"Look, Amanda, I tamed a really rare AniCode," Caleb implored, standing impatiently in the doorway of her cozy, somewhat cluttered apartment. The city's golden-hour light filtered in behind him, casting a warm glow that was in stark contrast to his own slightly frazzled appearance.

“It’s Aunt Amanda, and how do I know it's rare? What's to say little Timmy from down the hall couldn't have the same one?" Amanda retorted, her arms crossed, her eyes narrowing skeptically from behind her glasses.

"Because little Timmy's mom, who's usually three sheets to the wind by this time of day, couldn't possibly afford an AniLink like mine," Caleb fired back indignantly, ignoring the statement about Amanda wanting him to call her his aunt. As if to punctuate his point, he began recounting his harrowing adventures in the nearby woods. He vividly described the fiendishly clever AniCode, a small creature with thorny vines that had torn his clothes into what now resembled a patchwork quilt of fabric and failure.

Amanda sighed, her expression softening. "Alright, get in here before you scare the neighbors. I have some old clothes that might fit you," she relented, stepping aside to allow her scruffy nephew into her sanctuary. "I've got cereal in the pantry; no milk, though. You'll have to eat it dry."

Thankful for any sustenance, Caleb grabbed a bowl from the cupboard and filled it with dry cereal. The crisp, somewhat stale squares crunched loudly in the quiet of the apartment as he dug in. When he finished eating, he approached a table stacked high with various items, including a pile of old clothes that Amanda had hastily arranged for him.

He chuckled as he picked up a lacy bra, holding it aloft. "Um, you do remember I'm a guy, right?"

Amanda snatched the bra away, rolling her eyes. "Yes, yes, keep looking. There's definitely something in there for you."

After almost half an hour of sifting through the eclectic assortment of garments—from oversized flannels to moth-eaten sweaters—Caleb finally settled on a pair of basketball shorts and an old, slightly faded grey t-shirt that had "Gotta Win" emblazoned across the front in peeling letters.

"I don't even remember where that shirt came from," Amanda admitted, eyeing the slogan with mild curiosity.

"It's a famous line from Francis Gardner, the coder. Haven't you seen the viral clip of him at the finals match a few years back?” Caleb asked, almost incredulous that she could have missed it.

Amanda rolled her eyes again. "That's nerd stuff, not my scene."

Unfazed, Caleb took out his AniLink, his fingers flying over the compact but robust device as he used its built-in browser to search for the Francis Gardner clip. Finding it, he propped the device between them on the coffee table, ensuring that both could see the screen clearly.

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The atmosphere inside the arena was electric—literally and metaphorically. Colossal holographic screens floated in the air, each displaying close-up shots of the competitors and their selected AniCodes. The crowd was a sea of anticipation, eyes glued to the unfolding spectacle.

Francis Gardner, a lanky guy in his early twenties with sharp eyes and a focused demeanor, stood at one end of the arena. His brown hair hidden by a black hat. Next to him was his AniCode—a rhinoceros with scales that shimmered like molten lava, its eyes flickering with an inner fire. When it snorted, sparks and embers swirled in the air.

Opposite him was Emma Warren, formidable in her concentration. Her short-cropped hair gave her an aerodynamic look as if she were ready for battle. Her chosen AniCode was an elephant, its skin like armored plates imbued with pulsing electrical currents. Every now and then, its trunk would twitch, discharging tiny sparks that fizzled in the air.

"The finals begin in 3...2...1...GO!" The announcer's voice boomed through the arena, and instantly, the two creatures charged.

Emma's elephant lifted its trunk, releasing a bolt of electricity toward the rhinoceros. But Francis was quick; he used his AniLink to direct his rhino to dodge, and then retaliate. With a roar, the rhinoceros opened its mouth and breathed fire, engulfing the air around the elephant.

However, Emma was no novice. She activated her elephant's shield ability. A glowing, electrical barrier formed around the elephant, diffusing the fire into a smattering of harmless sparks.

Francis' eyes narrowed. Time for his trump card. "Gotta win," he muttered under his breath, almost like a prayer or a mantra.

At his command, the rhinoceros's scales glowed brighter, a sign it was gathering all its power. In a coordinated move, it ran in a zigzag pattern, dodging another electrical bolt, and getting dangerously close to the elephant. Just as it neared its opponent, the rhinoceros let out a blast of fire more intense than before, concentrated like a laser.

The electrical shield around the elephant flickered under the impact. For a second, it seemed to hold, but then, with a final, earsplitting crackle, it shattered.

Seizing the moment, the rhinoceros lunged forward, its horn aimed directly at the elephant.

But Emma was not to be underestimated. With incredible timing, she commanded her elephant to counter with its tusks, electrifying them at the last second. The two AniCodes collided with an explosion of fire and electricity, filling the arena with smoke and blinding light.

When the smoke cleared, the rhinoceros was standing, slightly singed but victorious, its horn just inches away from the elephant, which had stumbled back, visibly drained and finally defeated.

The crowd erupted into cheers. Francis Gardner lifted his AniLink high, his face flushed with the thrill of a hard-fought victory. His eyes met Emma's, and for a moment, there was a silent exchange of mutual respect.

The announcer's voice filled the arena, "And the winner is Francis Gardner! What an incredible match! What an incredible finale!"

Francis looked at his rhinoceros, its scales still glowing with embers of the fire it had unleashed. Then he looked back at the crowd, his fingers tightly gripping his AniLink, and he knew that his catchphrase "Gotta Win" was not just a line; it was a belief, a driving force that had carried him to victory in an arena where fire clashed with electricity, and willpower proved to be the ultimate element.

“Why can’t you just find a rhino like that one?” Amanda asked as Caleb stored his AniLink in his pocket.

“I can if you want to fly me to Africa,” Caleb said to his penny-pinching aunt. Amanda deflated and leaned back in her chair. “This Paranormal red panda is my best bet if you want me to win.”