The arena was unrecognisable, now overgrown and destroyed.
Cracked stone lay scattered beneath twisted roots and splintered wood, while thick vines crawled across what remained of the battlefield like living things refusing to die.
And still, the two B Ranks fought.
Even Ethan had to narrow his eyes to keep up.
'That speed…'
It wasn't just raw movement, but control and precision, timing so sharp it bordered on unnatural.
Rowan, the Verdant Warden, adapted again and again.
Each exchange forced him to evolve his approach: better positioning, tighter control, more layered defences. He wasn't just reacting anymore; he was anticipating her movements, which was the only way to keep up.
At one point, the ground beneath him erupted.
Trees spiralled upward in an instant, thick trunks twisting together as branches interlocked overhead with vines coiling between them, weaving into a dense lattice.
Rowan had formed a fortress of nature.
"He had her locked down!" the announcer roared.
