“Not bad. But desperation doesn’t suit you, heir of the Silver Flame.”
I twirled my estoc lazily, letting the black flames dance along its edge like mischievous sprites. My smirk deepened as I tilted my head, watching Varen’s fiery aura shimmer around him, the heat radiating off him in waves. The crowd was in a frenzy, their cheers and gasps feeding the charged atmosphere, but my attention was wholly on the man before me.
“You really are making this fun,” I said my tone light and teasing. “But let’s not stay on the defensive all the time, shall we? I’d hate for the crowd to think the heir of the Silver Flame can’t handle a little pressure.
The faintest flicker crossed Varen’s eyes-an ember of irritation, perhaps, or a spark of resolve igniting into a blaze. His grip on his greatsword tightened, the knuckles whitening, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then, his eyes locked onto mine, shining with a fiery intensity that sent a thrill racing through me.
“I shall do so,” he said, his voice low but resonant, carrying the weight of his
conviction.
His greatsword rose in a deliberate motion, the silvery-red flames along its edge roaring to life. The air around him shimmered as if the heat itself had become a living entity, coiling and twisting around him. Then, with a deep breath, he straightened, his voice calm yet thunderous as he declared, “From now on, I will no longer hold back.” The shift was immediate and profound. A fiery aura exploded outward from his body, the sheer force of it rattling the protective enchantments around the arena. The flames surged, bright and unrelenting, as though his very soul had been set alight. His eyes, already blazing, now burned with an intensity that seemed almost otherworldly, a reflection of the power welling up from deep within him.
I could feel it-no, I could sense it. The energy pouring from Varen’s core wasn’t just immense; it was purposeful, surging through his body like molten lava filling every crevice, strengthening him in ways that defied normal cultivation. It was raw, ferocious, and unyielding.
‘Ah… so this is it,’ I thought, my smirk widening as realization dawned. ‘It’s Ignis Ascension.”
The name surfaced from the depths of my memory, a state unique to Varen’s character in the novel, even at the start.
Ignis Ascension-the pinnacle of his fiery abilities, a state where his mana
concentrated so densely within him that it transformed his entire body into a conduit for flame.
It was a power born not just of strength, but of the unshakable resolve that defined him as a male lead.
I couldn’t help but chuckle, low and amused. “Oh, so you’re finally taking this seriously,” I murmured, more to myself than to him. “This should be good.”
Varen’s fiery aura flared brighter, his greatsword radiating a heat that made the air shimmer like a mirage. The crowd seemed to hold its breath, their excitement palpable as the arena itself felt smaller, the heat closing in like a smothering blanket.
“You like to provoke, don’t you?” Varen said, his voice calm yet edged with a new, dangerous determination. His eyes locked onto mine, the fire within them promising nothing less than a storm of destruction. “Then allow me to respond.”
“Please do so.”
He didn’t reply with words.
Instead, he did move.
-SWOOSH!
Faster than before, with his greatsword cutting through the air with precision and power, it made even my reflexes strain to keep up. The blade gleamed, the silvery-red flames trailing behind it like a comet, and I stepped in to meet him, my estoc ready, the black flames flaring in response.
‘Let’s see it, Varen Drakov,’ I thought, the thrill of the fight surging through me like lightning. Let’s see just how far Ignis Ascension will take you.’
The shift in Varen’s intensity was immediate. His aura flared, a fiery storm swirling around him as if the very air obeyed his will. His movements were sharper, faster, more deliberate. This wasn’t the same Varen Drakov I had been toying with moments ago. Ignis Ascension had pushed him to the next level.
-SWOOSH!
The flames around Varen’s greatsword roared to life as he swung it in a high arc, the blade descending with terrifying speed. Silvery-red flames trailed behind, creating an illusion of a meteor falling from the heavens. I stepped forward, meeting his strike head-on. My estoc flicked out, black flames twisting along its length as I angled it precisely against his blade.
CLANG!
The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, but I deflected the blow, redirecting the force away from me. The flames seared the air around us, but I remained unscathed, stepping back into a defensive stance.
Varen didn’t hesitate. As his greatsword followed through from the first strike, he channeled his fiery mana outward, manipulating it into a crescent-shaped wave of flame that surged toward me with deadly intent. It was a ranged attack, but one that
forced me to stay alert, as the flames curved unpredictably.
I pivoted sharply, my estoc flashing out to intercept. The black flames of the Flame of Equinox clashed with his fiery mana, dispersing the wave mid-flight. The residual heat grazed my arm, but I ignored it, my focus entirely on Varen, who was already closing
in.
Varen spun on his heel, his greatsword arcing low in a sweeping motion that carried his full weight and momentum. Flames spiraled outward, making it impossible to dodge cleanly. His movement was fluid, his control over the range of his blade and the surrounding flames impeccable.
CRACK!
I twisted my body, angling my estoc to deflect the blade away from my legs. But the fiery energy trailing his strike caught me mid-spin, slamming into my side. The searing heat bit into my mana barrier, causing it to flicker and crack. Pain surged through my ribs, but I gritted my teeth and kept moving, unwilling to let him capitalize on the hit.
Varen lunged forward, the tip of his greatsword blazing as he aimed for my chest. His movements were precise, his speed nearly overwhelming, but I could see through the intent. It was a feint, the blade shifting mid-lunge to curve toward my left side.
CLANG!
I parried the strike cleanly, my estoc sliding along the flat of his greatsword to deflect it away. The flames hissed as they met the black fire surrounding my blade, and I stepped back into position, my breathing heavier now.
The crowd roared as Varen unleashed his full power. Channeling his fiery mana into his greatsword, he raised it high above his head, flames coiling and surging outward. The heat was suffocating, the energy crackling like a living thing. He brought the blade down in an overhead smash, the flames exploding outward as it descended.
BOOM!
I raised my estoc in a desperate block, but the sheer force of the attack overwhelmed me. The explosion of mana drove me back, the impact reverberating through my body as my barrier flickered dangerously. A sharp, burning pain lanced through my shoulder where the edge of his blade had grazed me, tearing into flesh.
I stumbled, my stance faltering for a brief moment.
‘Indeed…This is not an opponent that I should take lightly.’
It had been a while since someone managed to take this much power out of me, but at
the same time it was kind of fun.
Varen straightened, his fiery aura still blazing, but I could see the faintest signs of exertion in his stance. He had poured immense energy into that sequence, and while
it had done damage, I was still standing.
I grinned, wiping a trickle of blood from my lip. “Not bad at all,” I said, my voice calm despite the burning pain in my shoulder. “You’ve really turned up the heat.” Varen’s eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his greatsword. This was far from over, and I couldn’t help but feel a thrill coursing through me as I prepared to push back.
********
Varen’s chest heaved as he steadied his breathing, the roaring flames surrounding him pulsing in rhythm with his heart. The arena echoed with the chants of the crowd, but their voices barely registered. His attention was locked entirely on Lucavion, the man who had once again defied the overwhelming might of his Ignis Ascension. Varen flexed his fingers around the hilt of his greatsword, the heat of his mana coiling and surging through his veins. His fiery aura blazed brighter, but despite its intensity, there was a gnawing realization clawing at the edge of his mind.
‘He’s not falling”
Lucavion stood opposite him, his posture as infuriatingly relaxed as it had been at the
start of the match. His estoc rested lightly in his hand, black flames flickering along its length with an unsettling vitality. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, as though the entire fight was nothing more than a game.
For the first time, Varen felt something he hadn’t experienced in years. Doubt. Ignis Ascension has always been enough, he thought, his grip tightening. ‘Enough to overpower any opponent, enough to break their resolve. But this man… he doesn’t even look like he’s using his full strength!
He exhaled slowly, allowing the tension in his muscles to dissipate. The crowd’s chants
shifted, calling out both their names in an electric rhythm that vibrated through the arena. Despite the growing weight of the fight, a faint smile touched Varen’s lips.
‘No matter his methods, he’s strong. Stronger than anyone I’ve faced in this
tournament.’
Lucavion tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening as if he could sense Varen’s
thoughts. “What’s the matter, heir of the Silver Flame?” he called out, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. “Don’t tell me you’re finally feeling the pressure?” Varen raised his greatsword, the flames along its edge roaring to life. His eyes burned with renewed determination as he stepped forward, his fiery aura swelling with unyielding resolve.
“Pressure.” He repeated. “Maybe you are right. Maybe that was what I had been
lacking.”
“Oho? That is good then.”
Lucavion repeated.
Then, it happened.
“Let’s test you more.”
Lucavion repeated. Then, it happened. “Let’s test you more.”