The second day of the tournament had finally come to an end. It had been filled with intense battles, shocking outcomes, and moments that left the audience speechless. By the time the sun had set and the arena lights dimmed, the results of the day were clear.
The league table now showed a clear shift.
Only 6 teams remained undefeated, each holding a perfect 18 points. Just behind them were 11 teams with 16 points, still very much in the race. Then came 12 teams with 14 points, followed by 10 teams with 11 points. Below them, 8 teams had 7 points, 6 teams had 4 points, 3 teams had only 2 points, and finally, one team had yet to score even a single point.
The gap between teams was starting to matter more now.
Every single point counted.
For some teams, qualification was almost certain. For others, it was still a fight for survival. And for a few, even though elimination seemed unavoidable, their spirit to fight had not faded at all. They still stepped into the arena with pride, refusing to give up.
The tournament was no longer just a showcase.
It had become a battlefield.
---
Soon, the third day arrived.
From early morning, the capital city was already alive with energy. The streets were filled with people, shops were crowded, and the arena was once again packed to its limits. The excitement had not decreased at all. In fact, it had only grown stronger.
This day would decide everything.
Which teams would move forward.
And which teams would fall behind.
As the gates opened and the matches began one after another, the tension in the air became heavier with each passing fight.
Some teams continued their dominance, proving their strength once again. Some managed to fight back and keep their hopes alive. And some… slowly accepted their fate.
---
Then came the third round.
Match number 15.
The Rising Heroes were about to step into the arena once again.
Their opponent this time, Silver Antlers from the Kingdom of Wyali.
Unlike the previous rounds, this time the Rising Heroes had decided to keep their lineup the same.
Lila.
Drakar.
Sera.
All three of them would fight again.
They stood together in the tunnel, waiting for their turn. There was a different kind of silence between them. Not the silence of fear, but the silence of focus.
They had already gained a lot of points in the first two rounds. There was a high chance that they might already qualify for the next stage.
But, they did not want to take any risks. They did not want to depend on chances. They wanted to win. Every match. Every bout.
Ifa's voice echoed through the arena again, full of energy as always.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! This matchup is important for both teams! Both are still in the race to qualify, and even though we don't know the exact cutoff yet, every single point matters!"
The crowd cheered loudly.
Shai followed calmly, "This is one of those matches where prediction becomes difficult. Both teams have shown strong performances so far. All they can do now… is fight."
---
Inside the tunnel, the Rising Heroes gathered closer.
Lila looked at Sera and Drakar, her expression serious but confident.
"This is important," she said. "We've come this far. We don't slow down now."
Drakar nodded. "Doesn't matter if we already qualify or not. We win."
Sera held her wand tighter, her nervousness still present, but her determination stronger than before. "Yes… we give it everything."
Lila smiled slightly, trying to lift the mood. "Exactly. No holding back."
Even though there was a possibility that they could still qualify even with a loss, none of them wanted that kind of result.
They wanted to earn it.
Properly.
---
Back in the arena, Ifa raised his hand dramatically.
"Now! Let's introduce the fighters for the first bout of this match!"
He paused for effect.
"From the Silver Antlers… ORION!"
Cheers rose from one side of the arena.
"And from the Rising Heroes… LILA!"
The crowd erupted again, even louder this time.
Lila stepped forward, walking into the arena with steady steps. Her spear rested in her hand, her eyes calm but focused.
From the other side, Orion entered.
He carried a sword, and his presence was strong. There was confidence in the way he walked, and his eyes were locked onto Lila.
Both fighters took their positions.
Shai began her analysis, "Lila has had a mixed journey so far, one win and one loss. But she is not someone who gives up easily. Her dual-element spear techniques are always a spectacle."
She then shifted her focus.
"On the other hand, Orion has only fought once so far… and he won. He uses sword combat combined with energy-based magic, often creating powerful and visually impressive attacks."
Ifa grinned and added, "So what you're basically saying is… this is going to be awesome!"
The crowd laughed and cheered.
---
Both Lila and Orion stood still now.
The noise of the crowd slowly faded in their ears.
All that remained, was the fight.
Their eyes met. Neither moved. They waited. For the signal.
---
Far away from the arena…
In a dark chamber hidden from the world....
A different kind of audience watched the same tournament.
Vorath stood in front of a projection, observing the battles closely. His eyes moved from one fighter to another, studying them carefully.
A slow, uneasy smile spread across his face.
"What an interesting group of people…" he muttered softly. "So many possibilities… so many experiments…"
His fingers moved slightly, as if imagining something.
"It would be fun… to test each one of them…"
His smile grew wider.
Then... a presence entered the room.
Zalthar.
He walked in silently, his expression calm and unreadable.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
Vorath didn't turn immediately. "Nothing much… just observing the people we are about to crush."
Zalthar's gaze remained cold. "Don't waste your time on such useless things."
Vorath finally turned, placing a hand on his chest dramatically. "That's rude… insulting someone's hobby like that." He chuckled lightly. "Anyway… the thing you wanted… is almost ready."
Zalthar remained silent for a moment.
"…I don't care what you do," he said finally. "As long as you do what you were told."
Vorath tilted his head, smiling. "You're such a meanie."
Zalthar did not respond. He simply turned, and left.
The chamber fell silent again.
For a moment.
Then, Vorath began to laugh.
A slow laugh. That turned louder. And more twisted.
"Just wait…" he whispered. "I will meet you all… very soon…"
His laughter echoed in the darkness.
And far away, the battle in the arena was just about to begin.