Universal Power System

The impact sent a shockwave through the air, and cracks webbed across the surface of the earthen dome.

Alexi didn't pause. With a roar, he channeled more energy into his swords, causing them to crackle with intensified Purple Lightning. He struck again, this time with a series of rapid slashes that chipped away at the thick Earth dome that Mako tried his best to maintain with one hand. Sparks flew as the blades tore through the earth, each strike more forceful than the last.

Mako knew he couldn't stay defensive for long. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, feeling the familiar warmth of his fire ability surge through him. Alexi's blades finally shattered the earth shield and revealed Mako in a crouching position with one hand up which was trying to maintain the integrity of the dome.

However, even after the dome had been destroyed, Mako remained unfazed as his other hand was still calmly touching the ground with a wonderous glow of Red Fire.

[Flame Pillar has been activated]

Alexi was a bit confused but soon enough he realized that Mako had completely flipped the table and even though it looked like Alexi had backed Mako into a corner, this wasn't the case at all.

With an evil smile, Mako looked up at Alexi as the floor surrounding them began to illuminate a bright orange color.

The flames roared upwards, encasing both Mako and Alexi.

Since Mako had no control over the circumference of the flame pillar which had kept increasing every time he had leveled it up and with Alexi being so close to him, he had no choice but to sacrifice himself and burn both of them together.

Screams of pain erupted from within the flames as the fire washed over them, the heat intense enough to make the air shimmer. Thanks to the attack being cast by Mako, he wasn't as greatly affected by the heat as Alexi who didn't possess the fire ability.

Seconds later, the fire stopped erupting from the ground, revealing a horrific scene with everything within the radius of the flame pillar being charred black except for Mako of course who was only slightly hurt by the flames with steam rising from every surface on his body.

He looked to see what had become of Alexi after using this desperate move only to see a completely blackened figure that had the same features as Alexi but was completely unrecognizable.

At first, Mako was a bit worried that maybe he had inflicted too much damage on Alexi and he had been burned to a crisp.

'No! No way would Teacher Magnus allow for the attack to continue if it was going to kill him, he would have definitely stopped me,' Mako thought as he looked back at Magnus who was still observing the battle from a distance with his arms crossed, appearing as calm as a cucumber.

Mako turned back to carefully observe Alexi and try and figure out what had happened to him when all of a sudden, cracks started to form on his blackened skin.

Mako instinctively moved back and observed as more and more cracks started to form on his skin.

"You idiot!" Alexi screamed as flexed his body and all the black crusty exterior began to break off and fall from his body, revealing his actual skin which was very red.

Alexi freed himself from the charred shell, revealing his true form underneath. His skin was red from the intense heat, but he was still standing, his eyes filled with a fierce determination. Alexi took a deep breath, steam rising from his body as he glared at Mako.

It was clear to Mako what Alexi had done to protect himself from the sudden attack.

Using his Earth ability, he called all the tiny rocks that had flown into the air after he smashed Mako's dome towards him to form an advanced form of Mako's Stone Skin skill. The stones completely covered Alexi's body from head to toe and shielded him from the intense fire, conducting only a small amount of the actual heat to his skin.

Alexi was still recovering from the last attack when Mako happened to spot his katana lying on the floor on the other side of the hall, where he had blasted Alexi with his Energy Stream.

Knowing that they both barely had the strength to continue, his only goal now was to retrieve his katana and finish the endgame of this exhausting duel.

He focused on the ground beneath Alexi, willing it to rise and entangle his opponent's legs. The earth responded, forming tendrils that shot up to ensnare Alexi.

But Alexi was ready. With a grunt, he slammed his swords into the ground, sending a pulse of magnetic energy through the earth. The tendrils shattered into pieces, and the ground beneath them trembled. Mako staggered, trying to keep his balance as the earth quaked.

"I've had enough of this!" Alexi screamed as his anger was now rising even higher than before. "Time to end this!"

Mako's body ached, the exertion from the Flame Pillar and previous battles weighing heavily on him. Yet, the sight of his katana glinting in the distance fueled his resolve. He knew that the final moments of this battle would determine the victor, and he couldn't afford any hesitation.

As the earth trembled from the pressure Alexi was exerting with his aura, Mako made a split-second decision.

[Sprint has been activated]

[Dash has been activated]

[Energy Sensing has been activated]

[Motion Sense has been activated]

He channeled all of his attribute-boosting skills, feeling the familiar tingle as raw power coursed through his veins. Combining that with his Earth ability, in a swift motion, he launched himself into the air, using a tiny earth pillar to propel his body into the air. The ground where he had stood cracked and shattered, the force of his leap leaving a small crater.

Alexi's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly recovered, activating his attack early as several earth spikes erupted from the ground, aimed to take out Mako in mid-air.

As Mako observed tens of earth spikes hurling at him, he remained calm as with his added perception and agility, he was able to observe them clearly.

[Fireball has been activated]

[Fireball has been activated]

[Fireball has been activated]

Using his fireballs to push him back and change his trajectory, Mako cleverly evaded all of the incoming earth spikes and was now heading straight at Alexi.

Alexi quickly raised his swords to prepare for Mako's descent. However, Mako wasn't aiming for an aerial strike. Instead, he flew right over Alexi's head and landed in a controlled roll, reaching out to grab his katana as he came to a stop. The familiar weight of the weapon in his hand brought a surge of confidence. He rose to his feet, katana held firmly in his grip with flames erupting from the blade once again, and turned to face Alexi.

Breathing heavily, Alexi's anger was palpable. "You're not getting away this time," he growled, electricity crackling around him as he prepared to unleash another attack.

Mako tightened his grip on the katana, his eyes narrowing in focus. He knew he had one last move that could turn the tide in his favor, but it required precise timing and all the energy he could muster.

[Lightning Sword Style: Grand Lightning]

With a roar, Alexi charged, his swords enveloped in a brilliant display of Purple Lightning. The ground scorched beneath his feet as he closed the distance, aiming to overwhelm Mako with sheer force of a singular gigantic strike.

Mako took a deep breath, centering himself as he prepared for the final clash. He let his mind clear, focusing solely on the moment, the battle, and the katana in his hands.

Just as Alexi swung his swords, Mako refreshed all of his attribute-boosting skills which were quite taxing to keep active at the same time and Mako sidestepped the initial strike, feeling the heat of the lightning as it passed by. He countered with a swift, precise slash, aiming not to harm Alexi but to create an opening.

Alexi staggered, momentarily off-balance. Mako seized the opportunity, focusing his Fire ability into the katana. The flames grew many times larger, completely enveloping and hiding the actual blade.

With a powerful, sweeping motion, Mako unleashed his ultimate technique: [Fire Sword Style: Inferno Blade]

The blade of the katana created a blinding arc of flame and light, scorching the air as it surged toward Alexi. The attack was so intense that it seemed to consume the very oxygen around them, creating a vacuum that drew in everything nearby. Alexi was completely caught off-guard and raised his swords in a desperate attempt to block the incoming strike.

He couldn't believe that Mako was capable of unleashing such a strong and powerful attack since they had started training together at the same time.

The impact was explosive. The clash of abilities sent shockwaves through the arena, the ground shaking as flames and lightning intertwined in a dazzling display. Mako felt the strain on his body as he poured everything he had into the attack, the energy draining from him rapidly. He gritted his teeth, pushing through the fatigue, knowing this was his last chance.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The two combatants locked eyes, the intensity of their wills clashing just as fiercely as their powers. Then, with a final burst of effort, Mako's Inferno Blade broke through Alexi's defenses. The flames engulfed Alexi, the force of the attack knocking him back and sending him crashing to the ground. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Mako stood, breathing heavily, his katana still glowing faintly with the residual energy. He watched as the flames dissipated, revealing Alexi lying on the scorched earth. Alexi's swords were snapped in two, the remnants of the Purple Lightning flickering out as he struggled to move. Mako approached cautiously, ready for any last-ditch effort from his opponent.

But Alexi simply lay there, his energy spent, his body too battered to continue. He looked up at Mako, a mixture of frustration and grudging respect in his eyes. "You... really are something," Alexi managed to say, his voice weak but still defiant.

Mako nodded, sheathing his katana. "You pushed me to my limits," he replied, offering a hand to help Alexi up.

Alexi hesitated for a moment but his anger and pride slowly subsided and were getting replaced by honor and respect for Mako. After a couple of moments, he took the offered hand admitting to his defeat and allowing Mako to pull him to his feet. The two stood there, the remnants of their battle surrounding them, both exhausted but still standing.

Magnus who was silent up until now slowly approached the two boys with light applause. The intensity of the duel, the display of abilities, and the show of sportsmanship at the end had truly moved him.

Mako turned to Alexi, who was still catching his breath. "It was a good fight," Mako said, a faint smile on his lips. "I won't force you if you don't want to join my team, it is completely up to you if you wanna join,"

Alexi chuckled weakly. "Oh no! You don't get to play the saint card after all this! I'm a man of my word, I will join your team."