Chapter 26: The Final Phase
The stadium was packed to the brim, the air heavy with tension. The last test—the final phase—was about to begin. Akira stood at the edge of the arena, his fists clenched, his swords glowing softly with the flickering energies of Frostfire. His eyes scanned the crowd, and he felt the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He had come so far, endured so much, and now, the final battle stood before him.
Ren stood next to him, his usual playful demeanor replaced by a sharp focus. "You ready?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with an edge of concern.
Akira nodded, his gaze hard. "I’ve trained for this. We’re not going to fail."
The announcer’s voice boomed over the stadium, the sound of his words ringing through the air like a drumbeat. “The final phase of the Hunter Exams begins now! The Battle Royale! Last 50 participants standing will earn their Hunter’s License. The rules are simple: fight to the death or yield. Only those who prove their strength will make it through.”
Akira’s heart raced, but he kept his breath steady. He wasn’t just fighting to pass this exam; he was fighting to prove his worth, to show that the power of the Frostfire Paladin was more than just a title.
"Good luck," Ren said, giving him a quick pat on the back before heading off to his own part of the arena.
The battle would start soon, and Akira had no intention of holding back.
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The Battle Royale Begins
As the bell rang, the arena erupted into chaos. A massive, sprawling battlefield filled with fighters of all shapes, sizes, and classes. Akira could sense the flow of mana in the air, feeling the heat of fire spells, the cold of ice magic, and the occasional tremor of earth-shattering attacks. But he was calm.
He didn’t rush into the fray. Instead, he surveyed the area, watching for weak spots, paying attention to how other competitors moved. There were some familiar faces from earlier in the exams—hunters with impressive skills and levels—but Akira was no longer intimidated. His class, his training, his strength had all shaped him into something far greater than when he’d first arrived in Noble Eternity.
Then, a new wave of challengers entered the fray: stronger, more experienced fighters. The last few moments of the fight would be brutal, and Akira could already sense the battle’s true intensity rising.
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A Familiar Face
As Akira moved deeper into the fray, cutting down low-level opponents with swift, controlled strokes of his dual swords, he saw someone who made his blood run cold.
Julian Ferna.
The cocky mage who had underestimated Akira during the first phase now stood before him, his hands glowing with bright, menacing energy. His white and gold robes billowed around him, and his sharp, mocking smile was enough to make anyone’s blood boil. Akira could sense the mana radiating from him, a torrent of raw energy, but he didn’t flinch.
“Akira Azami,” Julian sneered. “Did you really think you’d make it this far? You’re out of your league.”
Akira’s grin only widened. “Let’s see if I am.”
With that, Julian raised his hand, unleashing a massive fireball that rocketed toward Akira.
In an instant, Akira raised both his swords—his left sword crackling with flames, his right sword shimmering with ice—and slashed in an arc. The fireball collided with the icy wind created by his right blade, but instead of dissipating, the magic reacted violently. The fire met ice, creating a flash of steam and a shockwave that sent both fighters stumbling backward.
Julian scowled, but Akira’s expression remained calm. He focused his mana, channeling it into both swords. The Phoenix spirit within him hummed with power, its fire growing hotter and colder at the same time.
“You’re stronger than I thought,” Julian muttered, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead. But his arrogance was still present. “But no one can stand against me.”
Akira didn’t reply. Instead, he stepped forward, using his speed and precision to close the gap between them. Julian threw another spell at him, a burst of crackling lightning, but Akira danced around it with ease, his dual swords cutting through the air like extensions of his very will.
Akira lunged forward, his swords moving with purpose. His left sword, imbued with fire, slashed at Julian’s defenses, while his right sword, now glowing with the ethereal blue of ice magic, carved through the space in between them.
Julian tried to block, but the sheer force of Akira’s attack overwhelmed him. His defensive spells faltered as Akira’s Frostfire energy surged. With a swift, controlled strike, Akira landed a blow, forcing Julian to drop to his knees.
The mage’s arrogant expression was gone now, replaced with shock and fear. “No... this can’t be happening...” he stammered.
Akira stood over him, his breath steady. “You were right about one thing, Julian. I’m not out of my league.”
And with that, Akira raised his sword to strike, only for Julian to surrender.
“I yield,” Julian gasped, raising his hands in defeat.
Akira paused, the weight of his swords heavy in his hands. After a moment, he lowered them. “Good choice.”
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The Final Moments
The battle raged on, but Akira’s fight with Julian was a turning point. The tide of the Battle Royale began to shift, and Akira could feel his strength growing as he defeated more opponents. His Frostfire abilities had become second nature, and his mastery over them was something few in the arena could match.
As the final few contenders fell, Akira stood victorious—alone, but not empty. Ren had also survived, his twin daggers cutting down opponents with the same efficiency he had shown in their earlier training.
Together, they stood, the last two remaining.
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Victory
The announcer’s voice rang out one last time, announcing the final results. “Congratulations to Akira Azami and Ren! The last two remaining in the Battle Royale!”
The crowd erupted into cheers, the stadium shaking with the force of their applause. Akira stood tall, his swords still glowing with the energy of the Frostfire Phoenix. The battle was over. They had done it.
Ren clapped Akira on the back, grinning from ear to ear. “We did it, man. We actually did it.”
Akira smiled, looking down at his swords. He had earned his place among the elite. The Frostfire Paladin had risen.
But as the crowd cheered, Akira couldn’t help but feel a stirring deep within him. This was only the beginning. There was more to this world—more to the system—and more to his own potential.
With the Hunter’s License in hand and the Phoenix by his side, Akira knew that his journey was just beginning.
