The Grand Arena pulses with energy. The announcer finishes his speech with a final line that echoes through every corner of D-City.

  ?? Announcer (in a booming voice):

  “Let the battles begin—and may fate decide who will be remembered as eternal legends!”

  With those words, the arena is consumed by a storm of war and honor. The tournament is about to begin, and every soul present knows they’re about to witness something unforgettable.

  —"Ladies and gentlemen!!" —the announcer shouted as the lights went out and a spotlight hit the center of the arena—

  "The tournament has officially begun!!"

  The crowd roared. The thunder of cheers rolled like a storm.

  —"Our first match is between two prodigies of noble blood! On one side, the youngest of the legendary Golden Trio of the Kurogane family! Ice specialist, trained by the Hellfire Teapot herself—Charlotte Kurogane!!"

  A beam of light fell over the blue-haired girl. Charlotte jumped slightly when she heard her name. She swallowed hard and stepped into the center of the arena with hesitant steps.

  —"I-I’m not going to freeze anyone!" —she cried nervously... but the crowd roared so loud, no one heard her.

  On the other side, the atmosphere shifted.

  —"And from right here in D-City! The eldest daughter of the Amagiri clan! The Iron Maiden! The princess who plays with the hearts of her opponents before crushing them! Clara Amagiri!!"

  Clara walked gracefully toward the center of the arena, waving as if greeting her loyal subjects.

  —"Fufufu~ We got quite the fabulous introduction, don’t you think, Charlotte-chan?"

  Charlotte didn’t respond. She was too busy trying not to shake.

  Clara grinned from ear to ear. Although the match had officially begun, she strolled up to Charlotte without taking a fighting stance.

  —"Don’t be so tense~ Come on, relax a little."

  She extended her hand gently... and just as Charlotte dropped her guard for a moment, Clara's gaze sharpened.

  "Now."

  A flash of blue light formed in Charlotte’s palm. In a blink, she shaped an ice sword and lunged forward with surprising speed.

  —"Yah!"

  But Clara was ready.

  —"Ara ara~"

  She spun gracefully and dodged by a hair’s breadth, her hair fluttering as she passed.

  —"Didn’t expect you to stab me so soon. I’m disappointed~"

  She snapped her fingers. Two small bracelets on her wrists glowed, activating a complex magical pattern.

  Shiiing.

  In a flash, two swords materialized, connected by a chain that coiled behind her back.

  —"Time for me to have a little fun."

  Clara moved like an unleashed whip. Her swords sliced through the air with elegant violence, and the chain danced with each spin of her body. Charlotte could barely keep up—dodging, ducking, spinning, blocking with ice plates that shattered instantly under the pressure.

  Every blow Charlotte avoided was a miracle.

  —"Huh. This’ll be over in five minutes," Seiji said with a confident grin from the VIP observation room.

  —"You’re way too confident," Ishiki replied, arms crossed.

  —"What? Can’t you see Clara’s destroying her?"

  Satsuki, who had been silent until now, narrowed her eyes as she studied the screen.

  —"Ho… so that’s it."

  —"Huh?" Seiji turned to her. —"What did you see?"

  —"Look at Charlotte’s feet. Her balance. Her breathing."

  —"...She’s not using mana."

  Seiji’s eyes widened.

  —"Are you saying she’s fighting without magic!?"

  —"Exactly," Ishiki said with a proud smirk. —"That stamina, that speed... all physical. No magical reinforcement."

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  —"But why would she do that?"

  Ishiki raised a brow and nodded toward his sister.

  Homura wasn’t saying a word. She just watched the match, unmoving, with a stare that cut through the screen.

  —"Because that’s how Homura trained her."

  In the center of the arena, Charlotte panted heavily. Her breathing was ragged. Her arms trembled. The ice shield on her left arm was cracked, and her sword barely held together.

  Clara paused, spinning her weapon like she was bored.

  —"You’re tougher than I thought, Charlotte-chan. I figured this would be over before I chipped a nail."

  Charlotte braced herself. Still breathing hard, she raised her sword again.

  —"I’m not giving up. Homura trained me to fight to the end."

  —"Then I guess it’s time to stop playing around," Clara narrowed her eyes.

  "Let’s turn up the heat."

  Suddenly, her prana surged. A crushing pressure fell over the arena. The air itself grew heavier.

  —"Ugh…!" Charlotte could barely stay on her feet.

  Clara vanished. In a blink, she appeared in front of Charlotte and slashed downward.

  Charlotte raised her sword… and it shattered into a thousand pieces.

  The crowd gasped.

  —"HA!" Seiji shouted. —"Did you see that!? It’s over! She broke her weapon!"

  Homura narrowed her eyes for the first time all match.

  —"Now she’ll get serious."

  A spark of mana pulsed from the ground. The ice beneath Charlotte lit up, as if something inside her had awakened.

  —"Rise… weapon of frozen ruin," Charlotte murmured, her voice steadier than before.

  A surge of icy mana exploded from her core. Cracks in the ground spread outward, spiraling like frost veins.

  —"Freeze everything—Hella."

  A new sword emerged in her hand—thinner, sharper. A jagged-edged shield appeared on her arm.

  Clara’s eyes widened, surprised by the sudden pressure.

  —"Oh… now this is interesting."

  The pillar of mana faded, but the aura remained. The temperature dropped several degrees. Visible breath curled from the mouths of the audience.

  Charlotte raised her blade. Her stance had changed.

  She was solid.

  —"Now… I’m ready."

  Clara smiled.

  —"Perfect. Let’s see how far you can go."

  Both fighters remained in guard.

  Their breathing was the only sound in the arena. The once-roaring crowd had gone dead silent. No one dared blink.

  Charlotte gripped Hella’s hilt tightly. Her movements were minimal, calculated, almost imperceptible… but deadly. Her feet glided over the ground with the poise of a hunter waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

  Clara watched her from across the field, smiling, relaxed—but the slight furrow in her brow betrayed her curiosity. Charlotte’s breath was uneven, erratic… like she was about to collapse.

  And Clara took the bait.

  She launched her attack.

  But the moment she stepped forward to strike, a blizzard erupted around them. Like a roar from winter itself, a wall of frost and wind cloaked the entire arena, blinding even Clara despite her enhanced speed and mana.

  She was caught.

  Ice covered everything.

  The temperature plummeted.

  ?? Announcer (trying to keep his composure):

  “U-U-Unbelievable! A blizzard has completely engulfed the arena! But don’t worry, folks—we’re switching to thermal cameras to continue the match!”

  The screen changed.

  Only one heat signature appeared.

  ?? Announcer (shocked):

  “W-What…!? One of the fighters has vanished from thermal detection!”

  Clara stood on guard. Her smile was gone.

  She looked in every direction.

  But there was no sign of Charlotte.

  No presence. No mana.

  Nothing.

  As if she had been swallowed by the storm she created.

  ?? Waiting Room:

  Satsuki let out a low whistle, almost amused.

  —"With that kind of technique… even I’d have trouble finding her."

  Seiji leaned in toward the monitor, stunned.

  —"No way. How… how did she hide like that?"

  Ishiki folded his arms, eyes locked on the screen. A small, proud smile crept onto his face.

  Homura didn’t move. Her expression remained cold. Unshaken.

  ?? Arena:

  From within the storm, Charlotte attacked.

  Precise, clean strikes emerged from all angles. Cuts on the arms. Slashes across the stomach. Direct hits to vital points.

  Clara staggered back, panting. Blood began to stain her uniform.

  —"Haaah… Haaah… Wow…" —she smiled, though this time with effort—

  "You’re full of surprises, Charlotte. And strong… maybe I haven’t been giving you the respect you deserve."

  Clara relaxed her stance.

  Then calmly reached into her uniform.

  She pulled out a dark purple mask, decorated with silver filigree.

  She slipped it on over her eyes.

  —"I release the power guarded by the Star Beast..."

  As she spoke, purple chains materialized around her body. They wrapped around her arms, chest, and legs. A glowing energy lock formed over her abdomen, pulsing with power.

  In her free hand appeared a vibrant, shimmering purple key.

  Without hesitation—she turned it.

  Her eyes, hidden behind the mask, lit up with brilliant blue light, piercing through the enchanted fabric like pure energy.

  ?? Waiting Room:

  Homura closed her eyes.

  Without a word, she turned and began to walk away.

  Satsuki watched her go, a smirk forming.

  —"Oh~ The little princess figured it out."

  Ishiki blinked. Seeing Homura leave, he understood instantly. He stood, grabbing his jacket.

  —"Huh? Leaving already?" Seiji asked with a mocking grin. —"Not staying to see your cousin lose?"

  Ishiki didn’t even glance at him.

  —"See what? It’s over." —he said firmly—

  "Congrats on your first win."

  And he walked out.

  ?? Arena:

  Clara’s aura exploded in a violet flash.

  She took a single step—and the ground trembled.

  Charlotte tried to strike first, but it was like Clara had read her every move before it even happened.

  In a lightning-fast motion, Clara grabbed Charlotte by the face.

  She lifted her.

  And slammed her into the ground.

  The impact was sharp. Brutal.

  Clara didn’t stop there. With merciless precision, she struck Charlotte again in the chest, knocking her unconscious.

  The storm faded.

  The ice melted.

  Charlotte collapsed, motionless.

  ?? Announcer (in a solemn voice):

  “Charlotte Kurogane has been knocked out! Victory goes to Clara Amagiri!”

  The crowd erupted in applause. Though many clapped in silence—some in respect, others in quiet dread.

  Medical staff rushed in with a stretcher. They gently placed Charlotte on it and carried her down the corridor that led into the building.

  Waiting there… were Homura and Ishiki.

  As the medics passed them, Homura raised her hand.

  —"Stop."

  Without waiting for permission, she pulled back the blanket covering her cousin.

  Charlotte’s body was covered in bruises.

  Ribs marked with blunt impact.

  Patches of frostbitten skin—signs that her mana had gone out of control.

  That she had pushed far past her limit.

  Homura said nothing.

  She simply placed a hand on Charlotte’s forehead.

  A gentle wave of warmth passed through her. Her breathing, though faint, began to steady.

  Homura brushed a hand through her hair.

  And finally, she whispered:

  —“…You did good, Char.”

  And thus, the first battle ends.

  Victory: Clara Amagiri.