After his last match, the day rolled on with six more fierce battles. Every strike, every spell, every drop of sweat pushed the competitors closer to glory. The crowd's cheers never faltered—they roared for every clash, for every fighter who refused to fall.
When the dust settled, only sixteen remained. These were the finest of them all, the ones whose names the people would remember. The guild master's voice echoed across the arena:
"This is the final round! The top sixteen will battle for the crown! Only the top ten will advance to the capital… though two exceptional warriors may also be chosen based on performance. Give it your all!"
Lior stood among the finalists, eyes half-closed, his calm presence contrasting the fierce energy radiating from the others. He glanced at the board showing the pairings. His match—the final one.
He exhaled softly. "So, I'm last…"
The matches began one after another.
The first to step forward was the mysterious fighter from before—the one with blue flames. His opponent grinned, confident in his strength. But once the battle began, confidence meant nothing.
Blue fire tore through the air, twisting into dragons that clashed against storms of wind and stone. The arena shook under the intensity of the fight. Every burst of energy drew gasps from the crowd. By the end, the victor was clear—the man of blue flames stood tall, the ground scorched beneath his feet.
Match after match followed—stunning duels of magic and skill. Lightning danced, earth split, and the very air vibrated with power. Then finally, the announcer's voice rang out:
"Next—and the final match of the tournament—Lior versus Kael!"
The crowd erupted in cheers. Kael, Lior's opponent, stepped forward—a tall warrior with crimson hair and a confident smirk. He drew his sword, the blade humming faintly with magic.
Lior stepped onto the field, calm as ever. But just as he took his position, his vision flickered.
A voice echoed in his mind.
"Lior…"
He froze for a moment—it was Night.
"I can feel it… my energy is inside him. Be careful."
Lior's eyes flicked toward Kael. Now that he focused, he could sense it too—a faint aura of shadow energy hidden beneath Kael's fiery exterior.
"So that's it…" he murmured.
The referee raised his hand. "Begin!"
Kael charged instantly with his sword . Lior parried, sparks scattering between their blades. The force behind Kael's strikes was immense, but Lior's movements were fluid—graceful and controlled, like water flowing through cracks in the earth.
Kael laughed, swinging again. "Not bad! But let's see you handle this!"
He leaped back, chanting an incantation under his breath
Lior's eyes narrowed. The wind around him began to stir—gentle, but growing stronger.
The crowd held their breath.
To be continued