The arena's shattered floor trembled beneath Akira's feet, her crimson aura still blazing from Rank 15. She felt it first—another presence.
A figure stepped from the shadows, tall, graceful, and exuding power. Her armor gleamed with an otherworldly sheen, her eyes sharp and calculating.
"You must be Akira," the newcomer said, voice smooth, but laced with challenge. "I've heard… a lot about you."
Akira's hand hovered over her blade. "And you are?"
"A new player," the girl said with a smirk. "And I intend to take what's mine… your throne."
From the side, Temaki's voice called out, "Careful… she's not just a threat—she's… intriguing."
Akira's crimson gaze narrowed, jealousy sparking in her chest. "Intriguing? What does that mean?"
Temaki shrugged, a hint of mischief in his expression, "I'll leave that for you to figure out."
The girl laughed, stepping closer. "Oh, don't worry. He seems to like me… very much."
Akira's blood surged, Rank 15 power humming beneath her skin. "Fine," she growled. "Let's see if you can back that up."
The two women clashed in a whirlwind of steel and aura. Akira's Crimson Mirror strikes cut through the air, but the intruder dodged, countered, and adapted with terrifying speed.
Temaki watched, tension rising. He wanted to step in—but his rules forbade interference. Yet every strike against Akira stabbed him in the chest, forcing him to choose between loyalty and survival.
Then, with a sudden, brutal move, the girl landed a blow that sent Akira crashing into the rubble—blood spilling, aura flickering.
Temaki's eyes widened. She could die… if I don't act.
Akira's vision blurred, but a smirk crossed her face through the haze. "Not… done… yet…"
And just as the girl raised her weapon for the finishing strike—
Clang!
A shadowy figure slammed into the intruder, throwing her off balance. Temaki had jumped in, risking everything.
The arena went silent. Akira's heartbeat pounded in her ears. She was alive… for now.
But the girl's laugh echoed from the debris. "Oh… this isn't over."
The cliffhanger here: readers are left wondering—can Temaki really save her without dying? Will the new girl strike back? And how will Akira react after being wounded for the first time at Rank 15?