The highly anticipated third day.

If it was even possible, the amount of dragons in the stands grew even more.

Yells, shouts, excitement!

It was due to the two figures walking out onto the metal platform that was suspended in the air.

One was a woman with red hair so vivid it was almost like a living flame, the wild hair surrounded her sharp, impish face. She could have been considered beautiful, but her face was too harsh for that. Even her bright blue eyes had a sharp gleam to them. Her thin lips were pressed into an even thinner line.

She wore plain gear, a simple cropped shirt and shorts, her toned stomach was revealed, along with her modest cleavage. The muscles in her thighs flexed as she walked. The aura she radiated could install a fear even in the greatest of warriors.

Across from her was a good-looking man. His androgynistic features were alluring, from the fullness of his ruby lips to his long eyelashes. His left eye was covered by a black eyepatch but the other was revealed and a beautiful crimson in color. His cheekbones were high and defined and his skin was smooth and pale. The paleness of his skin stood out starkly against his pitch black hair and attire. A red streak went through his hair and twisted itself through the braid that fell to his chest. His lips were pulled into an arrogant smirk.

His aura was similar to the woman’s but far more restrained in its bloodlust. It was similar to a lion stalking its prey.

Their names were respectively Lisset and Erebus.

“It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for!” the announcer boomed over the loudspeaker. The crowd roared in response. “A battle between the strongest beings on Eirlok, members of the Dragon Council.” He took a breath. “Lisset and Erebus!”

The crowd roared once more, the volcano seemed to shake with the noise. Many were stomping their feet on the ground and clapping their hands as they whooped and shouted.

The mana channel inside of the volcano could only be described as excited. It was exuberant as it jolted everyone and roused them even more.

“They’re quite loud, aren’t they?” Erebus asked Lisset, his smirk growing even larger.

The redhead simply glared at him. “What do you expect? They’ve never seen us actually fighting. Not that either of us will be serious, though.”

“The time limit for this match is twenty minutes! A fast-paced battle, the highlight of this century!” the announcer continued in his grandiose voice.

They had set a short time limit because Lisset and Erebus could literally fight for days without a winner being declared. So, if none of them won in the time limit, it would obviously be called a draw. Also, they had to continue on with the Tournament, Erebus and Lisset were essentially the opening act.

It was probably a bad idea though, seeing as they would undoubtedly outshine the other competitors.

The announcer took a deep breath before shouting, “Begin!”

Everyone leaned forward in their seats, eyes peeled. They couldn’t miss a single thing, this was an excellent opportunity.

Lisset raised her hand and pillars of earth shot from the stands, all aimed at Erebus.

She planned to win with magic. She wasn’t as skilled in hand-to-hand combat as he was. But since Erebus couldn’t use his magic, she had the advantage on that field.

The crowd gasped. Such high-level magic straight out the gate! And she did it so effortlessly. Even though, it didn’t look like much, to command that much earth at once required a staggering amount of mana.

Lisset had done so as if it was the simplest thing on the planet.

Even though the velocity of the pillars was incredibly, Erebus easily dodged them. He leaped into the air, successfully avoiding the attack.

The pillars slammed into each other, cracks forming in the earth.

It was enough power to kill a person. But to harm one of the original dragons? Hardly so.

“Tch,” Lisset clucked her tongue. She pointed her finger upwards and pillars sprouted out of the original ones, all aimed at Erebus who was descending from his jump.

Another gasp from the crowd.

Splendid execution. Such a flawless attack.

Erebus, however, was not amused in the slightest. He swung his leg at the pillars, successfully shattering them.

Lisset was expecting this, though, the shards of earth instantly sharpened and once again shot at Erebus.

He clicked his tongue in annoyance and activated his magic that sucked up the projectiles.

Erebus landed on the platform, completely unharmed.

Everyone in the crowd was simply amazed. Such control from both of them! They did such difficult task as if it was nothing.

Unbelievable. Was this the power of the original dragons? They weren’t even trying and this only 60% of their original power. Some members of the audience found their bodies shaking in fear a little bit.

No one other than the members of the Dragon Council were at this level.

Lisset slammed her palms against the platform and metal spikes rose. Erebus, once again, leaped into the air to avoid the attack. The spikes rose even taller, though.

This was crazy.

She was able to manipulate metal, too. Even among the most accomplished earth mages, only a few were able to use that kind of magic. Even fewer were able to do it without breaking a sweat.

A smile pulled at the corners of Lisset’s mouth. She could manipulate stone, dirt, metal, etc (not that she was bragging, of course).

Erebus did something that surprised her. He used the spikes as a launching pad to send himself towards her.

Lisset instantly raised a barrier to protect herself, but he broke through it. Without wasting a moment, Erebus engaged her in hand-to-hand combat.

Shit! Lisset roared in her mind.

She needed to get a distance between them once again. Even though it didn’t look like she was struggling to fight Erebus in close combat, she was.

His movements were far faster and more refined than her own. She was keeping up purely based on instinct.

Lisset really didn’t want one of his attacks to land. She would definitely bruise. Maybe Airyn would heal her, afterwards...

Weryn was leaning forward in his seat, clutching the railing. Amazing! His master was amazing.

Despite the intensity of the battle, only five minutes had passed.

Lisset managed to get Erebus away from her by making the spikes shoot of metal projectiles at him. Of course, the projectiles were weak (enough to kill a normal person) but it was enough to make him draw back.

She retracted the spikes back into the ground and smiled at him. It was not a smile, it was a snarl.

Lisset looked like an amazon warrior, with her crazy hair and ferocious attacks.

Erebus still had a confident aura about him.

Neither of them were exactly worried, if anything, they were having fun.

Even Erebus! One of Lisset’s spikes had managed to scratch his cheek, drawing blood. When was the last time he had bleed? His blood was boiling. This was incredibly entertaining.

They may have been playing around, but at the same time they weren’t joking.

Erebus decided to go on the offense. Except for he had charged her, Lisset had been the aggressor.

Other than his speciality, Erebus was rather adept at wind magic. Erebus surrounded Lisset with a vortex of cutting, pressurized air.

The attack sliced at her tough skin, and bright blood spilled from her injuries. An animalistic smile spread across Lisset’s face.

Her reaction to bleeding was the same as Erebus’.

With a swipe of her hand, Lisset dispelled Erebus’ magic. It wasn’t hard, he didn’t put a lot of mana into it.

Everyone in the crowd was close to crying. This battle was amazing, words were nearly incapable of describing the intensity of it. It moved them to tears.

Their technique was beautiful, their magic was flawless. Their movements were precise and filled with malicious intent.

Even if this was just a spar, the two took fighting seriously. Even if they didn’t put all their power into it, they were wholly invested in it.

They believed a battle should be fought with honor.

Even the lazy Erebus had this mindset. Those who risk their lives are to be respected. So, even if he didn’t act like it, Erebus respected the ones he battled in the duration of his life.

Lisset and Erebus were exchanging blows at an alarming rate, whenever Erebus would close in for hand-to-hand combat, Lisset would react accordingly. They knew how to adapt quickly in a battle.

Nineteen minutes passed with no sign of a winner.

Erebus was greatly hindered by his inability to use his specialized magic but it was enough to keep up with Lisset.

Even though she technically had the advantage, Erebus was too skilled to be taken down by that.

He bridged the gap with quick-thinking and experience.

Lisset may have been a powerful opponent but she lacked the same experience Erebus had gained.

The last thirty seconds.

Everyone was completely silent, not wanting to ruin the moment.

Lisset attempted to push Erebus into a corner, but there wasn’t enough time. The same was for Erebus, he couldn’t get close enough to defeat her in close combat.

“10!” the announcer started his countdown.

Lisset and Erebus didn’t slow down, though. Their movements were too quick to keep up with.

Erebus was blocking and deflected earth magic and attacking Lisset.

“3!”

“2~”

Erebus closed in on Lisset.

“1!”

He froze, his hand stretched to knock her off. Lisset smirked at Erebus, her eyes full of laughter. He had come this close to winning.

Their match ended in a draw.