The arena was alive with anticipation as the commentator strode to the center of the stage, his voice booming over the excited murmurs of the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The next match will feature Alice from the Kingdom of Castille versus Iris from the Kingdom of Solaria!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, with fans from both kingdoms shouting words of encouragement for their chosen fighter.
In the Castille section, Alaryc, Jake, Silvarya, and Maria turned toward Alice, offering their support.
"You've got this, Alice!" Silvarya called out."Good luck!" Maria added with a smile.Jake grinned confidently. "Show them what you're made of!"
Alice nodded, her calm demeanor unwavering."Thanks, everyone. I'll give it my all," she said firmly.
Alaryc, always analytical, activated his multidimensional analysis on Iris. The data appeared before him:
Element: Fire
Mana Level: High
Aura: Slightly stronger than Alice's
He furrowed his brow."This will be a tough fight for her," he thought.
As Alice began descending the steps toward the arena, Alaryc called out to her."Remember, give it everything you've got."
Alice glanced back at him with a determined smile."That's exactly what I plan to do," she replied before stepping onto the battlefield.
The Stage is Set
Standing across from each other, Alice and Iris locked eyes. The air around them seemed to spark with tension.
Iris smirked, her voice dripping with arrogance."I'm going to crush you. You might as well give up now."
Alice, calm and composed, didn't rise to the bait. She said nothing, her silence only serving to irritate Iris further.
The referee stepped between them, raising a hand to address both fighters."Are you both ready?"
"Yes!" they answered in unison, their voices firm.
With a sharp whistle, the referee signaled the start of the fight.
Fire and Water Collide
Iris wasted no time. She summoned a blazing spear of fire and hurled it at Alice with incredible speed.
Alice reacted swiftly, leaping into the air to avoid the attack. In mid-air, she countered by forming a bubble of water infused with explosive energy. She hurled it toward Iris, and it detonated on impact, sending steam hissing into the air.
Iris emerged from the explosion unharmed, a confident grin on her face."Not bad. Looks like I'll have to get serious."
The fight escalated quickly. Iris unleashed waves of fire in rapid succession, while Alice deftly avoided them, retaliating with streams of water and defensive barriers.
The crowd was ecstatic, their cheers echoing throughout the arena as they witnessed the intense battle.
From the sidelines, Alaryc watched with a calculating gaze."Iris is the perfect opponent for Alice. If Alice can overcome this challenge, it will push her to the next level," he thought.
Iris's Ultimate Move
Growing tired of the prolonged exchange, Iris stepped back, her expression darkening."Playtime is over," she muttered.
A fierce orange-red aura swirled around her, heating the air to an almost unbearable degree. Her eyes glowed like molten lava as she chanted a powerful incantation.
"Blazing Phoenix!"
An enormous flaming bird appeared above her, its majestic form radiating heat and power. With a deafening screech, the phoenix dived toward Alice, its speed and intensity unmatched.
Alice stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the attack."It's too strong… I'm going to lose," she thought, panic creeping into her mind.
But just as she was about to give in to despair, something shifted within her.
Alice's Awakening
A strange, vibrant blue aura began to swirl around Alice, growing stronger by the second. The ground beneath her feet trembled as her energy surged to new heights. Her eyes glowed a brilliant, deep blue, reflecting a newfound power.
In a firm, unwavering voice, she chanted:"Sea Dragon!"
From the earth itself, an enormous water dragon erupted, roaring with divine might. The massive creature charged toward the flaming phoenix, and the two colossal forces collided in a blinding explosion of steam and energy.
The crowd shielded their eyes, gasping as the steam cleared. When the dust settled, the dragon of water had triumphed, dousing the phoenix and slamming into Iris with incredible force.
Alice's Victory
Iris, battered and exhausted, lay on the ground, struggling to rise. Finally, she exhaled deeply and admitted defeat."I… I've lost," she muttered, her voice barely audible.
The referee stepped forward, raising his hand toward Alice."The winner is Alice, from the Kingdom of Castille!"
The arena erupted in applause and cheers, the audience thrilled by the epic showdown.
Alice, breathing heavily, walked over to Iris and extended a hand."Well fought," she said simply.
Iris, though defeated, accepted Alice's hand with a faint smile."You're stronger than I expected," she admitted.
Returning to the Platform
As Alice began climbing the steps back to the Castille section, her body wavered. Exhausted from the battle and her depleted mana reserves, she stumbled and began to fall.
Alaryc moved swiftly, catching her before she hit the ground."You fought brilliantly," he said, his voice filled with pride. "You should be proud of yourself."
Alice managed a tired smile."Thanks… I think I need to rest now," she murmured before slipping into unconsciousness.
The arena's medical staff rushed forward, gently carrying Alice away to the infirmary for recovery.
Anticipation Builds
Back in the stands, Alaryc and his friends returned to their seats, waiting anxiously to hear the names of the next fighters.
The referee, meanwhile, used his magic to repair the battlefield, erasing all traces of the ferocious battle that had just taken place.
The commentator stepped forward once more, his voice booming over the crowd."Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourselves for the next draw! Who will be the next two fighters to step into the arena?"
But the answer to that question would have to wait.
End of Chapter.