Spirit's Awakening: The Path of Lightning and Water

Chapter 84: Taking Center Stage

Pressing another button on her slate device, the announcer called out, "And now, let us select our candidate!"

The armrests on the chairs of four individuals in the crowd illuminated and lit up in dazzling displays that singled out their chairs.

Then, giant holographic X’s formed above the heads of the four individuals, marking them for the rest of the audience that these were the potential fighters in the Spirit Growth stage in the audience.

Among them, Lassim’s chair joined the display, its armrests lighting up in a mesmerizing show of lights.

In a synchronized motion, similar to the spinning of a wheel, one of the X’s turned into a circle.

The circle then began to replace the X of the person clockwise from the last in a slow building, yet rapid, almost hypnotic fashion. Teasing the crowd with who would be selected.

A beeping sound played out from the array-enhanced loudspeaker system the announcer used to project her voice with every rotation the circle made around the arena, building the tension and excitement in the crowd.

Finally, the flashing slowed down gradually until it settled on Lassim’s chair, the X transforming into a circle. His chair’s display then lit up in strobing RGB flashes, marking him as the lucky candidate.

The announcer’s voice boomed through the arena, "Congratulations! We have a winner, now may I ask your name young sir?"

Lassim took a moment to consider the implications of using his real name, responded.

"I am, uh, Storm Bringer," Lassim declared, the name was the one he had been called previously at the academy. He felt it was slightly cringe but it was the first thing that popped into his mind.

"Very well, uh, Storm Bringer… You’re only Spirit Growth 1, so I’d understand if you wish to pass this opportunity to the other members of the audience. Yet, I’m required to ask, do you wish to compete in the showcase match?" The announcer asked, slightly poking fun at his obvious nickname before confirming his decision.

With a glance at Hallen, who offered supportive words and a nod of encouragement, "You can do anything you wish Young Master. You came to watch, but if you think you’re fit enough to fight, I say give it your best shot!"

Then, in a moment of mental consultation with his elemental companions, Zaphy and Mari, Lassim received enthusiastic support from Zaphy, eager for a battle. "Yay! Yay! Let’s do it, brother! I’m ready to zap that little girlie to ashes!" Zaphy chirped with excitement, her lightning energy crackling around her as she zipped around his inner heart world.

Mari, on the other hand, offered a more reasonable but slightly haughty response, "Brother Lassim, while her control of water is somewhat decent, how could she possibly compete with the Royal Koi Queen? I doubt she can wrest control of the water away from me."

With his resolve strengthened by his companions’ confidence and support, Lassim rose from his seat amidst the thunderous cheers of the audience.

Lassim made his choice. "Yes, I will compete," he replied.

"There you have it folks! He’ll compete! Head on down to the stage young sir!" The announcer informed the rest of the crowd as they cheered on the young Spirit Growth warrior’s courage.

Most went ahead and placed bets on Marissa as the clear favorite to win, as she was a full 6 levels higher than Lassim in power.

Lassim made his way towards the stage, his steps, his gaze grew more focused as he contemplated a battle plan.

The crowd’s cheers reached a fever pitch as the two contestants stood facing each other.

"Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you. You must’ve just graduated right? It’s been a few years since I have, so let’s just treat this like one of the duels at your academy, okay?" Marissa called out, wanting to console Lassim as if he might be nervous, before taking a stance with her fans.

"Uh, I think you’re pretty strong but don’t underestimate me. I’m going to go all out from the start. I’ll try not to hurt you too bad." Lassim replied a little miffed at her condescending tone.

"OH! What domineering words from the challenger! Let’s go ahead and get this showcase match started…. ARE YOU READY!?!!" The announcer called out to the crowd, which roared back in response.

"AND….FIGHT!" The announcer signaled the start of the match.

Above them, a massive and dark thundercloud coalesced, crackling with deep violet sparks of lightning.

In Lassim’s hands, his halberd materialized, the runes along its blade shimmering with deep violet sparks of electricity.

At the same time, he summoned Zaphy and Mari to his side from his heart world, both materializing in guarding positions by his sides.

With a commanding voice, and knowing one attack from Marissa would probably spell his doom, Lassim activated his technique, "[Grand Aegis]!"

The water mana in the air responded to his call, freezing and converging around him in a swirling vortex of icy power.

Within moments, the icy statue present in his heart world sent its power outward, transforming into a towering ice dragon in the real world, its form imposing and life-like.

The audience, including Marissa, was stunned into silence by the sudden manifestation of two elemental spirits with clearly different elements and the activation of a legendary technique that was known as the signature battle art of one of the guardians of the Verdant Continent.

Whispers and murmurs rippled through the crowd as they recognized the ability. How could they not recognize the Shield Guardian Valeria’s technique?

The citizens of the Aurora Kingdom in the crowd, in particular, were astounded. Their knowledge of the guardian’s Elder position at the Myriad Spirit Academy made it even easier for them to recognize the technique since the Myriad Spirit City’s academy was an integral part of the Aurora Kingdom’s success.

Shock and questioning of who this young man was ran through the crowd. Some questioned each other, "How could someone possess two elemental spirits?"

The shock rippled through the audience as Lassim prepared his first attack towards his opponent.

Marissa, her composure momentarily shaken by the unexpected turn of events. Regained her focus and readied herself for the impending clash.

She began to slowly dance, channeling her cultivation technique as water gathered along the edges of her fan.

Yet, as Marinelle had previously stated in confidence, Marissa’s control over the water mana in the air paled in comparison to the authority of the Royal Queen Koi.

With a gentle sway of her fins, the water gathering towards Marissa was halted by Marinelle’s command.

"Huh?" Marissa suddenly felt like she was in a tug of war with a behemoth.

Her connection to the mana in the air strained, the feeling towards the water she already gathered felt like it was about to snap away from her control.

The rest of the mana in the air almost felt antagonistic towards her and actively evaded her spiritual sense. She was so confused.

Marissa’s control over the water element wavered as Marinelle’s interference disrupted her concentration.

Meanwhile, Lassim’s ice dragon released a cascade of ice shards with a deep breath towards Marissa.

Still having great battle instinct and calm thinking, Marissa redirected her fans, attempting to reassert her dominance over the water mana as she sought to deflect some of the quickly approaching ice shards away from her.

Her movements were akin to a ballet dance as she sent her spiritual sense outwards with kicks and brandished her fans.

The shards of ice closed in, their edges razor-sharp.

Marissa’s eyes narrowed in determination, her focus intensifying as she summoned every ounce of her spirit sense to assert itself.

Yet, it wasn’t enough as the first shard continued unabated directly towards her position.

Thinking quickly, a cascade of water erupted from Marissa’s fans using her internal mana reserves, forming a protective shield.

The shards clashed into the barrier, leaving an echoing repetition of thuds as the ice shards pelted the shield. A symphony of crackling ice slamming and slapping against water rang out as she desperately struggled to keep the water mana under control.

Lassim’s strategy was clear—exploit Marissa’s lesser control and overwhelm her while she was defenseless. He basically removed any chance of her stronger abilities, so he just needed to bridge the gap and deal a strong blow to finish her off.

He maneuvered the ice dragon with precision, sending shards from multiple directions, creating a web of icy danger to limit her dancing.

However, Marissa wasn’t just a Champion because of her cultivation. Her battle prowess, while not perfect, was still enough to earn her the championship.

Her movements became more fluid as she relied more and more on the physical aspects of her elemental weapons to display a mesmerizing display of defense.

She spun, twirled, and weaved through the barrage, each evasion showcasing the enhancement of a martial body that has had time to grow in the Spirit Growth stage. Her agility and general resilience of her body was much greater than Lassim’s, and it was on full display as he struggled to predict her movements.