Mr. Sigan cleared his throat and announced, "Allright to keep the excitement I will announce the next pairs right before their match! Now, Round 3: Match 1 is Satoshi Sato vs. Sakura Hanami!"

"Woh. Good luck." Akira said

"Yeah good luck."

"Make sure to win." Kaede slightly nudged Sakura.

"About time!" Sakura got up and stretched her arms before walking to the circle.

Satoshi and Sakura stood across from each other, the arena buzzing with anticipation. Satoshi cracked his neck, ready to fight. Sakura, however, was already shifting impatiently on her feet, clearly eager to get the match started.

"Start!" Mr. Sigan called out, his voice cutting through the noise.

"Ready to get burned?" Sakura taunted, a mischievous grin on her face.

Satoshi raised an eyebrow. "I'm more concerned about you melting your fans from all the heat you're giving off."

Sakura scoffed. "Keep talking, water boy. Let's see if you can handle the heat."

In a flash, Sakura charged forward, her fans opening with a dramatic flair. "Flame Burst!" she shouted, sending a wave of fire straight at Satoshi.

This isn't enough.

Satoshi's body moved fluidly as he sidestepped the attack, gliding to the side as if he were a leaf on a breeze. "Is that all you got?" he asked coolly, his calm demeanor unfazed by the attack.

"Not even close," Sakura grinned. She snapped her fans again, and flames exploded from them in a wide arc. "Flame Burst!"

Satoshi sidestepped again but the flames licked at his heels, and though he tried to sidestep, the heat was closing in on him faster than he expected. With a quick, graceful motion, he slid to the side, but not in time to avoid the heat completely. The flames grazed his side, singeing his sleeve.

"He cursed under his breath, "Damn it. That hurt."

"Okay, that's it," Satoshi muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing. "I'm done playing."

He raised his arms and called out, "Flowing Rush!"

Satoshi surged forward like a rushing river, his body twisting and turning as he made his way toward Sakura, moving with liquid precision. He aimed for her with a series of fast, fluid strikes—his movements like a gentle stream that was about to turn into a torrent.

Sakura, however, wasn't about to back down. With a laugh, she swung her fans and met his attack with a fierce grin. "You think you can beat me with that slow, water dance?"

"Flowing Guard!" Satoshi barked, his arms creating a barrier of water that deflected her flames. The water shield surrounded him, like a protective barrier keeping the fire at bay. But Sakura wasn't done yet.

She snapped her fans closed and immediately swung them open with a flourish. "Flames of Hell!" she shouted.

A massive wave of fire surged forward, hotter and larger than anything Satoshi had faced so far. The heat distorted the air, and the sheer force of the blast pushed against Satoshi's watery defense, threatening to overwhelm him.

Satoshi took a deep breath and stretched his arms out, trying to hold the barrier in place. "This... won't be enough," he muttered, his concentration shifting.

But Sakura wasn't done yet. The flames roared, crashing against Satoshi's water barrier, and suddenly—the barrier shattered. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down as Satoshi's eyes widened.

"No way..." he whispered.

She actually did it.

The flames didn't stop. They continued to pour forward like a wall of destruction, surrounding him completely. The heat was unbearable. Satoshi, caught in the attack, was forced to retreat back, his feet skidding across the ground, trying desperately to evade.

But Sakura wasn't giving him an inch. She slammed her fans together, calling out, "Firestorm Fury!" The air around them seemed to catch fire as blazing whirlwinds spiraled towards Satoshi, the flames circling him like hungry predators.

Satoshi's eyes narrowed as the flames moved in. "I won't lose to you," he said, his body moving into position for his final counterattack.

He raised his arms and shouted, "Flowing Strike!"

For a split second, Satoshi's body became a blur of movement. He struck with the force of a raging river, his speed almost impossible to track. He aimed directly for Sakura, intending to push through her fiery attack with a powerful blow. But just as he thought he had the advantage, Sakura's eyes gleamed.

With a flick of her wrist, she threw one of her fans into the air, and the flames shot up into the sky before coming down like a rain of fire. Satoshi's strike was met with a fiery wall—the flames, now unpredictable, danced around him, disorienting his movements.

"Did you really think I wouldn't have a backup plan?" Sakura laughed, stepping back as Satoshi tried to keep up with her sudden change in tactics.

Satoshi's movements slowed, and he realized, too late, that he was trapped. The swirling fire surrounded him, and every escape route was blocked. Sakura had cornered him.

"I told you, water boy," Sakura grinned, her voice low and confident, "you can only dodge fire for so long before you burn."

With another flick of her wrist, she unleashed one final, devastating attack. "Flames of Hell!"

A massive inferno erupted, completely engulfing the area. Satoshi, caught in the full force of the flames, felt the heat scorch his skin. The last of his water barrier evaporated under the intense heat.

I got to do something!

He could barely raise his arms to defend himself as the flames continued to surge. His vision blurred, his body aching as the flames burned through his defenses. He staggered, trying to regain his footing, but it was no use.

Sakura's flames swallowed him whole and then blasted him across the borderline.

The arena went silent for a moment before the loud boom of the announcer's voice filled the air. "And the winner is... Sakura!"

"She actually won." Akira gasped.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Sakura stood, panting but smiling, watching as Satoshi collapsed to his knees in defeat. The fire around her began to settle, and she gave him a playful wink.

"Guess I'm the one who burned you this time, water boy," she said with a smirk.

Satoshi slowly got to his feet, "You really know how to turn up the heat," he said, his voice hoarse. "I've never met anyone who can fight like you."

Sakura grinned, hands on her hips. "Of course. I am the best. But don't worry, I'll leave some ice cream for you to cool down later."

Satoshi chuckled weakly, still wincing from the pain but appreciative of her playful nature. "I think I need a lot more than ice cream after that."

Sakura gave a satisfied nod, but her grin softened. "You were good, though. You're a worthy opponent. Next time, don't be so cocky, alright?"

Satoshi chuckled again. "Next time... I'll bring the ice."

"Match 2: Luke De Angelo vs Jao Pedro!"

Sakura came back to the seat next to us and fell on it, "Man that was easy."

"Didn't look like it." Akira teased.

Sakura punched Akira on his face, "Shut up!"

Luka and Jao entered from opposite sides.

"Lemme guess. Beating around the bush. Maybe a dome. Capture. Done.

Zip Zilch Zap. What am I forgetting. Oh yeah. Goose Egg! Man, I can't wait for my turn!" Akira griped.

"Hmm that is pretty much it. Wait you are literally getting promoted to semi-finals"

"That's because Mr. Sigan knows my strength. He visit's me on the weekend. Well since he is my uncle."

"Wait what?"

"You heard me."

"Start!"

With a quick twist of his cube, the red side clicked into place. Jao's body tensed as energy surged through him.

"Crimson Rush!" he yelled.

Before Luka could react, Jao exploded forward, a blur of motion. His fist shot toward Luka's chest, aiming for a clean hit. Luka barely had time to pivot, raising his trident just in time to deflect the blow. The impact sent a sharp vibration up his arms, but he held firm.

Jao smirked as he skidded to a halt, eyes gleaming. "Didn't think you'd catch that."

Luka exhaled slowly, resetting his stance. "Try me again."

Luka's trident spun, mist coiling around the weapon. He swept it forward in a fluid motion.

"Frigid Wave!" he called out.

A surge of freezing water rushed toward Jao, a wave crystallizing into frost mid-air. Jao leapt sideways, narrowly dodging the icy assault. His feet skidded on the frost-covered ground as he steadied himself, cold air biting at his skin.

"That all you got?" he taunted, shaking off the chill.

Jao's fingers twisted the cube again, locking the blue side into place. His eyes sharpened as energy crackled through his limbs.

"Blue Barrage!"

He shot forward, his movements a whirlwind of speed. His fists blurred as he unleashed a storm of rapid punches. Luka shifted his trident frantically, deflecting strikes left and right. A few punches slipped through his guard, hitting his ribs and shoulder. Luka grunted but refused to yield ground.

Jao didn't let up, each strike faster than the last. "Can you keep up?" he challenged, his voice a blur like his fists.

Luka's eyes narrowed. He couldn't let Jao control the pace.

Luka inhaled sharply, gathering cold energy. He spun his trident in a tight arc.

"Frozen Tempest!"

A frigid gust burst outward, shards of ice spiralling in the air. The temperature plummeted instantly. Jao was caught off-guard, frost forming along his arms and legs, slowing his movements. He clenched his teeth, shivering slightly.

"Cold... but you're not shaking me off yet!" he growled.

Jao's fingers moved quickly, solving the orange side. A fierce cyclone roared to life around him, swirling with raw chi.

"Orange Vortex!"

Winds whipped wildly, Jao's speed and power skyrocketing. He charged, a storm of limbs and energy. Each strike now hit with terrifying force, sending shockwaves across the arena. The cyclone churned up debris, his silhouette barely visible through the chaotic winds.

Luka's eyes narrowed.

I can't let this go on longer.

Raising his trident high, Luka summoned cold air into a single point. Frost spiraled outward.

"Dome!"

A translucent sphere of ice formed around them, trapping the raging winds within. The temperature plunged further, breath misting between them. Ice dragons swirled inside the dome, their eyes gleaming with predatory chill.

Jao didn't flinch. His cyclone tore at the icy walls, refusing to be contained. He surged forward, eyes blazing. Luka met him, trident glowing with frost.

The two clashed at the center of the dome — wind and ice erupting in a chaotic explosion. The dome shattered, shards glittering as they fell like snow.

The dust settled around them, fragments of shattered ice glinting in the air. Luka tightened his grip on his trident, steadying his breath. Across from him, Jao spun his cube, the corners clicking.

Jao smirked, brushing frost off his shoulders.

"You're still standing? Guess I need to hit harder."

Luka didn't answer. He just rolled his shoulders and readied his stance.

Jao's fingers twisted the cube — the blue side locked in place. His muscles tensed, energy coursing through his limbs. In an instant, he was a blur, dashing forward with a burst of speed.

"Blue Barrage!"

A flurry of punches rained down. Luka deflected with his trident, but Jao's strikes kept coming — fast, relentless. A punch slipped through and slammed into Luka's ribs, forcing him back. Another grazed his jaw. He gritted his teeth, sliding across the icy floor as he struggled to keep up with Jao's speed.

Jao didn't let up. His fists blurred with each strike.

"Having trouble keeping up?"

Luka exhaled, cold mist swirling around him. He spun his trident, summoning a vortex of icy wind.

"Frozen Tempest!"

The air dropped to freezing in an instant. Shards of ice whipped through the vortex, slamming into Jao and slowing his momentum. His punches faltered, his breath visible in the cold air.

"Damn... that's cold," Jao muttered, his movements sluggish.

Luka lunged, trident flashing forward. The blade sliced across Jao's arm, leaving a thin line of frostbitten skin. Jao hissed and stumbled back, eyes narrowing.

Jao's cube clicked again — the red side glowed. His stance shifted, energy pulsing through his legs.

"Crimson Rush!"

He exploded forward, a streak of red. Luka barely had time to react before Jao's fist connected with his shoulder, the impact sending him sprawling. Luka's back hit the ground hard, pain radiating through his body.

Jao rolled his shoulder, catching his breath.

"That should slow you down."

Luka grimaced, pulling himself to his feet. He tightened his grip on his trident.

"Not enough."

Jao's fingers flew over the cube — the orange side clicked into place. A powerful cyclone of chi erupted around him, debris swirling in the air. His muscles tensed, energy crackling around his body.

"Orange Vortex!"

He shot forward, the cyclone tearing through the ground. Luka's eyes narrowed — there was no time to hesitate.

Luka raised his trident high, cold mist spiraling upward.

"Dome!"

A sphere of ice enclosed them both, the walls sealing with a snap. The cyclone slammed against the icy barrier, winds roaring inside the confined space. The temperature plummeted, frost forming instantly.

Jao's breaths came in short gasps, his body shaking from the cold.

"Can't... keep this up forever."

Luka's voice was steady. "I just need long enough to finish this."

Jao clenched his fists, fighting through the cold. "You think... a little ice... can stop me?"

They charged at each other, eyes locked.

Jao swung a heavy punch. Luka deflected and countered, his trident slicing through the air. Each clash of weapon and fist sent cracks spider-webbing through the dome. Their breaths came in ragged bursts, both pushed to their limits.

Jao grinned through the pain. "This... is fun."

Luka smirked back. "I'd call it exhausting."

"Orange Vortex!"

The cyclone tore through the confined space, slamming into the dome's walls, cracks spidering outward. Luka's hair and clothes whipped around wildly, but he planted his feet, bracing against the storm.

Jao charged, his movements powered by the vortex, fists driving forward with explosive force. Luka met him head-on, trident flashing as he parried and countered, each clash of steel and fist sending shockwaves through the dome.

"You think... this will stop me?" Jao's voice was strained, his energy draining fast.

Luka's eyes met his, calm and unyielding. "It already has."

Jao's final punch faltered, the cold and exhaustion finally catching up. Luka pivoted, sweeping Jao's legs out from under him. Jao hit the ground hard, the cyclone dissipating into nothing.

The dome shattered, ice shards scattering like glass. Except the melting and turning into water part. "Frigid wave."

Water slammed into Jao knocking him out of the Boundary.