As Blaze stood tall, he immediately declared his victory, locking eyes with Luis. "One Tadashima down," Blaze announced, still catching his breath but adrenaline coursing through his veins, "time for the next."

Garo stepped forward, offering a word of caution. "You might need to recover first, Blaze."

Blaze, however, shook his head with stubborn determination. "No chance. I’m not stopping now." He then turned to Autumn, his tone demanding, "Sing. I need the energy."

The class exchanged uneasy glances, recognizing the rudeness in his request but also the exhaustion behind it. Understanding the gravity of the moment, Autumn stepped up and began to sing "King’s Cascade." Her voice washed over Blaze, rejuvenating his muscles. Though he still felt the sting of his cuts and the exhaustion of battle, the renewed energy in his body made him let out a triumphant howl.

The class watched, anticipation thick in the air, as Blaze and Luis started quipping at each other.

Luis smirked, his confidence unwavering. "You’re all heat, Blaze. Let’s see if there’s any substance behind it."

Blaze’s eyes flared with intensity. "You’re about to find out. I’ll burn you to ashes."

Luis remained cool, his gaze steady. "We’ll see who’s left standing after this, but don’t be surprised if I turn your flames to smoke."

With that, Luis turned to Aurora, his voice softening slightly. "Take care of Haru."

Aurora nodded, moving with Saki to tend to Haru, who remained unconscious.

On the stage, Blaze and Luis stood as opposites, ready to clash. The most anticipated match of the day loomed, with even Takurov and Garo on the edge of their seats. The class held its breath, knowing they were about to witness something epic. Blaze fired up, flames dancing around him, while Luis's eyes ignited, ready to explode onto the battlefield. The final clash promised to be nothing short of legendary.

//////////////

Blaze wasted no time, his scimitar already slashing through the air with relentless speed as he charged at Luis. The heat from his flames radiated off him, making every movement feel like a furnace. Luis barely had time to pull out his Wakizashi, forced to defend against Blaze's onslaught. The first clash was immediate, a shower of sparks erupting as Blaze's scimitar met Luis's blade with a force that nearly knocked him off balance.

Luis countered instinctively, unleashing a small explosion from his Wakizashi aimed at Blaze's midsection. But Blaze, with his usual ferocity, was already a step ahead, dodging to the side, leaving only a trail of fire in his wake as he closed in from another angle. Luis barely managed to block the next strike, his blade clashing with Blaze's, the impact resonating through his arms.

"Blaze is too fast," Callus observed, his eyes tracking every move. "Luis needs to create some distance if he wants to stand a chance."

Emma nodded, her gaze intense. "Blaze's close combat is monstrous. Luis is trying to counter, but he’s missing his explosive mark every time. He’s getting overwhelmed."

Another exchange followed, Blaze's scimitar coming down in a fiery arc that Luis narrowly avoided by rolling to the side. He retaliated with a precise thrust of his Wakizashi, aiming for Blaze’s shoulder, but Blaze deflected it effortlessly, the two of them spinning in a deadly dance. Blaze followed up with a quick slash at Luis’s legs, trying to knock him off his feet, but Luis leaped backward, creating a small explosion beneath him to propel himself out of range.

"His only saving grace is that explosion technique," Lawrence commented, his arms crossed as he studied the fight. "But it’s draining him fast. He needs to rethink his strategy."

Ashelyn, eyes narrowed in focus, added, "Blaze is relentless. If Luis doesn’t find a way to create distance, he’s done for."

Blaze, seeing Luis retreat slightly, didn’t let up. He dashed forward with incredible speed, his scimitar a blur as it aimed for Luis’s side. Luis parried desperately, the force of the clash pushing him back. He spun around, slashing at Blaze’s midsection, but Blaze anticipated it, using his flames to propel himself upward, avoiding the strike completely before landing a heavy downward slash that Luis barely blocked, the impact sending a shockwave through the arena.

Luis was sweating now, feeling the heat from Blaze’s flames and the pressure from his relentless attacks. Every move he made was met with Blaze’s overwhelming speed and power. He tried to focus, to find an opening, but Blaze gave him no time to think, only to react. Another flurry of strikes came his way, Blaze’s scimitar slashing from different angles with a ferocity that kept Luis on the defensive. He was beginning to feel the strain as he barely dodged and blocked, each strike coming closer to landing.

"Blaze is controlling the pace," Emma noted. "Luis is just trying to survive."

Luis, struggling to keep up, managed a small explosion to create some space, but Blaze was on him again, faster than before. Luis was forced to duck under a high slash, and then roll away from a low sweep, using his Wakizashi to block a follow-up strike that nearly knocked it out of his hands. Blaze’s speed and power were incredible, his flames only adding to the overwhelming pressure.

"This is insane," Luis thought to himself, gritting his teeth as he blocked another heavy strike. "If Haru could keep up with this, he’s way stronger in close combat than I ever gave him credit for."

As Luis deflected another blow, he realized he couldn’t keep this up. He needed space—he needed to create distance to use his best skills. But with Blaze’s relentless fury, that seemed nearly impossible. Yet, Luis was determined. He knew his strength lay in his range and explosive power. If he could just find a way to use it…

Blaze continued his relentless assault, his scimitar flashing like a blur of flames as he pressed Luis further. But Luis, feeling the weight of the battle, knew he had to adapt. The close combat was too intense, too draining. He needed space—space to breathe, space to think, and most importantly, space to use his real strength. He pivoted sharply, using a controlled explosion at his feet to propel himself backward, finally creating the distance he desperately needed.

As Blaze rushed in again, Luis was ready. He pulled out his bow in a fluid motion, drawing an arrow and igniting it with his explosive energy. With precise timing, he released it just as Blaze closed the gap. The arrow streaked through the air like a comet, forcing Blaze to sidestep with a burst of speed, but it was enough to make him pause.

"Smart move," Saki commented from the sidelines, her eyes narrowing as she watched Luis start to shift the battle in his favor. "He’s found the distance he needed. Blaze might be faster up close, but at mid-range, Luis has the advantage."

Aslan nodded, his eyes wide with admiration. "Yeah, Luis is using that distance to make Blaze think twice about charging in. Those arrows are no joke."

Angel, leaning back slightly with a smirk, added, "Luis is playing it smart. He’s making Blaze fight on his terms now, not the other way around."

Blaze, realizing the shift in the battle, tried to close the gap again, but Luis was ready. He fired another arrow, this one aimed directly at Blaze’s chest. Blaze had no choice but to deflect it with his scimitar, the explosion forcing him back a few steps. Luis didn’t waste the opportunity; he fired off two more arrows in quick succession, each one precisely aimed to keep Blaze on the defensive.

Blaze dodged the first arrow, then the second, but Luis was already repositioning, using the momentum to circle around Blaze, keeping him guessing. He drew another arrow, this time aiming for Blaze’s legs. Blaze barely managed to leap over it, his landing unsteady as he tried to regain his footing.

"See how he’s controlling the flow now?" Saki observed, clearly impressed. "Blaze can’t rush in without thinking, or he’ll get nailed by one of those arrows."

"Yeah," Aslan agreed, leaning forward with excitement. "Luis is keeping him at just the right distance—close enough to strike, but far enough to stay out of Blaze’s immediate reach."

The next exchange was rapid. Blaze attempted to close in with a feint, rushing to one side before quickly switching directions, trying to catch Luis off guard. But Luis was already moving, his reflexes sharp as he fired an arrow at Blaze’s new position. The explosion forced Blaze to stop in his tracks, giving Luis just enough time to fire another arrow, this one grazing Blaze’s shoulder, sending a burst of fire sparking off his skin.

"Nice one!" Angel cheered, clearly enjoying the shift in the fight. "He’s got Blaze on the ropes now."

Blaze gritted his teeth, feeling the sting of the burn on his shoulder. He couldn’t deny it—Luis was getting the upper hand. He was being forced to fight a battle on Luis’s terms, and it was frustrating. Luis, sensing the shift in momentum, pressed his advantage. He fired another volley of arrows, each one infused with explosive energy. Blaze dodged and deflected as best he could, but the constant barrage was wearing him down.

Luis, now more confident, began to weave in and out of Blaze’s range, using his bow as both a ranged and close-combat weapon. He fired an arrow, then followed up with a quick slash from his Wakizashi, keeping Blaze on the defensive. Blaze retaliated with a flaming strike from his scimitar, but Luis was ready, parrying the blow and creating another explosion that sent Blaze stumbling back.

"He’s starting to dominate," Saki pointed out, her tone a mix of excitement and respect. "Blaze is tough, but Luis is really showing his skill now."

Aslan, almost holding his breath, nodded. "He’s got Blaze where he wants him. Just a little more, and he might actually take this."

Angel grinned, his eyes locked on the fight. "Luis is on fire—literally and figuratively. This might just be his win."

Blaze, clearly feeling the pressure, tried one last desperate charge, his scimitar blazing with fiery intensity. But Luis was ready. He sidestepped the attack, his movements fluid and controlled, and in one smooth motion, drew back his bow and released an arrow point-blank at Blaze’s chest. The explosion was powerful, knocking Blaze off balance and sending him sprawling to the ground.

Luis, breathing heavily but still composed, watched as Blaze struggled to his feet, clearly shaken. The upper hand was his now, and the class could feel it—Blaze was running out of steam, and Luis was just getting started.

Blaze, feeling the sting of Luis’s recent assault, realized that brute force alone wouldn’t win this fight. His mind, sharpened by countless battles, began to work overtime. He needed to change the flow—adapt to the situation and turn it back in his favor. His fiery temper cooled just enough to let his battle instincts take over.

As Luis prepared another volley of arrows, Blaze made his move. Instead of charging head-on, he darted to the side, using the remnants of the previous explosions as cover. Luis fired an arrow, but Blaze was already moving, zigzagging unpredictably, making it difficult for Luis to lock onto him.

"He’s changing his approach," Enri observed, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Blaze isn’t just relying on his speed and power anymore. He’s thinking this through."

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Azrael, sitting quietly with his cat on his lap, nodded. "Blaze is smart. He’s forcing Luis to react instead of letting him control the pace."

Luis, realizing that Blaze was no longer a predictable target, adjusted his strategy, but Blaze was one step ahead. He feinted to the right, then quickly closed the distance on Luis’s left flank, forcing Luis to switch from his bow to his Wakizashi. Blaze’s scimitar came down hard, and Luis barely managed to parry, the force of the blow reverberating through his arm.

"He’s forcing Luis into close combat again," Elif commented, her eyes sharp as she analyzed the fight. "But this time, Blaze isn’t just attacking blindly. He’s waiting for Luis to make a mistake."

Blaze pressed the attack, but not with the same relentless aggression as before. This time, each strike was calculated, probing for weaknesses in Luis’s defense. He mixed up his attacks, alternating between fast, sharp strikes and slower, more powerful blows designed to throw Luis off balance.

Luis, feeling the pressure, tried to create distance again, but Blaze was ready. As Luis moved to retreat, Blaze unleashed a burst of flame from his scimitar, not directly at Luis, but at the ground beneath him. The sudden burst of fire forced Luis to leap back, and in that split second, Blaze closed the gap once more.

"He’s not letting Luis get comfortable," Enri said, his voice tinged with admiration. "Blaze is using everything—his fire, his speed, his positioning. He’s making Luis work for every inch."

Luis managed to parry another strike, but Blaze was relentless, following up with a quick kick to Luis’s midsection, forcing him back. Before Luis could recover, Blaze unleashed a spinning strike, the scimitar whistling through the air as it came dangerously close to Luis’s neck. Luis ducked just in time, but Blaze was already preparing his next move.

"Blaze is in control now," Azrael murmured, his voice calm but impressed. "He’s got Luis reacting instead of attacking. That’s exactly where he wants him."

Luis, now on the defensive, tried to find an opening, but Blaze wasn’t giving him any. He used his flames strategically, creating small explosions to keep Luis off balance, forcing him to constantly adjust his footing. Luis tried to retaliate with a quick slash from his Wakizashi, but Blaze deftly sidestepped, countering with a powerful horizontal strike that Luis barely blocked.

"Blaze is outthinking him," Elif said, her voice carrying a note of respect. "He’s not just relying on his strength. He’s making Luis fight his fight."

Blaze then switched tactics again. He began to focus on Luis’s legs, using low, sweeping strikes designed to knock Luis off his feet. Luis, recognizing the danger, tried to leap back, but Blaze anticipated the move, sending a burst of fire directly at Luis’s landing spot. Luis barely managed to avoid the flames, but the maneuver left him off balance, and Blaze capitalized immediately.

With a swift move, Blaze closed the gap, locking Luis’s Wakizashi with his scimitar. The two weapons clashed, but Blaze, using his superior strength, forced Luis’s blade downward. In a flash, Blaze twisted his wrist, disarming Luis and sending the Wakizashi flying out of his hand.

Luis’s eyes widened in surprise as Blaze followed up with a spinning kick that caught him squarely in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground. Before Luis could recover, Blaze was on him, his scimitar hovering just inches from Luis’s throat.

"He’s got him," Enri said, his voice a mix of astonishment and respect. "Blaze turned the whole fight around."

Azrael nodded in agreement, his eyes never leaving the arena. "Luis fought well, but Blaze...he’s a different breed. He knows how to adapt, how to think on his feet."

Elif, her gaze intense, added, "Luis is on the edge of defeat. Blaze has the upper hand now, and it’s only a matter of time."

Luis, still on the ground, looked up at Blaze, his mind racing. He was out of options, his back against the wall. Blaze had him cornered, and the entire class could see it. Blaze, his chest heaving with exertion, locked eyes with Luis, his expression one of fierce determination. This was his fight to win, and he wasn’t about to let it slip away.

Luis, feeling the cold steel of Blaze's scimitar close to his throat, knew he had only seconds to act. In a desperate move, he planted his hands firmly on the ground, twisting his body in a fluid motion. His leg whipped around in a sweeping arc, catching Blaze completely off guard. The force of the spinning kick connected perfectly with Blaze’s wrist, sending his scimitar flying out of his hand and clattering across the arena. Blaze's eyes widened in shock as the weapon left his grasp, and the entire class gasped at the sheer precision of Luis’s strike.

Before Blaze could react, Luis sprang to his feet, both combatants now weaponless and locked in a pure martial contest. Blaze, refusing to back down, launched himself into the air, his body moving with a fierce, relentless rhythm. His strikes came from above, raining down like a storm as he used every ounce of his aerial agility to press the attack. His knees and elbows struck with the force of a hammer, his movements fluid and aggressive, each strike aimed to overwhelm Luis.

Luis, however, remained grounded, his stance solid as he absorbed the onslaught with a defensive posture. His fists moved like pistons, delivering powerful counterblows that sent shockwaves through the arena with each impact. He ducked and weaved, his head movement sharp and precise, slipping Blaze’s strikes and returning fire with crushing punches that kept Blaze at bay. The ground beneath him trembled with the power of his strikes, each one driving deep into the arena floor as if the earth itself was responding to his will.

Blaze, despite his aerial dominance, found himself struggling to land a clean hit. Luis’s counters were brutal, each one threatening to knock him out of the air. Blaze adapted, shifting his strategy mid-flight, his strikes becoming faster, more precise. He aimed for Luis’s joints, trying to break through his defenses with pinpoint accuracy.

Luis responded with calculated ferocity. His punches were like cannonballs, each one thrown with deadly intent, forcing Blaze to stay on the move. Luis’s feet danced across the ground, his stance shifting fluidly between offense and defense as he threw powerful hooks and jabs that made the air crackle with their speed. Blaze, while maintaining his agility, had to acknowledge the raw power behind each of Luis’s strikes.

They interlocked several times, grappling for control as their bodies collided. Blaze tried to use his leverage from above to force Luis into a disadvantageous position, but Luis’s sheer strength and tenacity kept him in the fight. At one point, Blaze locked an arm around Luis’s neck, attempting to choke him out, but Luis responded by slamming Blaze into the ground, breaking the hold and delivering a brutal series of punches that made Blaze's head snap back.

"Did you see that?" one of the students gasped, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

"Blaze is fighting like a man possessed, but Luis...he's matching him blow for blow," another whispered, awe-struck.

Blaze, sensing he was losing control of the fight, tried to regain the upper hand with a spinning knee strike. Luis anticipated the move, catching Blaze mid-spin and slamming him down with a bone-crunching throw. The two wrestled on the ground, their bodies a blur of limbs as they struggled for dominance. Luis used his weight to pin Blaze momentarily, driving his fists into Blaze’s ribs with a series of punishing blows, but Blaze, resilient as ever, fought back with vicious elbows and knees, managing to slip out of Luis’s grasp and deliver a stunning kick to Luis’s temple.

Luis staggered, but instead of retreating, he came back with renewed fury. He ducked under a wild swing from Blaze and drove a powerful uppercut into his gut, lifting Blaze off his feet. Blaze, though winded, refused to stay down, retaliating with a rapid series of kicks aimed at Luis’s head. Luis blocked each one with his forearms, his muscles straining under the force of the blows, before countering with a brutal cross that sent Blaze skidding back across the arena floor.

"Blaze is on fire, but Luis...he’s holding his ground like a damn fortress," Saki commented, her voice tinged with excitement.

"These two...they’re like opposite forces, neither one willing to give an inch," Aslan added, his eyes wide with admiration.

Angel, leaning forward, whispered, "Luis...he might just pull this off."

As the fight wore on, both combatants began to show signs of exhaustion. Their movements became more calculated, each strike carrying the weight of their fatigue. Blaze, determined not to lose, launched himself back into the fray with a flurry of kicks and punches, each one crackling with fire. Luis met him head-on, his fists blazing with explosive energy as the two clashed in a final, desperate exchange of blows.

They grappled once more, their bodies locked in a fierce struggle for control. Blaze tried to use his aerial advantage to land a decisive blow, but Luis, with sheer force of will, kept him grounded. Their grappling turned into a brutal display of knees, elbows, and headbutts, each one aimed to break the other’s will. Blaze managed to land a solid knee to Luis’s midsection, but Luis retaliated with a devastating hook to Blaze’s jaw, sending him reeling.

"They’re not holding anything back," Elif remarked, her voice filled with respect.

"No kidding...they’re giving it everything they’ve got," Azrael added, his normally calm demeanour replaced with awe.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of bone-crunching strikes and near-miss counters, the two warriors managed to separate, panting heavily. Both were battered, bruised, and bleeding, but neither was willing to concede defeat. Blaze’s flames crackled around him, his eyes burning with determination, while Luis’s fists ignited with explosive energy, his gaze locked onto his opponent.

They both knew the fight wasn’t over. With a mutual understanding, they each made a move toward their discarded weapons. Blaze grabbed his scimitar, the blade glowing with fiery anticipation, while Luis retrieved his Wakizashi, the blade humming with latent power.

The class held their collective breath as the two combatants prepared for what was sure to be the final, decisive clash.

As Blaze stood, smirking with the confidence of an impending victory, he taunted Luis. "It's time for you to go out like your brother, Luis."

Luis glanced at Haru's unconscious form, then back at Blaze, a determined grin spreading across his face. "You're right," he said, his voice steady. "It's time for the final clash."

Garo, watching from the sidelines, leaned toward Takurov. "Luis will lose if he engages in close combat with Blaze. So why is he smiling?"

Takurov chuckled softly. "Just like his father, he's got something up his sleeve. He must be thinking outside the box."

Blaze, ever confident, roared as he declared his final attack, "Phoenix Blitzer!" The fiery phoenix roared to life around Blaze, its flames swirling with destructive power as he prepared to strike Luis down. Luis, however, didn't waver. He drew his Wakizashi, and the power of his explosion manifested in the shape of a griffin, a magnificent lion with wings, forged from ember, smoke, and ignition. His spirit animal soared beside him as he prepared to meet Blaze's final assault.

From the sidelines, Matteo watched, torn between admiration for the fight and his desire for Blaze to lose after what happened to Luella. "Luis is going to lose," he muttered under his breath, glancing at his unconscious sister. "He's not good enough for her."

As the two warriors clashed, the phoenix and the griffin collided in a fiery explosion of power. The force was tremendous, and for a moment, it seemed the phoenix had won, its flames overpowering the griffin. But in that split second, Blaze's triumphant expression faltered. He realized too late what Luis had done.

Luis, in a daring move, had thrown his Wakizashi mid-clash, using the explosive force to propel himself beneath Blaze's blade. With incredible agility, he slid across the ground, making a beeline for his bow, which lay behind Blaze. Before Blaze could turn around, Luis had already grabbed his bow, an arrow notched and aimed directly at Blaze's chest.

Blaze's eyes widened in shock, the realization of his defeat hitting him hard as Luis calmly whispered, "Checkmate."

The arrow shot through the air with impossible speed, the roar of the griffin accompanying its flight. Blaze, in that fleeting moment, recognized the sound, a memory flashing in his mind of the man he wished to surpass more than anyone—Reikou Tadashima, Luis’s father.

The arrow struck Blaze’s chest with a thunderous explosion, the power of the gryphon igniting on impact. Blaze was sent hurtling backward, nearly a mile, the force of the explosion ripping through the ground and sending shockwaves across the arena.

When the dust settled, the battle was over.

Luis stood victorious.

//////////////

The class was still buzzing with energy, the shockwaves of the last two fights leaving an indelible mark on everyone present. The highest level of respect hung in the air, thick and palpable, as they all processed what they had just witnessed. It was clear to everyone that Haru, Luis, and Blaze were operating on a level just beneath Callus, with each of them pushing the boundaries of what they thought possible.

Angel, usually laid-back and cheerful, was uncharacteristically serious as he leaned over to Saki. "Below Callus, the top five are clear to me. Luis, Haru, Blaze, and Lawrence—they’re interchangeable. Any of them could win against the other on any given day. They're on another level, far above the rest of us."

Saki raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Lawrence is that good?"

Angel nodded solemnly. "Just because Lawrence didn’t show his full abilities today doesn’t mean he’s not on their level—if not possibly above it. He’s a force to be reckoned with."

Lawrence, who had been silently watching the aftermath of the fights, assessed his opponents with a calm, calculating gaze. He knew the next two years would be a battle not just of strength, but of strategy and determination. Proving himself would be no easy task, but he was ready for the challenge.

Takurov and Garo exchanged glances, both clearly impressed. Takurov, ever the optimist, grinned. "This group... they might be the chosen generation."

Garo nodded, still caught up in the intensity of the moment. "Perhaps. But only time will tell."

The class erupted into cheers and applause, a mix of admiration and excitement for the battles they had witnessed. Emma was the first to step forward, moving quickly to help the unconscious Blaze off the ground. Azrael and Aslan joined her, each doing their best to assist despite the exhaustion etched on their faces.

Matteo, standing off to the side, crossed his arms and sighed. "Looks like I’m going to have to get stronger. If I’m going to protect my sister from these powerful brutes, I need to up my game."

As Luis stood there, his body wavering on the edge of collapse, Ashelyn stepped up to him. Without a word, she helped him off the stage, her arm supporting him as he leaned on her for strength. The class watched with a mix of awe and respect, knowing that they had just seen something extraordinary.

Garo cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Class dismissed. Given the intensity of today’s matches, we’ll leave the final class until after dinner, rest, and free time. You’ve earned it."

The students slowly began to disperse, still buzzing with the energy of the day’s events, their minds swirling with thoughts of what had just happened and what lay ahead. The future, it seemed, was filled with endless potential.