The Extra's Rise

Then came a Gravehold necromancer, her gray robes swirling as she summoned skeletal warriors from the ground. Their bony claws reached for me, but I countered with Purelight, a radiant burst that turned them to ash. She tried to raise more, but I closed the distance, my sword slashing through her ward with a mix of ice and force. Her crystal shattered, and I was already scanning for my next target.

Within the first hour, I'd taken down over a dozen opponents, their crystals winking out one by one across the arena. The field was alive with action—explosions rocked the air, shouts echoed, and spells clashed in dazzling displays of color. I caught glimpses of Cecilia, Rose, and Elara as I moved, each holding their own. Cecilia's crimson spells painted the sky, twisting into impossible patterns as she dispatched a Serpent Eyes rogue. Rose's blue roses bloomed across her section, illusions throwing off her attackers. Elara's glowing barriers stood firm, her crystal untouched despite a barrage from a Pillen mage. They were incredible, and pride swelled in my chest—but I knew I'd have to face them eventually.

After clearing another cluster of weaker foes, I decided it was time to challenge Cecilia. I found her locked in combat with a Serpent Eyes assassin, his green venom darts clashing against her crimson fire. She was a whirlwind, her spells bending backward and spiraling inward, but he was slippery, dodging with unnatural speed. I stepped in, sending a wave of water to douse her flames and a gust of wind to knock him off balance. His crystal was exposed, and I shattered it with a quick slash before turning to Cecilia.

She spun to face me, her eyes narrowing. "Trying to steal my kill, Arthur?"

I grinned, twirling my sword. "Just helping out. But now it's your turn, Cee."

Her smirk widened. "Bring it on."

Our fight was like a dance, electric and intense. She launched a barrage of crimson fireballs, each one twisting midair to track me. I raised an earthen wall, the flames sputtering against the stone, and countered with a blast of wind to push her back. She laughed, her voice ringing out over the chaos, and sent a gust of her own, laced with crimson sparks that stung my skin. I anchored myself with gravity, the air thickening around me, and started my Tempest Dance.

My sword moved in a blur—first a slash of lightning that crackled toward her, forcing her to dodge; then a shard of ice that she blocked with a shimmering barrier; then a tremor of earth that shook the ground beneath her. She retaliated with a spell that bent space, my next strike veering off course, but I'd trained with her too many times to be thrown off. I adjusted, warping space back with my own power, and feinted with a burst of fire. She took the bait, shifting her defenses, and I closed the gap, my blade slashing through her crimson ward. Her crystal cracked under the blow, its light fading as she stumbled back, breathing hard.

She looked at me, chest heaving, but her smirk didn't falter. "Not bad, you jerk. Next time, you're toast."

I sheathed my sword and stepped closer, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You were amazing, Cee. I'm proud of you."

She rolled her eyes but leaned into my touch. "Yeah, yeah. Just wait—I'll get you next time."

I chuckled, giving her a quick kiss before moving on. "I'm counting on it."

Next was Rose. Her section of the arena was a nightmare of illusions—blue roses sprouted everywhere, their petals warping reality into a shifting maze. The ground tilted beneath me, and three versions of Rose appeared, each smiling that cool, enigmatic smile of hers. I took a breath, closing my eyes to focus. I could feel her mana, the subtle thread that tied the real Rose to her fakes. When I opened my eyes, I locked onto her and charged.

Her voice echoed from all directions. "Think you can find me, Arthur?"

"Already have," I shot back, my sword cutting through the air.

The illusions tried to throw me off, lunging with phantom blades, but I ignored them, my Tempest Dance carving a path to the real Rose. Wind scattered the fakes, lightning tested her defenses, and ice slowed her movements. She warped reality, dodging with a grace that took my breath away, but I countered with a flicker of time distortion, freezing her for a split second. It was enough—I lunged, my blade shattering her crystal in a burst of blue petals.

The illusions faded, and Rose stood before me, her expression soft with admiration. "You're incredible, Arthur. I knew you'd win."

I pulled her into a hug, her warmth steadying me. "You made it tough, Rose. I love that about you."

She blushed, resting her forehead against mine. "Just keep pushing yourself, okay? For us."

"Always," I promised, kissing her gently before stepping back.

Finally, Elara. Her crystal was a fortress, surrounded by layers of glowing barriers that shimmered with her support magic. She wasn't flashy, but she was relentless, her defenses healing any damage as fast as it was dealt. I approached, sword ready, and met her steady gaze.

"Arthur," she said, her voice calm. "I won't make this easy."

I nodded. "Wouldn't want it any other way."

I unleashed everything—fire roared, lightning cracked, ice splintered—but her barriers adapted, absorbing each hit. She was a wall, unyielding, and I respected the hell out of her for it. I needed something bigger. I stepped back, taking a deep breath, and started my Tempest Dance, building speed and power. My sword glowed with Purelight, its light intensifying as I poured my energy into it.

Elara saw it coming, her barriers thickening, but I was done holding back. With a roar, I unleashed God Flash—a blinding, world-shaking slash that tore through the air like a comet. The Purelight blade ripped through her defenses, smashing her crystal to pieces in a shower of light and dust.

She stared at the wreckage, then at me, her eyes wide with awe. "That was unreal, Arthur. You're something else."

I lowered my sword, panting. "You're a beast, Elara. Took everything I had."

She smiled, warm and genuine. "You deserve this win. You've earned it."

"Thanks," I said, clapping her shoulder. "Means a lot."

With my friends out, I turned to the remaining opponents. Only a handful were left, and they didn't stand a chance. A Serpent Eyes mage tried stealth and poison, but I smothered his shadows with Deepdark and pinned him with gravity, shattering his crystal in seconds. A Starcrest archer fired silver arrows, but I deflected them with wind and closed in with Tempest Dance, ending her run. One by one, the crystals fell, until only mine glowed, a solitary golden beacon in the silent arena.

The crowd erupted, their cheers shaking the stands. I'd done it—I'd won the Boundary Breach. Sweat dripped down my face, my muscles ached, but triumph surged through me. I sheathed my sword and turned to find Cecilia, Rose, and Elara waiting at the edge of the arena, their faces alight with pride.

Cecilia reached me first, slugging my arm with a grin. "You did it, you cocky bastard."

Rose stepped up, her hand slipping into mine. "We knew you could."

Elara nodded, her smile warm. "You're the best, Arthur. No question."

I pulled Cecilia and Rose into my arms, their bodies pressed close, and motioned Elara to join us. She did, and we stood there, a tight knot of friendship and love. "I couldn't have done it without you three," I said, my voice thick. "You push me every day."

Cecilia laughed, her breath warm against my neck. "Don't get sappy now. Next time, I'm kicking your ass."

Rose squeezed my hand. "We'll catch up to you. Watch out."

Elara's eyes twinkled. "Stay sharp, or we'll surpass you."

I grinned, slinging an arm around Cecilia and Rose, Elara walking beside us as we left the arena. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

The cheers faded behind us, the day mine but the future ours. Victory was sweet, but this—them—was what mattered most.