Part XXI Breaking the Shell

Today was the final match between Tristan and Aicelia. Everyone had gathered in the arena to watch the match between the two from the same tribe. Lazuro quickly left after putting on his uniform, looking for an empty seat in the arena. As he glanced left and right, he saw Fiore waving. She patted the empty seat next to her. Lazuro sat next to Fiore, making all the boys in Fiore's year jealous. A few moments later, the main star of the match appeared. Aicelia ascended the arena with a skull-headed staff and a few strands of white hair. Meanwhile, Tristan arrived with his Flamebreaker. As soon as he entered, many girls screamed. Tristan had become very popular because of his Flamebreaker, the first hero mythbreaker, and his recent battle.

"Who would have thought you'd become so popular?" Aicelia wiped the blood from her index finger on her mythbreaker.

"It's clear, isn't it? I am the one destined to be a hero and save humanity. I will go to the world tree and gain power from the gods. After that, I will exterminate the monsters so that humans no longer need to fear living in the underworld." Tristan also smeared blood on the mythbreaker.

Instantly, Aicelia's short staff lengthened, revealing the distinctive flesh of a mythbreaker. The hair on her blue crystal-eyed skull also grew thicker. Meanwhile, the handle of Tristan's machete also lengthened, transforming into a bladed spear.

"I am Aicelia Frost, and my mythbreaker is Yuki-Onna. Please assist me." Aicelia bowed.

"I am Tristan Draco, and my mythbreaker is Flamebreaker. Please assist me." Tristan also bowed.

As soon as she finished bowing, Aicelia created a wave of ice rising while drawing a magic symbol above the arena. Seeing this, Tristan spun the spear and created a large blue fireball. Tristan threw the fireball at the ice Aicelia was standing on, causing the ice to scorch. Aicelia fell, but the magic circle in the sky had already disappeared.

"Yokai Blizzard!" Aicelia lowered her staff.

A dense hailstorm appeared, enveloping the entire arena, sending strong winds and a chill down upon Tristan.

"You're truly amazing, Aice. No wonder so many proposals came your way when you were little. But I... won't lose. Blue Flame aura."

Blue flames wrapped around Tristan, then disappeared, transforming into a calm flame that enveloped his body. Although he was enveloped in flames and protected from the cold, the blizzard still obscured Tristan's vision, and the strong winds disrupted his movements. Tristan, still maintaining his balance, tried to look around for Aicelia. Suddenly, five ice prisms shot out from behind Tristan. They struck Tristan's back, but they didn't do much damage.

"You can't hurt me with such a weak attack. My passive trait is Dragon Skin, which makes my skin thicker, reducing the damage I take." Tristan continued searching.

"Revealing your abilities to others is foolish, Tris. You could get killed for it."

Three ice prisms struck Tristan's body. Annoyed, Tristan finally began to move across the arena. However, the blizzard slowed his movements. Aicelia took advantage of this and created a longer, but thinner, prism, targeting Tristan's right shoulder. Tristan began to display a worried expression after receiving the ice prism Aicelia had just created. Tristan had always been victorious because his opponents were aggressive, except for Selene, who chose to surrender.

"Aice, can you stop hiding and face me head-on?" Tristan asked.

Aicelia didn't answer but continued throwing reinforced ice prisms at Tristan's right shoulder. The repeated attacks on the same spot made Tristan lose his patience. He continued to randomly fire the fireballs in his hand, hoping to hit Aicelia.

"Damn, my energy is very limited because I've only been learning to master Mythbreaker for a few months. Meanwhile, Aice has high energy because she's been training since she was a child. If this keeps up, I won't last much longer." The blue flames surrounding Tristan were thinning.

Tristan took a breath, and as he exhaled, the blue flames on his body disappeared. As if resigned, Tristan simply stood there, allowing himself to be enveloped by the snow. The blizzard finally stopped, revealing Aicelia, panting with exhaustion. Maintaining the blizzard and creating the ice prisms had drained her of energy. Aicelia raised her baton in a baseball pose and ran toward Tristan. Once they were close, she slammed her baton into his stomach. Tristan suddenly moved and blocked her baton with his spear. Tristan then grabbed Aicelia by the collar and threw her out of the arena.

"I see, so she made her flames so thin and pretended not to move to trick Aicelia. Smart girl," Fiore praised.

Meanwhile, Aicelia was floating in an arc, waiting for her fall. Not wanting to be outdone, Aicelia created an ice wave, covering her hands and feet with mana to protect herself. A loud collision between Aicelia and the ice wave sent shards flying everywhere. It turned out Aicelia wasn't just creating the wave to prevent her fall. She was using the ice wave as a springboard to jump back into the arena.

"Isn't that cheating?" Tristan protested.

"As long as I don't touch the ground, I'm not eliminated." Aicelia pulled at her eye bags and stuck out her tongue.

"Okay, then it's my turn." Tristan spun his spear.

Tristan lunged forward, swinging his spear vertically at Aicelia. Aicelia tapped her staff, creating a wave of ice. Tristan's attack shattered Aicelia's ice spear. However, Aicelia had already leaped around, creating an ice prism that struck Tristan's right shoulder.

"Spear style, Lotus Dragon Piercing Strike!"

Two long, snake-like branches emerged from the tip of Tristan's spear. As soon as Aicelia landed, Tristan spun his spear, attempting to stab her in the chest. Aicelia didn't stop him, creating a wave of ice that blocked Tristan's spear. However, the heat of the blue flames easily penetrated Aicelia's ice wave. Aicelia took advantage of the momentary lull in the crashing waves and managed to block Tristan's spear with her staff. Aicelia was thrown, her front burning, despite managing to block Tristan's spear. Aicelia fell but quickly used ice to dispel Tistan's blue flames.

"You're so cruel, Tristan." Aicelia held her bra, which had been burned by Tristan's flames.

"Don't be so offended. This is a match, after all, so don't be bitter if you lose."

Tristan made flames envelop his body and weapon and then charged at Aicelia again. The fight was fierce. Aicelia continued to dodge and attack Tristan in the same spot. Meanwhile, Tristan managed to inflict several slashes on Aicelia, though his attacks were somewhat hesitant. Finally, after thirty exchanges, both of them began to tire. However, they both smiled as if enjoying the fight.

"You remember how we used to do this when we were little," Aicelia said.

"Right, I almost forgot you were such a monster," Tristan teased.

Aicelia puffed out her cheeks and made an angry, yet cute, expression.

“But I’m happy. I’m happy you finally got your mythbreaker. Happy that the distance between us has finally disappeared. You know, I still consider you a good friend even without a mythbreaker.” Aicelia smiled sincerely.

“Then let’s get this over with.” Tristan grinned.

Tristan twirled his spear, creating a swirling circle of fire. Aicelia pointed her staff at Tristan and created a giant prism. Tristan stopped spinning his spear and allowed all the flames to converge into a single point. A large blaze appeared at the tip of Tristan's spear.

"Dragon Breath!"

"Ice Prism Max!"

Their attacks collided, creating a powerful vapor that shattered the ground in the arena. Aicelia bravely advanced through the vapor, coating her body in mana. Using the giant prism she had created, Aicelia leaped around to Tristan's back. She then fired the ice prism she had created as she leaped, aiming at Tristan's right chest. Tristan's dragon scales, made of dragon, shattered, allowing Aicelia's prism to penetrate his body. Aicelia didn't stop her attacks, creating a wave of ice that covered Tristan's entire body.

"Looks like we have first place. She's Aicelia Frost."

Everyone in the arena applauded except Selene, who was annoyed and displeased with the result.