(10 minutes later)

"For the Finals Akarui vs Akira. Please make your way to the centre!" Mr. Sigan called out.

The roar of the crowd was deafening, but I barely heard it. My focus was locked on Akira. He stood across from me, calm but grinning like he already knew how this fight would end. Cocky as ever. I rolled my neck, trying to shake off the tension, but I couldn't ignore the fact that this wasn't going to be easy. Akira wasn't just strong—he was relentless.

"Let's make this interesting," he said, flexing his fingers as blood began to pool around his hands.

"You're always about theatrics," I shot back, planting my feet. "Let's see if you can back it up this time."

"Start!

And Akira moved immediately. His hand flicked forward, and I heard him mutter under his breath: "Lost Slashes."

The air seemed to ripple as crimson arcs of blood shot toward me, sharp and erratic. Each slash came from a different angle, faster than I expected. I ducked the first, twisting my body to avoid the second, but they just kept coming. A shallow cut burned across my forearm, and I hissed through clenched teeth.

"You're slipping already?" Akira teased, sending another wave of slashes my way.

"Not even close," I said, summoning the shadows at my feet. "Shadow Portal."

I disappeared into the void just as the next barrage of blood slashes tore through the spot I'd been standing. The cold, weightless sensation of the portal was brief, and I reappeared behind him, close enough to see the smug look on his face falter. He's going to do something.

I didn't waste the opportunity. "Deranged Slashes!"

This should do something.

Wild, chaotic waves of energy burst from my hands, spiralling toward him. They weren't as refined as his moves, but they didn't need to be. Akira turned, raising his arm, and the blood around him hardened into a shield. My slashes struck it, forcing him back, but they didn't break through.

"You're not holding back, huh?" he said, lowering his shield. "Good. Neither am I."

The blood around him condensed into a sharp, jagged shape. He thrust his hand forward. "Blood Piercer."

The spear of blood shot toward me, faster than I expected. I barely had time to react, pulling energy into my hands. "Black Hole!"

The void opened in front of me, sucking the spear in before it could reach me. The force rattled my arms as I held the vortex steady, and the spear dissolved into nothingness. Akira clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Not bad," he admitted, his voice steady. "But you're not the only one with tricks."

The blood around him began to glow, an intense red heat radiating off it. I could feel the temperature rising even from where I stood. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the glowing blood exploded outward.

"Burning Blood!"

"God not this."

I threw myself to the side as the first explosion detonated near me, the heat searing my skin. Another burst followed, then another, each one forcing me to move faster. The arena shook with every blast, the ground scorched black beneath his feet.

"You're running out of room, Akarui!" Akira shouted over the chaos, his grin wild.

I gritted my teeth, the shadows at my feet growing thicker, darker. "Shadow Portal," I muttered again, vanishing just as another explosion went off where I'd been standing. This time, I reappeared above him, high in the air.

Akira chuckled sarcastically, quietly, "Heh. Scratch that."

I clenched my fist, channelling all my energy into it. "God Force!"

I came down like a meteor, slamming my fist into the ground where Akira stood. The impact was devastating, the ground beneath us shattering and sending debris flying in all directions. Dust and smoke filled the air, and for a moment, I couldn't see him.

Where is he. Stay alert.

When the dust cleared, Akira stood there, blood swirling around him like a living shield. He looked rattled, but far from defeated.

"Not bad," he said, wiping a bit of blood from the corner of his mouth. "But you're going to have to do better than that."

He raised his hands, the blood around him surging like a tidal wave. "Blood Serpents!"

The crimson creatures lunged at me, their jaws snapping as they moved with terrifying speed. I slashed at the first one with dark energy, cutting it down, but another wrapped around my leg, its grip crushing.

I slammed my fist into it, breaking free, but more serpents kept coming. They were relentless, coiling and biting, forcing me to stay on the defensive.

"You're struggling, Akarui," Akira called out, his voice full of mockery.

I glared at him, wiping sweat from my brow. "You talk too much."

The shadows around me shifted, coiling upward as I drew in energy. "White Hole!"

A massive burst of energy exploded outward, obliterating the serpents and forcing Akira to step back. The arena shook under the force, and for a brief moment, the battlefield was clear.

Akira looked at me, his grin sharper than ever. "Now we're getting somewhere."

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Akira's eyes gleamed with intensity as he raised his hands, blood swirling violently around him. "Blood Leviathan!" His voice rang out, and the massive creature formed once again, its enormous, blood-red eyes burning with fury. The creature's colossal jaws snapped, its body coiling as it loomed over me, ready to strike.

I couldn't afford to hesitate. The Leviathan was fast, and Akira wasn't going to give me a chance to catch my breath. I dodged as the tail of the creature lashed toward me. The force of it created a shockwave, and I stumbled slightly but managed to regain my footing. Akira's grin remained, steady, as if the battle had already been decided.

I'm not going to let him take control. The shadows moved at my command, and I surged forward, my movements sharp and decisive. The Leviathan's massive jaws lunged toward me, but I was already preparing my next move. Akira's blood shot through the air, fast and unforgiving, seeking to catch me off guard. I narrowly avoided the first lash, only to feel the sting of a second cut across my side. Pain flared up, but I didn't lose focus.

He's fast. Too fast. Akira's thoughts were sharp, yet there was a quiet tension behind them. I can't let him push me around. I need to make the next move count. His gaze flickered toward the Leviathan, waiting for its cue. This is my moment.

Akira pressed forward, his blood twisting into weapons that lashed out like whips. He wasn't playing around. I met his strike with my own force, dark energy meeting the sharpness of his blood.

"You're not bad," Akira said, amusement dancing in his voice, but I could sense his concentration tightening. This is getting interesting.

His blood formed into vicious spikes, surging toward me. I reacted instinctively, throwing myself to the side as the air around me thickened. The ground cracked as the Leviathan's tail swung in my direction. I shifted, feeling the rush of wind as I prepared for what came next.

No time to waste. This isn't about outpacing him—it's about pushing through his defences. Akira's thoughts were clearer now, and his next attack came with brutal precision. He raised his hand, summoning the Leviathan once again.

"Blood Boil!" His command shattered the air as a blast of hot, boiling blood surged outward.

I was already moving, focusing my energy into a barrier of shadow that shifted with my every step. He's relentless. But that's exactly what I'm counting on.

The blood tore through the air, the heat clinging to me, but I knew better than to let it dictate my next move. I thrust my hands forward, gathering the darkness to me. "Black Hole!" I released the surge of energy into the attack, pulling the blood and Leviathan's strike into the void.

Akira's face twisted slightly in surprise, but his blood reformed around him, adjusting to the change. Damn, he's unpredictable. He's forcing me to keep my guard up.

He raised his hands again, and the blood surged into jagged forms, sharp and dangerous. "Blood Piercer!" His voice rang out, and the spears of blood raced toward me like bolts of lightning. I moved, only just avoiding the worst of it, but the tail end of one nicked my arm, sending fresh waves of pain through me.

This isn't the time to hold back. It's now or never. I gritted my teeth, pushing through the pain. "Deranged Slashes!" I unleashed a barrage of strikes, slashing with shadow-infused energy. Akira met each one with his blood shield, the force of my attacks reverberating off his defenses.

"You're persistent," Akira said through gritted teeth, but I could feel the growing strain in his voice. His blood swirled, darkening with intensity. He's not giving me any openings. This has to be different.

Suddenly, the air shifted, charged with power. "Burning Blood!" Akira shouted, and the blood exploded in all directions, spreading like a wildfire. It was more than just an attack.

the wave, narrowly escaping the full brunt of the heat. The battlefield was filled with steam and smoke, the air thick with the remnants of Akira's attack. For a split second, there was nothing but silence.

Where is he?

The smoke cleared, revealing Akira standing tall, though a glimmer of frustration flashed in his eyes. That was close. He's not breaking.

I stood tall, shadows swirling around me, energy pulsing beneath my skin. "You'll have to do better than that," I called, my voice steady despite the pressure building inside me.

Akira smirked. "Oh, I plan to."

He snapped his fingers, and the Leviathan's form loomed in the distance. The air trembled with the weight of its presence. I didn't wait. I summoned the darkness beneath my feet, ready to face whatever came next.

This isn't just about beating him. This is about finishing it. Or I sat for 9 hours for no reason.

Blood lashed toward me again, sharp as ever. I sidestepped, but his attacks were relentless, each one designed to push me back. With every movement, the tension in the arena grew. I gathered more of the shadows, drawing in the energy I needed.

"Shadow Barrage!" I shouted, sending a flurry of dark spikes at him. The ground trembled as the attack ripped through the space between us. Akira's blood twisted and contorted, blocking the barrage. Is that all? His thoughts buzzed with confidence, but his expression darkened.

The moment of calm was brief. Akira raised his hands again, and his blood formed into serpents, slithering toward me with predatory intent. "Blood Serpents!" he shouted, each one lashing toward me with the fury of a storm.

I sliced through the first, then the second, but they kept coming, tightening around me. Not this time. I let the shadows surge around me, gathering in a whirlwind of darkness. "White Hole!" I released the energy, tearing through the serpents, but the pressure was still there, pulling at my strength.

Akira was faster this time. His blood swirled and condensed into something sharp and deadly. "Blood Geyser!" he commanded, and the torrent of blood exploded from the ground beneath me, aiming to bury me under its weight.

I focused, breathing deeply, my chi pulsing. One chance. I can't let him take control.

I pushed forward, cutting through the geyser of blood with everything I had. The force was enough to throw me off balance, but I didn't stop. I felt Akira's presence, sharp and unwavering, and I knew we were both on the edge.

As the smoke settled, I saw him standing there, blood swirling around him like a storm. There was no turning back now. I could feel the final moment coming. The fight was only growing more intense, but neither of us would yield.

"Come on then," I muttered, shadow energy surrounding me, my movements fluid and precise. Let's see who's truly in control.

Akira's grin widened. "This is just getting started."

"God Force." I lunged towards him. Pulling my arm back.

"I've seen that more times than you blinking. Shield."

Akira created a shield flowing with blood.

I neared him. I punched. "Black Hole."

The black hole sucked Akira's shield in.

Akira's eyes widened. What! That was not supposed to happen.

"White Hole."

The Black Hole Turned into a White Hole and expelled everything away. Including Akira over the boundary.

No. Not like this.

"Wow." Kaede and Sakura said.

The class cheered... Well Except Ren.

The sun set.

"The winner of the tournament is Akarui!" Mr. Sigan exclaimed.

"Well... You deserve it." Akira extended his hand.

"Thanks." I shook his hand with a grin.

Mr. Sigan walked to the front and announced, "Now. Everyone's dismissed. Go to your dorms."

"Wait uncle, what about our other lessons?"

"Don't worry. Every first Combat lesson for 1st years I host a tournament for a class. So no biggee."

He put his arm on Akira's shoulder. "Good job. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you." Akira responded as he walked to the bleachers.

Kaede walked up to me and said, "Nice work!"

"Thanks."

"So... What now?" Sakura asked.

"Hmm... Dorm?" Kaede suggested.

"Why not. I could play some Chess." I responded.