The village of Dawn had been buzzing with excitement for weeks. The annual tournament, held at the end of the second year of military training, was one of the most anticipated events of the year. It was a chance for the cadets to prove their strength, skill, and determination in front of their peers and instructors. This year's tournament was especially important—only the top sixteen cadets would compete, and the winner would earn not only the respect of their comrades but also a coveted recommendation for the final year of training.

As the cadets gathered in the large arena, the atmosphere was electric. Crowds of villagers and fellow trainees filled the stands, eager to see the battles unfold. The tournament was structured as a knockout competition, with sixteen cadets facing off in one-on-one matches until only the strongest remained.

The names of the participants were called out, and each of the sixteen cadets stepped forward, their faces a mix of determination and anticipation. Among them were some of the most skilled fighters of the year: Isaki, who had proven himself as a talented swordsman; Riku, known for his speed and precision; Balko, a powerful lancer who had finished third in the previous year's rankings; and Jenia, a skilled magic user who had claimed the fourth spot last year.

The tournament bracket was revealed, and the battles began.

The first few rounds were a blur of intense clashes. The sound of steel meeting steel, the crackling of magic, and the cheers of the crowd filled the air. Isaki faced off against a lesser-known cadet, easily disarming him with a swift series of sword strikes. Riku defeated his opponent with a display of lightning-fast movements, dodging every attack before delivering a decisive blow. Balko, wielding his formidable lance, made quick work of his adversary, using his reach and strength to overpower them. Jenia, with her mastery of Aura, overwhelmed her opponent with a barrage of fireballs, sending them flying across the arena.

As the dust settled from the first round, the final eight cadets remained. The competition only grew fiercer as the matches continued, but eventually, only four cadets stood tall, ready for the semifinals: Isaki, Balko, Riku, and Jenia.

Semifinal One: Isaki Ryo vs. Balko

The first semifinal match pitted Isaki against Balko, a towering cadet with a muscular build, jet-black hair, and piercing black eyes. Balko's presence alone was intimidating, and his mastery of the lance had earned him the third position in the previous year's rankings. As the two warriors stood across from each other in the arena, the crowd hushed in anticipation.

Balko grinned confidently, spinning his lance in his hand with ease. "You've done well to make it this far, Isaki," he said, his deep voice echoing in the arena. "But a swordsman like you won't stand a chance against my reach."

Isaki tightened his grip on his sword, his brown eyes locked on Balko's movements. He knew this fight wouldn't be easy—Balko's strength and the range of his lance gave him a significant advantage. But Isaki had spent years honing his skills under his father's rigorous training. He wasn't about to back down.

The signal to begin was given, and Balko immediately went on the offensive. With a powerful thrust of his lance, he aimed directly for Isaki's chest. Isaki sidestepped just in time, the lance whistling past him with incredible speed. Balko followed up with a sweeping strike, trying to catch Isaki off-guard, but the young swordsman ducked low, his reflexes sharp.

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Isaki darted in, trying to close the distance between them, but Balko's lance kept him at bay, forcing him to stay on the defensive. Each time Isaki tried to approach, Balko would unleash a barrage of quick, precise jabs, pushing him back.

- I have to get closer, Isaki thought, analyzing Balko's movements. He knew that if he could get inside Balko's range, he could exploit the lancer's slower recovery time after each strike.

The moment came when Balko overcommitted to a powerful thrust. Isaki saw the opening and moved swiftly, sidestepping the attack and darting forward. His sword flashed as he aimed for Balko's midsection, but Balko was quick to react, spinning his lance and blocking the strike with the shaft.

The two clashed fiercely, sparks flying as steel met steel. Balko used his sheer strength to push Isaki back, but Isaki remained focused, using his agility to stay just out of reach of the lancer's deadliest blows. The fight continued for several minutes, each warrior testing the other's limits.

Then, in a moment of brilliance, Isaki feigned a retreat, causing Balko to lunge forward in pursuit. As Balko extended his lance, Isaki spun to the side, evading the attack entirely. In a blur of motion, Isaki closed the gap and struck. His sword sliced through the air, grazing Balko's arm and knocking the lance from his grip.

Balko stumbled back, caught off guard. Before he could react, Isaki's sword was at his throat.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Isaki lowered his blade, offering Balko a respectful nod. Balko, though defeated, gave a grunt of approval. "You're better than I thought, Ryo."

Isaki smiled faintly. "You too, Balko."

Semifinal Two: Riku vs. Jenia

The second semifinal match was between Riku, the nimble and agile cadet, and Jenia, the skilled magic user who had placed fourth last year. Jenia stood with an air of confidence, her long brown hair flowing behind her as her black eyes locked onto Riku. She was known for her ability to control fire through her Aura, a powerful and dangerous skill that had earned her many victories in the past.

Riku, on the other hand, was known for his speed and precision. His lean frame and quick reflexes had allowed him to outmaneuver many opponents, but he knew that facing a magic user like Jenia would require a different approach.

As the battle began, Jenia wasted no time. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned a sphere of fire, hurling it toward Riku with impressive speed. Riku dodged effortlessly, moving like a blur across the arena floor. Another fireball followed, and then another, but Riku evaded them all, his movements fluid and precise.

Jenia's frustration grew as Riku continued to dance around her attacks. She intensified her assault, summoning larger and more powerful fireballs, each one exploding with a deafening roar as it struck the ground.

But Riku remained calm. He knew that magic users like Jenia had a limited reserve of Aura, and if she continued to burn through her energy at this rate, she would soon exhaust herself.

Seeing an opening, Riku closed the distance between them in an instant, darting past one of Jenia's fireballs and striking her with the hilt of his sword. Jenia staggered back, her Aura flickering. She tried to summon another fireball, but her Aura had nearly run dry. The flames sputtered and faded before they could form fully.

With a final, swift strike, Riku disarmed her, his sword pointed at her chest.

Jenia's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I overdid it," she muttered, more to herself than to Riku.

Riku nodded, lowering his weapon. "You fought well, but magic has its limits."

The crowd once again erupted in applause as Riku helped Jenia to her feet. Though disappointed, Jenia accepted her defeat with grace, knowing that Riku had earned his place in the final.

With the semifinals over, the stage was set for the final battle: Isaki vs. Riku. The two cadets, both skilled and determined, would face off to decide who was the strongest. The crowd buzzed with anticipation, knowing that the next fight would be the most intense yet.

But for now, the arena grew quiet as the final match was announced. Isaki and Riku exchanged a glance, both knowing that their toughest challenge was yet to come.

The final would decide everything, and neither of them was willing to back down.