Grey and Mada’s battle had just begun, and within seconds, it changed course as the Supreme Magus was sent tumbling backward, struggling to regain balance, while the direct descendant charged at him without hesitation. "Today is the day you die." Mada grinned darkly as he swung his sword vertically toward Grey’s supposedly exposed chest. "How sure are you that you won’t be the one doing the dying?" Grey shot back, a confident grin flashing across his face. The next second, while still tumbling backward, he swirled Ki around his feet, manipulated the pressure of the wind beneath him, and spun on his side in one smooth, fluid motion. Mada’s sword slammed into the ground instead, shaking the platform with a deafening boom. A wave of air burst outward, sending debris flying in every direction as a thick cloud of dust rose, swallowing him from view. ’Ho... how did he dodge that?’ the direct descendant thought, heart thumping wildly in disbelief. "I told you... I would surely get my revenge." Grey’s cold voice echoed from the side. Mada immediately spun toward the sound and swung his sword with lethal precision, but it sliced through empty air, dispersing the dust instead. "Up here!" Grey’s voice suddenly came from above. Mada snapped his head upward, eyes widening as a sword materialized in the Supreme Magus’ hand, its edge gleaming with condensed wind Ki. ’I’m not about to take things lightly with you all. I know how strong you are, so I’ll be putting my all into this battle.’ Grey thought, his aura surging. "Breathing Technique: Second Formation!" he muttered beneath his breath. The pressure in the air shifted violently. Invisible steam seeped from his nostrils and mouth, and in the next moment, his pupils sharpened like blades. "Wind Wheel!" Grey roared. The howling of the wind filled the arena, and every spectator’s attention turned toward him as a massive wheel of compressed air burst from his sword and spun toward Mada with deadly speed. "I’ve seen this before! Fool, do something new!" Mada thundered, slamming his foot into the ground as Ki flared through his blade. His grip tightened while the wind wheel tore toward him like a cyclone of death. In a blink, it was upon him. Without hesitation, Mada swung his sword from the ground upward, channeling all his Ki into the strike as it clashed directly with the spinning wheel’s core. For a moment, the entire world seemed to freeze. The sound faded, the air stilled, and time itself paused as blade met wind. Then... A massive explosion rocked the entire platform. The force of the blast sent shockwaves rolling outward, slamming into even the spectators below. Some of the participants staggered back, shielding their faces as dust and wind rattled their bodies. Up in the leaders’ stand, several brows creased as they watched the display unfold. "Huh? Why does that look familiar?" Selene muttered, raising a brow as her eyes locked onto Grey. "That’s because it is familiar!" Rowen shouted, suddenly shooting out of his seat. The usual smug grin was gone from his face, replaced by a look of shock and anger. His gaze burned toward Grey down below. "Isn’t that the Cromwell family’s technique?! How the hell does he know how to use it?" "Now I know where I’ve seen it before." Leo muttered under his breath, a small smile flashing across his face as the memory returned. Back during the tournament, Grey had used the same breathing technique, though at the time Leo couldn’t quite place where he had seen it from. ’So that’s why Gunter looked so shocked that day, huh? Hmph. I knew something was up when he started acting weird around this student,’ he thought with a frown before quickly replacing it with a knowing grin. "Th... th... the Cromwells?!" For the first time in a long while, Selene’s composure shattered. Her mouth hung slightly open, and her eyes widened in disbelief. "B... but how? Didn’t they say they wouldn’t interfere in worldly affairs?" "Hmph." Orion simply huffed, his sharp gaze following Grey as the Supreme Magus landed smoothly back on the arena floor. "Hmph? What are we going to do about him?" Rowen asked coldly, his glare directed toward the principal. "Nothing." Orion replied with a casual shrug, an amused smile tugging at his lips. "Unless, of course, you want to mess with the Cromwells yourself. Be my guest... just don’t cry when your clan gets wiped out." "Tch!" Rowen scoffed, his jaw tightening as he slammed himself back into his seat. His eyes never left the fight below, his expression twisted with rage and envy. ’Damn the Cromwells! Always acting like gods over everyone. Rivock, you better finish your fight fast and come end that brat for me. Consider it a gift to the Cromwells. Surely, they won’t go to war for one single member, right? Especially if he dies in the tournament.’ The clan leader’s devilish grin widened as the thought burned in his mind. Meanwhile, back on the platform, Grey landed lightly, dust swirling around his boots. He clicked his tongue and shook his head slowly, eyes locked on the direct descendant before him. "What? Was that your strongest attack?" Mada taunted, a small grin curling his lips as he lifted his sword vertically. The blade began to hum violently, vibrating as waves of Ki surged into it. "Now, it’s my turn," he declared, and the next second, Mada vanished completely. His sudden disappearance drew gasps from the spectators, their eyes darting around in confusion. Updates are released by 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝓷𝓮𝓽 Grey, however, didn’t even flinch. His hands stayed calmly tucked in his pockets as he exhaled slowly, his sharp gaze staring forward with eerie composure. The descendant was moving faster than most could see, but to Grey, it felt almost predictable. "Now, you die." Mada’s cold voice came from above as he reappeared midair, his sword raised high. With all his strength, he brought it down, releasing a massive wave of condensed Ki that tore through the air with a sharp, deafening sound. "You know something? Kids will always be kids, no matter how strong they think they are." Grey’s voice rang out coolly, calm amidst the chaos. "And it’s our duty as adults to put them back in their place." Lightning crackled faintly around his feet — subtle, almost invisible to the spectators but the next instant... A thunderous blast echoed as Grey vanished from sight. The slash struck the ground with devastating force, erupting into a violent explosion that shook the entire stage. Deep trenches split the floor apart, and a wave of wind blasted outward. "Get back down." His calm voice came from above. Mada’s eyes shot upward, but before he could react... Another explosive impact resounded as Grey’s foot smashed directly into the descendant’s chest, sending Mada hurtling out of the air like a broken arrow, crashing into the ground with bone-rattling force.