Drowned Abyss

Velvet, now hopelessly distracted by the blinding light reflecting off the ice, squints and tries to shrug it off. The beams pierce their vision from every angle, making it near impossible to focus. Their movements become sluggish, leaving openings. Xhen seizes the opportunity, smirking arrogantly as he sends a barrage of ice shards towards them. Velvet dodges most of the attacks with sheer determination, but before they can react to one particularly well-aimed strike, it tears through their right leg, severing it completely.

"One leg, one arm... and still standing?" Xhen taunts, ice forming at his fingertips. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But this is where it ends."

Velvet, gritting their teeth, plants their remaining foot firmly, refusing to fall. Kouneli watches from the sidelines, their hands gripping the edge of the railing nervously. "Velvet's going to lose. They're in no shape to keep this up!" they exclaim. Their voice is filled with panic, reflecting their growing fear for their friend.

Leo steps forward, crossing his arms. "Don't underestimate Velvet," he says firmly. "They've been through worse than this." His eyes narrow, his belief in Velvet unwavering. "They'll find a way."

Ubel nods, a calculating smile on his face. "Leo's right," he says. "Besides, today's weather forecast works in their favor. By now…" Ubel pauses, looking up at the sky. "…cloud cover should roll in any second."

Almost on cue, a massive cloud drifts over the arena, dulling the intense sunlight that had once dominated the battlefield. The reflected light vanishes, leaving the arena dim and serene.

Xhen, oblivious to the change, laughs maniacally as he prepares his final move. "This is it! Witness the power of a maestro-in-the-making! Third Art: Grand Iceberg!"

A massive, meteor-like chunk of ice begins to form high above the arena, its immense shadow engulfing the battlefield. With a deafening roar, it hurtles toward Velvet.

Velvet steadies themselves, electricity sparking faintly around their body. "Guess it's time to go all out," they mutter under their breath, activating their trump card. "Third Art: Lightning Cloak!"

A flash of crackling electricity envelops their body, and in an instant, Velvet disappears from sight, leaving a faint streak of lightning in their wake. With incredible speed, they dash directly into the falling iceberg. The impact is blinding, but when the dust settles, the massive block of ice is cleaved cleanly in two. Velvet stands before Xhen, their body flickering with residual energy.

Xhen stares in disbelief, taking a step back. "You…" he mutters. "How are you even still moving?!"

Velvet doesn't answer immediately, instead raising a finger toward Xhen. "You talk way too much," they say smugly, dashing toward him in a blur of electricity.

Born into the wealthy upper echelons of Etrean society, Xhen was a prodigy, a master of Frostdraw arts before he had even reached his teenage years. His parents, prominent aristocrats, often hosted grand galas and events, showing off their son's immense talent to their equally influential peers. "A true genius," they would say. "The boy is destined to reach heights no one can imagine."

But behind the accolades and the applause, Xhen lived a lonely existence. Other children avoided him, intimidated by his talent and his family's wealth. They saw him as untouchable, a figure to admire from afar but never approach. The few who dared to interact with him would cower under the weight of his talent, leaving Xhen isolated despite his towering status.

Everything changed when he met a servant boy assigned to his household. The boy, unafraid of Xhen's reputation or status, treated him like an equal. Unlike others, the boy didn't shy away from him or speak to him with formality. Instead, he approached Xhen with a bold grin and a wooden practice sword, challenging him to spar.

"You're good," the boy said, panting after Xhen easily defeated him. "But I'll beat you one day. Just you wait!"

That day marked the beginning of their friendship. The boy, who dreamt of becoming a maestro, introduced Xhen to a world beyond aristocratic expectations. They trained together, shared meals, and even dreamed together under the stars. For the first time, Xhen felt like he belonged.

But this fragile happiness was short-lived. One fateful night, tragedy struck when Xhen's parents were murdered in their sleep. The household descended into chaos, and the blame fell squarely on the servant boy. Xhen pleaded with the guards, tears streaming down his face as he tried to convince them of his friend's innocence.

"He didn't do it!" Xhen shouted, his voice breaking. "He'd never hurt anyone! Let him go!"

But his cries fell on deaf ears. The guards, bound by duty and prejudice, saw the boy as the most likely suspect. Without trial or hesitation, they dragged him to the gallows. Xhen could only watch as his friend—his only friend—was executed before his eyes.

As the rope tightened around the boy's neck, his final words echoed in Xhen's ears: "Carry my dream for me, Xhen. Become a maestro… for both of us."

That night, Xhen vowed never to forget the boy's sacrifice. He buried his emotions beneath a mask of cold determination and promised to achieve the dream they once shared. But the guilt never left him. He dedicated himself to pushing his body and mind to their limits in pursuit of perfection. Yet, the loneliness returned, suffocating him more than ever.

Velvet lands a decisive strike against Xhen, cutting through his defenses and sending him crashing from the top of his ice pillar to the ground below. As Xhen falls, he mumbles, "Fujin… That was his name…"

Both fighters hit the ground simultaneously, but only Velvet rises to their feet, battered and bloodied but victorious. They raise their remaining arm in triumph, sparking cheers from the audience. The announcer's voice echoes across the arena:

"The winner is… Velvet!"

Paramedics rush onto the field, quickly tending to Velvet and Xhen. Velvet is carried away to have their missing limbs restored, while Xhen lies still, his chest marked by the scar of Velvet's final attack. Though defeated, Xhen wears a faint smile, clutching the name of his long-lost friend close to his heart.