No other student but Kuro decided to challenge Ludwig, so they all remained standing, watching with bated breath as Kuro confidently strode up the stage. The arena, bathed in the fading light of the evening, seemed to hold its breath as the two opponents faced each other. The shadows cast by the setting sun stretched long and dark across the arena floor, creating an eerie, almost otherworldly atmosphere.
Kuro’s lips curled into a sly grin as he stopped a few paces away from Ludwig, his dark eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and challenge. “I guess you made it,” he said, his voice smooth and dripping with mockery. “I thought you were done for after I took your beacon. You’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”
Ludwig’s expression remained calm, though his grip on his scythe tightened ever so slightly. He tilted his head, eyes locking onto Kuro’s gaze. “Unlike you,” Ludwig replied, his voice steady and cold, “I would have made sure my target was down before going around declaring victory. But here we are. Now, show me what you’ve got.”
Kuro chuckled, a low, almost menacing sound that echoed faintly across the arena. He spread his arms wide, as if inviting Ludwig to make the first move. “Oh, I’ll show you more than you can handle.”
From the sidelines, Olim’s booming voice cut through the tension like a knife. “Alright!” he shouted, his hands raised high to signal the start of the match. “Let the second match commence!”
The crowd erupted into cheers, but Ludwig barely registered the noise. His focus was entirely on Kuro, who stood before him like a shadow given form. The young man’s ability to control shadows was annoying, and Ludwig couldn’t help but notice how the dimming sky and the long shadows cast by the stadium’s towering walls played to Kuro’s advantage.
Without hesitation, Ludwig waved his hand, summoning more than a dozen explosive mines that materialized in the air around him. The glowing orbs hovered for a moment before he sent them scattering across the arena floor, each one landing with a soft thud and emitting a faint, pulsating light. The mines were placed strategically, close to the ground.
Kuro raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening as he watched Ludwig’s actions. “What are you doing?” he asked, his tone dripping with mock curiosity. He took a step forward, his body beginning to shimmer and distort, as if he were melting into the very shadows beneath his feet. “You should know,” he added, his voice echoing from multiple directions, “physical objects are pretty useless against me.”
With that, Kuro’s form dissolved into the shadows, merging seamlessly with the darkness that stretched across the arena. Ludwig’s eyes scanned the ground, searching for any sign of movement. He didn’t move from his spot, instead continuing to release more explosive mines.
“Those are useless!” Kuro’s voice taunted, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Suddenly, a spear made of pure shadow erupted from the ground beneath Ludwig, its tip glinting with an unnatural darkness. Ludwig reacted instantly, spinning his body to the side with a fluid grace that belied his skeletal frame. The spear missed him by inches, dissipating into wisps of shadow as it passed.
Ludwig didn’t pause. He kept moving, his chain whirling in his left hand while his right gripped the scythe tightly. More shadowy spears rose from the ground, cascading after him like a wave of darkness. Each one was met with a swift dodge or a well-timed sidestep, Ludwig’s movements precise and calculated. All the while, he continued to place explosive mines.
After a while, Kuro’s composed demeanor seemed to crack ever so slightly. His voice, still echoing from the shadows, carried a hint of impatience. “Are you going to keep running away?” he asked, his tone sharper now. “This is getting boring.”
Ludwig didn’t reply, he continued his strategy, placing more explosive mines and keeping his distance from the shadowy spears that pursued him.
In the observation booth, the professors watched the match with keen interest. Olim leaned forward, his hands resting on the railing as he squinted at the arena below. “What do you think Ludwig is trying to do?” he asked, his voice tinged with curiosity. “Explosive Mine is a powerful spell, but he has yet to fully unravel its secrets. And as long as Kuro is hidden in the shadows, all damage will be nullified.”
Master Van Dijk, seated comfortably in his chair, let out a low chuckle instead of answering immediately. His sharp eyes followed Ludwig’s every move, a faint smile playing on his lips. “I think Professor Vastion is more of an expert on the subject of shadowmancy,” he said, gesturing toward the other professor. “He’ll have better insights.”
Vastion leaned back in his seat. “I’d be embarrassed to say that I know more about shadowmancy than the Tower Master,” he said, his voice measured. “But from my meager knowledge, it seems Ludwig is currently doing nothing but exhausting himself. Yet, at the same time, we’ve seen him do many incredible things. So, I’ll just watch for now.”
Cymoria tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes narrowing as she observed the battlefield. “Emm, don’t you notice something strange?” she asked, her voice cutting through the tension in the booth. The other teachers turned to her, their attention piqued.
She pointed toward the arena, her finger tracing the pattern of Ludwig’s movements. “The way Ludwig is moving… and the way he is positioning the explosive mines. Does it not look awkward to you? An explosive mine would have more range of impact if it’s a bit higher than on the ground… but he’s purposefully putting them close enough to the floor.”
Vastion’s brow furrowed as he considered her words. “I see,” he said, his tone tinged with realization. “He’s not using them as a tool to damage his opponent. If Kuro isn’t able to notice it fast enough, he’ll fall into Ludwig’s trap.”
Olim scratched his head, his expression one of mild confusion. “There must be something I’m missing,” he admitted, his eyes darting between the professors for clarification.
Van Dijk leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he steepled his fingers. “Light and shadows,” he said, his voice calm but authoritative. “Darkness is the absence of light, and it is inherently stronger. Though one can fend off the darkness with light, it is only temporary, since darkness is everywhere. That’s what’s giving Kuro his confidence. With the shadows cascading over the arena, he’ll have an advantage over Ludwig. But Ludwig isn’t allowing it. Explosive Mines is a fire-attributed spell, and it has light within it. By placing many of them close to the arena floor, he is stopping Kuro from controlling the battlefield. If you notice, Kuro’s shadows can’t reach under the explosive mines’ light. So, he has to move around them. And he can’t go out of his way to detonate them, since he’ll need to turn physical for a bit—which will cause him to blow himself up.”
Olim’s eyes widened as the pieces fell into place. “Ah, now I see it,” he said, a grin spreading across his face. “Ludwig is using the terrain to his own advantage.”
Van Dijk nodded, his gaze returning to the arena. “It’s the first rule of battle. Now, let’s see how this will turn out,” he said, his voice filled with quiet pride as his eyes focused on his disciple.