Massive stone pillars erupted from the ground around Blitz, forming an enclosed prison that blocked its escape.
The walls were thick and sturdy and the gaps were too small for Blitz to slip through.
Milo's eyes widened in surprise, his smirk faltering for the first time. Blitz was fast, but it couldn't break through such a fortified structure.
The cage pulsed with mana, holding the beast in place while Zack caught his breath.
"You think a cage is enough to stop us?" Milo growled, his competitive spirit flaring wildly. He wasn't about to let Zack get the upper hand.
"Blitz, Lightning Discharge!" Inside the stone cage, Blitz's fur sparked violently, and a massive surge of lightning exploded from its body.
The discharge crackled through the air, arcs of electricity slamming into the stone walls. The energy spread out like a web, targeting every crack and weak point in the structure.
The audience gasped as the cage trembled under the assault, but Zack stood firm, his eyes locked on the weakening stone.
"Come on, Terra! Reinforce!"
Terra stomped its massive feet, channeling its earth magic into the stone cage.
The cracks in the stone filled in, and the walls thickened, resisting the pressure from Blitz's attack.
It was a test of endurance now—whether Zack and Terra's earth magic could hold out against the raw power of Milo's lightning.
Kyle watched from the stands, leaning forward with intense focus. He had to admit, Zack was holding his own better than expected. But Milo wasn't one to give up easily.
"Blitz, Full Charge!" Milo yelled, his voice filled with determination. He wasn't about to let a stone cage be his downfall.
Blitz responded instantly, its entire body glowing with an intense blue light as it charged up for a final, devastating strike.
The electricity in the air grew thicker, and Kyle could feel the hairs on his neck standing on end from the sheer power Blitz was generating.
Zack's eyes widened. He knew that this next attack would be enough to break the cage. He had to act fast.
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"Terra, Shell Smash!" he called out, and his turtle companion responded by spinning its massive body.
With a heavy grunt, Terra hurled itself toward the cage, crashing into the side with enough force to break through. The stone shattered, creating an escape route just as Blitz unleashed its fully charged attack.
A massive bolt of lightning struck the ground where the cage had been, obliterating the remaining stone and leaving a smoking crater in its wake. But Zack and Terra were already moving.
Terra's powerful tail swung in a wide arc, and it began sending forth some forth some rocks, trying to keep him on the defensive.
Milo dodged, his body moving with the same speed and precision as Blitz.
"You think you can keep me away with some rocks?" he taunted, weaving through the incoming attacks.
His movements were sharp and calculated, but Zack wasn't aiming for Milo.
"Terra, Ground Quake!"
The arena shook violently, and this time, the earth under Blitz's feet gave way.
The ground crumbled into a pit, sending the Voltclaw Cheetah tumbling into a hole too deep and narrow for it to climb out of easily.
Blitz scrambled, its claws sparking against the walls, but the trap was well-constructed.
Milo's eyes flashed with anger.
"I'm not done yet!"
He charged forward, closing the distance between himself and Zack.
"Blitz, get out of there!" His voice rang with authority, and Blitz responded, its body shimmering with electricity as it began to dig its way out of the pit.
Zack's brow furrowed. Milo's relentless push was exhausting. He could see that Terra was starting to slow down, the massive turtle's movements becoming heavier. Meanwhile, Milo was barely breaking a sweat.
But Zack wasn't ready to give up. He took a deep breath, gathering his mana, he began to channel it towards Terra for one final attack.
"Terra, let's finish this!"
The ground beneath Milo's feet suddenly erupted, and giant stone hands burst from the earth, grabbing at his legs and trying to pin him down.
At the same time, Terra charged forward, aiming to slam into Milo with its full weight.
Milo's eyes widened in shock as the stone hands gripped him tightly, slowing him down.
He gritted his teeth, trying to summon enough lightning to break free, but Terra's massive shadow loomed over him.
For a moment, it looked like Zack had won.
But then, with a fierce cry, Milo unleashed everything he had. "Lightning Bolt!"
A blinding flash of light filled the arena as Milo exploded with raw lightning energy, the shockwave shattering the stone hands and sending Terra skidding backward.
The crowd gasped, the sheer force of the spell leaving them speechless.
When the light faded, Milo stood in the center of the crater, his clothes torn and his body sparking with residual electricity.
Blitz had clawed its way out of the pit, standing beside its Tamer with a low growl.
Zack was panting, his mana nearly spent. Terra stood by his side, but the giant turtle was clearly exhausted. It was clear that neither side had much left to give.
Milo wiped the sweat from his brow, glaring at Zack with fierce determination. "You gave me a good fight, Zack. But I think it's time we end this."
Zack clenched his fists, knowing Milo was right. He had pushed himself and Terra to their limits, but Milo still had more in the tank.
The audience was on the edge of their seats, waiting to see the final clash between the two rivals. seaʀᴄh thё nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
But just as Milo was about to make his move, the loud sound of a horn blared through the arena, signaling the end of the match.
Dan's voice echoed over the coliseum. "Time's up! All of you left on the stage have qualified for the next round!"
Zack let out a long breath, collapsing to one knee in relief. Terra straightened its long neck, nudging Zack gently.
Milo frowned, clearly frustrated that he couldn't finish the fight, but he let it go, giving Zack a grudging nod of respect.
The crowd erupted into applause, and Kyle smiled from the stands, impressed by how far Zack had come.
Both he and Milo had put on a spectacular show, and now they would move on to the next stage of the competition.
As Zack stood up, he flashed Kyle a tired but triumphant grin, giving him a wink.
Kyle returned the gesture. He was impressed by the fight. This showed that the beast tamers were leaps ahead in combat compared to the other students.
Kyle had observed the way the way they combined with their companions to effectively fight stronger battles.
This made his mind trail to a certain egg that just hatched at home.
'They weren't the only ones that improved too... All these won't stop me from winning,' Kyle grinned as he thought, ready to show his improvements in the next battles.
Instructor Dan stepped forward after they had all left the arena.
With a gentle smile on his face, he scanned the spectators and exhausted contestants before saying:
"Well done, all of you. Today's battles have proven your worth as young mages of Vyna Academy. You've earned your place in the next round.
Rest up, because the next challenge will test you even further. You're Dismissed!"