Kenji charged toward Daichi right after Daichi finished his history lecture. Yes! He's distracted. This guy's so full of himself he won't even see me coming! "And that, people, is why it's important to use your brain," Daichi declared, striking a ridiculous pose like he was giving a motivational seminar. Kenji grinned. No brain's going save you from this one. But just as Kenji swung the hilt of his sword, Daichi sidestepped to his right with almost comical ease. "Whoa there, slowpoke!" Daichi quipped, smirking. "Did you forget to stretch, or are you always this clumsy?" I almost feel bad for him. I was able to share my sorrow with him. But there's only one winner. I'll apologise after. Kenji snarled, missing by a hair's breadth. Before he could recover, Daichi raised his sword and whacked him on his butt cheeks with the flat side of his blade. The hit landed solidly, making Kenji stumble forward, but it also sent Daichi wobbling like a toddler trying to ice skate. "Damn it!" Daichi hissed, nearly falling over. "Okay, uh... improvise!" Without thinking, he swung his left leg up in a desperate kick, catching Kenji square in the stomach. The force sent Kenji flying backward like he'd been catapulted. Great. He is angrier than a bull seeing red. Kenji landed with a grunt, tumbling dangerously close to the edge of the circular boundary. He scrambled to his feet, looking more determined than ever. "Close call, huh?" Daichi taunted, casually leaning on his falchion. "Better watch your step, or the only history being made here will be you losing spectacularly." Kenji clenched his teeth, rushing forward with a yell. "Shut up already!" He swung wildly, but Daichi parried the attack with a smirk. "Temper, temper," Daichi teased. "Careful, your rage is showing." Kenji pushed harder, trying to land a blow, but Daichi's movements were deliberate, every step drawing Kenji closer to the edge. With one final miscalculated strike, Kenji's momentum carried him over the border line. He froze as his foot touched the edge, then crossed completely. His shoulders sagged as realization hit him. A loud voice boomed from above. "That's it! Kenji has stepped out of the circle. The match is over!" Mr. Sigan announced, stepping forward with his usual imposing authority. "Match 6 Daichi Tanaka wins!" The class clapped. "Hmm not bad. Not bad." Akira said as he clapped. "I for one concur." Sakura said. Daichi rushed to Kenji, "Hey. Good game. Sorry bout that." Kenji smiled, "It's all right. The best fighter won." "Hehe he." "Round 7 contestants Yui Takahashi and Aiko Kato. Please step inside the ring." The atmosphere around the arena crackled with anticipation as both competitors made their way from the bleachers toward the battleground. Each step they took seemed to draw the attention of the crowd, their presence undeniable. Aiko Takahashi walked at a deliberate pace, her black hair flowing gently behind her like a dark river. She stood at 5'6", her posture poised and graceful, but there was an unmistakable aura of power surrounding her. With each stride, the ground seemed to vibrate subtly, as if responding to the energy building within her. Her black attire clung to her form, moving fluidly with her every step, a stark contrast to the sharpness in her gaze. Her expression was calm, her eyes focused, yet there was a glint of something deeper—a sense of quiet but unyielding resolve. By her side, Yui Kato walked with confidence, her steps quick and light. She was also 5'6", her fiery red hair bouncing with every movement, a stark contrast against the cool, shadowy presence of Aiko. Yui's green eyes sparkled with determination, her body lithe and agile, her athletic form reflecting her readiness for action. She wore a dark green outfit with red accents, the colours standing out against her pale skin. Despite her usual playful demeanour, there was something about her now—a seriousness in her eyes and the way she carried herself. This was no ordinary fight; the weight of the moment was clear to both of them. They approached the edge of the arena, and the murmurs of the crowd quieted to an expectant hush. The arena floor, smooth and cold, stretched before them, a wide and empty space that would soon be filled with their power. "Start!" Mr. Sigan commanded. Aiko took her place on one side, Yui opposite her, both competitors standing tall, focused, and ready. The tension between them was palpable, and as they locked eyes, the quiet energy that had been building in the air seemed to reach its peak. This was the moment the crowd had been waiting for. The wind picked up, swirling around the two fighters as they stood in silence. It was as if the arena itself was holding its breath. Aiko's fingers twitched slightly, as if calling upon something deep within her. Yui watched carefully, waiting for the first move. "Ready when you are," Yui called out, her voice confident, but with a hint of challenge in it. Aiko's gaze never wavered as she slowly raised her hand toward the sky. "Spirit Bind. Yuki Onna." The temperature in the arena began to drop, the air becoming cold, almost biting. A soft mist began to rise from the ground around Aiko's feet, and as it swirled, the temperature continued to plummet. What's happening? "What the hell?" I said. "Don't ask us." Akira, who has rubbing his hands retorted. Sakura made a tiny flame on her hands, "Ahhh." She said in satisfaction. "Hey no fair." Akira gripped. Yui narrowed her eyes as the mist thickened into something more—something far more ominous. "What's this now?" she asked, her voice low and already edged with exasperation. Aiko's lips curled into a faint, knowing smile, the kind that made you immediately suspicious of whatever she was about to say. "Yuki Onna," she murmured, her tone calm but dramatic enough to make Yui's patience visibly fray. The temperature dropped like someone had cranked the AC to arctic survival mode. From the mist emerged a figure as pale and icy as a ghost from your worst freezer-related nightmares. "Yuki Onna," Yui repeated, dragging out the words like she was tasting them for bitterness. "Right, because what this fight really needed was a walking snowstorm to ruin my day." She clapped her hands together. "Perfect." From the sidelines, I leaned forward, whispering to Akira, "Is she okay?" "Define 'okay,'" Akira muttered, not taking his eyes off the arena. Before Yui could fully process the arrival of Ice Queen 2.0, Aiko decided to double down on the dramatics. "Tengu," she said softly, as if this wasn't already spiralling out of control. A sudden gust of wind nearly flattened Yui, who staggered back with an expression that screamed, "Of course this is happening." From the whirlwind emerged a birdlike creature so massive and menacing it looked like it had auditioned for the role of apocalypse bringer and nailed it. The Tengu's talons gleamed like they were personally sponsored by nightmares. Its piercing gaze locked onto Yui, whose shoulders slumped in resignation. "Great," Yui muttered, waving her hand at the towering bird. "A giant bird. Because clearly, one ice demon wasn't enough to ruin my weekend." She glanced at Aiko. "I mean, why stop here? Bring out a kraken. Summon a meteor. Really lean into the overkill!" Kaede burst out laughing from beside me. "She's cracking already." "Cracking?" Sakura muttered, shivering next to him. "She's holding up better than I am in this icebox." Without waiting for anyone to comment, she snapped her fingers, conjuring a small flame that flickered to life in her palm. She held it close, the warmth barely cutting through the chill. Kaede smirked at her. "What, can't handle the cold?" Sakura glared, holding her flame closer. "I'm not freezing for any of you. This fire stays with me." Yui, meanwhile, was squinting at Aiko like she was plotting revenge. But before she could even open her mouth for another sarcastic remark, Aiko spoke again. "Kitsune." "Oh, for the love of—!" Yui threw up her arms as golden energy burst into the arena. A graceful fox spirit emerged, tails shimmering like they were made of pure light. The Kitsune's elegant steps made it look like it was walking on air, its golden eyes filled with a mischief that felt borderline insulting. Yui blinked at the ethereal creature, then turned back to Aiko, raising both hands in mock surrender. "Are you serious? You've got an ice lady, Big Bird's angry cousin, and now a nine-tailed diva? What is this, a fantasy draft?!" "I think she's losing it," I whispered to Akira. "She never had it," Kaede muttered, trying and failing to stifle a laugh. Sakura, still huddled with her flame, sighed. "I hope she figures something out soon. If she doesn't, we'll be here all day." She held her fire closer, muttering, "And I'm not sharing this heat." Aiko's familiars stood behind her like an intimidating fantasy squad lineup, and Yui finally pointed at them, her voice pitched with disbelief. "Is this a battle or an audition for the coolest pets award? How many more of these things do you have?" As if on cue, Aiko raised her hand, her expression serene and infuriatingly calm. "Kurozai, Kokuten," she said softly. Dark energy spiralled into the air, coalescing into two flickering forms that hovered around Aiko like ominous shadows. They radiated a cold, suffocating pressure that seemed to weigh down everything around them. Yui's eyes twitched as she stared at the swirling dark energy. "Oh, great! Floating balls of doom. That's exactly what we were missing. Tell me, are they also fluent in the language of ruining my day?" "Shut up and watch," Kaede called out, grinning. Yui whipped around to glare at us. "Watch what? Me getting turned into an icicle? Bird food? Or fox chow? What a show, folks!" I leaned back, crossing my arms. "At least she's consistent with the sarcasm." Sakura rolled her eyes but grinned, cupping her flame closer. "It's the only fire we've got left in this arena, and I'm not giving mine up." "Stop whining. They are my familiar. Kurozai and Kukuten are shikigami that can shape shift. As if on cue, the swirling dark energy of Kurozai and Kokuten flared to life, their flickering lights intensifying in response to Aiko's command. The temperature around them dropped even further, making the already freezing air feel like it was cutting through your skin. The familiars—now fully formed, pulsing like two ominous, shadowy beacons—hovered at Aiko's side, their glowing lights becoming more intense with every passing second. Yui's expression tightened as she stared at them. "Oh, look at that. The creepy glow-up duo is really getting into character," she muttered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "What's next? Do they get a spotlight too? A backstage pass?" She rolled her eyes, not in the mood to deal with whatever other weird tricks Aiko had up her sleeve. Yui's heart quickened. She had to focus. I can't let Aiko summon any more of these shadowy beings. If this was what she had already unleashed, can't afford to let the situation escalate further. "You'll need more than that to defeat me," Yui said, her voice resolute, refusing to show fear. Aiko gave a faint, almost amused smile, as if she had already anticipated this. "You're right," she said coolly. The dark flames flickered brighter once more, their energy crackling with anticipation, waiting for Aiko's next move. "Kurozai. Kukuten. Yuki Onna." Kurozai expanded, his form growing larger and darker, a giant shadow looming over the arena. Akira, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but remark, "At this point, I'm not even surprised if he has a giant spear." Just as he finished speaking, Kurozai lifted his right arm, palm facing upwards. From the shadows, a huge dark rod materialized in his hand, transforming into a massive spear. "Oh come on!" Akira screamed, clearly annoyed. "This is getting ridiculous." Yui sighed, rolling her eyes. "This is going to be hard," she said, summoning a wall of glowing vines to protect herself. As Kurozai launched his attack, Yuki Onna shot a burst of ice at the spear, almost like Aiko planned a whole mission. The spear began to shrink, turning from a massive weapon into a needle-sized projectile. "Great, now it's a needle," Yui muttered, watching in disbelief. "Like that's any better." Kukuten shot some dark energy, tearing a hole in the wall. "Great." Before she could even react, the needle shot toward her with lightning speed. Ice started creeping up her arms and legs as it made contact, quickly freezing her whole body. Kuruken returned to his form. "Ah, great," Yui said sarcastically, her voice muffled by the ice. "This is just what I needed today." Yui, now frozen solid, stood helpless in the middle of the arena, completely encased in ice. "Oh, come on," she groaned from within the ice, her voice barely audible. "This is honestly starting to feel like a bad dream." "Match 7 Aiko Kato wins!" Mr. Sigan announced. "That was one hell of a fight." Aiko said. "Oh. Sorry. Yuki?" "Yeah." Yuki Onna snapped her fingers and broke the ice. "They can talk?" "Yep." She turned to her familiars, "Thank you for your performance. You can get some rest now." The spirits dissolved into the air. "You act like they danced for 15 minutes." "Real funny." The crowd leaned in, the tension palpable as the two combatants circled each other. Izumi's movements were fluid, her feet gliding across the arena floor with almost ghostly grace. Chika, by contrast, stood like a fortress, her muscular frame imposing, her butcher knife resting on her shoulder as if daring Izumi to make the first move. Izumi struck first. She dashed forward, weaving like a serpent, her hands aiming for Chika's wrist. With a flick of her fingers, she struck a vital point. Chika's grip on the butcher knife faltered momentarily, her fingers twitching involuntarily. "Not bad," Chika said with a smirk, shaking her hand to regain feeling. "But you're gonna have to do more than tickle me." She swung the knife in a wide arc, the blunt side whistling through the air. Izumi ducked low, narrowly avoiding the swing, and retaliated with a sharp jab to Chika's ribs. The impact was subtle but precise, disrupting the flow of chi in Chika's chest, causing her to stumble slightly. Kaede gasped. "Did you see that? Izumi's targeting her chi points!" Sakura nodded, her expression serious. "She's using her opponent's energy against her. Smart move." "Hmm I have heard of this before." "Oh yeah. Remember when your dad came back from mount. Koya, he explained about the monks there practising a special type of art which blocks chi?" Kaede responded. "Oh yeah. I remember." Akira, leaning back with an amused grin, quipped, "Or she's just poking her like it's a game of tag. We'll see how that works out when Chika gets serious." Chika growled, recovering quickly. "You're annoying, you know that?" She lunged forward, feinting with her knife and swinging her leg in a powerful kick. Izumi anticipated the move, twisting her body like water to evade the kick. In the same motion, she jabbed at Chika's thigh, aiming to disrupt her chi again. But this time, Chika tensed her muscles, absorbing the impact and grinning. "Nice try," Chika said, her golden eyes gleaming. "But I'm not that easy to break." The fight escalated. Chika swung her knife in rapid, unpredictable arcs, forcing Izumi to stay on the defensive. Izumi dodged and weaved, her movements like a dance. Each time Chika overextended, Izumi would retaliate with quick strikes to vital points, gradually chipping away at Chika's energy. "Impressive," Mr. Sigan muttered from the sidelines, stroking his chin. But Chika wasn't done. She planted her foot and launched a brutal horizontal swing with the blunt side of her knife. Izumi sidestepped, but Chika anticipated the move. With a roar, Chika spun and brought the knife down like a hammer. The arena shook as the impact created a small crater in the ground. Izumi had narrowly dodged again, but her breathing was heavier now. "Getting tired already?" Chika taunted, her grin widening. Izumi smirked, though sweat dripped down her forehead. "You talk too much for someone who keeps missing." "You won't dodge this." Chika charged forward, her blade flashing as she feinted high and swung low. Izumi leapt into the air, aiming a downward strike at Chika's shoulder. But Chika was ready. She pivoted and swung the blunt side of her knife with all her strength. The blade connected with Izumi's side in a brutal impact that sent her flying. Izumi's body hit the ground and skidded toward the edge of the arena. She clawed at the dirt to stop herself, but her momentum carried her over the border line. "Winner: Chika Nishimura!" Mr. Sigan announced. The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps, the intensity of the fight leaving everyone buzzing. "Damn," Kaede muttered. "That was insane." Sakura nodded; her eyes wide. "Izumi was incredible, but Chika's strength is something else." Akira let out a low whistle. "I told you. You can poke all you want, but it's hard to beat a literal wrecking ball with a knife." Izumi sat up slowly, clutching her side and wincing. Chika walked over, extending a hand to help her up. "You're tougher than you look, twig," Chika said with a smirk. Izumi took the hand reluctantly, standing up. "And you hit harder than I expected. Next time, I won't let my guard down." "Looking forward to it," Chika replied, her grin widening. Mr. Sigan cleared his throat, "Match 8 Izumi Kinoshita wins! Now match 9: Makoto Yamaguchi vs. Atsushi Yamashita. Contestants, please make your way to the centre!" Makoto Yamaguchi, standing at 5'9" with his lean, athletic build, adjusted his grip on his Lightning Bolt. His short black hair was slightly tousled, and his sharp blue eyes gleamed with intensity. The jagged weapon crackled with electricity in his hands. "Ready for this, Atsushi?" Makoto called out, smirking. Atsushi Yamashita, standing at 5'10" with a more muscular frame, gripped his giant war hammer. By giant I mean it's 170cm. It's metal was silver but there was a red river/vein like things running on his war hammer. His wild, dark brown hair was slightly spiked, and his amber eyes burned with confidence. "Don't hold back, Makoto. I've been training for this," he replied, his voice low and steady. Makoto struck first, his Lightning Bolt cracking through the air. "Thunderstrike Lash!" he shouted, the whip of lightning shooting forward at incredible speed, targeting Atsushi's chest. Sakura raised an eyebrow. "That's fast. Atsushi better keep up." Kaede crossed her arms, looking unimpressed. "It's just a whip. He'll dodge it." Atsushi smirked and sidestepped, his amber eyes glinting with anticipation. With one fluid motion, he swung his war hammer with a mighty arc. "Think you're fast enough? Magma Surge!" he bellowed, slamming the hammer into the ground. A wave of molten lava erupted, heading toward Makoto. "Woah, that's hot." Akira grinned, nudging Sakura. "Maybe Makoto likes a little heat in his life." Makoto's reflexes kicked in, and he leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the molten wave that scorched the earth beneath him. Landing lightly, he twisted his body to face Atsushi, his blue eyes shining with determination. "Nice try! Now catch this—Volt Snare!" The Lightning Bolt shot forward, crackling with energy as its tendrils wound toward Atsushi's legs. Kaede smirked. "He's got him now. No way Atsushi's getting out of this." Atsushi growled, his muscles bulging with effort as he dug his feet into the ground. "You'll need more than that! Molten Breaker!" he shouted, raising his hammer and slamming it into the earth, shattering the snare and sending molten debris flying in every direction. "Okay, never mind, Atsushi's got it handled," Sakura said, shaking her head. Makoto barely avoided the molten shards, the heat from the explosion tingling against his skin. He smirked, brushing off his jacket. "Not bad for a first round. Let's kick it up a notch." Atsushi grinned, his amber eyes narrowing as he charged forward, his feet pounding the earth with every step. With a roar, he swung his war hammer in a wide arc. "Infernal Arc!" he shouted, sending a wave of lava surging through the air toward Makoto. "Here we go," Kaede muttered, looking tense. "This is going to be big." Makoto's eyes widened, his blue gaze focused. He twisted his body, backflipping just in time to avoid the molten wave. Landing softly, he flicked his wrist, the Lightning Bolt snapping with a surge of energy. "Try to dodge this—Overload Lash!" Akira snickered. "Makoto's got that 'I'm going all out' look. Too bad Atsushi's not going down easy." The Lightning Bolt shot forward, an enhanced strike laced with raw power. Atsushi grinned, his fiery amber eyes never leaving Makoto. "You'll need more than that!" he roared, swinging his war hammer to intercept the attack. The two weapons collided with explosive force, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. Sakura clenched her fists. "That's what happens when two powerhouses go head-to-head." The two powers clashed in a burst of light and molten energy, neither fighter yielding an inch. Atsushi's molten aura flickered brightly, while Makoto's lightning danced in the air around him. Makoto's grin widened as he stepped back, spinning the Lightning Bolt like a cyclone. "This is it, Atsushi! Storm Whip!" he shouted, releasing a flurry of rapid, electrified arcs from the whip. "Yikes, this is going to be messy," Kaede said, her eyes narrowing as she watched. Atsushi's eyes gleamed with challenge as he raised his hammer high. "I'm not done yet! Eruption Strike!" The hammer descended with immense force, unleashing an explosion of molten lava upon impact that collided with Makoto's whip in a deafening crash. Why isn't he giving up. Akira slapped his knees, grinning. "It's like a fireworks show... but, uh, more destructive. I think the ground's gone now." As the electric and molten forces collided, the battlefield trembled. The explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the ground, and the air shimmered with intense heat and energy. Dust and debris filled the air, blocking the view for a moment as the two fighters pushed through the chaos. When the dust settled, both Makoto and Atsushi were kneeling on the ground, panting heavily. Makoto's hair was singed at the edges, his blue eyes still sharp but exhausted. Atsushi's dark brown hair was wild and damp with sweat, his amber eyes flickering with determination as he leaned on his hammer. Makoto took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he steadied himself. The air was thick with the aftereffects of their destructive clash. Sweat dripped from his brow, but his blue eyes never wavered, locked onto Atsushi, who was slowly rising to his feet. His hands tightened around his war hammer, his amber eyes never leaving Makoto. What do I do? "Not bad," Makoto grinned, though his voice was strained. "But I'm not done yet." Atsushi snorted, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. "You've got some power, but you're still predictable. You've got to hit harder, faster." "Then I guess I'll just have to do that, won't I?" Makoto snapped back, a sudden flash of determination crossing his face. He spun his Lightning Bolt, crackling with energy, and charged forward. Sakura's eyes widened. "Makoto's going for the offensive again." Kaede raised an eyebrow. "He's still got energy left? Impressive." Makoto moved like lightning, his whip lashing through the air with incredible speed. "Thunderstrike Lash!" he roared, sending arcs of electricity racing toward Atsushi. Atsushi grinned. "Still too slow." He gripped his war hammer with both hands, his feet rooted firmly on the ground. With a roar, he swung it horizontally, creating a molten shield in front of him. "Lava Shield!" he bellowed as the hammer's impact sent a wave of searing lava crashing forward to intercept Makoto's lightning. The shockwave from the clash was enough to rattle the earth beneath them, but Makoto's expression was unreadable. "Nice try," he muttered under his breath, flicking his wrist again, his Lightning Bolt pulsing with power. "Volt Snare!" Before Atsushi could react, tendrils of electricity lashed out and wrapped around his legs, immobilizing him momentarily. Sakura grinned. "Got him this time." Atsushi grunted in frustration, his muscles straining as he fought the snare. "Not... happening!" With a fierce yell, he slammed his war hammer down, creating a shockwave that shattered the electric tendrils. The moment the snare broke, Atsushi charged forward, his amber eyes blazing with fury. "Molten Rush!" he yelled, propelling himself like a fiery comet. "Here it comes!" Akira shouted with glee, leaning forward. Makoto's eyes widened as Atsushi bore down on him. "I've got to move!" he shouted, narrowly dodging the molten wave that Atsushi sent surging toward him. The ground beneath him cracked from the heat, and a wave of intense heat singed the edges of his jacket. Kaede winced. "Makoto's not getting out of this one." But Makoto wasn't done yet. He jumped high into the air, using his agility to dodge the molten surge. Mid-air, he spun the Lightning Bolt around his body and shouted, "Storm Whip!" A series of electrified arcs shot down from the weapon, targeting Atsushi with pinpoint precision. The electricity crackled through the air as it collided with the molten wave, the combination of lightning and fire creating a blinding explosion. Atsushi shielded his eyes with his forearm, growling in irritation. "You really think that's enough?" "Maybe it is," Makoto replied with a sly grin. "Overload Lash!" He unleashed the final surge of energy, the whip arcing forward with blinding intensity. Atsushi staggered back, his eyes wide in realization. "I'm not going down yet!" Atsushi shouted, swinging his war hammer in one last desperate arc. "Infernal Storm!" he bellowed, sending out a powerful blast of molten fire that collided with Makoto's lightning. The air was thick with static and heat as the two powers collided with a deafening explosion. The ground cracked beneath them, and the force of their attacks created a shockwave that sent debris flying in all directions. The dust and smoke blocked their vision, but both fighters pushed through, determined to keep going. When the dust finally cleared, both fighters stood at the center of a scorched battlefield, breathing heavily. Makoto's clothes were singed, and his blue eyes were sharp with focus despite the fatigue. Atsushi, equally worn out, gripped his war hammer, sweat dripping from his brow, his amber eyes flashing with defiance. Sakura bit her lip. "This is insane. How are they still standing?" "Makoto's a beast," Kaede said quietly, "But Atsushi isn't backing down." Makoto exhaled slowly, his smirk returning. "That all you've got, Atsushi?" Atsushi narrowed his eyes. "Not even close. Magma Burst!" With a fierce yell, he swung his war hammer down with all his might, sending a burst of molten energy hurtling toward Makoto. "Whoa!" Akira leaned back, hands over his eyes. "That's gonna hurt." Makoto's eyes gleamed as he gripped his Lightning Bolt tightly, spinning it above his head. "I've had enough of this!" he shouted, launching forward with lightning speed. "Thunderstrike Lash!" he cried, unleashing the full force of his lightning toward Atsushi. The two forces collided in a massive explosion, lighting up the darkened sky as thunder rumbled and molten rock flew through the air. The arena was quiet for a moment as the dust began to settle, both fighters still reeling from the devastating exchange. Makoto's chest heaved as he panted, sweat dripping down his forehead. His blue eyes flicked toward Atsushi, who was slowly rising to his feet, gripping his war hammer tightly. "I'm impressed, Makoto," Atsushi said through gritted teeth, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You've got guts, but I'm just getting started." Makoto narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening around his Lightning Bolt. "You're the one who's going to need guts if you want to keep up." He cracked his neck, preparing for what was coming next. Sakura was watching closely, her eyes scanning the battlefield. "They've both taken a beating, but they're not giving up. This is about to get interesting." Kaede raised an eyebrow. "They're too evenly matched. It's anyone's game now." Without warning, Atsushi charged forward again, his war hammer raised high. "Lava Strike!" He swung his hammer down with all his might, sending a wave of molten rock surging toward Makoto. Makoto reacted instinctively, his Lightning Bolt flashing to life as he darted to the side. "Thunderstrike Lash!" he shouted, his whip of lightning cracking through the air in an attempt to intercept the molten surge. The two attacks collided mid-air, creating a massive explosion that sent shockwaves rippling through the arena. The ground cracked beneath them, but Makoto didn't hesitate. He spun around, his body moving with fluid precision as he launched himself at Atsushi with another lightning-infused strike. "Volt Snare!" Makoto called, sending lightning tendrils surging toward Atsushi's legs. Atsushi, quick to react, slammed his war hammer into the ground. "Magma Shield!" he roared, creating a wall of searing molten energy that stopped the tendrils dead in their tracks. The electric tendrils fizzled out, leaving nothing but the smell of burnt air. "That's not going to work on me," Atsushi grinned, his eyes glowing with intensity. "Now, it's my turn!" He swung his war hammer in a wide arc, sending a massive wave of magma crashing toward Makoto. Makoto's eyes narrowed, and without a moment's hesitation, he jumped into the air, spinning his Lightning Bolt above his head. "Storm Whip!" The arcs of lightning surged forward, cutting through the air toward Atsushi's magma wave. The two forces collided once again, this time creating an even more intense explosion that sent debris flying. The heat from Atsushi's magma combined with the electric intensity of Makoto's lightning created an enormous cloud of dust and smoke. "Not bad," Makoto muttered, his voice strained but confident. "But I'm just getting warmed up." "Same here," Atsushi growled, wiping the sweat from his brow. He was breathing heavily, but there was no sign of surrender in his amber eyes. From the smoke, both warriors emerged, bruised but unbowed. Makoto's jacket was singed, and Atsushi's armour was cracked from the force of their attacks, but neither showed any signs of slowing down. Sakura tilted her head. "I don't know how much longer they can keep this up. They've got to be running low on energy." "I don't think they care," Kaede replied, watching intently. "They're too stubborn." Atsushi's eyes burned with fierce determination. "Magma Burst!" With a roar, he swung his war hammer down, releasing an enormous burst of molten energy. The ground trembled as it rushed toward Makoto, its heat unbearable. Makoto's heart raced as the lava approached, but he wasn't about to let it hit him. He spun around with his Lightning Bolt, his body moving with quick, sharp motions. "Overload Lash!" he yelled, unleashing his most powerful strike yet. The bolt crackled with energy as it shot toward Atsushi, splitting the air with a deafening crack. The two forces collided in a massive, thunderous explosion that rattled the very earth beneath them. The entire arena seemed to shake from the impact, and a blinding light filled the area. When the smoke finally cleared, both fighters were on their knees, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Their bodies were battered, their clothes tattered, and their eyes filled with determination. Makoto looked at Atsushi, a smirk still playing at the corners of his mouth despite the exhaustion in his eyes. "I told you... I'm not going down that easily." Atsushi, equally worn out, lifted his war hammer slightly and gave a tired grin. "Neither am I." Sakura let out a breath. "This is insane. How are they still standing?" Kaede chuckled softly. "They're both too stubborn for their own good." Akira nudged me, "Why aren't you speaking?" "I am focusing. You do realise I am going to fight one of them." Suddenly Atsushi started to glow. The temperature spiked. It started increasing rapidly.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.