As fireworks burst across the sky, Team Crimson was greeted with thunderous celebration.
A commentator's voice rang out through amplification magic:
"Team Crimson has retrieved the crystal and defeated Arion in this challenge!"
"Each member is now officially qualified for the third round of the Royal Draft!"
Helion, Zezzy, Yuri, and Liena waved to the roaring crowd. As they turned, they spotted Noah Million and Team Silver already standing on the opposite platform — as if they had been quietly waiting for the others. Arinelle was already in position at the captain's podium.
But something was off…
Syrus and Axel still hadn't returned.
Helion leaned toward his team.
"Looks like we're the second team," he said, voice calm but alert.
Yuri adjusted his glasses.
"That means… we should be able to see the other team battles, right?"
He turned toward the massive floating crystal projector.
At that very moment—
A ripple of magic pulsed through the stadium.
Team Gold appeared.
Draven, Renza, and their two remaining members materialized in a flash of golden light.
"Team Gold has defeated Syrus… and retrieved their crystal," the announcer declared.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
And then—
The projection crystal flared to life.
All eyes turned to the final match:
Team Pearl vs. Axel Nova.
Captain Axel was soaring through the sky, slicing through the air like a missile.
Clipso trailed close behind, matching his movements with unrelenting speed.
From below, Lily fired a barrage of seed bullets upward, forcing Axel to weave between them with quick aerial twists.
Axel suddenly stopped mid-air —
WHAM!
He swung a heavy fist backward toward Clipso, who was approaching fast.
But Clipso was ready.
Sword drawn, he lunged in with a swift kick.
Axel laughed.
"Really, Clipso? You think a kick is gonna stop me?"
He didn't even move. He caught the attack with ease—
But in that instant—
ZZZZZZT!!!
A surge of electricity exploded from Clipso's body.
Axel's muscles seized up.
Paralyzed.
Clipso's voice boomed:
"NOW!"
Geno and Gena leapt into action.
Together they shouted:
"Combination Magic!"
"First Form — Aqua Prison!" Gena roared.
"First Form — Water Shift!" Geno followed.
A massive sphere of swirling water formed and slammed into Axel, encasing him completely.
Inside, the currents shifted rapidly — keeping him from stabilizing or escaping.
"Lily!" Clipso yelled.
With a fierce grin, Lily replied,
"Got it!"
She slammed her palm into the ground.
A strange flower bloomed — right on Axel's submerged arm.
It unfurled and released glowing toxins into the water.
"First Form — Nectar Mix: Toxic Flow," Lily whispered.
The water turned sickly green, swirling with venom.
Axel floated within, trapped…
Motionless.
Geno clenched his fists and commanded:
"Pull the crystal!"
The water shifted. A wave inside the sphere whisked the glowing crystal off Axel's waist and toward the surface.
But then—
Bubbles rose from Axel's mouth.
He laughed underwater.
Suddenly, he curled into a ball.
Then—
BOOM!!
He snapped open like a spring-loaded cannon, exploding the water prison outward in a violent burst.
An air vortex.
The entire battlefield shifted from the pressure.
He hovered again, arms stretched wide, smiling.
Raising one finger, he explained:
"By increasing my mass to 4535 kg… then instantly dropping it to 3 kg… I create a momentary vacuum that pulls the air inward, forming a vortex."
"Simple science," he grinned.
But—
Clipso was already behind him.
Quiet. Close. Deadly.
"Here's some science for you, Axel," Clipso said, voice cold.
He released a current of electricity from his body—
The puddles beneath Axel amplified the charge.
ZAAAP!!
Axel froze — completely paralyzed again.
Clipso leaned closer.
"What happens when you're standing in water and electricity flows through it?"
He smirked.
"Paralysis. No?"
Beneath Axel, a watery hand emerged and snatched the crystal from his side.
"Got it!" Gena shouted.
Axel let his arms drop..
He smiled.
"…Well. You guys got me."
Clipso took a deep breath, the adrenaline finally beginning to fade.
A slow smile crept onto his face.
Behind him, Lily and Gena rushed forward—throwing their arms around him.
"You did it, Clipso!!" Lily cheered.
Gena nodded with a bright grin. "You were amazing out there!"
Geno walked up with a calm nod and offered a fist.
"Nice work," he said simply.
Clipso blinked, almost unsure how to react.
He'd fought, sure. He'd planned, calculated… but this—
This feeling… it was different.
For once, he felt it.
Not just strength. Not just strategy.
He felt seen. Worthy. Praised.
A warmth rose in his chest as he returned the fist bump and looked back at the others.
He gave a small, almost shy smile.
Then said quietly—
"We did it together."
As Axel approached Team Pearl, he threw up his hands and laughed lightly.
"Well… you guys won fair and square," he said with a grin.
"Let's head back. I'm sure the crowd's roaring for you all."
In that moment, five Hyper Beams beamed down—engulfing them in radiant light. In a flash, they were transported back to the Royal Arena.
The moment Team Pearl appeared on the main platform—
CHEERS ERUPTED.
Applause. Whistles. Shouts of praise.
"Great job, Team Pearl!"
"They actually took down Axel!"
"Smart thinking, Clipso!"
Clipso blinked, stunned. The sound washed over him like a wave he never expected.
He looked up—toward the high balcony above the crowd.
There, standing in shadow and stone, was his father—Vlad.
Serious. Silent. Watching.
Their eyes met for a brief moment.
And then—Vlad gave a subtle nod. Just once.
That was enough.
Clipso turned away, a small but satisfied look crossing his face.
A warmth bloomed inside him.
For once… he wasn't just capable.
He was recognized.
Axel scratched his head, looking out at the crowd, then toward the captain's box—where Syrus, Arion, and Arinelle watched from above.
He laughed. "Well, would you look at that…"
He raised an eyebrow at them with mock offense.
"I took the longest to get beaten? Really? Didn't expect that, Mister Syrus. Sir Arion."
Syrus just smirked. Arion shook his head with a grin.
Arinelle said nothing—but her lips curled into a faint, knowing smile.
Axel crouched low—then launched into the air with explosive force.
He soared high above the stadium and landed with a heavy thud on the podium platform, right back into his seat.
"Ahhh… that's better."
He exhaled, relaxing into the chair, arms behind his head, legs up like he hadn't just lost a match moments ago.
Syrus now stepped forward, his voice amplified across the stadium by enchantment.
"That concludes the first four matches of the Royal Draft 2nd Round."
The crowd settled slightly as his tone shifted into formal announcement.
The final two battles of Round Two will begin in exactly two hours," Syrus announced, his voice echoing across the stadium through amplified magic.
"We ask all winning teams to proceed to the Arch Hall. You're free to mingle and explore the stadium grounds while the remaining matches take place."
He paused briefly, gaze sweeping over the energized crowd and victorious teams.
"Arion and I will return shortly to face Team Sapphire and Team Amethyst. Until then…"
With that, the magical spotlight dimmed, and the pressure of the moment lifted.
The gates beneath the arena shifted open revealing the entrance to the Arch Hall.
Team Crimson, Gold, Pearl, and Silver stepped forward, their footsteps echoing as they exited the main platform and passed beneath the towering archways.
The groups naturally broke apart—each team reuniting in their own space, quietly recovering, murmuring about the battles just fought and the ones still to come.
Syrus and Arion nodded once to each other, exchanging nothing more than a silent look.
Arinelle and Axel followed close behind.
And against the far wall—still as stone—stood Zeyr Chrono.
His arms were crossed, back pressed casually against the pillar, gaze locked ahead.
Without a word, Zeyr tossed the Hidden Arts scroll across the room.
Syrus caught it in an instant, his eyes narrowing the moment his fingers touched the familiar seal.
"Where did you get this?" he asked, voice low and sharp.
Zeyr crossed his arms.
"Stopped an intruder… they stole it from the Royal Armory."
Syrus's eyes widened.
"An intruder?"
He stepped forward. "Where are they now?"
"Got away," Zeyr replied bluntly. "But I recovered the scroll. Not sure what else they may've taken."
He smirked.
"Oh… and you might have to explain a few structural damages to the king. Sorry in advance."
Syrus didn't laugh.
His voice tightened. "Zeyr… who was the intruder?"
Zeyr's tone shifted—serious, cold.
"They wore Aqua Kingdom colors."
"And used water teleportation similar to our signature hyper beam travel"
A heavy silence hit the room.
Arion's fist clenched immediately.
"Those filthy snakes… They timed this perfectly—right during the Royal Draft."
Axel, who had just begun to relax, stood up straight—tense, eyes burning.
"They dared enter our kingdom?"
He growled, fists shaking. "Unforgivable…"
"Calm down, Axel," Syrus ordered firmly.
"We need clarity, not chaos. We'll plan our next steps."
He turned to Arinelle, handing her the scroll.
"I want you to sweep the armory—make sure this was all they got."
"Absolutely," Arinelle nodded. "I'll also have my research team analyze the breach. We need to know how they got past our force field."
She paused, her brows furrowing slightly. "The Aqua Kingdom… they're not new to this. Their techniques are ancient, and my family has studied their arcane branches before — particularly their use of stealth-magic and hidden conduits through leyline water channels."
Arinelle looked at the scroll, her voice firmer now. "There may be patterns we've overlooked. I'll dig through the archives — my great-aunt once recorded a secret encounter with Aqua emissaries decades ago. If they've resurfaced now, it's not a coincidence."
She glanced at Syrus and Arion. "Give me a few hours. If there's anything buried in the Virell records… I'll find it."
Syrus exhaled.
"Arion, our battle is in two hours. The Draft must continue—we can't allow panic or suspicion to spread. We'll handle this quietly."
"I'll speak to the king personally."
He looked at Arion. "But I'll need you with me afterward. We start planning retaliation immediately."
Finally, he turned to Axel.
"As for you… take a flight through the kingdom. Scope the skies over neighboring realms. Look for anything—
movements, signals, signs. Anything that feels off."
Axel saluted, his face grim.
"Understood, sir."
Axel and Arinelle departed, their figures vanishing down opposite corridors.
Arion, Syrus, and Zeyr remained behind—alone in the echoing chamber, the tension palpable.
Syrus stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Zeyr with weight behind them.
"Zeyr…" he asked, voice low but steady, "…if it were up to you—what would you do right now?"
Zeyr didn't answer right away.
He looked off to the side, then slowly replied, his tone distant.
"I'm not the Head Captain anymore, Syrus. That decision's not mine to make."
Syrus's expression twisted in frustration.
"You think that changes anything?" he snapped. "We never named a new Head after you left!"
The words rang out like thunder in the stillness.
Arion stepped between them, laying a firm hand on Syrus's shoulder.
"Syrus," Arion said gently, then turned toward Zeyr.
"Listen, Zeyr… he's right to be upset. When you disappeared, everything changed. We were left to hold it all together—without a leader, without direction."
His voice softened.
"You may not carry the title anymore… but you're still the one we trusted most."
Syrus glanced away, jaw tight, but his silence said he agreed.
Arion continued.
"A returning threat is moving in—Aqua Kingdom. And you know them better than anyone."
"Their tactics. Their structure. Their intent."
"We're not asking you to return permanently… but just this once—lend us your strength. Help us defend the Arch Kingdom. Not for the council, not for the throne—"
He bowed his head in sincere respect.
"—but for us."
There was a beat of silence.
Then Syrus scowled.
"Forget it, Arion."
He turned away, scoffing.
"Zeyr made his choice when he walked away. He doesn't care about this kingdom anymore."
He said it loud. But underneath… it almost sounded like heartbreak.
Zeyr pressed his hand to his face… a long breath leaving his chest.
"Okay…" he murmured.
"I'll do it. But not for the Council. Not for the throne."
He looked up at them, eyes sharp but sincere.
"I'm doing this for you two."
He pointed between them.
"Syrus. Arion. That's it."
Syrus's eyes widened, emotion flashing behind them—relief, guilt, something deeper.
Zeyr stepped forward.
"But let's get one thing straight."
His voice firmed.
"I'll only work directly with the captains. No officials. No ministers. No politics. Just warriors."
Arion and Syrus exchanged a look—then bowed low, hands over their hearts.
"Thank you, Master Zeyr."
Zeyr scoffed with a crooked smile.
"Get up… You too."
Arion straightened, chuckling.
"Feels like old times already."
Zeyr rolled his eyes—but there was warmth in it.
Syrus's gaze lingered—quiet. His breath hitched, just a little.
A memory rushed through him…
Years ago — Arch Kingdom Training Grounds
Two young boys—Syrus and Arion—rushed at a tall figure, swinging their wooden swords with wild energy.
Zeyr, years younger himself, easily sidestepped their reckless charge.
With a flick of his wrist, he disarmed Arion. A second motion—Syrus lost balance.
Both stumbled toward the ground—
But Zeyr caught them, one in each arm.
The three froze for a moment…
Then—
WHUMP!
The two boys tackled him playfully to the dirt, laughing as they managed to knock the stoic captain off his feet.
All three of them hit the ground in a heap, laughter echoing through the courtyard.
"We got you, Captain!" Arion cheered.
"Only 'cause I let you!" Zeyr barked back—but he was grinning.
Back in the present, Syrus blinked the memory away.
The warmth remained in his chest.
Zeyr crossed his arms.
"Alright then… Let's go remind the world what the captains of the Arch Kingdom are made of."
As Helion, Liena, Zezzy, and Yuri stepped into the Arch Hall, they found the other three teams already inside—spread out, mingling in groups.
Helion's senses sharpened as his eyes met those of Noah Million from Team Silver.
"For a moment, Helion felt it — the eerie stillness behind Noah's aura. Controlled… but vast. Like an ocean pretending to be a lake."
Noah turned with a calm smile and extended a hand.
"It's good to finally meet you, Helion."
Helion shook it.
"Back at you, Noah."
Noah glanced over at the others.
"That light ability—Solstice Glow, right? Beautiful technique. You gave Captain Arion a real challenge."
Zezzy grinned.
"We all did our part. He wasn't exactly easy."
Yuri gave a subtle nod, adjusting his glasses.
"He had us sweating, that's for sure."
Liena eyed Noah thoughtfully.
"Team Silver was the first to beat a captain this round… How'd you manage it?"
Noah's gaze slid to her.
"Liena Virell. Arinelle's sister, right?"
She blinked.
"That's right."
He nodded slowly.
"Her glass magic is brilliant. But…"
He glanced up, then back at Helion.
"I've got a unique elemental spirit of my own. Let's just say, it balances me out. Like your Solstice companion probably does for you."
Before Helion could respond—
Renza walked in with a smirk.
"Hey, Team Crimson… I didn't forget that you dipped on our battle. Still owe me and Draven a rematch."
Draven stepped forward, his arms crossed, eyes locked on Helion. His voice was cold, calm — but biting.
"So you're the one everyone's whispering about."
He scoffed.
"A rookie… common-born… barely trained… and yet here you are, flashing around like you belong on our level."
Draven's gaze narrowed.
"Don't mistake a few lucky strikes for real strength."
Then he turned, his words hanging heavy.
"This isn't play hero, Helion. The next round won't let you pretend."
Without waiting for a reply, Draven walked off — silent, sharp, and composed.
Renza followed with a low chuckle.
"We'll settle it in the next round."
Helion watched them go, his expression calm but focused.
"They don't let things go, do they?" Yuri muttered.
Helion smirked.
"Good. I don't either."
Then, Clipso approached Team Crimson.
Behind him were Lily, Geno, and Gena—the full squad of Team Pearl, walking in tight formation, but it was Clipso who stepped forward.
There was an eagerness in his stride, but as he reached Helion, it softened.
He extended his hand with surprising calm.
"I look forward to fighting you again, Helion."
It was a gesture of respect—something rare from Clipso, who was better known for his explosive temper and sharp edge.
Team Crimson blinked in surprise. Even Liena raised an eyebrow.
Helion, without hesitation, gripped the hand firmly.
"Back at you, Clipso. You're strong—and I'm looking forward to us pushing each other."
For a moment, Clipso didn't say anything. Then he gave a small, honest smile—different from his usual smirks or glares. Softer. Real.
He had changed.
Something about being with Team Pearl—with people who fought beside him, believed in him—had started to fill the void he'd carried for a long time.
And as both teams slowly turned to rejoin their squads, there was something unspoken in the air.
Respect.
Growth.
And a promise of battles yet to come.
It was only minutes away.
The final two battles of the second round loomed just ahead—
Team Sapphire vs. Arion.
Team Amethyst vs. Syrus.
These final matches would not only close out the round…
They would bring all contenders one step closer to joining the Royal Guard.