The tension in the arena was thick as Arav stood, waiting for the semi-final match to begin. The air was electric with excitement, the crowd buzzing in anticipation. He looked across the ring and locked eyes with his opponent: Kimi Yachang.

Her calm, focused expression never changed. There was no doubt in his mind that she was going to give him a fight like he had never faced before. He had felt it in every battle up until now, but this was different. She was not only his opponent but also someone who had always been a step ahead. She was skilled, disciplined, and it was clear she was far beyond where he was.

The announcer's voice echoed through the arena, “The semi-final match: Arav Srivastava versus Kimi Yachang!”

Arav’s heart pounded. The stakes were high, but he couldn’t afford to hesitate. His body was still sore from the last few battles, but there was no backing down. He had to push forward.

He glanced at Kimi one last time before they both stepped into position.

The bell rang, and before Arav could even take a breath, Kimi was moving. Her sword was a blur as she swung with precision, striking at him with an ease that was almost terrifying. He blocked with his sword, but the impact rattled him to the core. He stumbled back, struggling to regain his footing.

This is bad, he thought, his heart racing. She's faster than I thought.

Kimi's sword slashed again, and this time Arav barely managed to dodge, using Void Step (Shunya Pada) to evade her strike. He reappeared behind her, his own sword aimed at her back—but she was already moving again, spinning with a speed that was almost inhuman.

She caught his attack with a flick of her wrist, deflecting it effortlessly.

“Nice try,” she said, her voice calm, almost too calm. She stepped back, waiting for him to make another move.

Arav felt a mix of frustration and awe. How is she so... good?

As the fight continued, it became increasingly clear to Arav that Kimi wasn’t just better than him in skill—she was in a whole other league. Her control over her Aakasha was flawless, each movement of hers was deliberate, calculated. Arav could feel the weight of his disadvantage bearing down on him with each passing moment.

She’s at Adept Realm Stage 3, he realized, his eyes widening. I’m still at Stage 1. There’s no way I can catch up to her right now...

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But he wouldn’t give up. He couldn’t.

Kimi continued to press the attack, each strike pushing him back further. Arav’s body screamed in protest, his muscles burning, but he refused to stop. His breath came in ragged gasps, but his determination kept him on his feet.

Arav managed to land a few hits, but they were little more than glancing blows. Kimi wasn’t even fazed as she dodged or parried every move. She had mastered everything about this fight—the way her body moved, the way she controlled her prana, the balance she held between offense and defense. Arav, on the other hand, was stumbling, trying to keep up with her, trying to stay in the fight.

His sword shattered with the force of one of her strikes, sending shards flying into the air. His eyes widened in surprise, but before he could react, Kimi was already preparing her next attack.

Without thinking, Arav used Nebula Grasp (Mandakini Pash) to entangle her blade in a web of space energy. It was a desperate move, but it bought him a moment of respite. He had to act quickly, but he was running out of time.

Kimi stepped back, looking at him with a faint smile. “You’re strong, Arav,” she said, but there was a hint of pity in her voice. “But you can’t win this fight.”

Arav’s left arm was broken. His right leg was barely able to hold him up. His body was bruised and battered, but the fire inside him didn’t die. He had given everything—his energy, his will, his focus. But it wasn’t enough.

Still, he didn’t give up. Not yet.

He picked up the shards of his sword, clutching them in his mouth, and stood up. The crowd gasped. It was an odd sight—his body broken, but still standing, still fighting.

“I’m not finished,” Arav said, his voice rough but unwavering.

Kimi’s face softened for a moment. “Arav, please. Stop. You’re only hurting yourself.”

But Arav shook his head, determination burning in his eyes. “I’m not stopping.”

He launched forward again, his movements wild, unpredictable. He used a combination of Astral Push (Antariksha Dhakka) and Galactic Bind (Akasha Bandhana), his last-ditch effort to overwhelm her. The attack hit her, but she only staggered back a step. It wasn’t enough.

His sword broke in his mouth, and his body finally gave out. He fell to one knee, breathing heavily, blood dripping from his wounds.

Kimi stepped forward, her sword poised to end it. But Arav’s eyes remained locked on hers.

“You’ve fought well,” she said softly, her voice almost kind now. “But you’re done.”

The announcer’s voice rang out. “Victory goes---”

But before the match was officially called, Arav muttered something under his breath. “Not yet…”

Kimi froze. There was something in the air—something heavy, something dangerous. For a split second, Arav’s presence felt like it could break the world itself. It was a dark, destructive energy that even Kimi, with all her mastery, couldn’t ignore. It was terrifying.She was scared, She never felt this scared of something not even the old ancestors or her Teacher even.. Beyond terrifying

But just as quickly as it came, the energy vanished, leaving only a silence so thick that it felt like the arena itself had frozen. Arav’s body standing still . His eyes fluttered closed, and he fell forward, unconscious.

Match Ended: Arav Srivastava lost.