A stunned silence fell over the arena. Then, as the words sank in, the commentator's face lit up with excitement. He turned toward the audience and shouted,
"Did you all hear that?! This Blader wants to battle EVERYONE at the same time!"
For a second, there was silence. Then, the crowd erupted in madness—cheers, whistles, and wild screams filled the entire stadium. The energy was electric, as if the arena itself had come to life.
The commentator laughed, his voice carrying the excitement. "Well, it seems like the audience wants this just as much as you do! So as you wish!"
A holographic screen materialized above the battlefield, displaying the challenger's image. The massive projection cast an intimidating aura, his eyes piercing through the display.
From the VIP section, Rose and Bolt stared at the screen. The moment Rose saw his face, an uneasy feeling crept up her spine. His presence, even through the screen, was overwhelming—cold, calculating, as if he could see directly into her soul.
She clenched her fists unconsciously. "Who… is this guy?"
Beside her, Mainak chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Now things will be more interesting."
Meanwhile, down in the arena, the other Bladers exchanged glances, some bewildered, some amused. One of them scoffed and stepped forward.
"This guy seriously thinks he can take all of us at once? Underestimating our skills like that… He'll regret it soon enough."
A few others nodded in agreement, their expressions hardening with determination. They weren't going to let this arrogance slide.
The commentator lifted his microphone. "Alright, all Bladers, take your positions!"
As the competitors moved into formation, the commentator shifted to another section of the arena, his voice booming once more.
"And now, the name of the Blader who has issued this insane challenge… Tenebris Thron!"
The name sent ripples through the crowd, as if just the mention of it carried weight. It was a name unfamiliar to most, but those who had heard it before felt an instant chill.
Just then, as all the Bladers were taking their stances, something unexpected happened.
One Blader casually walked past Tenebris.
For a fleeting second, their eyes met.
It was barely a moment—just a brief glance—but the sheer intensity of that eye contact silenced the entire arena. The once deafening cheers faded into an eerie hush, as if the world itself had frozen.
Tenebris narrowed his eyes slightly before a smirk curled at the edge of his lips.
"Oh… I like your attitude." His voice was low, almost amused. "I'll deal with you later."
The other Blader didn't respond. He simply raised his hand, signaling that he was stepping away. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the seating area where Bladers waited for their next match.
The moment passed, but the impact lingered in the air.
The crowd, sensing something significant had just occurred, murmured in hushed tones. Who was that Blader? Why did Tenebris single him out?
Up in the VIP section, Rose exhaled slowly. That moment of silence had felt… unnatural. A quiet storm brewing beneath the surface.
Bolt, ever the curious one, leaned forward. "Okay, what was THAT all about? That was tense as hell."
Mainak, watching with intrigue, smirked. "This tournament just got a lot more interesting."
Down in the battlefield, Tenebris cracked his knuckles, eyes glinting with dark amusement.
"Alright then… Let's begin."
The commentator hesitated for a brief moment, eyes darting between the Bladers as if struggling to process the audacity of this match. But his role was clear—to amplify the moment, to stoke the fire of anticipation burning in the hearts of the spectators. Raising his microphone, he finally declared:
"Let's start! All six Bladers, take your positions! But remember—the rules are different this time!"
A hush spread through the stadium as he continued, his voice heavy with suspense.
"To win, the six Bladers must do one of two things—either successfully burst Tenebris' Blade… or force him to drop it to the ground!"
A wave of murmurs and gasps rippled through the stands. The conditions were clear, but so was the weight of this challenge. A six-versus-one duel was already unheard of, yet the fact that Tenebris still radiated absolute confidence sent chills through even the most seasoned warriors in the crowd.
Down on the battlefield, the six Bladers moved into position, encircling Tenebris from every direction.
Each of them gripped their Blades with fierce determination, their fingers tightening over the hilts. Their bodies were poised like coiled springs, every muscle prepared to strike the moment the match began. Their gazes locked onto their singular target, watching for the slightest shift in his stance.
Tenebris, however, stood unnervingly still at the center of the formation.
His posture was relaxed, almost casual—his Blade resting in one hand, the tip lightly grazing the ground. No tension in his stance, no sign of concern. Instead, he wore a faint smirk, as if amused by the situation rather than threatened.
His piercing, predatory eyes swept across his opponents, studying them not as equals, but as mere obstacles. The air around him felt thick, oppressive, like a storm gathering strength just before the first lightning strike.
"This is it! The countdown begins!" the commentator roared.
The crowd, electrified by the tension, joined in, their voices building in a deafening crescendo.
"THREE… TWO…"
Then—
BOOM!
A cataclysmic explosion erupted from the center of the battlefield.
A shockwave blasted outward in all directions, sending a violent ripple through the ground. Dust and debris shot into the air as the force of the impact cracked the stone beneath them. The commentator stumbled, barely managing to brace himself against the force.
Gasps and screams tore through the crowd as they shielded their eyes from the sudden blinding light that followed the detonation. A thick haze engulfed the arena, swirling like a raging storm.
Then, just as suddenly, the battlefield was encased in a glowing blue barrier.
The energy wall surged to life, pulsing with raw power, trapping the combatants inside. Its transparent surface flickered with waves of energy, distorting the figures within like heat rising off the desert sand.
The six Bladers coughed, regaining their footing, their senses struggling to adjust to the sudden explosion. Their bodies still trembled from the sheer force of the impact. Some had dropped to one knee, struggling against the weight of the pressure that lingered in the air.
And yet—at the very center of the devastation, Tenebris stood completely unfazed.
His smirk had deepened, his grip on his Blade unchanged. His black coat fluttered from the aftershock, yet his stance had not shifted an inch.
One of the Bladers, still shaken, gritted his teeth.
"W-what the hell was that?! We didn't even start yet!"
Another, clutching his sword tightly, narrowed his eyes at Tenebris.
"That wasn't a normal shockwave… it felt like…" He hesitated. "Like a warning."
From the VIP section, Rose's fingers gripped the railing as her heart pounded in her chest.
"That power… that wasn't just for show," she murmured, eyes locked onto Tenebris. "He's sending a message—he's letting them know exactly what they're up against."
Beside her, Bolt leaned forward, his excitement unshaken.
"Oh yeah… this just got way more interesting."
Back in the arena, the commentator, regaining his composure, wiped the sweat from his brow and let out a shaky laugh.
"WELL THEN! Looks like this battle is already on a whole different level! But will Tenebris be able to back up his confidence, or will the six Bladers overwhelm him? Let's FIND OUT!"
The crowd erupted once more, their earlier shock replaced by pure exhilaration.
Inside the barrier, the six warriors steadied themselves. Despite the eerie, bone-deep unease creeping into their minds, none of them were willing to back down.
Tenebris tilted his head slightly, his glowing eyes reflecting the energy of the barrier. Then, with the laziest flick of his wrist, he raised his sword—finally acknowledging them.
And with a chilling grin, he whispered—just loud enough for them to hear:
"Come then… Let's see if you can make this fun."
The battlefield was chaos—flashes of steel, ringing clashes, and the sheer force of six warriors attacking as one. Dust filled the air, kicked up by the relentless assault, yet through it all, Tenebris remained untouched.
Every strike, thrust, and slash was met with effortless precision. He moved like a shadow, slipping between blades, deflecting attacks with barely a flick of his wrist. No wasted movements. No hesitation.
To the crowd, it looked like he was dancing through death itself—not a warrior struggling to survive, but a predator playing with its prey.
One of the Bladers, panting heavily, scowled. "What the hell is this?! He's just defending!"
Another sneered, frustration creeping into his voice. "He's scared. He knows he can't take us all, so he's just dodging!"
At that moment, Tenebris stopped moving.
For the first time, he lowered his Blade.
His golden eyes glowed, sharp as a dagger under the arena lights. And then, with a voice as cold as the void, he spoke:
"I thought this would be fun... but this is boring."
The words cut deeper than any blade.
The six Bladers stiffened, their grips tightening on their weapons. Their hearts pounded—not just from exertion, but from something else.
A feeling.
Something unnatural.
Tenebris exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders. The air around him grew heavy, thick with an invisible force. A dark mist seeped from the ground beneath his feet, curling around him like living shadows.
Something was coming.
From the waiting area, a Blader who had been silently watching the fight suddenly sat up, his face pale. His fists clenched, his breathing unsteady.
"That energy… it's—!"
Before he could finish, the shift in the atmosphere became undeniable.
The commentator's voice wavered, struggling to keep control.
"T-Tenebris is… he's no longer just defending… something is changing!"
The six Bladers didn't hesitate. They couldn't afford to.
With a unified battle cry, they leaped into the air, their swords igniting with raw energy. Their signature techniques, each one powerful enough to decide a normal battle, flared to life.
Golden light. Blazing flames. Shimmering wind. The battlefield erupted with their combined power.
This was it—this was their chance to end him.
And then—
"PRIME APOCALYPSE…!!!"
The words weren't just shouted—they were roared, echoing through the entire stadium like the voice of a god.
BOOM!
A titanic explosion of dark energy erupted from Tenebris' Blade.
The battlefield vanished in an instant, swallowed by a surge of black and violet energy. The sheer force of it ripped through the arena, sending shockwaves outward.
The blue barrier flickered, struggling to contain the sheer destructive force.
The six Bladers' attacks disintegrated on impact, their once-mighty energy moves erased like they were nothing.
The crowd screamed, shielding their eyes as the entire stadium was bathed in a blinding purple light. The ground cracked beneath Tenebris' feet, the very air humming with violent energy.
Up in the VIP section, Rose's breath caught in her throat.
"No…" she whispered. "This isn't normal energy… this is something else."
Bolt, his usual excitement gone, could only stare. His fingers dug into the railing.
"What kind of power is this…?"
Down below, the Blader from the waiting area, the one who had sensed the change, clenched his jaw. His eyes burned with recognition—and dread.
"I've felt this before…"
He swallowed hard, voice barely above a whisper.
"This isn't just a technique… this is something far worse."
As the purple energy storm raged, the silhouettes of the six Bladers were barely visible.
And then—
One by one, their Blades burst.
The sound of metal shattering filled the battlefield. Swords cracked apart, hilts snapped from the force, pieces of broken steel scattering across the ground.
One… Two… Three… Four… Five…
By the time the smoke cleared, only one Blader still stood—his sword barely intact, his entire body shaking.
And in front of him, Tenebris stood untouched.
His Blade, still whole, pulsed with the lingering remnants of Prime Apocalypse.
He lifted his gaze, his eyes piercing through the dying light, and whispered—
"Pathetic."
The last Blader standing felt his knees buckle. His fingers twitched around his Blade—but deep inside, he knew.
He never stood a chance.
The stadium was silent. Not a single cheer. Not a single voice. Just the echoes of shattered swords and the aftermath of a power they could barely comprehend.
The arena was deathly still—the storm of energy fading, leaving behind only dust and silence.
Up in the waiting area, a lone Blader—the one who had sensed the shift earlier—stood up. His eyes were wide, his breath unsteady. The weight of the moment pressed down on him like an unmovable force.
Around him, the air felt different. The battlefield below was no longer just a place of combat—it was a graveyard of shattered Blades.
Rose, Bolt, and Mainak closed their eyes, as if trying to shield themselves from the devastation before them. Even without seeing, they could feel it.
That overwhelming presence.
That terrifying, suffocating force.
It was over.
And Tenebris had barely even tried.
Down on the battlefield, the commentator's hoverboard wavered unsteadily as he approached the devastation. The dust was still settling, the remains of broken swords littering the ground like fallen warriors.
Not a single Blader remained standing.
Their Blades—once their greatest weapons, their pride, their souls—were now nothing but shattered fragments.
Their bodies lay sprawled across the field, unconscious, defeated not just physically, but completely.
One move.
That's all it had taken.
One word.
And they had been erased.
The commentator, usually the loudest voice in the arena, could only stare. His microphone trembled in his grip, his mind struggling to form the words.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he managed to force out the only sentence that mattered.
"A-And the winner is… Tenebris…"
The stadium erupted.
The cheers were wild, deafening—yet mixed with something else.
Excitement? Yes.
But also fear.
There was no denying it—this wasn't just victory. This was absolute, merciless dominance.
Even those who had supported Tenebris before now felt an unease creeping into their excitement.
Was this what they wanted to see?
A battle with no contest?
A warrior who didn't just win—but crushed?
Up in the VIP section, Rose finally opened her eyes, staring down at the battlefield. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, but she barely noticed.
She couldn't ignore what she had just witnessed.
"This… this is even worse than Blaze."
Beside her, Bolt swallowed hard. He was rarely ever speechless—but now? Now, he wasn't sure what to say.
"This guy… he's not just strong," Bolt muttered. "He's… unstoppable."
Mainak leaned forward, his usual amusement gone. Instead, his face was set in unreadable contemplation.
"No," he finally said, voice low. "He's worse than that."
Rose turned to him, but before she could speak, another voice cut through the tension like a blade.
Tenebris had barely moved since the fight ended. He stood alone in the battlefield, the only warrior left standing among the fallen.
Yet despite the destruction at his feet, he showed no pride, no arrogance.
Only certainty.
Slowly, he lifted his Blade.
Not in celebration.
Not in triumph.
But as a message.
His golden eyes locked onto the Blader who had been watching from the waiting area. The one who had felt his power before anyone else. The one who had recognized the darkness.
With absolute finality, Tenebris pointed his sword directly at him.
And then, he spoke only two words.
"Next target… is you."
The Weight of the Words
A chill swept through the stadium.
The crowd, moments ago cheering, fell into a hushed murmur.
Up in the waiting area, the Blader's breath caught. His fingers twitched at his side, unconsciously reaching for his Blade.
It was instinct. A warrior's instinct.
To fight.
To survive.
But this wasn't just a challenge. It was a death sentence.
The air grew heavy again, thick with unspoken tension.
In the VIP section, Rose felt her heart hammering against her ribs.
"No… he's already looking for his next opponent?"
Bolt gritted his teeth. "He's not done. He wants more."
Mainak, still watching Tenebris closely, exhaled slowly.
"That's not just a challenge," he murmured. "That's a promise."
And below, as the energy in the arena shifted once again, the Blader in the waiting area clenched his fists.
His eyes burned with something other than fear.
He lifted his head, meeting Tenebris' gaze.
And this time—he did not look away.
The energy in the arena shifted. Something powerful was about to unfold.
Even in Arena A and B, where Blaze and Jasper were locked in their own battles, they suddenly paused. A wave of intense energy surged through the stadium, sending shivers down their spines.
This wasn't just any battle. This was something greater.
The Lone Blader Steps Forward
Back in the battlefield, the dust from the previous battle had barely settled when he stood up.
The one who had refused to participate when Tenebris challenged all bladers.
The moment he rose from his seat, the crowd roared. They had been waiting for this. He had been waiting for this.
The tension skyrocketed as he stepped forward, entering the battlefield with a calm, composed aura—but his eyes held fire.
To be continue....