{Louise''s POV}


    [Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Main Arena: Main Stage]


    Our des locked, and I pushed against Noah''s surprising strength. For a big lug with a monstrous broadsword, he held his ground with unexpected tenacity.


    "For such a heavy weapon, your strength far surpasses mine," I admitted, unable to hide a grudging note of respect.


    A cocky smirk spread across Noah''s face. His pride was obvious, and suddenly, it dawned on me.


    The sh of weapons... it was a distraction! His left hand, hidden from my view, was already moving, chanting a spell beneath his breath. A familiar tingle of mana swirled around his free hand, a clear sign of an incantation.


    It was toote... I tried to twist my Polerarm back, but before I could react, Noah''s left foot surged with power. "Rising Rock!" he shouted.


    DUNG!, DUNG!, DUNG!


    Sharp spikes of earth burst from the gleaming tform, forcing me to leap backwards. My heart hammered in my chest as I realized the full extent of Noah''s craftiness.


    He wasn''t just some brute wielding a giant sword – he was skilled at mana casting as well, capable of chaining attacks in rapid session.


    "...!"


    Even as Inded, Noah was already twisting his left hand, guiding the rising pirs of rock with terrifying precision. I cursed my carelessness, my focus on his sheer power blinding me to his magical prowess. Still, I wouldn''t be undone so easily.


    In mid-air, I shifted my grip on the axe. This me is stronger than any other me.


    SHAWWW!


    my elemental affinity ignited within me. With a roar, I channelled my affinity into the weapon, mming it against the ground.


    BANG!


    Cracks spread in an instant, fissures zing with the intensity of a methrower, incinerating the stone spikes It charged straight towards Noahpletely breaking his mana cast.


    Noah''s surprise at my mes was a sweet victory. No longer content to y defensively, I surged forward.


    HUUUUU


    My breath hitched as I channelled my speed, my form practically blurring as I closed the distance to Noah in the blink of an eye.


    HAAAAH!


    My polearm axe zed with fiery intensity. I exhaled, releasing a torrent of arcing mes directly at Noah.


    "...!"


    His eyes widened, but his reaction was just a fraction too slow. He managed to raise a hasty mana shield, yet the flimsy barrier cracked and shattered instantly under the onught.


    My axe sliced through, raking across Noah''s chest. A pained gasp escaped him, and I saw the flicker of agony twist his features even as he gritted his teeth in defiance.


    Yet Noah wasn''t done. With a desperate surge of strength, he brought his broadsword around in a whistling arc.


    HMM!


    I met the clumsy swing with my polearm, sparks flying as the weapons shed. Another grunt of pain escaped Noah as the vibration of the impact aggravated his burn.


    But my attacks weren''t fueled by pity. Again and again, I pushed forward, my axe a whirlwind of fire, each ncing blow searing Noah''s skin. He retreated step by unsteady step, no longer the brute force of nature but a wounded animal fighting for survival.


    The thrill of the battle was fading, reced by a dull ache and a grudging admiration for Noah''s tenacity. Yet, I wouldn''t allow myself to be caught in a drawn-out brawl. It was time to end this.


    I charged at Noah, and my speed dropped to see if he had any more tricks. I was confused for some reason he wasn''t attacking or moving his sword at all. But there was no sign of him channelling mana either... His face was straight ignoring all the pain I had dealt.


    As I closed the distance at a pace he clearly anticipated.A wide grin spread across Noah''s face.


    SHIT...


    Then, in a move I hadn''t expected, I felt a clear flow of mana rising through his weapon, as he raised his broadsword high and mmed it into the tform.


    RUMBLE, RUMBLE, RUMBLE,


    "...!"


    The earth rumbled beneath my feet, and before I could react, a massive pir of jagged rock erupted from the ground, hurtling me up towards the blue sky.


    The force of the impact reverberated through my body. This... this wasn''t a distraction anymore. Noah had changed the entire battlefield! As I tumbled through the air, I saw him sprint up the sloping surface of the rock pir, his broadsword shining ominously.


    Damn it! As I stabbed my weapon into the pir afternding, my axe bit deep into the pir to stabilize myself. The sheer height, the unnatural angle... My usual grace on the battlefield had deserted me. This was Noah''s element, his terrain, and I was dangerously out of my depth.


    My gaze locked with Noah''s as he approached. Even with the pain etched on his face, his confidence was clear.


    But I can''t maintain my bnce on this Pir of tilting rock. So how does he do it?


    Slowly I clenched onto my axe trying not to fall from a height, Observing every part of Noah''s body to see how he kept his from not falling off the nted pir... Slowly but surely I looked extremely closely at all the details and signatures of mana.


    It was then I noticed the subtle sheen of mana clinging to his boots, the key to his impossible bnce.


    So he was essentially sticking his mana close to his feet to create a connection between his foot and the rock. Then that would mean he would be able to never fall, due to the adhesion of his boots constantly sticking.


    Gritting my teeth, I focused, desperately trying to mimic the effect. A thin curl of my mana extended, connecting me to the unforgiving stone.


    "Focus Dammit!" I muttered as Noah was within striking distance, "FOCUS"


    ...


    ...


    Just as Noah''s attack connected, I was ready. Parrying his blow with a strength born of desperation, I saw the same shock of surprise cross his features.


    "As expected from one of the strongest," Noah grunted, "you''re just as strong as Jan!"


    A snarl escaped me. "Don''tpare me to that fraud!" I surged forward, forcing Noah back as we locked weapons once more.


    The very ground beneath my feet began to tremble, mirroring the rage surging within me. Cracks spread across the pir, not from Noah''s magic, but from the sheer intensity of my emotions.


    SHAWWWW!


    With each step, my anger ignited the very air around me. mes sprouted from the cracks of the licking stone, rising higher with each strike of my polearm axe.


    Noah, his face looked as if he was struggling, he scrambled backwards, barely parrying my relentless attacks while frantically dodging the rising tongues of fire.


    He was fading, weakening with every blow Inded. My vision narrowed, focused solely on ending this battle. With a final, furious charge, I forced Noah to the very edge of the pir.


    "This is over."


    My voice was a low growl,ced with both satisfaction and a hint of disgust. Grasping my axe with both hands, I delivered a devastating blow, knocking Noah clear off the crumbling pir.


    He plummeted, a desperate cry trailing after him. I didn''t hesitate. Leaping after him, I pointed my polearm directly at his head, a whirlwind of fire and fury. Just as we mmed back into the tform, my axe connected with the ground below, erupting in a blinding explosion of me and dust.


    When the dust settled, the victor was clear. I stood, polearm still firmly nted beside Noah''s prone body, the tip aimed unflinchingly at his head. The image was absolute - a deration of my dominance.


    "...!"


    The announcer''s voice echoed through the lingering haze," Louise Villerion wins by force surrender!"


    ***


    {Rel''s POV}


    [Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Student Section Stands]


    I was on my feet watching the final moments of the fight unfold. Louise had knocked Noahpletely off the crumbling pir. Then, in a move that bordered on insanity, he''d leapt after his opponent.


    The impact on the ground sent a shockwave through the arena, a cloud of dust covering the aftermath. Even from my distant seat, I felt the tremors. Humans weren''t meant to survive falls from that height, and to say it simply... Louise was more superhuman than anyone else.


    When the dust settled, the victor was clear. Louise stood defiant, his polearm a beacon of triumph beside the unmoving Noah.


    The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers – they adored this sort of spectacle.


    It was unbelievable to witness such a beautiful fight in person... especially when you''re the one who wrote the very depths of their character, But what can I say Louise was special in his ways, he has a strong undying passion that never blows out.


    That''s why he is deserving of the name, ''ming Emperor.''


    ____________


    Authors Note:


    - Rising Rock is a standard ability that any user with the attribute of earth can cast with ease but requires a mana chant and hand sign in order to manifest it''splete form to do maximum damage.


    - Mana Casting is a form of spell casting that utilities the form of: Mana chant + Mana Channelling + Mana Hand Signs + Elemental Attribute = ''Mana Cast'' or ''Spell Casting''


    - Louise''s battle IQ is second to Jan.


    - During the Massive Pir of rock created by Noah, Louise solved the imbnce equation within 8 seconds.


    - Noah and Louise were fighting upside down from the tilting pir at one point.


    - The Color of Louise''s ''Pure me'' is Blue-White