Vice Principal: "Round 1, one-on-one match, first bout! Fighters, step forward and introduce yourselves and your Spirit levels!"
With a deep breath, Wang Cheng stepped out from Arthur's group lineup. His muscles were tense, but his eyes blazed with fire!
"Wang Cheng, Level 8, Beast Spirit: Mountain Tiger!" A faint aura of a large and powerful tiger projected behind him before merging into his body. His long, sharp, gleaming spirit claws emerged from his fingertips, ready to tear and shred!
From across the way, a tall, burly youth with a smug smile stepped forward. The white spirit ring on his hand glowed!
"Liang Chao, Level 11, Beast Spirit: Thorned Boar! Prepare for a beating, you insolent junior!" Sharp, hard spikes began to grow from his arms and back, making his appearance look fierce!
*DING!* The sharp, clear sound of a bell marked the start of the match!
Liang Chao charged head-on without any hesitation. "First Ability: Quill Charge!" he shouted. His body shot forward like a projectile, his spikes aimed straight at Wang Cheng like a living ball of thorns!
Wang Cheng did not try to block. Following Arthur's strategy, he utilized the agility granted by his tiger spirit. With a nimble, cat-like movement, he jumped to the side, dodging at the very last moment!
SWOOSH! BOOM! Liang Chao missed and slammed into the ground, creating a small crater and kicking up dust!
"You coward! Face me!" Liang Chao roared in frustration. He turned and charged again, and again, and again! Each time, Wang Cheng nimbly evaded, sometimes by just a hair's breadth. His claws occasionally tried to scratch, but only left faint marks on Liang Chao's spike-covered skin.
The fight turned into a game of chase. Liang Chao began to run out of breath, his face turning red. His Spirit Ability consumed a lot of energy!
"ENOUGH!" Liang Chao stopped, panting heavily. "Quill Charge - MAX POWER!" He mustered his remaining spiritual energy. His spikes vibrated intensely, emitting an unstable energy aura. He shot forward once more, but this time with nearly double the speed and power, covering almost the entire area in front of him!
Wang Cheng, who had anticipated this, did not try to dodge completely. He shifted his body, letting the spikes tear into his left arm. SZAT! Blood gushed out, a sharp pain shooting through him. But it gave him the opening he had been waiting for!
He allowed Liang Chao's momentum to carry him past. At the same time, with a shout using all his strength, his right spirit claw clamped down tightly on Liang Chao's back, right in a gap between the spikes!
"GRAAAAAAAH!" Liang Chao let out a piercing scream of agony!
Wang Cheng twisted his body, using all his weight and remaining strength to execute a tiger-style slam, throwing Liang Chao to the ground!
THUD! CRACK! The sound of a heavy impact and a faint crack of bone could be heard. Dust flew everywhere.
As the dust settled, Liang Chao lay motionless, his eyes rolled back, his spirit power completely drained. Wang Cheng stood swaying above him, gasping for breath, the wound on his arm bleeding profusely, but his gaze was full of victory!
Vice Principal: "The first match! The winner is Wang Cheng!"
Cheers erupted from Arthur's group! Wang Cheng, assisted, was carried out of the arena by the medical team.
Vice Principal: "Round 1, second bout! Fighters, step forward and introduce yourselves!"
Xiao Ganyu, his face already flushed crimson, pushed one of his members forward.
"Yun Jie, Level 8, Tool Spirit: Iron Combat Rod!" A one-meter-long, thick, sturdy iron rod appeared in his hands. He held it with an experienced stance.
"Lee, Level 7, Tool Spirit: Barrier Shield!" Lee stepped forward. A large, thick, heavy-looking rectangular shield appeared, covering almost his entire front. He planted its edge into the ground, ready to defend.
DING!
Yun Jie immediately attacked! His rod swung in a whirling motion, hitting Lee's shield. CLANG! The sharp sound of clashing metal echoed.
CLANG! CLANG! THUD! Yun Jie kept hammering relentlessly, searching for an opening. Lee only defended, his shield shifting slightly with each blow. His feet were firmly planted on the ground.
The fight turned into a pure contest of stamina and strength. Lee, with his defensive spirit, clearly had the upper hand in this aspect. Yun Jie's face began to flush, his breath becoming ragged.
Seeing his opponent tiring, Lee took the initiative! As Yun Jie swung his rod from above for a vertical strike, Lee pushed his shield upward to meet it.
BAMMM! The rod vibrated violently in Yun Jie's hands.
At that moment, Lee pushed forward! He used his shield as a stepping stone, leaping forward and slamming his shield-clad body into Yun Jie's!
GRUNT! Yun Jie was thrown backward, landing hard on his seat and losing his grip on his rod.
Lee gave him no time. He was already on top of Yun Jie, his shield pinning the opponent's body down.
"Do you yield?"
Yun Jie, breathless, nodded weakly. "I yield."
Vice Principal: "The second match is won by Lee!"
Lee walked back on slightly unsteady legs, but he could still stand.
Vice Principal: "Round 1, third bout! Fighters, step forward and introduce yourselves!"
Xiao Ganyu pushed his third member forward, his eyes full of pressure.
"Fen, Level 8, Tool Spirit: Iron Chain Bind!" The girl stepped forward with heavy steps. Two three-meter-long iron chains, as thick as a thumb with sturdy links, appeared, coiling around her arms like living iron snakes. Her spirit granted her exceptional endurance and gripping strength.
"Lee, Level 7, Tool Spirit: Barrier Shield!" Lee prepared again, even though sweat soaked his body and his breath was still labored.
DING!
Fen moved immediately! With a thrust of her hips, she hurled one end of her chain. WHOOSH! The chain shot out like an angry snake, striking Lee's shield.
CLANGGGG! The sound produced was louder and more resonant than Yun Jie's rod. Lee was forced back a step, his shield-holding hand feeling numb.
WHOOSH! CLANG! WHOOSH! CLANG! Fen kept whirling and throwing her chain from various angles, trying to entangle the shield or find an opening. Every impact felt like a hammer blow to the already exhausted Lee.
Lee defended tenaciously, but Fen's speed and power were too great. Finally, on a low swing, the chain successfully wrapped around Lee's ankle.
"Got you!" Fen shouted, and with an immensely powerful pull from both hands, she ensnared Lee's leg and yanked hard!
THUD! Lee fell hard, his shield flying from his grasp.
Before he could get up, the other end of the chain was already looped loosely around his neck, a clear threat.
"Do you yield?" asked Fen, her breath also ragged.
Lee, resigned, tapped the ground three times. "I yield."
Vice Principal: "The third match is won by Fen!"
The temporary score was 2-1 for Arthur's group. Fen retracted her chains, her face relieved.
Vice Principal: "Round 1, fourth bout! The decider of the first round! Fighters, step forward and introduce yourselves!"
"Arthur, Level 9, Tool Spirit: Wind Gauntlet." Spiritual energy in the form of a simple yet sturdy-looking gauntlet covered his right hand, emitting a calm yet authoritative aura.
"Fen, Level 9, Tool Spirit: Iron Chain Bind!" Fen regulated her breathing, her two chains clinking again, ready to face Arthur.
DING!
Fen didn't want to take any chances! She immediately threw both chains simultaneously from different directions, like two iron snakes intent on constricting their prey.
Arthur didn't move to dodge. He calmly observed the chains' paths. Just as they were about to hit him, his left hand moved swiftly, deflecting one chain with his palm. Meanwhile, his right hand, which had gathered energy, caught the other chain with a grip like steel claws!
GRAP! The chain stopped mid-air, locked tightly in his grasp.
Fen was shocked, trying to pull her chain back, but it was as if the chain had fused with Arthur's hand. Arthur didn't budge an inch.
"This is the end!" Arthur exclaimed.
With an incredibly powerful and energetic pull, Arthur yanked the chain! Fen immediately dispelled her spirit tool, but even so, she stumbled forward, shocked and off-balance, nearly falling!
Before she could react or summon her spirit tool again, Arthur had vanished from his spot and appeared right in front of her! His combat gauntlet stopped right in front of her face.
"Do you wish to continue?" Arthur said, his voice low yet full of authority.
Fen sighed and immediately dropped her chains, raising both hands. "I yield! You are truly powerful!"
Vice Principal: "The fourth match is won by Arthur! The first round ends with a score of 3-1 for Arthur's group! Short break! The second round, a 3-on-3 match, will begin shortly!"
Arthur nodded, praising Fen's maturity despite being only 12 years old, before returning to his group. Victory in the first round was secured, but the real battle would begin in round 2: the 3-on-3 match!
TO BE CONTINUED...