It was the second day of the semifinals. With Mei and Vaibhav disqualified, the schedule had been cut short from five fights to only two fights, first Vayu vs Vijay, followed by Vayu vs Aspen.
For both Vayu and Vijay, the first match meant everything. A single loss could cost them their place in the finals. The air was thick with tension, the crowd pressing close around the arena, buzzing with excitement.
The Elder's voice rang out, calling their names.
Vayu stepped forward with steady composure, convinced that this would be a simple victory. After all, Aspen had crushed Vijay's right arm the day before, Vayu had expected it to be a easy victory.
But the moment Vijay entered, Vayu's eyes widened. His opponent's right arm moved normally, his knuckle knives gleaming in his both hands.
Aspen hadn't broken his arm after all, he had only dislocated Vijay's elbow. The physician had reset it, and though the joint was tender, Vijay's hand was nearly as good as new. The physician had warned him not to push too hard, but Vijay couldn't afford caution. This was his only chance to reach the finals, and he was determined to gamble everything on it.
The elder raised his hand, then cut it down.
"Begin!"
Vijay lunged forward at once, exactly as Vayu had expected. But Vayu had no intention of backing down. He too rushed in to meet him head on, his daggers flashing.
Vijay's right fist came first, his knuckle knife driving forward in a brutal arc. Instead of sidestepping, Vayu met it directly, steel rang as his dagger caught the strike against its guard, knuckles colliding with blade.
Vijay's left hand swung in immediately after, his second knife aimed for Vayu's ribs. Vayu stopped that too, his other dagger sliding into place, locking steel against steel.
In the center of the arena, the two clashed, neither willing to back away, their blades grinding together as the crowd roared. Both fighters shoved against each other, muscles straining, until Vayu overpowered Vijay and drove him backward. Seizing the opening, Vayu spun, his leg whipping around in a sharp tornado kick.
But Vijay didn't flinch. His fist shot out, as Vayu was mid spin, knuckle slamming against Vayu's foot.
Pain jolted through his body as Vayu's face twisted, the impact tearing skin and sending a shock up his leg. But Vayu stayed firm, not wanting to fall without a fight.
Vijay smirked and stepped forward with renewed aggression. His blade cut across in a vicious slash toward Vayu's chest.
Vayu tried to retreat, but the pain in his leg made his body flinch, slowing down his retreat. With no choice left, Vayu meet his strike head-on, steel screaming against steel.
Vijay pressed harder, his blades hammering down again and again. Vayu's body faltered under the relentless assault, his movements staggering, but Vayu stayed calm blocking all attacks, refusing to be cornered.
The crowd roared as the fight turned fierce.
Vayu searched for openings, but Vijay kept attacking non-stop without giving any openings to Vayu. Every swing of his knuckle blades was tight, his every angle guarded. So Vayu too stopped retreating and pressed forward, meeting strike with strike.
Their blades clashed in another deadlock, steel grinding as their muscles strained. Vijay leaned in, forcing his weight, trying to crush him but Vayu didn't budge.
In the heat of the moment Vayu noticed something crucial, Vijay's knuckle shielded only the top of his fists, 2 cm around his fingers. The lower palms, the soft flesh beneath the steel, were left exposed.
Vayu's eyes narrowed.
He let his body bend backward under Vijay's push, almost as if he were about to topple. Vijay grinned, sensing victory, and drove harder, and Vayu dropped to one knee, his daggers bracing the incoming assault. Vijay bore down, certain he had pinned him.
Then Vayu's wrists tilted, his blades slid downward, slipping past the knuckle knives and slicing across the inside of Vijay's palms.
Blood sprayed.
Vijay's grin twisted into a scream as pain shot through his hands, his grip faltering for the first time.
The crowd and Vijay both erupted into screams.
"Arrgh!" Vijay screamed, blood dripping from his palms. He stared at them wide-eyed, chest heaving, but Vayu gave him no time to grieve. A quick slash across each thigh, two fresh streaks of red forming.
Vijay staggered back, pain visible on his face, but Vayu pressed forward relentlessly. Vijay wanted to counterattack but every attempt to squeeze his fists felt painful, as if his hands were pressed against burning coal. He sidestepped, then leapt back, making distance between them.
He drew a long, shuddering breath, then clenched his fists shut despite the searing pain. His scream echoed through the arena, eyes squeezed tight. When they opened again—
Vayu was gone.
Arms suddenly locked around his throat from behind, Vayu's forearm crushing into his windpipe in a chokehold. "Give up," Vayu whispered into his ear.
"SLAM!"
The moment Vijay heard his voice, he slammed his elbow into Vayu's face. He twisted himself and drove it back again, slamming it into his face a second time. Vayu's grip loosened, and Vijay ripped himself free. Blood ran down Vayu's face as he staggered back and fell.
Vijay jumped towards Vayu like a rabid animal, blades ready to stab. But Vayu rolled quickly to the side, escaping just as steel plunged into the dirt. He quickly scrambled up, swiping blood from his nose with the back of his hand. Both stood face to face circling, their eyes locked, neither willing to falter.
This time Vayu attacked first. His daggers cut down in vertical arcs, each strike hammering Vijay backward. But Vijay refused to give ground easily. He lashed out, his right blade slashing toward Vayu's ribs.
Instead of parrying, Vayu sidestepped, caught Vijay's wrist, and leapt. His legs swung upward, locking tight around Vijay's shoulder and neck as he fell backward, dragging Vijay down with him. With his hips snapping up and his body twisting, Vayu wrenched the arm straight across his own chest — a perfect flying armbar.
"Surrender!" Vayu growled through gritted teeth.
Vijay roared, refusing to surrender. He stabbed with his left-hand blade, the steel plunged into Vayu's thigh. A cry came from Vayu's throat, but he only tightened the lock, putting every ounce of strength into the hold.
CRACK!
Vayu broke Vijay arm, the sound of breaking bone silenced the arena as Vijay screamed loudly.
Vayu shoved him off and sat up, quickly scooping a handful of sand and pressing it hard against his thigh wound to slow down the bleeding. His breath came ragged, but his eyes remained steady.
Vijay got up slowly, his right arm hanging limp at his side. His face twisted in rage, eyes burning. He charged with his left blade flashing in his hand. Vayu caught it on his left dagger, then slammed his right dagger, striking on the joint between the knuckle and the blade of Vijay's weapon.
SNAP!
The blade shattered cleanly, leaving only the metal knuckle guard on Vijay's hand.
The crowd erupted, some in gasps, others in wild cheers, both fighters were bloodied, but both wanted to continue.
Vijay, bloodied and half-broken, still swung his left fist like a zombie refusing to fall. Vayu caught the strike mid-air, his hand clamping around Vijay's wrist. With a sharp snap, he drove his foot into Vijay's thigh. Vijay's knee buckled, forcing him down.
Vayu leaned towards right, his body coiling like a spring, then snapped upward with a brutal uppercut. His fist crashed into Vijay's chin, jerking his head back violently. Vijay staggered, his eyes dazed, his balance wavering.
Vayu didn't stop.
He spun — one full rotation, then another half — a 540-degree spin, his body rising into the air. As his momentum peaked, his leg slammed directly onto Vijay's temple.
The impact echoed through the arena, and Vijay body twisted and collapsed instantly, hitting the ground with a heavy thud. His body lay still, chest faintly heaving, his consciousness gone.
The elder's voice boomed, sharp and loud
"Winner — Vayu!"
The crowd erupted, half in awe, half in disbelief, Vayu stood straight, swiping the blood from his face. Blood still ran from his wounds, but in that moment he stood tall, victorious.