The roar of the crowd reverberated through the Colosseum, their excitement palpable as Tyler and his team, the Avengers, prepared to face off against the Animals. The Colosseum was engineered to amplify sound, ensuring that every shout, command, and clash of metal reached the audience's ears. The air crackled with tension and anticipation.

Tyler quickly gathered his team into a tight huddle. "Alright, everyone knows the plan," he said, his voice calm and steady. "Let's do this."

The announcer's voice boomed through the arena. "And now, let the battle begin!"

The Animals charged forward, a chaotic mass of fury and aggression. Tyler's eyes narrowed as he assessed their approach. "Engage!" he shouted.

Marcus and Darius met their opponents head-on. Marcus's scythe clashed with Garius's enchanted sword, sparks flying with each strike. Darius's war hammer collided with Brutus's oversized club, the force of their blows shaking the ground. Elric, holding his shield, struggled to fend off both Titus and Varo, their combined assaults pushing him to his limits. Livia stayed back, drawing her bow and aiming carefully. She fired a volley of arrows over Elric’s shield, forcing Titus and Varo to contend with both the arrows and Elric’s spear.

Tyler found himself facing Fenris, who moved with surprising agility, though not as fast as Tyler, whose body was enhanced by a mana core. Tyler yearned to test his body's full capabilities. He couldn't tell by how much, but he knew his speed and strength surpassed any normal human's potential. His eyes were sharper, his mind reading movements as if the man before him was a child wielding a heavy weapon. He burned to test himself, but now wasn't the time. They had to win as a team.

Weapons clashed in a series of quick strikes and parries. Tyler saw his team struggling against the Animals' enchanted weapons. Despite their best efforts to divide the enemy, the Animals proved formidable foes.

Tyler fought with precision, mostly dodging attacks while holding back his full power. He didn't want to accidentally kill Fenris, even though the enemy team had no such restrictions; they were out for blood. With a well-placed kick to the knee, he temporarily incapacitated Fenris, sending him sprawling to the ground. Tyler then rushed to help Elric, who was being overwhelmed by Titus and Varo.

"Hang in there, Elric!" Tyler shouted, intercepting a strike meant for his teammate.

Elric nodded, barely managing to hold his ground. "Thanks, Tyler."

The Avengers were getting nowhere. The Animals were experienced fighters, and their enchanted weapons gave them an edge. Tyler's heart pounded as he realized his team was running out of stamina.

A week before, Tyler and Elric had modified the runes on Elric's shield. They had figured out how to add more than one shield barrier output type using modified runes, giving Elric the ability to create both an expanding barrier and a powerful burst of energy in one direction. Their strategy hinged on these new abilities, hoping to outmanoeuvre their opponents.

The original plan was to fight them individually and manoeuvre their opponents so the shield barrier could isolate some of them. However, the Animals didn't fall for the trick and kept their formation tight.

"Disengage!" Tyler ordered. The Avengers broke off their engagements, retreating a few steps to regroup.

Seeing the opportunity, Elric slammed his shield into the ground, releasing all the remaining energy stored in the mana core. A powerful force surged forward, blasting the Animals off their feet and giving the Avengers just enough time to retreat and regroup.

"Everyone, regroup!" Tyler shouted. The team quickly gathered around Elric, who was breathing heavily from the effort.

The announcer's voice echoed through the arena. "The Avengers have executed a powerful shield burst to disengage and regroup! But can they turn the tide against the formidable Animals?"

"Livia, now!" Tyler commanded.

Livia drew an arrow imbued with lightning magic and fired it at the enemy group's feet. The arrow struck the ground, releasing a burst of energy that forced the enemy team to spread out.

"Elric, the barrier!" Tyler shouted.

Elric slammed his shield into the ground, releasing an expanding barrier that began to grow and split the Colosseum in two. The shimmering wall of energy extended four meters into the air and stretched all the way to the arena's edge. The barrier wasn’t much stronger than a solid wooden wall but it would hold and repair itself as long as Elric didn’t move. Fenris was isolated on one side, while the remaining Animals were trapped on the other.

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The announcer's voice rang out, explaining the strategy to the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Avengers are executing a brilliant manoeuvre! Elric's shield is creating an impenetrable barrier, effectively splitting the arena in two. They've managed to isolate Fenris the Wolf, giving them a numbers advantage on one side!"

Fenris smiled sadistically, realising he was cut off from his team. Marcus and Darius closed in on him, ready to strike. The rest of the Animals stood on the other side of the barrier, glaring at the Avengers.

"Looks like your plan is falling apart," Marcus taunted, his scythe gleaming menacingly.

But just as they were about to engage, Fenris smirked and pulled out a bow from behind his back. "You think you’ve got us cornered? Think again!" he snarled, nocking a magical arrow.

The announcer's voice echoed through the arena, capturing the turn of events. "It appears Fenris the Wolf has a hidden talent! He's an archer, and he's ready to disrupt the Avengers' strategy!"

Fenris fired a volley of arrows at Elric, each one glowing with magical energy. Tyler's heart sank as he realised the Animals had anticipated their plan. He intercepted three of the arrows with his twin blades, deflecting them away from Elric, but one arrow slipped through and struck Elric’s leg.

Elric stumbled, the impact disrupting the energy flow of the barrier. The shimmering wall flickered and began to collapse. "The barrier’s down!" Elric shouted, struggling to maintain his stance.

The announcer's voice grew more intense. "Fenris’s attack has disrupted Elric's shield! The barrier is falling, and the Animals are ready to strike!"

As the barrier fell, Garius, Brutus, Titus, and Varo, who had been waiting just beyond the flickering wall, charged forward. Their enchanted weapons gleamed with deadly intent as they closed in on Elric, ready to overpower him.

Elric, his leg bleeding from the arrow wound, gritted his teeth and made a swift decision. He slammed his shield into the ground once more, releasing all the remaining energy stored in the mana core. A powerful force surged forward, blasting the Animals off their feet and giving Elric just enough time to retreat towards Tyler and the rest of the group.

The Animals, momentarily stunned, quickly recovered and began to close in, surrounding the Avengers. Garius the Lion, Brutus the Bear, Titus the Tiger, and Varo the Vulture slowly strode in a ring around them, their enchanted weapons gleaming with lethal intent.

Tyler glanced at Elric, who was limping heavily, the pain evident on his face. "Elric, hold on," Tyler said, his voice filled with determination.

Elric nodded, wincing as he took his place beside Tyler. "I’m not out yet," he replied, trying to muster a confident smile.

The Avengers bunched up, their backs against each other, forming a defensive circle. Each member of the team held their weapon at the ready, eyes darting around as the Animals circled them like predators closing in on their prey.

The crowd watched in hushed anticipation, the tension in the Colosseum mounting with every passing second. The announcer's voice boomed through the arena, capturing the gravity of the moment. "The Avengers are in a tight spot, surrounded by the Animals! This could be the decisive moment of the battle!"

The Animals, sensing victory, tightened their formation, preparing for the final assault. The Avengers stood their ground, ready to fight with everything they had.

Tyler's mind raced as they stood back-to-back, surrounded by the Animals. He couldn't help but think about their predicament. Individually, they were stronger than the Animals, except for him. But if he tapped into his core's power and started moving at inhuman speeds, there would be a lot of questions asked. He could claim that his sword had a body enhancement rune, but it was a minor core placed on simple steel, at most providing a 15 percent speed increase. They needed to win this with teamwork, without revealing the full extent of his abilities.

He glanced at his twin blades, an idea forming in his mind. The mana within him could be channelled through his weapons, making it appear as though the magic was coming from the enchanted sword. He had a few experimental runes hidden on his scalp, covered by his dark hair, that he could choose from, but it was risky since none had ever been tested. “At this rate, it might be our only shot at turning the tide,” he thought.

"Everyone, shield your eyes and duck down when I give the signal," Tyler whispered, his voice steady despite the chaos around them.

The team nodded, trusting his judgment.

Tyler took a deep breath, raising one of his swords high. He concentrated, drawing the energy from his mana core into the blade. Energy gathered at the tip, the ambient light seeming to be sucked in as dark swirls flowed towards him, drawing everyone's eyes to it.

"Now!" Tyler shouted.

In unison, the Avengers shielded their eyes and ducked down. A moment later, a blinding flash and a loud bang erupted from Tyler's sword, momentarily blinding everyone, even the crowd.

As everyone's sight slowly returned, each member of the Avengers placed their blades at the necks of their respective targets.

"Don't move," Tyler commanded, his voice cold and precise.

The Animals froze, the realisation of their defeat dawning on them. They had been outsmarted, outmanoeuvred, and now, they had no choice but to surrender.

The announcer's voice rang out, filled with astonishment and excitement. "In an incredible turn of events, the Avengers have turned the tide! The Animals have been bested, and it appears the battle is over!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, their admiration for the Avengers reaching new heights. The Animals, recognising their defeat, dropped their weapons and raised their hands in surrender.

Tyler let out a breath he hadn't realised he was holding. They had done it. They had won, not through raw power, but through cunning and teamwork. Slowly the crowd started chanting “Avengers”, “Avengers” over and over.