The arena trembled like it was alive, shards of rubble levitating in the violet-tinged air. Akira's crimson aura had exploded beyond Rank 15—flames of raw energy licking the walls, pulsing with every heartbeat. Her eyes burned with focus, fury, and a determination that refused to yield.
Temaki's aura flickered violently, torn between fear and resolve. He could see the intruder moving in the shadows, her violet energy pulsing in unpredictable bursts. "Akira… she's faster than before. You need to—"
But he stopped. The intruder had vanished in a blink, leaving only the faint ripple of violet energy dancing across the arena floor. She wasn't just fast—she was everywhere, striking from angles they couldn't anticipate.
Akira's blade sliced through the air, energy trailing behind it like fire. Sparks collided as the intruder appeared mid-strike, countering with precise, brutal efficiency. Each attack forced Akira to dig deeper, pushing her limits further than ever before.
Temaki's heart thudded painfully in his chest. Every time Akira landed a strike, every time the intruder slipped past her defenses, it felt like a dagger twisting in him. He wanted to intervene—but the rules binding him, and the respect he had for her power, kept him frozen.
The intruder's voice echoed across the arena, silky and cruel: "You've grown strong… but strength isn't enough. Strategy, timing, and sacrifice… that's how battles are truly won."
Akira's aura flared brighter, her sword radiating a blazing crimson halo. "Then I'll show you all three!" she shouted, lunging forward with blinding speed.
They collided, the force of their clash sending shockwaves that shattered the remaining pillars of the arena. Violet energy from the intruder streaked across the battlefield, colliding with Akira's crimson fire, each strike illuminating their fierce determination.
Temaki's hands clenched at his sides, aura flaring as he struggled to stay back. His eyes flicked between Akira's focused rage and the intruder's calculated strikes. There was something… off about her—like she knew them, understood their moves before they even made them.
Then, with a sudden, devastating move, the intruder vanished once more. The violet crystal at the arena's center pulsed violently, sending a wave of energy that knocked both Akira and Temaki off their feet.
Temaki's gaze shot to Akira. "Akira! That crystal…"
Akira coughed, wiping blood from her mouth, but her eyes blazed brighter than ever. "I… don't care. We end this… now!"
From the shadows, the intruder's laughter rang out, playful and sinister. "Oh, you're not done yet. But the storm… is only beginning."
And just as Akira and Temaki readied themselves, a third presence rippled into the arena—a figure cloaked in shadow, aura darker and more intense than anything they had faced. The ground cracked beneath its feet.
The intruder's smirk widened. "Ah… my backup has arrived. Let's see how you handle this… together."
Temaki froze, heart pounding. "Backup…? There's more?"
Akira's crimson aura surged, lighting her face with fierce determination. "Then we fight. Whatever it takes."
The arena shook violently. Dust, rubble, and raw energy swirled around them. And in the distance, the faintest whisper echoed through the chaos:
"Only the strongest will survive… and the throne will finally be claimed."