The silence in the arena was so heavy it seemed to swallow the heartbeat of every spectator. No whispers, no breaths. Every eye was fixed on the platform, where two staggering figures still defied death.
Asori stood only through sheer will. Blood dripped from his arms, carved by deep gashes, and a red line ran down from his left eye. Every breath was ragged, broken, but his feet remained planted on the sand. In front of him, Sir Kael also struggled to rise—his armor in tatters, his chest bruised and caved in, blood staining his lips. And yet, he smiled, that twisted grin of scorn and dark amusement.
—Come on, brat… —he growled, dragging his sword cloaked in shadows that crackled like black embers— Is your little show over already?
Asori shut his eyes for a moment. His body screamed to stop, every muscle begged for rest. But deep within, a spark flared. I can't fall here. Not while Blair is watching. Not while I swore to protect her.
His eyes opened, and the white aura surged again—first a whisper, then a gale. Stones around him began to rise, the air vibrating as if a tornado itself breathed upon the arena.
—No… —Mikrom muttered from the stands, his eyes wide— He can't possibly…
Blair shot to her feet, the Sweet Kiss vibrating more violently than ever.—Asori, no! Your body won't withstand it!
Mikan grit her teeth, folding her arms.—That idiot knows it already. But he's realized—if he wants to win, he has to end it now.
Asori's energy exploded outward. His figure blurred, and in the blink of an eye he appeared in front of Kael. The first punch thundered like a storm, hurling the knight backward. The impact cracked the very stones of the ground.
Kael arched an eyebrow but didn't falter.—And what's this supposed to be? —he sneered— A cheap trick to scare me?
Asori stepped forward. The ground split beneath his foot.—This isn't a trick, —his voice rang firm, more mature than ever— It's… my choice.
The white aura erupted like a blazing flame. It was the Delta Burst at its absolute peak. Kael barely managed to steady himself, his sword digging into the ground for balance. He spat blood and laughed.
—That's it! That's what I want! Show me you're more than just a boy playing at hero!
He lunged. His sword fell like a black scythe, drenched in shadowed Astral. Asori barely managed to raise his arm, blocking with a burst of wind. The clash shook the entire platform.
They both staggered back, panting. Then, without warning, they clashed again. The fight became a storm—fists against sword, white aura against black shadows. Each collision unleashed shockwaves that rattled the stands, toppled stones, and whipped the dust into spirals. The crowd screamed, some in fear, others in unbridled excitement.
—Incredible! one spectator roared.—This isn't human! another cried.
Kael slashed in a wide arc, but Asori ducked low and countered with a knee to his gut. The knight doubled over but spun and smashed his elbow into Asori's jaw, drawing blood. Asori staggered, but before falling he threw a punch brimming with Astral that cracked his opponent's jaw.
Both recoiled, gasping, blood dripping to the floor, bodies trembling.
Come on, body… just a little more… just one more chance! Asori begged in his mind. Don't fail me now!
Kael laughed, though it was a broken, growling sound.—You've got spirit, brat… but I… I am a knight of Zeknier!
He summoned a tide of shadows, rising like a black serpent lunging at Asori. The boy met it with a roar, his fist cloaked in wind. The collision birthed a whirlwind that nearly tore the platform apart.
The audience screamed, unable to look away. Blair pressed her hands against her chest, weeping in helplessness. Mikan's face was hard, solemn. Mikrom muttered to himself:—That brat… he's gambling his life with every strike.
Asori vanished again in a flash. He reappeared in front of Kael, unleashing a flurry of blows. Asori became a whirlwind—fists, elbows, knees, kicks. Every strike birthed shockwaves that thundered through the arena. It was a technique born of instinct, honed through pain: the Meteor Burst. Each impact was a booming quake that rattled the very walls. Kael tried to defend, but his guard shattered again and again.
—Move, body, MOVE! Asori screamed inwardly.
A punch to the gut. An elbow to the jaw. A spinning kick that hurled Kael toward the arena's edge. The knight crashed to his knees, but roared and rose once more.—I WILL NOT FALL TO YOU! he bellowed, sword raised.
Asori barely managed to lift his arm to block. The clash was cataclysmic: black sword against white aura. The impact lit the entire coliseum. They strained, every muscle tearing under the pressure.
Just a little more… JUST A LITTLE MORE! Asori cried within, teeth clenched, eyes burning with tears of blood.
Kael's sword began to fracture, his dark aura splintering apart.—No… this… can't be…! he gasped, disbelief in his voice.
Asori gathered everything that remained—his strength, his promises, his pain, his rage, his love. And with a roar that shook the heavens, he delivered the final strike.
His fist crashed into Kael's chest, charged with one hundred percent of his will. It wasn't mere strength—it was everything crystallized in one blow. The armor shattered, and a shockwave ripped across the arena, tearing down walls and kicking up a storm of dust. The knight was flung like a projectile, smashing through the coliseum walls before collapsing in the rubble, unconscious.
Silence reigned. Only the echo of the impact lingered.
Asori remained standing, panting, his aura flickering out like dying embers. He took one step, then another—and collapsed to his knees.
—ASORI! Blair, Mikan, and Mikrom cried from the stands.
The audience erupted in deafening cheers, unable to contain their awe. Never had they seen anything like this.
Blair rushed down, ignoring everything else. She caught him in her arms, tears streaming down her face.—Idiot! she sobbed, laughing through her cries— But you're my idiot.
Asori looked at her with a weak smile, barely conscious.—I… promised you… Blair.
The referee raised his hand, voice trembling:—The winner is… Asori Matsuda!
The roar of the crowd shook the very foundations of the coliseum.
But before the thrill could fade, the announcer's voice boomed across the stadium:—The tournament will wait no longer! The final will be held… tonight!
A deathly silence fell. Blair's eyes widened in horror. Mikrom and Mikan tensed.
Asori, barely conscious, whispered with the last of his breath:—The… final…
And his body collapsed, drained, in Blair's arms.