The Power of the Astral Form
In the vast expanse of his training ground, Alaryc stood poised, his astral aura radiating raw energy. Before him, an army of training robots advanced, their weapons gleaming under the artificial light.
"Activate multidimensional analysis," Alaryc muttered.
His eyes glowed with an otherworldly brilliance as his perception shifted. He could now see every attack trajectory, every future movement of the robots. Their speed and precision were rendered meaningless against his enhanced vision.
The robots charged at him, their movements blindingly fast, but Alaryc danced between their attacks with ease, dodging each strike as if it were child's play. With a swift gesture, he extended his hand, summoning a black lightning bolt.
The bolt crackled through the air and struck the robots, triggering a devastating explosion. Yet, the robots began regenerating almost instantly, countering with a barrage of fireballs.
"Impressive," Alaryc murmured, sidestepping the attacks while preparing his next move.
The battle was intense, but Alaryc's mastery of the astral form allowed him to dominate the fight, evading and counterattacking with precision. After a few moments, he decided to escalate.
The Power of the Stellar Element
"Let's test this… Stellar Element."
The atmosphere shifted, charged with a pure, luminous energy. Combining all his elemental powers into one, Alaryc channeled his strength to unleash one of his ultimate spells: Cosmic Ray.
A massive beam of light erupted from his hands, hurtling toward the robots with incredible speed. When it struck, the ensuing explosion was cataclysmic, leaving a massive crater in its wake.
Surveying the destruction, Alaryc frowned. "I need to avoid using this spell outside… It's far too dangerous."
He continued to train, focusing on refining his control over the astral form.
The Day of the Tournament
The following morning, Alaryc woke up in his dormitory with a smile. The long-awaited day had finally arrived: the Elemental Tournament.
After preparing himself, he joined his friends Alicia, Silvarya, Jake, and Maria. Their shared excitement was palpable as they geared up to represent their kingdom and showcase their skills.
Together, they headed to the academy, where the headmistress awaited them with a confident smile.
"Are you all ready?" she asked.
"Yes!" they replied in unison.
With a wave of her hand, she teleported them to the tournament's location: the Kingdom of Solaria.
The Kingdom of Solaria
Arriving at their destination, Alaryc and his friends were awestruck by the grandeur of the event. Colorful stalls lined the streets, crowds had gathered in anticipation, and an electric buzz filled the air.
They observed students from other elemental academies, each proudly displaying the colors of their respective kingdoms.
"This is incredible," Alicia whispered, amazed.
As they approached the entrance to Arcan Arena, a receptionist greeted them.
"Your names and kingdom, please."
"Castille," Alaryc answered for his group.
After registering, they were directed to their resting area. The room was luxurious, furnished with plush chairs and an array of food for their convenience.
While waiting, the friends discussed strategies and shared their excitement about the matches to come.
The Other Participants
When the time came, Alaryc and his friends made their way to the main arena. The stands were packed, and the cheers of the spectators were deafening.
Standing on a raised platform, the commentator greeted the crowd enthusiastically:
"Welcome to the Elemental Tournament! Today, the best first-year students from the kingdoms of Luminara, Aurelith, Necrosia, Castille, and Solaria will compete to determine which academy reigns supreme!"
Alaryc carefully observed the students from the other kingdoms, activating his multidimensional analysis to gauge their strength.
In Solaria's team, three students stood out. While they seemed strong, Alaryc assessed that they posed no significant threat. However, two of them caught his attention.
The first, a kemonomimi named Emy, mastered three elements: wind, earth, and water. Her aura was a blend of calmness and power.
"She might be a good match for Maria," Alaryc thought.
The second, an elf named Mia, specialized as an archer and wielded wind and earth elements. Her aura bore a striking resemblance to Silvarya's.
"She could be a worthy opponent for Silvarya," he murmured.
But it was among the students from the Kingdom of Aurelith that Alaryc found a true shock.
One student radiated an overwhelming aura. Using his analysis, Alaryc discovered his name: Arthur. He was human, bore the title of "Hero," and mastered five elements: fire, wind, earth, water, and light.
"A hero…" Alaryc thought, stunned.
Arthur, as if sensing Alaryc's gaze, turned to look at him and smirked arrogantly.
Alaryc, returning the smirk, thought to himself, "This tournament is going to be very interesting."