The atmosphere inside the arena had shifted. The last three matches of the Top 20 were about to begin, and only five warriors would move forward into the semi-finals. The tension buzzed through the crowd as names flashed on the screen one final time.
Match 8: Mei Kurosaka vs. Arashi Jin
Mei stood quietly, glasses reflecting the light, her Sensory Essence already activated. Arashi, cocky and fast, darted in with blades of wind. But Mei had been tracking him since the match began.
"Essence Extension: Echo Points."
The sound-based illusion traps triggered—one by one—until Arashi, confused and off-balance, walked into a clean, precise strike to the back.
Winner: Mei Kurosaka
Match 9: Jinzo Kamado vs. Kira Honen
This was a brutal match of Berserker Strength vs. Crystal Manipulation. Jinzo went in swinging, but Kira built barriers and spikes rapidly.
Jinzo yelled, "You can't hide forever!"
Kira didn't. She summoned a crystalline dome—then detonated it from within.
When the dust cleared, Jinzo was down.
Winner: Kira Honen
Match 10: Takashi Renji vs. Aito Sagano
Renji, focused and calm, activated his Phantom Edge Essence, while Aito summoned shadow clones from his Ink Beast ability.
The arena lit up in fast-paced illusions and vanishing strikes.
Renji whispered, "I can see the real one."
A single clean arc. Aito staggered.
Winner: Takashi Renji
Now only 10 fighters remained.
A large screen pulsed with new matchups.
🌀 SEMI-FINAL BRACKET 🌀
Match 1: Yumi Aoyama vs. Mei Kurosaka
Match 2: Toru Kurotaki vs. Kira Honen
Riku Hayashi has received a bye into the Finals due to the randomized bracket and highest Essence rating.
Backstage, Riku raised a brow. "I got a bye?"
Toru threw his arms up. "Unbelievable. You get to chill while we fight for our lives?"
Yumi smirked. "Maybe the system likes him."
Riku chuckled. "Or maybe it knows I've fought enough."
Match 1: Yumi Aoyama vs. Mei Kurosaka
Yumi nodded to Mei. "Good luck."
Mei pushed her glasses up. "You'll need it more."
Mei's Sensory Echo Points exploded across the battlefield again—but Yumi didn't run.
She walked.
Chains of light danced around her as she whispered, "Essence Bind: Lunar Threads."
The chains sensed the hidden traps, swinging and cutting through all the echo markers.
Mei gasped. Yumi closed the gap with a single spiral of motion.
Tap—her palm met Mei's chest.
Pulse.
Winner: Yumi Aoyama
Match 2: Toru Kurotaki vs. Kira Honen
Kira sent out diamond-hard projectiles instantly, encasing parts of the field in shining crystal.
But Toru grinned. "Let's see how your crystals hold up."
His Titan Essence flared. Each step cracked the stage. Kira formed a wall.
Toru smashed through it.
Another wall. He crushed it too.
Finally, he roared, "Titan Stance: Essence Break!"
One charged strike, and the whole stage quaked as Kira was launched off her feet.
Winner: Toru Kurotaki
The crowd thundered.
Three names remained.
🌀 FINALS 🌀
Riku Hayashi
Toru Kurotaki
Yumi Aoyama
Riku leaned back in his seat backstage as the crowd chanted.
"Riku! Toru! Yumi! Riku!"
Yumi looked his way. "So… you'll be waiting?"
"I'll be ready," he said with a small smile.
Toru cracked his knuckles. "After I beat her… it's just us, Hayashi."
The stage dimmed.
Yumi vs. Toru.