(Opening Scene: The shattered remnants of the Null Blade swirl in the air as Zane extends his arm. The obsidian shards converge rapidly, forming an intricate gauntlet around his forearm and hand, pulsing with dark energy. Prince Lysander, still reeling from the blade's disintegration, raises his energy rapier defensively.)
Prince Lysander, though shaken by the unexpected shattering of the Null Blade, still clung to his arrogance. He believed his energy rapier, a construct of pure magical force, could easily deflect any clumsy attack from the novice void mage. As Zane advanced, the obsidian gauntlet now solid on his arm, Lysander braced himself, intending to parry the first blow and then deliver a swift counter-attack.
Zane moved with a quiet determination. He channeled his void energy into the gauntlet, the sharp edges seeming to hum with contained power. He swung his arm, aiming a direct punch at Lysander's chest.
The prince confidently brought his energy rapier up to block, expecting the gauntlet to meet the shimmering energy blade. But instead of a direct collision, the obsidian shards that formed the gauntlet suddenly detached, flying forward with incredible speed and agility, like a swarm of dark, razor-sharp insects.
Lysander's eyes widened in disbelief as the shards bypassed his energy rapier entirely, reforming instantaneously into a solid, tightly packed gauntlet directly in front of his stomach. Before he could react, the obsidian fist slammed into him with devastating force.
The impact knocked the wind out of Lysander with a violent whoosh. He doubled over, a strangled gasp escaping his lips as he felt the crushing pressure against his abdomen. The force of the blow sent him staggering backward several steps, his carefully constructed energy rapier dissipating as his concentration shattered.
He collapsed onto the dueling ground, clutching his stomach, his face contorted in pain and shock. The air around him crackled with residual dark energy.
Zane stood over him, his hand now bare, the obsidian shards having delivered their precise and impactful blow before dissolving back into a faint, swirling mist around his arm. The duel was unequivocally over.
A stunned silence descended upon the gathered students. They had witnessed not just a defeat, but a complete and humiliating dismantling of the arrogant prince's confidence. Headmaster Theron watched with a grave expression, while Astrid's relief was palpable. Prince Lysander, utterly defeated by the unconventional and formidable power of the void mage, lay groaning on the dusty ground, a stark testament to the dangers of underestimation.