Matthias stood in his new stance, his body coiled with barely restrained energy, his bloody grin still fixed on his face despite the pain it must have caused. The crowd watched with bated breath, everyone sensing that something significant was about to happen, that whatever came next would define the match."Alright." Matthias said, his voice taking on a different quality now deeper, more resonant, carrying the weight of ritual. "Let me show you what an Ironforge is really capable of when we stop playing around."He shifted his weight, his feet spreading wider, his body dropping even lower into a crouch that looked almost animalistic. And then he began to speak,not in the common tongue, but in something older, something that carried the sound of forge-fire and hammer-strikes:"Ignis ferreum, potentia patrum." The words rolled off his tongue with practiced ease, each syllable precisely formed, clearly the result of countless hours of practice. "Ardeat corpus, vinculum flammarum."As

Matthias's expression tightened, clearly frustrated at being read so easily. But he didn't deny it and didn't waste breath on more words. He just attacked again, putting everything he had into a combination that should have overwhelmed her through sheer speed and aggression.High, low, high, high, low, low,the pattern varied constantly, never predictable, never giving her a chance to anticipate. The hooked knives whistled through the air, flames trailing behind them, each strike carrying enough power to end the fight if it landed clean.Mira met every attack, her knives moving in a blur of defensive work that seemed impossible to maintain. Block, deflect, parry, dodge,she flowed through the assault like she was dancing rather than fighting, her body moving with practiced precision that came from years of drilling these exact scenarios.But she was being pushed back. Step by step, inch by inch, Matthias's relentless assault was driving her toward the edge of the ring. The wooden barrie

"Thank you, Flora. I appreciate that." Then her expression became more intense, more focused. "But you know what this means, right? It's down to you two now. I've done my part, gotten my win, proven that Ember Watch can compete. Now you and Asta need to do the same when your numbers get called. We need to show everyone that we're not just one strong fighter,we're a complete guild."Asta straightened slightly, his expression becoming more determined. "You got that right. When my number comes up, I'll give everything I have. Won't let you down. Won't let Ember Watch down."Flora nodded as well, her tactical mind already showing through her words: "My winning is assured. I've been analyzing the other fighters, studying their techniques and preparing strategies. When I step into that ring, I'll already know exactly how to handle whatever my opponent throws at me. It's just a matter of execution."Mira laughed,a genuine, full-throated laugh that was rare from her. "That's the spirit!

Every single member of the squad startled, jumping slightly in their seats, heads whipping around to find Cassian Xavier standing right behind their row of chairs. He was dressed in his usual crimson and gold uniform, impeccably styled as always, his expression neutral and unreadable.How long had he been standing there? None of them had heard him approach and hadn't sensed his presence until he spoke. That was unsettling,Cassian had a talent for moving silently when he wanted to, for appearing and disappearing like a ghost."Oh, uh..." The muscular guy with the scarred nose tried to recover his composure, his voice coming out slightly strangled. "How long have you been there, boss?"Cassian's expression didn't change, his gray eyes scanning across his squad with that calculating look he always had. "Oh, just a few seconds ago. I stepped out to handle some business, and now I'm back. Why do you ask?""Oh. Okay." The muscular guy nodded, trying to look casual, trying to pretend his

The old man let the sentence trail off, but the implication hung heavy in the air.Mira shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her arms now fully crossed over her chest. "Yeah, I figured that out during the match. Matthias was strong, incredibly strong, but something about his flames felt... I don't know, incomplete? Like he was holding back, or maybe like he couldn't quite access everything he should've been able to." She glanced at Jabber, then back at Kael. "But even incomplete, he was stronger than almost anyone I've seen fight here. If Jabber hadn't pulled off that last move..."Old man Kael's weathered face creased into a small smile, the kind that suggested he knew more than he was saying. He straightened up from examining Jabber's bandages and moved to a nearby table where various medical supplies were scattered. As he organized them with absent-minded efficiency, he spoke almost casually."Brick and his brother Matthias,they're actually incredibly strong. Both of t