Tenebris, standing in the center of the field, smirked. "Finally, you decided to move."
The challenger walked until he was only a few feet away, eyes locked onto Tenebris with a piercing gaze.
The commentator's voice boomed through the speakers—
"AND NOW… THE FINAL CHALLENGER STEPS INTO THE ARENA!"
The excitement in the crowd doubled. They knew who he was. They had seen his skill before.
The commentator continued—
"THE FEARLESS BLADER—TALON DARKOS! AND HIS BLADE—VYBRON!!!"
Rose and Bolt's eyes widened as they watched from the VIP section.
"He was the one who didn't fight before…" Rose muttered.
Bolt nodded. "Looks like he was saving his strength for this moment."
Talon stood firm, gripping Vybron tightly. His expression was calm, but his presence was unshakable.
"I know you also have a legendary Blade."
Tenebris twirled Prime Apocalypse, its dark purple aura crackling around it like living fire. His lips curled into a twisted grin.
"Oh, you know?" His voice dropped, low and menacing. "You have a little bit of darkness in you… but my Darkness will devour you."
Talon didn't flinch. His voice was steady. "I will show the world that I will become the champion who defeated a legendary Blade." He lifted Vybron, its sharp edge gleaming under the stadium lights. "And then, I will challenge Blaze."
The mention of Blaze made the crowd erupt.
But in the VIP section, Rose and Bolt weren't shocked about Blaze's legendary Blade—they already knew. What caught them off guard was something far greater.
"So Tenebris has one too…" Rose whispered, her heartbeat quickening.
Bolt clenched his fists. "Then this battle is going to be something else. The destruction will be on a whole different level."
Rose nodded, a sense of unease creeping in. She had seen what Blaze's Venom Devolos could do. If Prime Apocalypse was anything like it…
This battle was going to be absolute chaos.
Tenebris let out a deep, amused laugh. "I like your confidence…" His dark energy surged again, making the very ground tremble. "But you will never win against me."
Talon's grip tightened on Vybron.
The commentator raised his hand.
The entire arena held its breath.
"LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!"
3…
Talon's eyes locked onto Tenebris.
2…
Tenebris' smirk widened, his dark aura intensifying.
1…
The battlefield erupted into chaos.
The arena trembled under the weight of the two warriors' power. The red energy barrier flickered, reacting violently to the sheer force radiating from Talon and Tenebris.
As soon as the countdown ended—
BOOM!
Both warriors exploded into motion, their blades colliding with a force that shattered the ground beneath them. The impact created a massive energy shockwave, sending ripples of power crashing against the red barrier, causing it to flare brighter as it struggled to contain the destruction.
Talon moved like lightning, his body twisting mid-air as he unleashed a rapid series of precise, powerful strikes with Vybron. His purple aura flared around him, his blade slicing through the air with a serpentine grace, like a dragon weaving through the storm.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Each attack met Prime Apocalypse in a dazzling display of sparks and shockwaves. But Tenebris wasn't just blocking—he was predicting. His movements were unnaturally fluid, as if he could see every strike before it even happened. He countered with swift, brutal efficiency, his blade moving in a dark, elegant dance.
The ground beneath them cracked as they clashed, neither giving an inch. Their footwork was so fast that their silhouettes blurred, moving across the battlefield like shadows of war. The barrier shuddered, absorbing each impact, but even it was struggling to hold back the storm of energy.
The crowd was in absolute chaos. The explosions, the shockwaves, the violent ripples of energy surging through the battlefield—it was more than anything they had ever seen before. Some cheered, some screamed, some could only watch in stunned silence.
In the VIP section, Rose gripped the armrest of her seat tightly, her heart pounding. "This isn't a normal battle… This is something else."
Bolt's eyes were wide, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's like they're fighting in a different dimension… No one can keep up with that speed."
Mainak crossed his arms, eyes sharp. "This is what happens when two warriors with true power collide."
The Hidden Spirits – Only They Can See
As the battle raged, both bladers saw something that no one else could.
Behind Talon, Vybron's spirit—a massive, ethereal dragon—hovered protectively, its serpentine body coiling through the air, its piercing purple eyes locked onto Tenebris. It was not just a force of power—it was his will, his soul, his determination.
Behind Tenebris, Prime Apocalypse's dragon spirit loomed, its massive, shadowed form barely visible within the storm of dark violet energy. Unlike Vybron, it didn't just exist—it consumed. It was chaos, destruction, and absolute domination given form.
No one else could see them.
No one else could feel the rage of their battle.
Only Talon and Tenebris knew what was truly happening.
The Ultimate Techniques – Energy Collides
Talon's eyes burned with focus. He took a deep breath, his aura flaring violently as he pushed Vybron's power to its limit.
Then, he let out a deafening battle cry—
"VYBRON!!!"
His entire aura erupted, his blade glowing a deep purple as if it had been bathed in the heart of a storm. The air cracked as he swung his sword, his spirit guiding him.
"ETERNAL WYRM SLASH!!!"
A devastating arc of purple energy tore through the battlefield, twisting and writhing like a dragon's claw, shredding through the air with terrifying force. The sheer heat of the attack caused the red barrier to distort, warping under the pressure.
But Tenebris simply laughed.
A cold, merciless laugh.
His aura darkened, and the air around him became heavy, suffocating. The battlefield seemed to shrink as if the very world was bending under his presence.
Then, his voice rang out, commanding and absolute—
"PRIME APOCALYPSE!!!"
His dark violet aura expanded instantly, swallowing the battlefield in a storm of malevolent energy. The ground beneath his feet cracked and shattered, the space around him distorting. His blade pulsed, darker than ever.
With a single, devastating motion, he swung—
"ECLIPSE WIPE!!!"
A devastating arc of purple energy tore through the battlefield, twisting and writhing like a dragon's claw, shredding through the air with terrifying force. The sheer heat of the attack caused the red barrier to distort, warping under the pressure.
A massive wave of black and violet energy surged forward, a swirling vortex of destruction, as if the night itself had come to consume all light.
The two attacks collided.
And then—
BOOOOOOOM!!!
The impact was cataclysmic.
A shockwave erupted, blasting apart the battlefield, sending debris flying in every direction. The red barrier crackled wildly, struggling to contain the force, cracks forming along its surface.
The entire stadium trembled as the collision of Vybron and Prime Apocalypse's power sent a violent whirlwind of energy spiraling into the sky.
The crowd screamed, some shielding their eyes, others frozen in pure awe. The commentator barely managed to stay on his hoverboard, his voice shaking—
"UNBELIEVABLE! THIS IS POWER BEYOND IMAGINATION!!!"
For a moment, it looked like the battlefield itself might collapse.
Then—
A sharp, deafening crack.
Everyone's eyes widened.
Talon's blade trembled.
Then, with a final burst of energy—
CRACK!!!
Vybron's blade detached from its hilt—bursted.
For a heartbeat, there was silence.
Talon stood frozen, his breathing heavy, his fingers gripping the now-empty handle of his sword. The remnants of Vybron's blade clattered onto the battlefield, its once brilliant purple aura fading into the air.
The battle was over.
The crowd erupted in chaos.
Some screamed in excitement, others in disbelief.
In the VIP section, Rose felt her breath catch. "He actually lost…"
Bolt clenched his fists. "Even with all that power, Tenebris was still stronger."
Mainak exhaled sharply. "No… Tenebris wasn't just stronger. He was absolute."
The commentator, after a moment of stunned silence, finally found his voice—
"AND THE WINNER IS… TENEBRIS THORN!!!"
The stadium shook with deafening cheers and cries.
Down on the battlefield, Tenebris stood tall, lowering Prime Apocalypse, his victory absolute. He took a step forward, his gaze cold as he pointed his blade directly at Talon.
"You were strong," he admitted, his voice dark and taunting, "but not strong enough."
Talon's fists clenched. He had given everything, and yet, his blade lay shattered at his feet.
He had lost.
And now, standing before him, was a force unlike any other.
Tenebris. The warrior of destruction. The master of Prime Apocalypse.
The Arena C was a storm of roaring cheers and applause, the entire stadium shaking with excitement. The crowd was still in shock from the sheer dominance Tenebris had shown throughout the tournament. His overwhelming power had left an unforgettable mark on the battlefield.
The commentator flew over the Arena on his hoverboard, his voice echoing across the massive stadium.
"Finally, we have our Winner of Arena C—Tenebris!! The new shining star who has dominated every blader, crushing every opponent in his path. And now, he has defeated his final challenger, Talon Darkos!"
The camera zoomed in on Talon, who was still on the battlefield, his grip tightening around the hilt of his Blade, Vybron. His breath was heavy, but his determination was stronger than ever. Sweat dripped from his forehead, his heart pounding with a mix of frustration and resolve. He refused to accept this loss as the end.
Talon gritted his teeth and lifted his blade, his voice firm, carrying his unyielding spirit.
"Tenebris, this isn't over." His eyes burned with determination. "One day, I will defeat you, and you will finally know what real power is. I'll train harder, push beyond my limits, and when we meet again... I will burst your blade."
Tenebris, who had already turned to leave, paused for a brief moment. His expression remained unreadable, his dark aura still lingering around him. Without even looking back, he replied in a calm but chilling voice.
"I'll be waiting."
And with that, he walked toward the exit, disappearing into the shadows.
The commentator, recovering from the intensity of the battle, spoke up again, his voice trying to match the electrifying atmosphere.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! We have our first finalist for the Grand Showdown—Tenebris! But the battle is far from over. Matches are still raging in Arena A and B. Who will be our next two finalists? Stay tuned to find out!"
Rose and Bolt had watched the entire battle unfold from their VIP seats, both of them still shaken by Tenebris' terrifying strength. The shockwaves of his power had been felt even from a distance.
Rose clutched her hands together, her mind racing with thoughts. She had seen strong bladers before, but this… this was different.
"I'm a little afraid..." she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. "Can Blaze really defeat Tenebris?"
Bolt, usually full of confidence, hesitated. For the first time, doubt crept into his mind. He had always believed in Blaze's strength, but after witnessing what Tenebris had done...
"I don't know," Bolt admitted. "I really don't know if Blaze can win this tournament."
Rose, however, shook her head and steeled herself. "No." Her voice was firm now. "I believe in Blaze. No matter what, he will win."
Bolt looked at her, surprised by the sudden conviction in her voice. He could see it in her eyes—pure faith, unwavering trust in Blaze. It reminded him why they had come all this way in the first place.
He let out a small grin and nodded. "Yeah. You're right. Blaze has never lost to anyone before. We just have to trust him."
Bolt checked the digital screens that displayed the battle progress.
"Arena C's matches are over, but Arena A is still going!" His eyes widened. "That means we still have a chance to see Blaze in action!"
Rose's eyes lit up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Without wasting a second, the two of them rushed towards the elevator that would take them down to Arena A.
As they reached the elevator doors, a familiar voice called out behind them.
"Can I come with you?"
They turned to see Mainak, standing there with a slight smile.
Rose blinked, slightly surprised. She wasn't expecting him to join them.
For a brief second, she hesitated—still adjusting to the idea of being friends with him. But then, she gave a small smile and nodded.
"Sure. I think we're friends now."
Mainak's eyes softened at her words, and he stepped into the elevator with them.
From the VIP section, Xander Starcrest, the ruler of the Universe, watched as his son left with Rose and Bolt.
His royal advisor, Sudipto, leaned forward slightly, his expression concerned.
"Sir, are you sure about letting Mainak go alone? Shouldn't we have guards accompany him?"
Xander remained calm, his gaze steady as he watched the elevator descend.
"Mainak is growing," he said simply. "We cannot keep him in a cage forever. He needs to find his own way, make his own choices."
Sudipto hesitated, then nodded. "But… what if something happens?"
Xander smiled slightly. "Then he will learn. Besides, he's just making friends. We shouldn't stop him from experiencing that."
As the three disappeared into the depths of the Arena, Xander leaned back in his chair, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
"Making friends, huh?" he muttered under his breath. "Maybe that's exactly what he needs."
To be continue...