The Announcement of the Rules
The immense Arcane Arena was abuzz with excitement. Thousands of spectators had gathered to witness the opening of the prestigious Elemental Tournament. The commentator, a jovial man with a booming voice, stood at the center of the stage, addressing the crowd:
"Welcome, everyone! Today marks the beginning of the legendary Elemental Tournament! But before we get started, let me explain the rules of this intense competition."
The arena fell silent as everyone—participants and spectators alike—listened intently.
"Here are the rules: Each battle will be drawn randomly. If a participant loses, they are immediately eliminated. In the case of a draw, BOTH participants are eliminated!"
Gasps of shock rippled through the audience.
The spectators murmured:"That's brutal…""Eliminated even in a draw? That's harsh!"
Among the participants, reactions varied. Some displayed unwavering confidence, while others seemed unsettled by the strict rules.
For Alaryc and his friends, the announcement was sobering. Silvarya, visibly thoughtful, muttered:"There's no room for error…"
Jake, on the other hand, laughed boldly:"Perfect! That just makes it even more exciting!"
The commentator continued, his energy unwavering:"The winner of each battle will move on to the next round. And remember: only the best will triumph here! Now, participants, please head to the special platform and take your places according to your kingdom!"
The Random Draw
The participants rose and made their way to the platform, where designated spots marked with the colors of each kingdom awaited them. Alaryc and his friends positioned themselves in the Castille section, their eyes fixed on the other kingdoms' representatives.
Once everyone was in place, the commentator announced:"It's time for the first match draw!"
He reached into a magical orb containing enchanted scrolls. The crowd held its collective breath as he pulled out the names.
"The first match will pit Jake from the Kingdom of Castille against Léo from the Kingdom of Aurelith!"
All eyes turned to Jake, who clenched his fists with determination.
"This is your moment, Jake!" Alaryc cheered.
"Show them what you've got!" added Silvarya with a smile.
Jake gave them a confident grin."Don't worry. I've got this."
Analysis and Confrontation
As Jake descended into the arena, Alaryc, ever curious, activated his multidimensional analysis on Léo.
Detailed data appeared before his eyes:
- Element: Earth
- Mana Level: Moderately high
- Aura: Slightly strong, comparable to Jake's
"Interesting…" Alaryc murmured. "This might be a closer fight than he expects."
In the arena, Jake and Léo faced each other. They exchanged respectful nods.
"Let's have a good match," Léo said calmly.
Jake, with a confident smile, replied, "Give it your all. I'm going all out!"
The referee stepped forward, raising one hand to signal the start of the duel."Combatants, are you ready?"
"Yes!" they replied in unison.
"Then let the battle begin!"
A Fierce Duel
Jake made the first move. He summoned a blazing fireball and hurled it directly at Léo, who countered by conjuring a stone wall to shield himself. The impact shook the arena, sending dust flying into the air.
Wasting no time, Léo retaliated by stomping the ground, causing sharp stone spikes to erupt and surge toward Jake. With agile movements, Jake dodged the spikes, using bursts of fire to destroy those that came too close.
"Not bad," Jake remarked, flames dancing in his palm. "But we're just getting started."
He leaped into the air with acrobatic precision, channeling his energy to unleash a rain of fiery projectiles upon Léo.
Léo, refusing to be outdone, focused his mana to erect a stone barrier, absorbing the brunt of the attack. With a swift motion, he then launched a barrage of gravel shards toward Jake, who dispersed them with an explosive fireburst.
The battle grew increasingly intense as the two clashed.
Jake, swift and aggressive, relied on fiery explosions to keep the pressure on. Léo, more defensive and tactical, manipulated the earth to counter and attempt to trap his opponent.
At one point, Léo used a clever technique: he caused the ground to tremble, throwing Jake off balance. Seizing the opportunity, Léo summoned a towering golem of stone to attack.
"Now things are getting interesting," Alaryc murmured from the platform.
The golem charged at Jake, who narrowly avoided its powerful strikes. He retaliated by focusing his flames on a single point, melting part of the golem's structure.
"You're not taking me down that easily!" Jake shouted, initiating a new technique.
He concentrated his energy into a massive fireball and hurled it at the golem, causing it to explode into fragments.
Jake's Victory
Breathing heavily, Léo stepped back slightly. Jake, noticing an opening, pressed the attack. He unleashed a powerful wave of flames, forcing Léo to use all his remaining mana to erect a final stone wall.
But the wall couldn't withstand the intense heat for long.
In a decisive move, Jake dashed forward at incredible speed, surrounding Léo with flames. With no way out, Léo reluctantly admitted defeat.
"Enough!" the referee declared, raising his hand to signal the end of the fight.
"The winner is Jake from the Kingdom of Castille!"
The arena erupted in cheers and applause.
Returning to his friends, Jake was met with enthusiastic congratulations.
"Well done, Jake!" Alicia exclaimed.
"Impressive," Silvarya added with a smile.
Alaryc nodded in approval. "You fought well. But be careful not to rely too heavily on your flames. Some opponents will know how to counter them."
Jake laughed."Thanks for the advice, Alaryc. But for now, I'm just going to enjoy this win."
The group turned their attention back to the arena as the commentator prepared to announce the next duel.
End of Chapter