, sparks spiralling behind her like comet trails. She reappeared only meters from Vaelis with claws raised.

Vaelis bent space with a flick of his wrist, and Kaela's claws sliced cleanly through a rift instead of her torso.

A second later, Kaela felt something behind her and quickly stumbled forward as her attack exited through a portal behind her. She was uninjured but thrown off balance.

The crowd roared.

"Spatial redirection on the very first exchange!" the announcer shouted. "Vaelis wastes no time!"

Kaela pivoted instantly. "Nice trick."

Vaelis shrugged lightly. "You moved well. Most are unable to dodge their own attack."

Kaela smiled. Lightning crackled down her arms.

She swung her arms in slashes above and below.

Lightning raced towards Vaelis, but he warped upward, dodging the first bit of lightning, vanishing sideways as the second attack came.

She dashed for him again, attempting to slash him, but he was faster.

Four portals opened around her at once—Dimensional Trap.

Her own claws appeared from different angles, redirected through folded space.