he arena gate opened with a triumphant metallic roar.Ryan stepped out, his eyes still faintly glowing, sweat dripping from his brow.The crowd chanted his name.But in his heart, only one thought echoed:
"This was just the beginning."
As he walked through the competitors' corridor, a voice reached him.
— "Nice win, Ryan." — said Kane, leaning against a wall, arms crossed, his expression somewhere between respect and a lingering rivalry.
Ryan paused, breathless.
— "Thanks, man."
Kane unfolded his arms and stepped closer.
— "I hope I get to face you in the semifinals. But listen… I won't go easy. I'm going to win and become the greatest of all."
Ryan raised his eyes, steady, determined.
— "I'm not going to lose to you, Kane. I'm tired of lowering my head to everyone. Today… I'm going to win."
Kane smirked, turning away.
— "Then you'll need something more... like Aura."He vanished down the corridor, leaving tension in the air.
Shortly after, Annie ran up and hugged Ryan tightly.
— "What a win, Yan!" — she laughed, relief and joy in her voice.
Ryan hugged her back, exhausted but happy.
— "It was close."
Then came the voice from the loudspeaker:
"Attention! Next match: Abby Fountier vs Annie Halloway. Competitors, report to the arena immediately."
Annie took a deep breath. Ryan touched her shoulder and said:
— "Abby is powerful… but her heart limits her power. She can only use it twice a day. Go and win."
Annie nodded, full of resolve.
Conflict Arena – Duel of Heroines
The battlefield was set. Intense lights, thousands of eyes upon them.The prism-crystal floor reflected the colors of every step.
The referee raised a hand.
"Ready... FIGHT!"
Abby stepped back immediately, cautious.Annie followed her with sharp eyes.
— "You... can't even strike at me, can you?" — Annie taunted.
Abby frowned, firm.
— "You're no one to judge how I fight. I'm not like you."
Annie smiled.
— "Then you leave me no choice."
Prismatic Domain!
A field of light formed around Abby.The colors shifted with Annie's movement: time sped up for her, slowed down for Abby.
But then, for the first time... Abby activated her first ability.
Rain of Emotions!
Satellites aligned in the sky. Colored lights — red, blue, gold, pink — fell like emotional tears.
Each explosion carried a feeling:
Guilt: shook the soul.
Happy Memories: numbed the senses.
Love: burned with a warm, radiant light.
Annie tried to resist, but the emotional barrage struck her. Her knees buckled.The crowd held its breath.
Abby raised her arm.
Satellite Cannon: Sentinel Beam!
The sky opened.
— "Emotion: DETERMINATION!"
A golden and blue beam fell from the heavens like a divine judgment.The entire arena lit up.
BOOOOM!
Annie flew backward. Dust. Silence.
But... she was still standing.
From the crowd, Ryan's voice broke the silence:
— "Finish it, Annie!"
Abby's eyes widened. Annie looked up, tears falling — and smiled.
— "You use emotions as fuel... but you don't understand what I feel right now. It's something bigger than me."
She raised her hand. The field around her pulsed with never-before-seen intensity.
— "It's LOVE. That's why… I'LL END THIS!"
Liminal Field Explosion!
Prismatic light condensed. The ground trembled.Barriers, vectors, impulses — everything exploded outward in a single wave of pure emotional light.
Abby was thrown back, overwhelmed by Annie's emotional radiance.
Annie dropped to her knees, gasping, nearly drained.
The arena erupted in cheers.
"THE WINNER IS… ANNIE HALLOWAY!!"
Shouts, applause, camera flashes.A fight forever remembered as:
"The Duel of Emotions."
Backstage
Ryan waited for her. Annie emerged with help from assistants.Even exhausted, she extended her hand to him with a soft smile.
— "I kept my promise. Now… it's your turn to shine again."
And he took her hand — eyes still glowing with deep galactic blue.
[End of Chapter 17]