Kaede's shield finally shattered under my relentless assault, and I saw the opening. She tried to step back, but her movements were sluggish, her energy clearly running low. I smirked, raising my katana high. "This ends now." With a powerful swing, I called out, "Deranged Slashes!" Each slash came down with overwhelming force. Kaede's defences broke, and the final blow sent her crashing to the ground. She gasped for breath, trying to push herself up, but her strength was drained. "I can't..." she muttered, the light around her flickering. I lowered my katana slightly, watching her attempt to rise. I could see she was done. But she wasn't giving up yet. My Katana disappeared. "God Force!" I tightened my fists as the started to glow. I leaped towards her. This is it! Ahh shoot. I got to do something! My fists reached her chest. She took too long. It was too late. The force sent her flying. Her feet almost touched the boundary. A small smile grew on my face. "White Hole." "Great." The white hole immediately appeared in between us and expelled a huge amount of force. Kaede created a wall of light but it shattered. The arena grew brighter. I stopped the White Hole. The light stopped. It revealed Kaede's legs just centimetres outside the boundary. The class sighed. "Aw man. Typical." Kaede sulked. "Round 2 Match 1 Akarui wins!" I kept panting. "I did it!" I walked up to Kaede, "Hey. Good fight." "Thanks." We walked of the circle, making way for the next fight. "Round 2 Match 2 Luka De Angelo vs Sayaka Morita!" Luka and Sayaka stepped into the circle. "I hope you're ready," Sayaka said, her glaive gripped tightly in her hands. Luka didn't respond, his gaze locked on her as he began to circle around, trident in hand. "Start!" "Wait a minute. I remember my dad mentioning something about a clan called Morita. Wait if she is from the Morita clan her technique would be..." Her body shimmered for a moment, and the energy around her increased. Eyes and mouths began to materialize, first on her glaive and then spreading to her arms, legs, and even her torso. Each eye blinked, and the mouths parted to release short bursts of energy. "The Technique Of A Thousand Faces." "Now, let's see what you can do." Luka spun his trident and raised it in a defensive stance. "Frostbite." He flicked his wrist, and a flurry of ice shards shot toward Sayaka. She expertly deflected them with her glaive, the mouths on the blade firing energy blasts to shatter the ice before it could reach her. "You're quick," Luka commented, his expression unchanged. Sayaka's eyes flickered with determination. She dashed forward, swinging her glaive in a wide arc. More energy blasts erupted from the eyes on her weapon, forcing Luka to jump back. The blasts tore through the air, but Luka moved with precision, narrowly avoiding them. Luka didn't waste any time. He swung his trident in the air, summoning "Glacial Barrage." Ice spikes shot out from the ground, heading straight for Sayaka. She dashed to the side, but the ice followed, curving and cornering her. With quick movements, she swung her glaive again, the mouths on it unleashing powerful energy blasts to break through the ice before it could surround her. The transformation had clearly increased her speed, but Luka was still in control. He raised his trident. "Unify." Ice particles spread over his skin, hardening into a shimmering, frosty form. His movements became faster, more fluid, as he dashed toward Sayaka. "You're not as fast as you think," Luka muttered, his trident arcing down toward her. Sayaka reacted just in time, using her glaive to block the strike. The mouths on her glaive opened wide, releasing energy that pushed Luka back. "Not bad," Luka said, his eyes glinting with interest. But he wasn't done. He swung his trident again. "Frost Surge." A powerful wave of ice rushed toward Sayaka, but she responded by creating an energy barrier with the mouths on her body. The ice collided with the barrier, shattering it into a flurry of ice crystals. Sayaka's eyes glowed with energy, and she took a step forward. The transformation gave her strength, but Luka's relentless attacks kept pushing her back. "I'm just getting started," she said, her voice steady despite the pressure. Luka smiled faintly. "I've been waiting for this." He swung his trident, releasing an enormous ice blast straight toward Sayaka. This time, she couldn't completely avoid it. The ice enveloped her, freezing her from the knees down. Sayaka gritted her teeth, summoning all her remaining energy. "Thousand Faces." The eyes and mouths across her body blinked, and new energy blasts shot from every direction, breaking apart the ice that trapped her. She then dashed forward with remarkable speed, closing the gap between her and Luka. Luka was caught off guard, but he quickly raised his trident. "Unyielding Ice." He summoned a protective shield of ice in front of him, but Sayaka's energy blasts hit him hard, breaking through the barrier. Luka staggered back, but his ice shield had absorbed most of the energy. "That was close," Luka muttered, shaking off the attack. Sayaka, now fully transformed and empowered, gave him a determined smile. "Next time, you won't be so lucky." Luka didn't waste any time. "Ice Lance." He thrust his trident forward, launching a long spike of ice directly at Sayaka. She sidestepped, barely dodging it, but she was starting to feel the weight of the fight. Without missing a beat, Luka prepared for his final attack. "Unify." Ice enveloped him again, increasing the power of his movements. "Let's finish this," Luka said, his tone flat but focused. He lunged at Sayaka with incredible speed, his trident raised to strike. Sayaka swung her glaive in retaliation, but Luka was already behind her. "Glacial Barrage!" He unleashed a rapid series of ice spikes, sending them directly toward her back. Sayaka tried to block them, but the barrage was too overwhelming. Luka's ice strikes pierced through her defence, and with one final thrust of his trident, he landed a clean hit. Sayaka was knocked back, her glaive slipping from her hand as she fell to the ground, encased in ice. Luka stood over her, trident poised for the finishing blow. Mr. Sigan's voice echoed across the arena. "Match 2: Luka De Angelo wins!" Luka stepped back, his body returning to normal as the ice particles slowly dissipated. He gave a small nod toward Sayaka, who was already pushing herself up from the ground, still breathing heavily. "Good fight," Luka said, offering a hand to help her up. Sayaka took his hand with a grin. "Next time, Luka. You won't get off so easily." The crowd erupted into applause, and Luka turned, walking toward the bleachers. Akira clapped sarcastically from the stands. "Great job, Luka. Another one bites the dust," Akira said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. Sakura smirked. "You'll get your turn soon, Akira. Try not to break anything when you fight." "I'm just saying," Akira replied, tapping his foot impatiently. "If I were fighting Luka, I'd be done with it in two minutes." Kaede chuckled, shaking his head. "Sure you would, Akira. Let's see what happens when it's your turn." "I'll show you all," Akira said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I can't wait!" "Match 3 Makoto Yamagushi vs Jao Pedro!" The arena hummed with tension as Jao Pedro and Makoto prepared for battle. The crowd was on edge, anticipating a fight between two powerful opponents. Jao, with his cube in hand, stood calm and collected, while Makoto, radiating energy, cracked his knuckles, ready to unleash his power. "Start!" Makoto was the first to move, speeding toward Jao with incredible agility. "Red Dawn!" he shouted, his body glowing with fiery energy. He swung a blazing fist at Jao, who instinctively raised his cube in defense. The impact created a shockwave, but Jao's cube absorbed most of the blow, pushing him back only a few steps. Jao smirked, looking at Makoto. "Is that all you've got?" Makoto didn't hesitate. "Crimson Flash!" he roared, his body surging with red energy as he closed the distance in an instant. With a series of lightning-fast strikes, he aimed to overwhelm Jao. Each punch was a blur of speed and power, but Jao's cube flickered with energy, blocking the blows with perfect precision. "You're fast," Jao said, his voice calm, "but I'll need more than that to go down." Makoto grinned, his eyes narrowing. "I've got plenty more." He jumped back, putting some distance between them, and raised both hands. "Lightning Bolt!" he shouted. A blinding bolt of blue lightning erupted from his palms, shooting toward Jao with terrifying speed. Jao's cube emitted a brilliant flash of light as he raised it to intercept the bolt. The lightning struck the cube with a violent crack, sending a shockwave through the arena. Jao staggered back, his body momentarily trembling from the electricity. "Impressive," Jao said, brushing himself off. "But it's not enough to stop me." Makoto knew he couldn't give Jao a chance to recover. He powered up again, his energy crackling. "Red Dawn!" he yelled, unleashing another surge of fiery energy as he charged toward Jao once more. This time, he combined the fiery aura with his full momentum, aiming for a direct hit. But Jao wasn't going to let Makoto land another blow. With a calm flick of his wrist, Jao activated the core of his cube. "Capture. Activate." Suddenly, Makoto felt an overwhelming pull on his energy. His body went heavy, his movements sluggish. The pieces of Jao's cube surrounded him, their glowing light siphoning away his strength. "No! What is this?!" Makoto shouted, his body trembling as his energy drained away. His vision began to blur, and he struggled to stay upright. Jao's cube glowed brightly, and the core of the cube started to open. The darkness within it seemed to draw Makoto closer, like a vacuum sucking him in. Despite his best efforts to resist, Makoto was slowly pulled toward the cube's black core. Jao's voice echoed coolly, "It's over, Makoto." Makoto's body was sucked into the black core, his form disappearing into the darkness. The cube reassembled, the pieces clicking back together in Jao's hand. Still assembled. The arena fell silent for a moment before Mr. Sigan's voice broke the stillness. "Match 3: Jao Pedro wins." "Really? Again?" Akira remarked? "I swear they are speeding this." "Well out you go." Jao scrambled his cube. It split again and from the black core Makoto came out. Almost like he was shot from a cannon. "Match 4: Satoshi Sato vs. Nishumura." The fighters went to the centre. "Start!" Chika lunged forward, her butcher knife a silver streak in the air, aimed at Satoshi's ribs. The force behind her swing was enough to split the air, the blade whistling toward him. Satoshi's body flowed with effortless grace, sidestepping just in time, the knife missing him by mere inches. He didn't move back; instead, his feet shifted, his weight moving fluidly. "Flowing Guard," he murmured under his breath, his arms moving to intercept the strike, redirecting the energy with minimal effort. Chika's smirk never faltered. "Not bad," she said, stepping back with a quick flick of her wrist. "But you'll have to do more than that." Without wasting a beat, she surged forward again. This time, her strike was a feint—high, then low, the butcher knife flashing as it aimed for Satoshi's unguarded side. Satoshi's eyes narrowed as he watched her body language, his feet already moving before the attack could land. With a spin, he ducked under the blade, narrowly avoiding it, and as he came up, his fist shot forward in one fluid motion, aiming for her midsection. "Flowing Rush!" he called out, his voice sharp and steady. His fist landed with precision, a hard thud against her ribs. The force was enough to make Chika stumble back, a brief flicker of surprise in her eyes. But she quickly recovered, pushing herself back to her feet with a growl. Chika's grin widened as she looked at him, eyes glittering with excitement. "You move like water," she said, voice low and dangerous. "But I'm not that easy to break." She lunged again, her blade sweeping low this time, aiming for his legs. But Satoshi's body moved like a ripple across a pond, shifting to the side as if in slow motion. He flowed around the strike effortlessly, his movements graceful and unpredictable. His feet never stopped moving, always in perfect sync with his body. Chika swung her knife in a series of rapid arcs, her strikes coming faster and more unpredictable. She was relentless, trying to force Satoshi into a mistake, her knife a blur of steel aimed at his head, his chest, his sides. But Satoshi danced around her, his movements almost impossible to predict. His eyes remained calm, his face focused, and his body in perfect harmony. Each time Chika's blade got close, he was already shifting out of range, avoiding her strikes with an almost magical dexterity. "Flowing Guard," he muttered again, his arms moving in a slow, deliberate circle to catch the residual energy of a missed strike, dissipating it into the air. Chika's lips curled in frustration. "You're annoying," she growled, her grip tightening on the handle of the knife. "Let's see how long you can keep dodging." With a roar, she planted her foot and swung her blade in a brutal, horizontal arc aimed at his head. Satoshi ducked and twisted, the blade missing by inches, and before she could recover, he retaliated with another strike. "Flowing Strike!" he shouted, his fist shooting forward like a piston, the force behind it carrying through the air. His target was her shoulder, a direct hit. Chika staggered back, winded, but her grin only widened. She was already recovering, her hand still on the hilt of her weapon. Her golden eyes gleamed with determination. "Nice try," she said, voice dripping with challenge. "But you'll need more than that." She surged forward again, this time more cautiously, her knife held at the ready. Satoshi's movements were as fluid as ever, his body effortlessly weaving around each attack. But Chika was fast—faster than he expected—and she pressed him harder now, her strikes coming in rapid succession. "Flowing Rush!" Satoshi called again, his voice unwavering. He was a blur of motion, his strikes coming one after another, each attack flowing into the next like a never-ending wave. But Chika was ready. With a flick of her wrist, she knocked one of his strikes aside, then twisted, bringing the blunt side of the knife crashing toward him. The blow landed square on his side, a heavy thud that sent a ripple of force through his body. Satoshi's breath caught in his throat, but he didn't fall. Instead, he absorbed the impact, his body shifting in the air as he slid to the side. "Impressive," Chika grinned, watching him carefully. "But you can't dodge forever." Satoshi's breath came a little heavier now, but his expression was still calm. His movements were slower, more calculated, as he found his rhythm again. "Flowing Guard," he murmured, his arms crossing in front of him as he redirected a powerful swing of Chika's knife, absorbing the strike with ease. "Balance, Chika," Satoshi said, his voice steady. "It's about knowing when to strike and when to wait." Chika's eyes narrowed as she sized him up, her fingers twitching against the hilt of her knife. "We'll see how much balance you have after this." Without warning, she charged again, her knife flashing through the air in a lethal arc aimed for his throat. Satoshi's body shifted as he dodged, but this time, Chika wasn't going to let him slip away so easily. She pivoted on her heel, spinning in the air, and brought the blunt side of her knife down with all her strength. It was a move Satoshi had not expected, and the impact sent a shockwave through the arena as it connected with his side. His body was thrown to the ground with brutal force, his breath knocked out of him. For a moment, the arena was silent. Satoshi lay on the ground, panting, feeling the weight of the blow. But as Chika approached, Satoshi's eyes flared with determination. With a fluid motion, he rolled to the side, quickly getting back on his feet. "I'm not done yet," he said, his voice calm despite the pain in his chest. He straightened up, his body once more moving with fluid, controlled grace. Chika's grin grew wider. "Good," she said. "Let's see how much longer you can last." The two circled each other, neither willing to give an inch. Each strike, each movement, each breath felt like a delicate balance of power and grace. The arena was alive with the intensity of their battle. Finally, with one last, swift motion, Satoshi darted forward, his movements a perfect culmination of his style. "Flowing Rush!" he called, his body blurring as he struck at Chika's chest, landing with precision. Chika staggered back, her breathing heavy, but she didn't fall. Instead, she took a step back, eyeing him with a new respect. "You're tougher than I thought," she said, a spark of admiration in her voice. "But I'm not done yet." Satoshi smiled, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That's what they all say.." Satoshi's steps splashed through the growing puddles of water left behind by his movements, the arena floor glistening under the lights. Chika lunged, her butcher knife flashing in an arc aimed squarely at his ribs. He ducked with a fluid motion, narrowly avoiding the blade as water droplets sprayed into the air. "Is this really your plan? Just swinging that thing around until I slip?" he teased, his tone light but his eyes sharp. Chika smirked, spinning into another strike. "If it works, it works." She pressed forward, her movements aggressive and relentless, each swing of her blade forcing Satoshi to stay on the defensive. But with every step she took, the water trails seemed to work against her, the slick surface making her footing less sure. Satoshi sidestepped her next attack with a dancer's grace. "Flowing Rush," he murmured, his fists moving in quick, precise strikes. He aimed for her shoulder, then her ribs, each hit designed to knock her off balance. Chika grunted as one of his punches connected, but she recovered quickly, gripping the ground with the heel of her boot. "Not bad," she admitted, "but you're going to have to do more than splash me to win." Satoshi chuckled, his movements fluid as he darted away from her retaliatory swing. "It's all part of the strategy, Chika. You'll see." "Yeah? How about I just end this now?" she shot back, charging at him with renewed intensity. The butcher knife came down in a heavy swing, but Satoshi twisted out of range, his body moving like water. Chika's blade hit the ground with a resounding clang, the force shaking droplets loose from the arena floor. "Missed again," Satoshi said, a playful lilt in his voice. Chika growled, her golden eyes narrowing as she adjusted her grip. She feinted high before lunging low, aiming for his legs in a sweeping kick. Satoshi hopped over it, landing lightly and slipping behind her. "You're working too hard. Just go with the flow." "Don't tell me how to fight!" Chika snapped, swinging her knife in a wild arc as she turned. The blade narrowly missed him, but the water left by his constant movement caused her foot to skid. Chika stumbled, her balance faltering for the first time. Satoshi seized the moment. He stepped in close, his fist striking her side in a clean hit. The impact sent Chika sliding backward, her boots failing to find traction on the slick ground. "No way I'm losing like this!" she shouted, digging the flat of her knife into the ground to stop her momentum. But the water-coated floor wasn't forgiving. Chika's efforts only slowed her slide as she crossed the border with a frustrated growl. "Match 4: Satoshi Sato wins!" Chika sat up, glaring at Satoshi for a moment before letting out a sharp laugh. "You and your puddles. You better hope we don't fight in a desert next time." Satoshi offered her a hand, his usual calm demeanour intact. "A win's a win, right?" She took his hand begrudgingly, standing and shaking her head. "You're lucky you're slippery, or I would've knocked you out ages ago." "Guess I'll take that as a compliment," he replied with a small grin. Chika rolled her eyes, brushing some of the dampness off her clothes. "Don't get cocky. Next time, I'm bringing spikes." "Noted," "Ok! That was quick! Now. Finale of round 2! Daichi Tanaka vs Aiko Kato!" "Necromancer vs an Actual fighter." Akira said. The arena, once filled with chatter, had gone eerily silent. The weight of the fight hung heavy in the air as the audience watched, breathless, waiting for the battle to unfold. Daichi's pulse thundered in his ears, every inch of his body alert and tense. Across from him, Aiko stood in serene silence, her hand hovering near the small charm she always carried. "Start!" She looked unfazed, even as Daichi clenched his fists, preparing himself for the fight ahead. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation. With a small, almost imperceptible nod, Aiko's voice rang out, breaking the tension. "Spirit Bind. Yuki Onna." The temperature plummeted instantly. Daichi gasped, seeing his breath fog in the freezing air. The arena's ground began to crack as a blanket of ice spread rapidly across the floor, cold air cutting through his skin. It was as if the very essence of winter had taken root in this space. Then, from the midst of the frost, a figure materialized—a towering, ethereal woman, pale as snow, with long, flowing white hair and a haunting gaze. The Yuki Onna. Her kimono fluttered in the frigid wind, and her eyes glowed a menacing blue, the same color as the freezing mist that surrounded her. Daichi's eyes narrowed. "Great, more of this." Without a word, the Yuki Onna raised her hand. Ice shards shot out like missiles, whizzing toward Daichi with frightening precision. He dove to the side, narrowly missing one shard as it embedded into the ground where he'd been standing. "Not bad," Daichi muttered, rolling into a crouch and quickly getting to his feet. Before he could catch his breath, Aiko's voice rang out again: "Tengu." The wind howled. The air shifted, twisting violently as a massive figure emerged from the gale—a monstrous birdman, clad in dark, feathered armor, with eyes glowing a fierce amber. His wings beat the air with such force that Daichi staggered back, struggling to maintain his footing as the gusts threatened to knock him off balance. The Tengu screeched, its voice like a clap of thunder, and dove toward Daichi, talons aimed at his throat. "Not good!" Daichi grunted, dodging just in time. The Tengu's claws scraped past him, raking through his jacket and leaving gashes in the fabric. Daichi shot a quick glance upward, just in time to see the Tengu swooping back around for another attack. "Damn! She's got the whole elemental team in her corner..." Aiko's next words cut through the air with quiet authority. "Kitsune." Light flared as a shimmering fox, its body gleaming like molten gold, appeared in front of Aiko. The Kitsune's nine radiant tails flickered with immense power, each one emitting a wave of energy. The fox let out a playful bark, its energy shimmering like the first rays of the sun, but there was no mistaking the lethal intent behind it. "Great... I've got a whole damn zoo to deal with," Daichi muttered, raising his weapon. "Lemme guess. They fight. The usual 'I'm not done yet.' 'It is over.' they don't know when too give up. They lose. Right?" Akira spoke. "Yup." The Kitsune's tails flicked in his direction, sending blasts of concentrated energy that exploded on impact, sending tremors through the ice. Daichi leaped and rolled, narrowly avoiding one of the blasts that tore through the ground, leaving a smouldering crater. As he got to his feet, his mind raced. "I need to clear some space—fast." His thoughts were interrupted by the chilling voice of Aiko. "Kurozai. Kukuten." From the shadows, two more figures emerged. Kurozai, the living shadow, flickered and writhed as his form shifted, blending into the darkness as if he were born from it. His body was fluid, a constantly morphing mass of darkness that seemed to pulse with raw, untapped power. Kukuten, on the other hand, appeared like a creature of pure chaotic energy—dark arcs of lightning coursed through his form, making the air crackle. The ground seemed to darken, as if the light itself was being drained by Kurozai and Kukuten's presence. Daichi's heart rate spiked. This wasn't just a fight; it was an overwhelming assault. Kurozai struck first, his tendrils of shadow shooting toward Daichi. He leaped to the side, narrowly dodging the dark appendage that swung toward him, but the attack left a streak of black fire that sizzled and spread across the ground. "Damn it!" Daichi hissed, feeling the heat from the shadows even as he pushed forward. Kukuten wasn't far behind. A bolt of dark energy flew toward Daichi, striking him square in the chest. The impact sent him flying backward, his body slamming into the icy floor with a painful crack. He gritted his teeth, his chest tightening as the dark energy clung to him. Aiko's voice rang out again, calm and controlled. "It's over, Daichi." Daichi slowly pushed himself up, sweat beading on his forehead, his breath labored. "Not yet..." The Tengu screeched again, diving toward him, and the Yuki Onna's ice shards rained down like hail. Daichi quickly formed a protective light shield in front of him, deflecting most of the incoming attacks. However, the force of the Tengu's next strike sent his shield shattering, and he barely had time to raise his weapon to block the brunt of the blow. His body shook with the impact, but he held firm. "I'm still in this!" But as he turned, ready to strike back, Kurozai and Kukuten closed in from the sides. Daichi barely had time to react before Kurozai's shadowy tendrils wrapped around him, binding him in place. "Let me go!" Daichi roared, struggling against the dark grip. Kukuten's dark energy spiraled, forming a deadly sphere in front of him. With a twisted grin, the shadow creature hurled it toward Daichi. Just as the blast neared, Daichi's light flared brighter, his body pushing beyond its limits. He managed to unleash a powerful wave of energy that forced Kukuten back and shattered the hold Kurozai had on him, but at a great cost—his strength was nearly depleted. But even as Daichi fought to stay on his feet, Aiko's familiars regrouped, their energy levels still formidable. The Tengu dove again, the Yuki Onna raised her hands, summoning another wave of ice shards, and Kurozai and Kukuten began to circle him like predators. Aiko watched, her gaze cool and steady. "You're strong, Daichi. But you can't keep up forever." Desperation filled Daichi's chest. He needed an opening, something, anything to give him the upper hand. His weapon hummed in his hands, glowing faintly as he prepared for one last move. Then, without warning, the Tengu dove toward him again, but this time, Daichi twisted and threw himself into the air, using his remaining energy to propel himself upward with a burst of light. He launched his weapon, sending it flying toward the Tengu, but it was quickly deflected. Daichi's energy flickered out, his body crashing to the ground. Aiko's expression remained unchanged as she saw him struggle. "It's over," she said softly, signaling the final strike. Kurozai's shadow tendrils wrapped around Daichi again, pulling him to the ground as Kukuten's energy orb closed in. There was no escape. With a final, devastating impact, the dark orb collided with Daichi, engulfing him in a burst of energy that shattered the ice beneath him. The arena fell silent. Daichi's body lay motionless, his energy extinguished, as Aiko stepped forward, her expression one of quiet satisfaction. "You fought well," she said, her voice calm but tinged with respect. "But in the end, it wasn't enough." The familiars dissolved into shadows, their mission complete. Daichi's body remained on the ice, his chest rising and falling slowly, the faintest sign of life still lingering. Aiko's gaze softened for a moment. The arena was still as death, the frigid air biting at Daichi's exposed skin as he staggered to his feet, every muscle in his body aching from the relentless barrage of attacks. His chest heaved, his breath coming in ragged gasps as his eyes scanned the field for any sign of weakness in his opponents. But there was nothing. Aiko stood composed, her eyes calculating, as her spirits surrounded her like an impenetrable fortress. The Kitsune's tails flickered with radiant energy, the Tengu's screeches echoed ominously above, and the Yuki Onna's ice-covered ground shimmered, deadly and cold. Kurozai and Kukuten remained in the shadows, their forms flickering as they waited for the moment to strike. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on Daichi's chest, but he refused to give up. I won't go like this. With a roar of frustration, Daichi pushed forward, the floor beneath him cracking under the force of his movement. He surged toward the Tengu, his fists glowing with energy, ready to land a devastating blow. The Tengu screeched and swooped down once more, its talons outstretched. But this time, Daichi was ready. He pivoted, narrowly dodging the bird-man's claws, and retaliated with a powerful blast of light energy from his hands. The force sent the Tengu reeling backward, its wings flapping wildly as it struggled to regain its balance. But just as it did, the Yuki Onna's icy shards shot forward, this time in a relentless, almost serpentine barrage. Daichi gritted his teeth and leapt, twisting midair as the ice shards narrowly missed him. His feet barely touched the ground before the Kitsune charged, her nine tails lashing in unison. Daichi raised his arms, a shield of light flickering into existence, but the impact of the first tail sent him crashing to the ground. The Kitsune's energy was like a wave, relentless, scorching, and overwhelming. Before Daichi could react, the shadows of Kurozai and Kukuten enveloped him. Kurozai's tendrils wrapped around his legs, pulling him down with a strength Daichi couldn't break. Kukuten's dark energy flared, sending pulses of destructive force crashing down around him. Daichi winced as the energy exploded, tearing through the ground, sending rock and ice scattering in every direction. He could feel the weight of exhaustion bearing down on him. "You're too slow," Aiko's voice came from behind him, calm as ever. He could hear the confidence in her tone, could feel the tension of her power building, ready for the final blow. With a final push, Daichi summoned every last bit of his strength. His body flared with brilliant light, pushing back the shadows that held him captive. He twisted his body violently, the tendrils of Kurozai unraveling as his light energy surged outward, cutting through the oppressive darkness. "Not yet!" Daichi yelled, his voice raw with determination. He spun, his hand reaching for his weapon, still buried in the ice from his earlier attempt. But as he grabbed it, a sudden, intense pressure gripped his chest. He felt the weight of the energy in the arena closing in on him, like an inescapable vice. Kurozai and Kukuten were already circling, waiting for the right moment. Aiko's voice rang out, steady as ever. "Enough, Daichi. It's over." The Tengu dove again, and this time, there was nowhere to go. The creature's talons reached for his throat, and with a final, decisive motion, they pierced through his defenses. Daichi let out a sharp gasp, the cold, iron-like claws sinking into his flesh. He gritted his teeth, the shock of pain rushing through his body. "No..." But before he could fight back, the Kitsune's tails lashed again, and the explosion of energy sent him flying back, slamming into the ice-covered floor with a sickening crack. His vision blurred as his limbs went limp, his body overwhelmed by the sheer force of the attack. The cold, biting winds of the Yuki Onna's power swept over him, and for a moment, he felt nothing but the crushing weight of exhaustion. Aiko stood still, her gaze piercing. She slowly stepped forward, her footsteps silent against the icy ground. Daichi could barely keep his eyes open, but he forced them to focus, staring up at her. "I've seen you fight before," Aiko said, her voice still calm. "You have spirit. But spirit alone won't win you this battle." With a final flick of her wrist, she commanded her familiars to back away. The Yuki Onna's frost receded, the Tengu's wings stilled, and the Kitsune lowered its glowing tails. Kurozai and Kukuten faded into the shadows, their dark forms dissipating like smoke. The cold energy in the air dissipated, and Daichi could feel the weight on his chest lift, though his body still ached and pulsed with the remnants of the battle. He tried to push himself up, but his body refused to cooperate. Get up. 10 seconds passed. Aiko won and he lost. "Round 2 Finale: Aiko Kato wins!" Aiko reached down, offering her hand. "You fought well," she said softly. "But it's not enough." Daichi's fingers brushed against her palm, but he couldn't muster the strength to take it. His chest rose and fell rapidly as his mind raced. He had pushed himself to the limit, fought with everything he had, but it wasn't enough. "You're stronger than I thought," Aiko continued, her gaze now filled with a hint of admiration. "But this fight is mine." Daichi closed his eyes, his hand falling back to the ground, his breath ragged as he surrendered to the inevitable. His chest still rose and fell, the faintest sign of life remaining, but he knew it was over. There was no more fight left in him.

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