SSS-Class Overlord: My Harem Rules the Realms (18+)
Chapter 43: Did it Just End in a Tie?

Chapter 43: Did it Just End in a Tie?

The roar of the floating coliseum swelled as the Ice Tower and Water Tower teams gathered at the

edge of the arena.

From the Ice Tower section, Frosthaven, arms folded and expression carved from ice, leaned

forward slightly, his blue eyes gleaming with sharp pride.

"Sirel," he called in a voice as cold as glacier wind, "do not disappoint me. Remind them that

water is nothing more than frozen weakness."

Sirel inclined his silver-haired head solemnly. Frost billowed faintly around his shoulders.

Across the marble floor, the Water Tower’s master—a tall woman named Thalindra Wavecrest—

snorted, tossing her flowing turquoise hair back with disdain. Her sea-green robes shimmered like

sunlit waves.

"Frozen weakness, Frosthaven? Funny, last I checked, ice melts whenever it gets serious."

Frosthaven’s brow twitched as if an icicle had cracked. "We’ll see who’s left standing, Thalindra."

The arena rang with laughter and jeers as each tower’s disciples howled encouragement for their

champion.

Renn, the Water Tower’s champion, turned and gave Thalindra a quick salute. "I’ll try not to splash

the audience too much, Master."

She grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. "That’s my boy. Show that ice popsicle what a real tide

looks like."

Meanwhile, in the Dark Mage Tower section, Ethan leaned lazily against the railing, grinning at the

theatrics.

Kaeron was cackling. "I swear, these tower masters need a comedy show instead of a

tournament."

Lysena rolled her eyes. "It’s all ego, Kaeron. The real fight’s about whose robes are the shiniest."

Velexaria spoke without looking away from the ring. "Quiet, all of you. Study them. You might be

facing either one."

Ethan squinted thoughtfully at Sirel and Renn. Then he murmured in his mind, "System, can you...

like...record this fight? And maybe let me practice against how they fight?"

A flicker of blue light scrolled across his vision.

[Analyzing Combatants... Initiating Scan Protocol...]

Sirel and Renn’s figures glowed faintly in Ethan’s sight as scanning glyphs spun around them.

[New Feature Unlocked: Combat Replication.]

[Host may now create Training Simulations mimicking real opponents’ styles and tactics.]

[Note: System Upgrades Available – Details Locked. Unlock conditions undisclosed.]

Ethan blinked. "Huh... upgrades? You’re keeping secrets from me now?"

[Affirmative.]

"...You little bastard." Ethan sighed and decided to let it slide for the moment. He leaned forward,

interest piqued, as the Empire official raised his arm.

"Begin!"

Instantly, Renn swept his trident in a wide arc.

"[Cascade Surge!]"

Twin streams of water burst from the marble tiles, crashing toward Sirel like liquid battering rams.

The roaring water hissed, vaporizing faint frost as it surged.

But Sirel remained utterly still. With a delicate flick of his fingers, pale runes spun outward from his

palms.

"[Frost Veil.]"

A thin wall of shimmering ice rose before him. The water slammed into it, shattering into a

sparkling rain of droplets. The crowd gasped at the precise timing.

Renn’s eyes narrowed. He stomped one foot, sending rings of ripples across the arena floor.

"[Hydro Snare!]"

Thin serpents of water shot across the marble, twisting around Sirel’s ankles. They lashed up his

legs, trying to bind him in place.

Sirel simply exhaled, cool mist drifting from his lips.

"[Frost Shear.]"

A razor-sharp crescent of ice slashed downward, severing the watery coils. Renn flinched back as

ice shards scattered around his feet.

Kaeron whistled low from the Dark Tower stands. "See that footwork? Ice boy’s slippery."

Lysena snickered. "It’s like watching a snowflake slap a puddle."

Renn’s trident flashed as he thrust it into the ground.

"[Aqua Geyser!]"

A spout of water erupted beneath Sirel’s feet, blasting him into the air. For an instant, the silverhaired mage tumbled end-over-end in a cyclone of water.

But as he spun, Sirel’s hands came together. His voice rang sharp and cold:

"[Cryo Shards!]"

Thin darts of ice, like jagged crystal knives, rained downward in a glittering storm. Renn yelped

and scrambled back, shielding himself with a swirling curtain of water. Ice cracked against his

watery barrier, some shards piercing through and leaving shallow cuts along his arms.

Thalindra hollered from the Water Tower stands, "Renn, keep up the pressure!"

Renn sucked in a deep breath, sweat beading on his forehead. He tightened his grip on his trident

and spun it in a tight arc.

"[Tidal Grip!]"

A wave crashed forward, racing toward Sirel like a liquid wall.

Sirel braced himself, frost forming rapidly across his skin. He stomped the ground.

"[Permafrost Pulse!]"

The water met an expanding ring of deep-freeze magic. Steam exploded as liquid instantly

crystallized into thick ice, locking Renn’s wave mid-crash.

The arena’s air turned sharp and biting cold. Frost crept up the marble columns, dazzling under

the arena lights.

Both combatants panted, sweat and ice glittering on their skin.

Renn growled and charged forward, trident leveled like a spear. Sirel raised both hands, forming

twin shards of solid ice.

Kaeron leaned over to Ethan, laughing. "Here we go. It’s the final clash."

"[Glacier Drive!]" Sirel roared.

"[Maelstrom Burst!]" Renn bellowed.

A titanic impact rocked the arena as ice and water collided in a booming shockwave. Sparks of

blue and silver flashed between the two mages as they pushed every drop of mana into their

attacks. The air shrieked, vibrating with magical pressure.

For several breathless seconds, neither spell gave way. The crowd sat frozen, the clash

illuminating the entire arena in blinding radiance.

And then Renn gave a ragged gasp. His arms trembled violently, trident shaking.

Sirel’s cold eyes narrowed. With a sharp twist of his body, he forced his ice shards deeper into the

watery vortex.

The wave shattered, spraying icy fragments and cold mist everywhere. Renn staggered back, fell

to one knee... then collapsed entirely, trident clattering to the marble floor.

Sirel swayed on his feet, pale hair damp and ice crusted around his sleeves. He tried to lift his

arms again—but his eyes rolled upward, and he toppled face-first into the frosted tiles.

"DOUBLE K.O.!" someone shouted.

But after a few stunned seconds, the Empire official stepped forward, scanning them both with a

glowing crystal.

"Winner: Sirel of the Ice Tower... by last man standing."

The crowd erupted in cheers and groans in equal measure.

Ethan leaned back, whistling low. "Damn. That was close."

Kaeron slapped him on the back. "See what I mean? You’d better prep your lungs for ice water,

kid."

Lysena grinned. "Or learn how to swim in icicles."

Velexaria’s eyes glinted as she regarded Ethan. "Study them well. Every move they used will

appear again... sooner or later."

Ethan crossed his arms, eyes gleaming.

"Yeah. And next time... I’m the one leaving them face-down on the floor."

He cast one last look at the arena, where healers hurried to revive the battered ice and water

mages. His mind was already churning with new possibilities—and quietly, deep in the

background of his vision, his system whispered the promise of hidden upgrades still waiting to be

unlocked.