The final round was today. Young people aged 18 to 22 took part in it, and folks from every corner of the country were most fired up for this segment. Rich or poor, beautiful or plain—they all buzzed with anticipation. Those who couldn't attend soaked up the stories and felt the thrill secondhand.
A roar erupted across the arena, sweeping from Milli toward the far side, where every mouth chanted only one name: the Wielders.
The bare roar wasn't enough for the venue; soon, the pounding drums joined in. Their rumbling beat thrilled even Milli's ears. On the black cobblestone path, young men in red garb stood all around, waves of sound pulsing from their drums.
The announcer's booming voice cut through the cheers and drums, filling the arena: "Your wait is over! The first match of the day is about to begin!"
At last, what Milli had been waiting for was here. A flicker of excitement stirred within her too. She was eager to witness the fiery blood of these young fighters.
A gravelly voice rasped in her ears: "In the opening match, we'll see a clash between Rukmini from the nation's top academy, Lotus Academy, and Kev, student from the second-ranked powerhouse, Blue Poison."
The dam of anticipation burst in a wave of shouts. For Millie, this first bout promised pure entertainment. These two academies dominated the event year after year, and their students shared a deep-seated rivalry. When hot blood melted away the thorns of grudges, the fight turned thrilling.
From the commoners' entrance strode a tall young man. Milli noticed his upper body was bare, rippling with muscle. Broad shoulders held perfectly straight, he advanced like a king's son. A mark scarred his waist. His long black hair was tied back in a neat ponytail. Without betraying a single emotion on his honey-toned face, he marched toward the arena.
If Milli had to sum him up in one word, it was stunning—a mysterious, dangerous beauty. The crowd, silent in awe moments before, erupted again at the sight of him.
Even the announcer's eyes paused on Rukmini, his lips twitching as he declared, "Welcome Rukmini, the Cold Wilder!"
Beside Milli, Tessa's face bloomed like a flower. Staring at the fighter in the arena, she blushed furiously. Tessy always got shy around handsome boys, and this one was a Wilder on top of it. Millie, though, never fancied any guy. She didn't want to.
From the yellow-gated exit emerged another boy, one who struck Millie as oddly off-putting. A wide grin plastered his face—not the everyday kind, but one drunk on youthful bravado. He was Rukmini's total opposite, lost in his own carefree world, striding with reckless swagger. He laughed and waved to the crowd.
His awkward antics left half the audience forgetting to cheer. Milli found him clumsy too, yet his carefree vibe charmed her. A voice from nearby grumbled, "Idiots show up for the event too." It was the first words out of Neon's mouth.
Both fighters passed through the broken ring to the center of red stone where stood a large clay pole, passing through its door they climbed to the black stone platform above. The announcer stood in the center as they faced off.
The middle-aged man in brown robes boomed with full energy: "The first to hurl their opponent from the black platform onto the red one below wins the match and earns 10 points!" With that, his feet lifted into the air. Hovering, he shouted, "Are you both ready?"
Kev's face stayed locked in a mad, exhilarated grin, his eyes fixed solely on Rukmini. Rukmini, calm as ever, stared right back. The intent to strike burned clear in both their gazes.
Kev's lips curled in laughter as he replied, "I'm always ready." His eyes never left Rukmini for a second, while Rukmini nodded coolly in agreement.
Glancing at the three sages on the green stone royal dais, the announcer bellowed with hype, "I await your... three... gracious permission!" The grizzled elder in the center flashed a sage-like smile and touched two fingers of one hand to two of the other in an "add" symbol. Permission granted.
"Go!" the announcer roared, then zipped away to perch on the pole overlooking the black path.
Drumbeats thundered in Milli's ears. Kev and Rukmini charged at each other. Watching their steps, excitement surged faster through her.
Milli saw Kev rush recklessly on gusts of wind, fist aimed at Rukmini's face in a furious punch. The blow grazed his nose—but Rukmini had vanished.
In a flash, he'd sidestepped. Before Kev could react, Rukmini spun behind him and slammed a punch into his midsection. Kev froze for a split second. Milli thought he'd drop, but he whirled around, his grin twisting into manic glee.
Laughing wildly, he lunged with a punch at Rukmini's cheek. Rukmini raised his arms to block—then Kev halted mid-strike and drove a powerful kick into his gut. Rukmini staggered back with a jolt, his face still eerily serene. His icy eyes bored into Kev.
Panting hard but still chuckling, Kev taunted, "I can't stand pretty boys like you!" Like a storm, he grabbed Rukmini's arm, twisted him viciously, and slammed him down. Crimson blood sprayed from Rukmini's mouth.