The stage was set beneath the eternal night of Vrasnia, where the purple moon hung low, its radiant glow bathing the martial display arena in an ethereal sheen. Six warriors stood poised, their silhouettes stark against the crystalline spires that pierced the heavens, each vying for supremacy in the Martial Display Tournament. The air thrummed with anticipation as the host, a charismatic figure named Toto, stepped into the center of the arena, his voice booming with theatrical flair. "Welcome, citizens of Vrasnia and outlanders alike! I am your host, Toto, and on this everlasting night, we shall deliver unto you a spectacle of amusement! Now, heed the rules: any fighter unable to continue or stepping beyond the arena's bounds shall be eliminated. No deaths are permitted—should the battle veer toward such a fate, it will be halted forthwith. Understood, warriors? Excellent! Let the fights commence!"
The crowd in the stands erupted, their cheers a thunderous wave that shook the very foundations of the stadium. Toto raised a hand, his grin widening. "Very well! Let us summon our first two combatants. To my left, hailing from the outlands and the illustrious Prismic Gathering—founded by none other than our queen's offspring, Jessie, daughter of the revered Karah—allow me to present… Raja!"
A roar rose from the Earth-born spectators as Raja strode onto the arena, his red and black bodysuit clinging to his muscular frame, the ruby-hued sword at his hip glinting menacingly. His black hair danced in the night breeze, and his brown eyes, sharp as a hawk's, fixed upon the opposite gate. He took his stance, a coiled spring of power, his presence commanding silence from the throng. Lihanna, observing from the stands, leaned forward, her gaze narrowing. Hold on… I remember him. He's not bad—decent, even. He's bulked up since last I saw him. This could get interesting.
Toto's voice rang out again, amplifying the tension. "And now, our second contender, also from Earth and the Prismic Gathering—give it up for Hatsu!" The chants faltered into a hush as Hatsu emerged, his sleeveless shirt revealing sinewy arms, a long sword balanced casually over his shoulder. A smirk played on his lips as he met Raja's gaze. Raja inclined his head, a flicker of respect in his eyes. "Hatsu… this will be interesting. Good luck."
Hatsu's smirk widened. "Same goes to you, Raja."
Toto thrust the microphone skyward. "Now—begin!"
The arena exploded into motion. Raja unleashed a pair of slashing blades, their ruby arcs slicing through the air toward Hatsu with lethal intent. Hatsu reacted with acrobatic grace, leaping, ducking, and rolling to evade the onslaught. "Haa! Going right in, huh?" he quipped, his voice laced with adrenaline.
Raja charged, his sword arcing overhead in a devastating strike. The clash of steel rang out like a bell, sparks flying as Hatsu parried with a deft block. "So you blocked it, ha!" Raja growled, a challenge igniting in his gaze. "Let's see who's better between us!"
Hatsu chuckled, his confidence unshaken. "I was just about to say the same thing!" Their blades met in a furious dance, slashes and counters weaving a tapestry of combat. Hatsu spotted an opening, his leg snapping out to deliver a swift kick to Raja's stomach. Raja staggered back, sliding on his feet, deflecting Hatsu's follow-up strike with a deft twist. He retaliated with a sweeping swing, but Hatsu leaped skyward, the blade whistling beneath him.
In the stands, Felicia watched, her eyes alight with excitement. "Those two aren't bad—it's entertaining!"
Lihanna nodded, her voice tinged with approval. "Yeah, it is. They're evenly matched. A perfect way to kick off the first battle."
The fight escalated as Hatsu raised a hand, unleashing a barrage of plant-like orbs that pulsed with green energy, homing in on Raja. He dodged with breathtaking agility, flipping and twisting through the air, each evasion drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd. With a single, elegant arc, his blade surged with crimson energy, spinning in a full circle to shatter the orbs in a dazzling explosion. "Boom!" he shouted, but the victory was short-lived.
"Huh? Where is he?" Raja coughed, the air thickening with a strange toxin. "You tactical bastard! You used your toxin to slow me down—blinding me!" The arena transformed, a forest of mist and vines rising under Hatsu's command. I've got him now, Hatsu thought, cloaking himself in the environmental advantage. Raja's in my domain.
He closed in, striking from the shadows. "There!" Raja stepped back, dodging each blow with uncanny precision. "What—you can see?!" Hatsu exclaimed, his confidence wavering.
Raja's smirk was faint but deadly. "Barely, but it's all I need. Who needs eyes when you're so loud I can hear you? You stalled too long while I couldn't see—but I adapted. My trump card's active now. You're done, Hatsu!"
With a burst of speed, Raja dashed forward, teeth gritted. Hatsu retaliated, commanding the vines to ensnare him, but Raja's blade carved through them with brute force, his roar echoing. "No wayyy! He fully countered my technique!!" Hatsu cried, disbelief etched on his face.
Toto's voice surged with excitement, amplifying the drama. "Oh my, something's different on this field! Raja is a whole new warrior—he's turned the terrain into his advantage!" The crowd leaned forward, breathless, as Raja materialized before Hatsu. With a single, explosive motion, his sword clashed against Hatsu's block, the impact detonating in a fiery blast that shattered the domain, sending Hatsu skidding back.
Undeterred, Hatsu rushed in, challenging Raja head-on. Sparks of red and purple illuminated the battlefield as their swords met in a symphony of steel, each strike a testament to their skill. Another explosion rocked the arena, hurling both to the edges, their auras flaring in defiance.
"WOAH!" Toto shouted, his voice a crescendo of hype. "This battle—who will win? They're even now—this is intense! I'm hyped—these two are going crazy!"
With a mutual roar, they charged, blow for blow, Raja's fist slamming into Hatsu's chest as Hatsu's blade grazed Raja's rib. Their auras surged, a tempest of power, as they spun in a dizzying circle, their clashes resonating with the crowd's cheers. At the field's edge, Raja ducked under Hatsu's swing, rotating with a graceful yet lethal kick aimed at Hatsu's neck. "Good fight, Hatsu. I gave it everything I had," he whispered, the kick connecting with precision.
Hatsu crumpled, propelled beyond the arena's bounds, unconscious before he hit the ground. The crowd fell silent, the weight of the moment hanging heavy—until Toto's voice shattered the stillness. "Hatsu is eliminated! Raja wins!" The stands erupted, a tidal wave of applause and shouts washing over the arena.
Raijin, watching from the sidelines, nodded approvingly. "Those two put on one hell of a show. Wonder who my opponent will be." Toto seized Raja's arm, thrusting it skyward, declaring his victory to the roaring masses under Vrasnia's eternal night.