From deep within the ground, a familiar rumble echoed throughout the stadium—metal gears turning, steam hissing. The earth beneath the center of the arena cracked open, and a circular platform began to rise slowly. On it stood a man in a sharp, brown suit with a tall matching hat and a twisted grin.
The Announcer.
With a dramatic flourish, he threw his arms into the air, and fireworks erupted around him.
"WELCOME BACK, MY WARRIORS!!" his voice boomed across the coliseum, amplified by unseen magic.
"Today is the legendary PHASE TWO! I hope you're all ready—because things are about to get wild!!"
The crowd roared in thunderous excitement. Flags waved, kids screamed, and even the nobles leaned forward with curiosity in their jeweled booths.
The announcer raised a hand to silence the crowd. His voice turned sly:
"So let's get started, shall we!?"
He reached into the air, and a giant holographic board flashed above the arena showing two names in bold flame-like letters:
Kael Drayden vs. Fenra Vale
A cheer rippled through the arena. Kael, a silver-haired rogue with twin daggers and a wolf-emblem on his back, leapt into the arena with sharp grace. His eyes shimmered with icy focus.
Fenra, a tall, bronze-skinned warrior woman with tribal tattoos across her arms and a massive iron spear strapped to her back, stomped forward with calm fury.
The ground beneath them shifted.
The entire battlefield began to transform.
Sandstone tiles folded into themselves. Walls retracted. Spires emerged. It was no longer just a circular arena—it became a sprawling, multi-leveled battleground with hills, trenches, and towers.
At the very center, a massive pole shot from the ground—and at the top fluttered a pristine white flag.
The announcer clapped his hands, and the crowd went wild again.
"Today's battle is not about brute strength! Not about flashy spells or brute dominance! No…" He spun around and pointed to the flag.
"This time, it's… CAPTURE THE FLAG!"
Gasps erupted across the stadium.
"You cannot win by defeating your opponent. You must seize the flag—and hold it for a full 60 seconds!"
Cheers, whistles, and cries of "LET'S GOOOOO!" filled the coliseum.
The announcer grinned wickedly."Let the show… BEGIN!!"
A horn blared.
00:60
Kael and Fenra exploded into action. Kael vanished in a shimmer of mist, his stealth skill activating. Fenra planted her feet, sensing his movement, and spun her spear in a wide arc. Sparks flew as Kael barely deflected it with his daggers.
He retreated, dashing up a wall, flipping midair, and grabbing a grappling hook from his belt.
00:53
He soared toward the flagpole.
But Fenra was faster.
She hurled her spear like a missile—BOOM!—Kael dodged, but the spear hit the pole, causing it to tremble violently. Kael lost balance and fell onto a lower platform.
00:45
Fenra sprinted, retrieved her spear, and leapt with a burst of aura-enhanced strength. She bounced off the walls like a seasoned gladiator, grabbing the pole and swinging herself around until—SNAP—she yanked the flag free.
00:42
The crowd cheered.
"FENRA'S GOT IT!!"
She landed and bolted, weaving through cover, holding the flag in one hand and her spear in the other.
Kael emerged behind her, blades glowing blue.
"You're not holding that for long."
00:36
He slashed. She blocked.
A flurry of blows, kicks, and spins erupted. They clashed across ledges, broke through walls, and sent debris flying into the air.
00:30
Kael ducked, rolled, and swept her leg.
Fenra tripped—but threw the flag into the air before hitting the ground.
00:28
Kael caught it mid-roll and dashed toward a tower.
"NOW KAEL HAS THE FLAG!" the announcer screamed.
00:25
He ran up a ramp and jumped to a platform. Fenra recovered and chased him like a beast. She jumped onto the tower, but Kael kicked a loose brick down at her—it hit her in the chest, just enough to knock her back.
00:15
He braced at the top of the tower, planting his boots and holding the flag like it was Excalibur itself.
The crowd began to count down:
"TEN…!"
Fenra lunged—he dodged.
"NINE… EIGHT…!"
She threw her spear—he deflected it with a dagger, but it broke the platform beneath his feet. He fell—but gripped the flag tightly.
"SIX… FIVE… FOUR…!"
He hit the ground with a grunt, rolled, and ran again.
"THREE… TWO…!"
Fenra got close.
Too close.
She slashed with the back end of her spear—
"ONE…!"
BOOM.
A blast of smoke erupted as Kael threw down a flash crystal.
The timer hit ZERO.
DING-DING-DING!
"AND THE WINNER IS… KAEL DRAYDEN!!"
The crowd exploded.
Kael knelt, panting, the flag still clutched in his hand.
Fenra picked herself up and gave a slow, respectful nod.
Kael smiled and extended a hand. "You almost had me."
Fenra grinned. "Next time, I'll break both your legs."
The announcer leapt in joy.
"Now THAT'S what I call entertainment! Stay seated folks—many more matches to come! Who will rise? Who will fall? Who will bend the rules of battle itself?"
And from high in the stands, I watched all of it unfold—eyes locked, heart racing.
I muttered under my breath:
"This isn't just a tournament anymore. This is war disguised as a game."
To be continued...