The arena fell into silence. The ground glowed with golden runes as the announcer's voice rang out, filled with excitement:
"Ladies and gentlemen! The next battle is between Jerome Frost and Arnie Johnson!"
From the stands, Ryan, Annie, and Ryu watched intently as the combat began.Jerome summoned an ice armor, molding blades and walls with practiced mastery. But Arnie… was unpredictable.
— "You think you understand me, Jerome?" he said, his eyes taking on a dull, shifting glow.— "That's your mistake."
Arnie's Incomplete Identity twisted like a glitch in reality.Jerome's ice attacks phased right through him — as if logic itself no longer applied.
He vanished and reappeared, launching a barrage of mutating energy.Finally, he struck Jerome in the chest with a dense, shifting punch — like an idea collapsing in on itself.
Jerome fell.
Winner: Arnie Johnson.
The New Draw
The giant screens flashed with the next pairings:
Ryan Valeborn vs Annie Halloway
Ryu Nox vs Arnie Johnson
— "It's getting real now," said Ryu, glancing at Ryan and Annie with respect.— "These fights will decide everything."
Annie looked at Ryan, her expression torn between emotion and sharp focus.
— "We're not going to hold back... right, Yan?"
Ryan nodded.
— "We're not. I promised I'd become a true hero... and to do that, I'll give it everything I've got."
Fight 1: Ryu Nox vs Arnie Johnson
The judge raised his hand:
"Prepare yourselves... FIGHT!"
Ryu dashed in instantly.Shadow seals lit up on his arms as he zigzagged across the battlefield with Silent Step, trying to disorient Arnie.
But Arnie just smirked.
— "You've labeled me 'fast'? Too bad. Now I'm 'slow'... and intangible."
Ryu's attacks passed through Arnie's spectral form.Each strike failed — Arnie's body morphed based on the opponent's perception.The crowd struggled to grasp what they were witnessing.
But then... Ryu smiled.
— "You adapt based on how others define you, right? Then I'll just stop trying to define you."
He closed his eyes.
Null Field: Valtier Void.
For a few seconds, Arnie froze — his ability nullified.In that instant, Ryu struck with his katana, unleashing his secret technique:
Sacred Shadow — a fusion of light and darkness, forged by his own hand.
A glowing X-shaped slash carved across Arnie's chest.
— "That... is your defeat," said Ryu, opening his eyes and staring at his fallen opponent.
Victory: Ryu Nox.
Ryu raised his arm, drenched in sweat and breathless — then looked up.
Kelvin watched from above, silent... but with a deep, visible pride in his eyes.
Darius burst into laughter:
— "Kelvin's gonna have a heart attack at this rate! I've never seen him this proud!"
Kelvin simply smiled — faint, but real.
Ryu stepped down from the stage and approached Arnie.
— "You're strong. Just unlucky to face someone like me today."
Arnie, still on the ground, gave a half-smile:
— "Wasn't luck. You really are a prodigy."
Final Scene
Ryu returned to the stands where Ryan and Annie waited.He looked at them and said:
— "Now it's your turn. Whoever wins... faces me in the final."
Ryan and Annie exchanged a look.
It wasn't just a fight anymore — it was a crossroads.A step toward the top.
And from high in the bleachers, Kairon, his dark cape fluttering in the wind, watched in silence.
— "Ryan Valeborn... is getting closer. To the throne… or to the abyss."
[End of Chapter 19]