The tension was palpable. The wind whipped through the air, howling fiercely as all eyes were locked on each other, the battleground silent, save for the rustling leaves.
Ryju, breaking the silence, spoke up."Misa, I just realized you had a group."
Misa nodded, her gaze steady."Yeah, I had one. I was just looking for one more person, and I ran into Uzuki. Then you came along, and well, my group ended up finding another member. So, here we are."
Kenshiro's voice was calm, cutting through the charged air."Hey, Ryju, see that kid in the coat? He's second favored to win. His name is Kenji."
Kenji grinned, his eyes gleaming with determination."I've been looking for you, Uzuki. I came a long way to find you."
Helia scoffed, a cold smirk on her lips."No more talk. It's time to get serious."
Apollo, his expression focused and intense, declared,"We came this far, so I'm going to make a masterpiece."
Shun, his tone icy, stepped forward, his presence commanding."Just back off. There's no point in fighting us. Like I said before, this is my territory."
Uzuki's eyes glinted with excitement."I really want to fight you, Shun."
The Spiritual King, observing from above, raised an eyebrow."Oh? Who's going to make the first move? I'm curious."
A heavy silence fell. Then, Shun's hand twitched slightly. Announcement Team 45 has been Eliminated.
BOOM!
In an instant, Uzuki lunged toward Shun, his speed like a blur. Shun retaliated with a wooden punch, sending Uzuki sprawling to the side.
Kenji immediately moved, charging at Azar with his two daggers drawn.Helia closed in on Misa, and Zanden rushed at Apollo with determination burning in his eyes.
Kenshiro, Ryju, and the rest of Team 1 darted toward Uzuki, but Shun was already in the air, his figure barely visible against the sky.
Azar roared, summoning a fiery ball of flame."Fire Ball!"
Kenji smirked, his daggers flashing as he unleashed his attack."Two Sword Style: Dragon Slayer!"
The two clashed with a violent shockwave.
Uzuki stood tall, his grin widening."Alright, now it's on."
Helia twisted her hands, summoning metal spikes that shot from the ground, while Misa raised her hand, summoning stones that hovered around her.
Zanden, not to be outdone, unleashed a violent sandstorm, and Apollo, his expression twisted in a smile, created an artful creation of a tiger, poised to strike.
Shun, floating above the battlefield, watched with indifference."This is over."
Uzuki, not willing to back down, turned his focus on Shun."I'll handle you all later. I'm coming for you, Shun."
Ryju's voice cut through the chaos."No, you don't!"
Uzuki growled, his eyes burning with frustration."You again? I don't have time for this. Get out of my way!" He slashed forward, summoning a dark energy. "Death Slash!"
Kenshiro, his voice low and resolute, called out."Didn't I tell you we're not weaklings anymore?"
Rei, stepping forward, added,"Come on now, enough of this."
Goro grinned, cracking his knuckles."Yeah."
Shun's voice rang out, sharp and commanding."Come here."
The ground trembled beneath them, the grass bending as if pulled by an invisible force. Ryju's eyes widened in awe."This is his power… Incredible."
Rei nodded, her voice strained."We're moving closer to him."
Kenji, watching the unfolding chaos, grinned."Not bad."
Azar, still in the heat of the battle, shouted."Flying Fire Bullets!"
Kenji dodged, countering with a quick slice."Dragon Slash!"
Misa raised her hand, pulling all nearby rocks toward her, her powers immense."Giant Stone Punch!"
Helia dodged just in time, gritting her teeth."She can control stone. She's going to be a problem."
Apollo's art continued to take shape."Let's make this a masterpiece."
Uzuki turned to Shun, his smile dangerous."There you are."
Shun stood on a platform of wood in the air, unaffected."Hmph?"
Uzuki moved like a blur, his sword flashing with speed."One Sword Style: Light Speed Slash!"
Shun blocked it effortlessly."You're the one I want to fight."
Uzuki grinned wider, his thirst for battle matching Shun's."I know. I want to fight you too."
Ryju watched, his heart racing."He moved so fast."
Rei's voice was a whisper of awe."I know."
Kenji, never one to be outdone, jumped into the fray."Don't forget about me!"
Shun, slightly distracted by Uzuki's move, barely noticed Kenji until he was already in the air."Who are you?"
Kenji, laughing, drew his two daggers. "Two Sword Style: Dragon Slayer!"
Shun blocked the attack, sending Kenji crashing to the ground. Kenji landed gracefully, a smile tugging at his lips."Hmph," he muttered, throwing daggers at Shun.
The daggers flew through the air, and one sliced Shun's cheek. He growled in irritation."You're so annoying."
Kenji chuckled, unfazed."Hey now, we're fighting for our lives, after all."
Suddenly, the announcer's voice echoed across the battlefield."Team 48 has been eliminated."
Azar, still moving, called out."Don't tell me you forgot about me now."
Kenji, his eyes narrowing, retorted."Talking about annoying…"
Azar's fireball shot forward, but Kenji countered with his Dragon Slice, slashing through the flames with ease."Bring it on!"
Kenji blitzed toward Azar with a speed that left the air crackling with energy."Dragon Tornado!"
The fire arrow Azar shot went straight up, harmlessly missing Kenji.
Azar grimaced, clearly frustrated."Man, this guy…"
Kenji's grin widened."Hmph."
Apollo, watching the chaos unfold, muttered,"You interest me… You piece of art."
Zanden, a sarcastic edge in his voice, shot back."Man, you're a weirdo."
Apollo's eyes narrowed."Take it back."
Zanden shrugged."Nah."
Apollo's fury erupted."Then I'll show you my art. Show yourself, my little monster!"
Suddenly, creatures began to materialize from thin air—lions, tigers, cheetahs—all summoned by Apollo's strange powers.
Zanden, eyes flashing with determination, moved into action."Sand Strike!" He rushed in, only to be attacked by the lion, which pounced on him.
"What the hell?! Get off me!"
With a grunt, Zanden threw the lion off, summoning a sand grave that buried the beast.
The cheetah rushed toward him, its speed unmatched. Zanden didn't flinch, slicing the creature's neck clean off with one swipe."Your turn."
He charged straight at Apollo, a wall of sand at his back."You're done for now. And your artwork was trash."
Apollo stared in disbelief."What?"
Zanden's Sand blade slashed through the air with deadly precision.
But as his blade connected, Apollo's smirk never wavered."It's indestructible. You can't break it."
Zanden, eyes burning with frustration, snarled."Forget the paper. I'm going to kill you."
"Sand Coffin!" Zanden's power trapped Apollo, the sand closing in tight around him.
But Apollo laughed, despite being trapped."Hell no. I'll show you true art." He summoned his ultimate attack: "The Three Slashes of Art!"
Zanden, grimacing in pain, muttered under his breath."What the hell is this? It hurts…"
Azar jumping into the scene, his energy running low, called out to his ally."You good, Zanden?"
Zanden groaned."No. Something's changed about him…"
Azar, eyes narrowing, struggled to keep his footing."Man, this guy is crazy. I'm almost out of spiritual energy…"
Zanden, his breathing shallow, nodded."Me too…"
The announcer's voice rang out again."Team 12 has been eliminated."
Ryju's voice was full of concern when his teammates drop down."You all okay?"
Kenshiro gave a nod, his face serious."We're on your side."
Azar, catching his breath, added,"Well, Misa did say you saved her."
Zanden, still catching his breath, looked around."What were you guys doing?"
Goro, a mischievous glint in his eyes, replied,"We were just helping Shun fight Uzuki."
Rei chimed in,"But he told us to come down here."
Kenji, suddenly appearing, glanced at Apollo."Apollo, you okay?"
Apollo gritted his teeth."No! He called my art trash!"
Helia, shaking her head, looked toward Misa."Man, this girl's crazy."
Misa raised her hand, preparing for another attack."Stone Ground."
Helia barely dodged, eyes wide in surprise."I've got to get out of the way before she turns me into stone… Huh? Kenji and Apollo?"
Azar, his face tense, shouted,"Misa!"
Misa glanced back at him, nodding."Hey, Azar. You all…"
The announcer's voice echoed once more."Team 23 has been eliminated."
Zanden, his energy drained, looked at Misa."You okay?"
Misa nodded."Yeah."
Helia, a little frazzled, glanced at Kenji and Apollo."Man, holy… that chick is crazy."
Kenji, always calm, replied,"Yeah."
Appolo, still furious, muttered under his breath,"He called my art trash…"
The announcer's voice cut through the tension."Team 3 has been eliminated."
Uzuki, his voice laced with excitement, looked to Shun."Haven't had an entertaining battle like this in a while."
Shun, his expression cold, prepared for his next move."Well, you're going to lose this battle. Wood Smash!"
The strike landed, sending Uzuki crashing to the ground.
Uzuki groaned in frustration, rising slowly."Damn."
Shun descended from the air, landing gracefully beside his team."You all okay?"
Azar gave a slight nod, still winded."A little bit."
Uzuki, his eyes still burning with determination, growled."Well, come on."
Shun, turning to his team, spoke with finality."Team Seventeen, are you with us?"
Azar looked to Misa, who nodded with confidence."Yeah!"
Shun grinned."Well, okay then."
Narrator:"Team 50 vs. Team 1, Team 8, Team 17.""Team 8 vs. Team 1, Team 17, Team 50.""Team 1 and Team 17 vs. Team 8, Team 50."
Announcer:"Team 9 has been eliminated."
To be continued…