The tournament had already proven to be a test of Lian’s abilities—one that pushed him past his previous limits. The second round had seen him face the unpredictable water mage Kael, and though Lian had emerged victorious, he knew there was more to unlock within himself. Now, as he entered the next stage of the competition, the stakes were even higher.

  The arena, normally a vast expanse of enchanted sand, had been transformed. Massive trees towered overhead, their thick trunks entwined with thick vines that seemed to pulse with life. The air was thick with the scent of earth and greenery, and as the crowd murmured in anticipation, Lian knew he was in for another challenging duel. His opponent was a forest mage named Arlen, a master of nature magic, who controlled the plant life around him with ease. This arena—an enchanted forest—was Arlen's domain, and Lian immediately understood the advantage that gave his opponent.

  The referee’s voice echoed across the arena, signaling the beginning of the battle. "Fight!"

  Before the words had even fully left his lips, Arlen raised his hands and the ground beneath him began to rumble. Massive vines shot out of the earth, coiling around trees and spiraling toward Lian. They moved with a mind of their own, faster than Lian had anticipated. Arlen’s magic wasn’t just an extension of his will—it was a living, breathing force that seemed to thrive in this natural environment.

  Lian jumped back, narrowly avoiding the first vine that lashed out toward him, its thorned tips glistening in the dim light filtering through the forest canopy. He could feel the weight of the vines in the air, the magic saturating the very ground beneath him. Every step he took seemed to pull the earth beneath him closer to Arlen’s control, as if the plants themselves were trying to reach out and entangle him.

  Arlen grinned, his eyes glowing with a fierce determination. "You’re in my domain now, Lian. Nature has no mercy."

  Lian’s pulse quickened as more vines surged toward him, their speed and force unrelenting. His mind raced as he analyzed the situation. Arlen’s magic was rooted in the environment, manipulating the plants to trap and subdue. The battlefield was no longer just the ground beneath them—it was the very air around them, the trees, and the earth. Lian had to think fast, and he had to adapt.

  “Think, Lian, think!” he muttered to himself, his heart pounding. His natural inclination was to react with sheer force, but he couldn’t afford to burn through all his energy so early. If he didn’t find a way to control the situation soon, Arlen would have him cornered.

  Taking a deep breath, Lian reached out with his magic, calling on the winds. With a flick of his wrist, a gust of air swirled around him, cutting through the vines that reached for him. The wind picked up, scattering the plant life momentarily, but Arlen was quick to react. He thrust his hands forward, and the earth beneath Lian’s feet shifted, sending roots shooting up to ensnare him.

  Lian barely managed to leap to the side, feeling the sharpness of the roots brush against his skin as they missed. His mind raced. Arlen’s magic was relentless and adaptable. He needed to push himself further, to tap into a deeper well of power—but he had to do it carefully.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Lian focused on the air around him, his thoughts narrowing as he searched for a way to control this environment. He could feel the tension building as the magic in the air thickened, the connection to his mana crystal pulsing at the back of his mind. He had learned to trust it, but this was different. The forest was alive, and the magic of the earth itself seemed to call to him.

  With a sharp breath, Lian called upon a small storm—a localized surge of mana that whipped around him, rustling the trees and sending a flurry of leaves into the air. The storm formed above him, a swirling vortex that gave him some room to breathe. The winds and water clashed against Arlen’s magic, pushing the vines back for a moment.

  Arlen’s eyes narrowed. “Impressive,” he muttered, but the taunting smile didn’t leave his face. "But it won’t be enough."

  Lian knew he couldn’t keep this up for long. The storm was a temporary solution, and the winds were only destabilizing Arlen’s vines in short bursts. It wasn’t a permanent solution, and soon, Arlen’s magic would regain control of the battlefield. But it bought him a moment to think.

  He quickly assessed the vines around him. They were thick and strong—resilient, much like Arlen himself. The forest was no longer a passive backdrop; it was a living, breathing opponent. But Lian had something Arlen didn’t: versatility. His training had taught him to think on his feet, and that was something he could use to his advantage.

  Lian’s hands glowed with a faint orange hue as he summoned fire magic, weaving it into the gusting winds. The flames surged outward, leaping toward the thick vines that had been wrapping around him. The fire sliced through the air, burning the vines as they attempted to ensnare him. For a brief moment, the smoke filled the arena, creating a haze between them.

  Lian pushed forward, his boots sinking into the soft ground as he moved through the smoke. He wasn’t just using brute force—he was thinking strategically, setting the arena on fire just enough to clear a path but not enough to exhaust his energy. He had to be mindful of his limits. Arlen might control nature, but Lian could use nature’s forces against him.

  Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath Lian’s feet as Arlen summoned a massive tree to root itself right in front of him. The trunk of the tree shot up from the earth, its branches heavy and strong, casting a shadow over Lian. The roots creaked as they reached out, their intent clear—to trap him.

  The battle was nearing its peak. Lian’s heart raced as he scanned the battlefield. The storm had subsided, and Arlen’s power was closing in on him. But Lian was no longer the boy who had once been hesitant to use his full potential. He was no longer the fragile youth who had doubted his own strength. His determination flared. It was time to end this.

  With a sharp motion, Lian raised his hand, channeling all of his mana into the earth below him. The ground cracked open as a controlled explosion erupted beneath the tree, sending shards of earth flying into the air. The massive tree groaned as it collapsed to the ground, its roots snapped and scattered.

  Lian stood amid the dust and debris, breathing heavily but with a triumphant grin on his face. His opponent, Arlen, had been incapacitated by the explosion, his body sprawled on the ground. The referee called out, “Victory to Lian!”

  The crowd erupted into applause, their cheers filling the arena. Lian stood tall, his chest heaving with exhaustion, but his mind was clear. He had won the battle, but more importantly, he had proven to himself that his magic was not just a tool—it was an extension of his will, his strength, and his ingenuity. He had adapted to the challenges of the forest, using his magic in ways that Arlen could not anticipate.

  Serina’s voice rang out from the stands, her words carried by the wind. "That was incredible!" she called, her eyes filled with admiration.

  Lian’s gaze found her among the crowd, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to pause. He couldn’t deny the way his heart fluttered at her words, but there was something more—something deeper. He had more to prove, not just to the kingdom, but to himself.

  As he walked off the battlefield, his thoughts turned inward. The tournament was far from over, and with every match, he was becoming more aware of the weight of his journey. He wasn’t just fighting for recognition. He was fighting to become the man he had always dreamed of being—someone who could protect the ones he loved and lead the kingdom to a brighter future.

  But there were still more challenges ahead. Lian’s journey was far from over, and he had only just begun to tap into his true potential. The tournament was only the beginning.

  As Lian left the arena, his thoughts turned to the next round—and to the lessons he had yet to learn.