Seishin's voice cut through the air.
"Next match—Doraibu and Shimo versus Supira and Mizu. Begin."
Shimo moved first, petals scattering across the floor like shards of glass, slicing toward her opponents' feet. With a nod from Doraibu, her partner surged forward, his Nexus amplifying her movements until she darted like a phantom.
Supira lunged, staff spinning, but the petals ignited in sudden explosions. He staggered back, startled.
"What the—?!"
Mizu swept her hand, water spiraling into a whip that lashed forward. But Doraibu didn't falter. He drove his fist straight through the torrent, scattering droplets, and in a flash struck Mizu in the stomach.
"Gah!" she gasped, collapsing to her knees before falling unconscious.
Supira clenched his teeth. Rage surged as he turned to strike, but Seishin's voice stopped him.
"Team fight. Your partner has fallen."
Supira hissed, frustration etched into his face. He lifted Mizu gently into his arms, muttering under his breath.
"Your speed is insane, Doraibu… and Shimo, those petals… lethal."
Seishin's hand rose again.
"Next. Doraibu and Shimo versus Kori and Kaiyo."
Kori's grin spread wide. Without warning, he seized Kaiyo and hurled him like a thunderbolt toward Shimo.
Caught off guard, Shimo tried to counter with a wave of petals, but Kaiyo smashed through her guard, grabbing her mid-spin. Electricity surged as he slammed his own lightning into his body, shocking them both. Shimo crumpled instantly, unconscious.
"Kaiyo!" Kori shouted, stomping on the ground as sparks danced around him.
Doraibu glared, his Nexus flaring. His muscles tensed as Overdrive activated, his speed amplifying beyond human limits. In a heartbeat, he was a blur, meeting Kori head-on.
The dojo shook with their clash. Fist against fist, thunder against velocity, their strikes blurred to the eye. Every impact rang like a drum, pushing both warriors to their limits.
Kori only laughed, sparks crackling around him.
"This is fun!"
Doraibu gritted his teeth, his body screaming from the strain. He struck again, faster, harder, each blow aiming to overwhelm. But Kori was still smiling.
Then, with a sudden leap, Kori soared into the air, thunder coating his body. His voice boomed.
"Let's end this!"
He dropped like a thunderbolt, his kick slamming against Doraibu's skull. The speedster collapsed instantly, unconscious before he hit the ground.
Landing lightly, Kori stretched and yawned, then casually jumped on Kaiyo's chest.
"Oi, wake up!"
Kaiyo groaned, blinking his eyes open, as Seishin ended the match.
The chapter closes with Kori standing tall, electricity still crackling faintly off his body, as the dojo watched in stunned silence.