—Dimensional Opening Technique: Dimensional Launch.
Outside the coliseum, a portal opened beneath an enormous boulder; another portal opened above Raiden, and the boulder from outside fell right through it.
Raiden noticed and quickly leaped backward. The boulder crashed into the ground and shattered into countless pieces.
Zento lunged forward once more to attack. Raiden gripped his katana with both hands—his right hand near the guard, his left at the end of the hilt, the blade held vertically and pointing straight ahead.
—Dimensional Opening Technique: Transverse Strike! A small portal opened right in front of Zento.
Raiden's eyes widened sharply.
—That is the same attack he used against his first opponent—he thought.
Raiden let Zento draw closer to the portal, then spun around to block what he believed was the true strike.
But… the portal in front of Zento vanished, and he kept advancing. Raiden realized it and whirled around abruptly.
Zento was already too close for Raiden to block in time, and he slashed a gash from Raiden's right side all the way across to his left shoulder.
Blood began flowing freely from the large wound and from his mouth. The students in the stands watched in stunned silence.
Naeris's eyes went wide, and she slowly lowered her pom-poms.
—Wow, Zento… That cut was really deep—she said with concern.
Haruki stood frozen, then turned to Kaien.
—Isn't that kind of injury dangerous?
—No—Kaien looked back at him calmly—It only looks worse than it is. If you look closely, the cut is wide but not deep, just superficial.
Rika gave a small reassuring smile to calm him.
—Besides, the academy has excellent healers; injuries like that are nothing to them. So don't worry.
Arien nodded repeatedly, then winked and gave Haruki a thumbs-up.
—Exactly! And if the fight ever becomes truly life-threatening, the officials will stop it right away! Everything is fine!
Now Raiden struggled just to stay upright. His gaze was fixed on the ground, his arms and legs trembling slightly, and his breathing grew heavier and more ragged by the second.
—I left you with a nasty wound—Zento stated coldly.
Raiden let out a faint, breathless laugh.
—So what?
—I know it hurts. You can barely stand on your own two feet.
Raiden lifted his head, wiped the blood from his lips with his thumb, and wore a defiant grin.
—But I can still keep fighting.
—You are incredibly stubborn… but if you insist on continuing, then attack me.
—That is exactly what I was planning to do—Raiden surged forward at high speed, delivering a powerful side kick with his left leg straight toward Zento's right flank.
At the same moment, his right hand tightened around the katana, bringing the blade dangerously close to Zento's neck.
Zento's jaw tightened, and his eyes flared in alarm. He swung his own katana diagonally upward with his left hand to deflect the blade, while his right arm shot across his body to shield himself from the kick.
The combined strike connected and pinned Zento in place, crushed under the overwhelming force Raiden still managed to muster.
Floch's eyes widened in amazement.
—Even though Raiden is in such terrible condition, he still possesses enough strength to pin Zento like that!
Zento clenched his right fist, and a portal materialized directly above Raiden. He quickly sidestepped to avoid the danger.
As Raiden backed away, Zento staggered slightly. He lowered his gaze and gritted his teeth hard.
—Let's bring this to an end—he swept his katana in a wide horizontal arc.
—Dimensional Opening Technique: Portal Storm. Dozens of portals materialized instantly, surrounding Raiden on all sides.
Raiden frowned, growing tense. From one portal, a large boulder shot out toward him at tremendous speed.
Raiden reacted in time, swinging his katana and cleaving the rock clean in two. From another portal, a second boulder emerged, and he cut through it as well.
More and more boulders came flying from every direction. His expression hardened, and he was forced to move at superhuman speed just to slice through each incoming projectile.
—Damn it! Damn it all!
After five long minutes, the portals faded away. Raiden stood hunched over, breathing heavily through his mouth, surrounded by piles of shattered rock fragments.
Zento looked down at Raiden's shaking hands, which could barely hold onto the hilt of his weapon.
—This is finally over.
—N-no… it isn't.
—Yes, it is!—Zento extended his hand forward; a small portal appeared, and a compact stone shot out from it. It struck Raiden's right hand, knocking the katana flying out of his grasp.
—It is done.
Raiden tried to lift his trembling arms, his head still hanging low.
—I… can still… continue.
From the observation balcony, Principal Lion shook his head.
—Stop the match. Raiden is no longer fit to fight.
Professor Mari turned to an assistant and nodded firmly.
—THIRD MATCH OF THE FINAL ROUND IS CONCLUDED. RAIDEN IS UNABLE TO PROCEED FURTHER.
Raiden's eyes flew open wide in disbelief as he lifted his head toward the balcony.
—THE WINNER: ZENTO!
Naeris raised her arms again, waving her pom-poms enthusiastically.
—Great job, Zento! Though you went a little harder than necessary!
Zento glanced at Raiden one last time before turning toward the arena exit. Medical staff rushed in immediately to tend to Raiden's injuries.
He let out a shaky sigh, overwhelmed with disappointment for failing to secure the victory.
—They called it off—Liang said quietly.
Kael watched as Raiden was helped out of the combat grounds.
—Yes, it's over.
—Would anything have changed if they had let him keep going?—Zeik asked.
—Not a thing. He was standing only through sheer willpower, but his body had already reached its absolute limit. The outcome was decided the moment Zento trapped him inside that storm of portals—Kael replied.
—AND NOW, WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT MATCH OF THE FINAL ROUND!
Matteo leaned back in his seat and rested both hands behind his head.
—Well, I suppose it's time for someone who will never be stopped from fighting just because he's exhausted.
Kael drew his katana partially from its sheath and stood up.
—My turn next.
He placed one foot on the barrier and leaped down from the stands, landing firmly in the center of the arena. His imposing presence filled the entire coliseum.
—KAEL RHOVAN!
—Quite the dramatic entrance—Matteo chuckled.
Kael lifted his gaze and looked straight at Arien with a stern expression. Arien stuck out his tongue playfully, and Kael narrowed his eyes in annoyance.
—AND HIS OPPONENT—
The gate on the far side of the arena slid open, and a lone figure began walking slowly forward from the shadows.
—ELIOT VERMEULEN!
Eliot stepped fully into the arena, and the heavy iron gate slammed shut behind him. Kael regarded him with calm composure.
Arien leaned forward, squinting at the newcomer.
—Hey, does anyone else notice how much smaller Eliot looks compared to everyone else? His face makes him seem far younger, almost like a child.
—Not everyone grows at the same rate, Arien. Though you do have a point—Rika admitted.
—BEGIN!