The Third Round Match
After barely surviving an assassination attempt, Team 13 was given a short reprieve before the third round. But peace didn't last long.
This time, their opponents were announced with divine fanfare:
"The Chosen Four of the Sky Pantheon!"
Clad in radiant white armor, draped in gold-lined capes, their weapons glowed with blessings directly from the gods.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"They're real heroes!""They were handpicked by the Divine Council!""There's no way Team 13 can win!"
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"How convenient. The gods are sending their lapdogs now."
Zara cracked her knuckles. "Let's break some divinity."
Before the Battle: A Warning from Lunaria
As the sun began to set over the massive tournament arena, Lunaria approached Kael privately.
"These 'heroes'... I've seen them before."
"They were part of the purge. The ones who helped seal you in your divine prison."
Kael's eyes darkened.
He didn't respond, but deep within his soul, his divine core pulsed—a fragment of his godhood awakening again.
The Battle Begins
The arena was set above an ancient ruin — each combatant surrounded by crumbling temples and enchanted pillars. The gods had chosen this place for symbolic reasons.
The "heroes" smirked as they arrived, glowing with power.
Each one bore a Blessing Sigil:
Duran, blessed by the God of War.
Seraphine, gifted by the Goddess of Light.
Vark, shadow-bound by the God of Judgment.
Myla, shieldmaiden of the Divine Flame.
"Your time has passed, false prince," Duran sneered. "The gods have new champions now."
Kael simply replied:
"I remember all of you. I remember what you did. And I haven't forgotten."
Team 13 vs. The Chosen Four
From the first clash, divine spells collided with unrelenting fury.
🔥 Lyra's flames clashed with Myla's holy fire, the arena turning into a battlefield of blazing skies.
⚔️ Aeris moved like lightning, matching Duran strike for strike.
🌙 Lunaria channeled moonlight shields to protect Kael from Seraphine's piercing divine light.
🧠 Selene decoded their magic in real time, disrupting the Chosen Four's formations.
🌀 Iris used shadow misdirection to break their divine coordination.
Zara? She just tanked hits that would pulverize mountains — laughing.
"This your best, war-boy?"
But Kael didn't attack.Not yet.
He watched.He waited.
And then…
Kael's Counterattack: A Forbidden Memory Unlocks
Seraphine launched a divine spear aimed at Lunaria — a fatal blow.
Time slowed.
Kael stood still……then raised his hand.
A dark violet sigil appeared above his head.
Everyone froze.
Even the gods watching from above felt it.
"Impossible," whispered Veyra from the audience. "That's… that's a Forbidden God Seal."
With a single gesture, Kael shattered Seraphine's spear in mid-air. Not deflected — unmade.
"You used to kneel before me," Kael said coldly. "Don't forget that."
And then, for a heartbeat, his true voice—his divine voice—echoed through the arena.
"I am Zerion, the God You Chained. You will kneel."
The Chosen Four Collapse
All four opponents dropped to their knees.
Not from injury…
…but from submission.
The blessings on their bodies flared in rejection — the gods behind them frightened by Kael's resurgence.
The match was called.
Team 13 wins.
But the war was only just beginning.
Aftermath and a Declaration
Later that night, Kael stood atop the academy walls, staring at the moon.
Lunaria joined him silently.
"They'll come for you again," she whispered. "The Divine Council won't stop now."
"Let them," Kael replied. "I'm starting to remember who I was. And who I have to become."
Behind him, the girls argued over who'd share a room with him during the victory retreat.
Zara: "I carried the team!"Lyra: "You punched rocks! I blocked divine fire!"Selene: "I disrupted twelve incantations in 1.7 seconds—"Iris: "I already claimed his bed last night."Lunaria: silently holds his hand
Kael just chuckled softly.
"This is going to get worse before it gets better."