The barrier of the realm then shattered into fragments of dark energy, dissolving into nothingness.
As the poisonous mist faded, Ban Nakajima finally moved like a phantom, appearing directly behind Sai Fukuda the instant the realm collapsed.
His skeletal-dragon frame loomed, claws flexing, ready to strike with predatory precision.
At the same time, Yoi Ohara wasted no breath.
Her shadows writhed violently, twisting into jagged spikes laced with venom.
With a sharp gesture, she unleashed them, the projectiles streaking forward like serpents of death, each dripping with poison meant to corrode flesh and soul alike.
Sai reacted instantly.
His fire armour flared, and with a roar he conjured a blazing sphere of fire around himself.
The sphere expanded outward, a barrier of molten energy that incinerated the shadow spikes upon contact.
Poison hissed and evaporated, the flames consuming everything that dared approach.
Ban's sudden strike was halted as the fiery sphere pushed him back, the heat forcing him to retreat a step, his claws scraping against the stone floor.
But Sai was not finished.
His eyes narrowed, and from the sphere's surface he forged a weapon of retaliation, a single, blazing fire spike.
With a thrust of his hand, the spike shot forward like a spear of molten steel, piercing through the air and impaling Yoi directly in the torso.
The crowd gasped as the impact rang out, flames searing through her skeletal frame.
Yoi staggered, her body convulsing from the strike.
For a moment, it seemed she had been defeated, her shadows faltering, her aura dimming.
But then, her power surged.
Shadows wrapped around the wound, knitting her body back together with eerie precision.
The poison mist thickened, curling upward like smoke from a funeral pyre.
Within seconds, the impalement vanished, leaving her standing once more, her glowing eyes filled with fury and vengeance.
Sai's fire sphere flickered, his sword of flame humming with power as he prepared for the next exchange.
Ban's ember-lit chest glowed faintly as he circled, his skeletal wings twitching, waiting for the perfect opening.
Yoi's shadows writhed with renewed malice, her aura swelling as though the entire battlefield bent to her will.
The arena trembled under the weight of their combined presence.
The monarchs leaned forward in their stands, sensing that the clash was reaching a breaking point.
The crowd held its breath, knowing the next strike would not simply be an attack, it would be a declaration of supremacy.
And in that moment, three forces stood poised to collide: Sai Fukuda, flame incarnate, defiance burning in his eyes. Ban Nakajima, skeletal dragon, circling with predatory patience. Yoi Ohara, mistress of poison and shadow, her fury unbound.
Ban's skeletal-dragon frame blurred as he zig-zagged across the battlefield, weaving through the streams of fire Sai unleashed.
His movements were sharp, unpredictable, like a predator closing in on its prey.
In a flash, Ban lunged forward, his leg arcing toward Sai's face.
Sai ducked at the last second, his fiery armour flaring as he swept his leg low.
The sweep connected, knocking Ban off balance.
Without hesitation, Sai followed up with a devastating fire-infused kick to Ban's stomach.
The impact exploded with heat, sending Ban hurtling across the arena and slamming into the wall with bone-cracking force.
The crowd erupted, the sound echoing like thunder, their voices rising in awe and disbelief.
Sparks and embers rained down from the shattered stone, painting the battlefield in fiery fragments.
Sai straightened, his fire sword glowing in his grip, his voice sharp and defiant. "You thought speed alone would save you? My flames will burn through every trick you have got!"
Ban groaned as he pulled himself from the rubble, his skeletal frame glowing faintly with embers.
He wiped the dust from his chest, his dragon-like eyes narrowing as he smirked. "Hmph… not bad. But fire alone will not be enough to break me. I have endured worse than your sparks."
Sai's armour blazed brighter, the heat distorting the air around him.
He pointed his sword at Ban; his tone filled with challenge. "Then get ready to endure more. I will turn this arena into your graveyard!"
From the shadows, Yoi's voice hissed, her aura twisting ominously, venom dripping from every syllable. "Do not forget me, Sai. Shadows and poison do not burn so easily… and I will make sure you choke on them."
Sai's eyes flicked toward her, his flames roaring higher as he grinned, crimson light dancing across his armour. "Come at me then! I will burn your shadows, your poison, and anyone else who dares stand in my way!"
The arena trembled with anticipation as the three warriors squared off, their voices echoing like war drums before the next clash.
The ground itself seemed to pulse beneath their feet, as though the battlefield recognized the magnitude of what was about to unfold.
The crowd leaned forward, breathless, sensing that the next collision would not be a simple exchange of blows, it would be a storm, a clash of elements, a battle that would scar the arena itself.
And beyond them, Kane Eguchi remained silent at the edge of the battlefield, his aura rippling faintly, as though time itself awaited his command.
His presence was a reminder: the true storm had yet to arrive.