Announcer 1:
"And that's the end of Match 2—what a twist in the tale! Jimmy, with near-silent command and unpredictable tactics, pulls off an impressive win against Krav—one of the most feared combatants of this bracket!"
Announcer 2:
"Absolutely thrilling! Ondirael's water manipulation and deceptive illusions turned the battlefield into a trap. That triple clone into Aqua Tackle… incredible reading of Hauntusk's phasing pattern."
Announcer 1:
"But we must not overlook what just happened just now—Aaro's match was a painful loss. His Fire Bird opened strong, but Henry's Volttusk—oh, it was relentless! Fast, smart, and with that coiling maneuverer, it shut down every aerial advantage."
Crowd Murmurs:
"Did you see that spiral Thunder Net? That Voltusk is vicious."
"Still, that water Whisp… what's her name, Luna? She outsmarted Hauntusk."
"Why didn't Aaro command a retreat sooner?"
"He hesitated at the third dive. That was the moment."
"Yeah… but Jimmy didn't hesitate even once."
On the Red Bench (Krav's Team):
Krav sat hunched, sweat-drenched, staring at the ground.
Saya crossed her arms, murmuring, "They aren't just flukes. He baited your ghost like he knew its weakness."
Henry chuckled, still buzzing from his own win. "They're tricky. But one spark was all I needed. Let's finish the next one before they learn again."
On the Blue Bench (Jimmy's Team):
Velka placed a quiet hand on Aaro's shoulder. "You did your best."
Aaro exhaled deeply, wiping soot off his sleeve. "His Voltusk had more stamina. I should've conserved the third Blaze Wing."
Jimmy said nothing, still staring at him.
.
Vice Principal Rollo frowned, arms folded. "A 1-1 outcome. Promising, but the boy with the fire Whisp lacked finishing instinct."
Professor Renaris leaned forward with interest. "Aaro hesitated at the edge. He had a shot—Volttusk's coils were briefly open—but he didn't take it."
Principal Keillor, with his usual calm, responded, "Which is something teachable. Instinct can grow. But Jimmy… that wasn't instinct. That was calculation. Pre-meditated tempo control. Deliberate misdirection."
Administrator Ralden narrowed his eyes. "And done without speaking a single word. Not talent, not luck—he manipulated the entire battle rhythm through sync alone."
Class Teacher finally spoke, her voice thoughtful. "I placed him in the roster expecting growth… but I underestimated his adaptability."
Rollo added, "But they still couldn't secure a full victory."
Renaris countered with a grin, "No, but what matters is momentum. Look at Krav—his composure cracked. You can't teach fear like that. It means the balance is shifting."
Keillor looked toward the field one last time. "Let's see if the third match tilts the scales… or breaks them."
..........................
Velka vs Saya – Grace Meets Grit
Velka stepped onto the battlefield, her eyes steady. By her side padded her Whisp—Florashade, a Grass-type wolf with vine-wrapped legs, thorn-cloaked shoulders, and glowing green eyes. Each of its steps bloomed tiny flowers before they vanished in a whisper of light. Its fur rustled like leaves in a breeze, and from its tail trailed a thin stream of bioluminescent pollen.
On the opposite side stood Saya, calm and calculating, with Mirrorail gliding beside her—its mirrored fins rippling like liquid glass, reflecting Velka and Florashade in a dozen shifting angles. Its silver-blue body pulsed with psychic energy, its eyes like still water hiding deep thought.
The whistle blew.
Florashade darted forward like a shadow through grass, vines lashing out. But Mirrorail didn't move—instead, it projected a shimmering mirage, reflecting Velka's own strategy right back at her. The vines struck nothing but illusion.
Cheers erupted—
"Did it just copy her?!"
"That's Saya's Mirrorail! You don't beat her in tactics! She beats 5 person alone in admission exam."
"What a monster!"
Velka narrowed her eyes. She signalled, and Florashade launched Root Snare, sending underground tendrils toward Mirrorail's reflected shimmer.
But again—nothing. Another illusion.
From behind, a sudden psychic blast slammed into Florashade, sending it tumbling.
Jimmy watched from the side, his eyes alert. "She's not panicking," he signed silently. "She's adapting."
Velka breathed, then called, "Camouflage!" Florashade vanished among the flora growing from its own energy—blending, shifting.
"Whoa—Florashade's gone!"
"Is that stealth in a tournament?!"
Mirrorail glided in a slow circle, its fins twitching as it scanned.
Then—CRACK!
A leaping ambush—Florashade's Thorn Pounce from above!
Mirrorail shimmered, barely dodging—but a deep gash appeared across its side. A clean hit.
Crowd screamed—
"Velka turned the tide!"
"She's not just Class B anymore!"
But Saya remained unfazed. "Refract."
Mirrorail spun, creating a mirrored dome around itself. A psychic reflection exploded outward—Florashade howled in pain, flung back.
Both Whisps stood again—battered, panting.
Velka shouted one final command: "Bloomfang!"
Florashade's teeth erupted in moss and vine as it charged.
Saya raised her hand. "Psycho ripple."
The two collided.
A brilliant shockwave of green and blue.
Silence.
Then… Florashade crumbled to the ground, unconscious.
The whistle blew.
Saya won.
But the crowd didn't jeer—they roared.
"Legendary fight!"
"Velka made her bleed!"
"Did you see that wolf move?!"
"They'll be talking about this one!"
Announcer said "And she's down! But that wasn't defeat—it was defiance until the very last second!"
............................................
Back of the Arena – Under the Cooling Trees
The matches were over. The buzz of excitement still echoed in the air as teams regrouped in quiet corners. Jimmy sat on a bench beneath the shade of an old tree.
Footsteps approached—heavy boots and softer padding.
Aaro stood tall, arms crossed awkwardly.
Velka trailed beside him, eyes to the ground, Florashade's vines wrapping loosely around her wrist like a comforting hand.
They both stopped in front of Jimmy.
Aaro exhaled sharply. "Jimmy… I— We should've won."
Velka spoke next, her voice soft. "You held your ground. We… didn't. I gave it everything, but it wasn't enough."
Jimmy looked up. His calm, unreadable gaze met theirs. He said nothing at first. Only gave a gentle smile, then took out his notebook.
Jimmy wrote:
"don't worry. one lost does not determine everything. Next year. I am going to practice."
He looked at each of them, then added beneath:
"Can we come?" jimmy nodded in no.
They also understand, everyone has a privacy.
...........................................
Background Crowd Reactions:
"That team only had one win—why are they still walking tall?"
"They should've been crushed entirely. It's favouritism."
"No, you didn't watch properly. That boy—Jimmy—outplayed a ghost. With style."
"Velka's fight was incredible. And that firebird? Still got bite."
"They lost, yeah—but they made people watch."
As they stood together in silence for a moment, the breeze carried the last echoes of the crowd's divided voices. Some cheered them. Some mocked.
But none of them… ignored them.
.......................................
Post-Match Evaluation Room – Staff Hall, Behind the Arena
Present: Principal Keillor, Vice Principal Rollo, Administrator Ralden, Professor Renaris, Combat Referee Lazen, and Class B homeroom teacher Mr. Enza.
Keillor (firm tone):
"Team 1. Two losses, one win. Let's begin with what matters—performance, not prestige."
Rollo (rubbing his temples):
"Aaro. Raw firepower. No doubt about that. But… his recklessness cost him. He lost control of the tempo after the second strike."
Renaris (checking his notes):
"He didn't adapt. Voltusk baited him every time with that coil surge tactic, and he fell for it. Disappointing—he had the edge at the start."
Lazen (gruff):
"He won't be demoted, but he needs structure. Pairing him with a strategy-type in the future might balance that."
Rollo (nods):
"A-Class potential, but not this cycle."
Keillor (turns to next record):
"Velka."
Administrator Ralden (smiling faintly):
"Now that one… what a battle. Loss on paper, but the crowd would disagree."
Renaris:
"Mirrorail is hard to read, literally. Yet Florashade countered her illusions, disrupted her psychic range with pollen—a brilliant tactic."
Enza (softly):
"She's from B-Class. And yet… she made Saya fight like her life depended on it."
Keillor (decisive):
"She won't go down for this. But no promotion either—not yet. What she showed was potential. But potential must evolve."
Lazen (leans forward):
"Now. Jimmy."
(Silence for a moment.)
Rollo (sighs):
"He won."
Keillor:
"A hard win. Clever. Clean. Disguised tactics, water-illusion use, battlefield manipulation…"
Renaris:
"And not a single spoken command. The way Luna responded to his silent signals—it's something we haven't seen in years."
Rollo:
"I admit, I underestimated him. Many of us did. But one win doesn't rewrite the board."
Raldan:
"True. But it might redraw the edges."
Keillor:
"He'll go into the Reserve List. If an A-Class participant withdraws, underperforms, or is injured—he'll be placed immediately."
Rollo (reluctant):
"And if no replacement is needed?"
Keillor:
"Then we watch. Let him grow. Let others fear what we once ignored."