Jace the Elemental

The lava shield exploded, sending molten rock scattering in every direction. As the final strike landed, the scoreboard updated, 5-1.

For a moment, the entire arena was silent, everyone frozen on the edge of their seats. Then, the realization hit, and the crowd erupted into a deafening roar.

The storm above began to dissipate, the dark clouds rolling away like a retreating tide. Ethan stood tall, chest heaving as he fought to steady his breath. His crystals, fully spent, flickered out, fading into tiny sparks that drifted gently to the ground.

Beside him, Selene collapsed to her knees, drained. The earth barrier she had held so desperately crumbled into dust, she simply didn't have the mana left to sustain it.

Their opponents stood across from them, both clearly spent. The woman's expression was tight with frustration, her hands clenched at her sides. The lava elementalist was down on one knee, his shattered shield offering no more protection. He exhaled heavily, shaking his head in disbelief.

"You two are really something else," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the crowd's relentless cheers.

Ethan grinned, stepping forward and extending a hand. "You guys put up a wicked fight. Even at my full power, that lava shield was tough to break through."

For a moment, the lava mage hesitated, unsure if Ethan was being sincere or condescending. But after a beat, he chose to accept the gesture, clasping Ethan's hand. "Yeah, well... it wasn't enough," he admitted.

From the stands, the chant grew louder, thundering in unison, "ZEUS! ZEUS! ZEUS!"

The lava mage smirked, tilting his head toward the crowd. "Looks like you've got a reputation to live up to now, Zeus."

Ethan's grin faltered at the nickname. He hadn't expected this reaction. His magic had always been fast, but this? This was something else.

Selene stepped forward, her voice cutting through the noise. "Good match," she said, offering her hand to the woman.

Their opponent hesitated, frustration still lingering, but eventually took it. Her expression softened. "You two make a hell of a team," she admitted. "The way you trust each other? That's crazy for a first match."

Selene smiled, "thanks, we've been training a lot to get there."

As the four exchanged nods and handshakes, the chant only grew. "ZEUS! ZEUS! ZEUS!"

Ethan glanced towards the stands, his heart pounding, not just from the fight, but from the realization that they were chanting for him.

For so long, he had felt like he was at a disadvantage only having one element. Constantly training so that he doesn't fall behind, but winning, hearing the crowd cheering like this, made it feel like it was worth it.

A nudge at his side snapped him out of his thoughts.

Selene smirked. "Feels good to be recognized, huh?"

Ethan rubbed the back of his head, looking embarrassed. "I kinda feel bad that it's only for me, though. You did just as much as I did."

Selene shrugged. "Maybe. But you're the one they're gonna remember." Then, with a grin, she added, "Which is honestly good for us, it means the next fight is gonna be easier." She lifted her fist toward him.

Ethan chuckled, bumping it with his own. "Alright. We'll take it

As they made their way out of the arena, the roar of the crowd gradually faded into the background. Waiting by the entrance, their teammates stood grinning, ready to pounce.

"ZEUS! ZEUS! ZEUS!" 

Jace and Orion took up the chant, mimicking the crowd as Jace practically tackled Ethan in his enthusiasm.

"Good job out there, Lord Zeus," Jace teased, laughing as he clapped Ethan on the back

Ethan groaned, running a hand down his face, but the smile tugging at his lips betrayed him. "I'm never gonna live this down, am I?" 

Astra shook her head, her dark green eyes sparkling with amusement. "Not a chance." she said with a soft laugh.

Orion smirked, his voice rumbling with laughter as he clapped Ethan's shoulder. "Face it, you're the lightning god now. Might as well embrace it."

Even Elias, ever the quiet observer, gave a small nod, a rare smile forming on his face.

Ethan sighed in defeat. "You know what this means, though, right?" he asked, shifting his smirk toward Jace.

"Oh?" Jace cocked his head.

"It means we're two for two," Ethan's grin widened. "Which means someone needs to get us that third win." 

Jace's playful smile didn't waver. "Oh, don't worry," he said, cracking his knuckles. "I'm definitely gonna crush him."