The arena still trembled from the simultaneous clashes. Three duels were taking place at the same time, but the audience's attention was increasingly drawn to one of them.
Kaien retreated step by step, the spellbook floating before him,
its pages turning by themselves, writing runes of light in the air.
Kaien:
— Don't come any closer. One mistake and you'll be gone.
Arwen did not answer.
Her two daggers circled low, her body bent forward,
her movements light, almost dance-like.
Kaien raised his hand.
The runes lit up.
> Binding spell. Circles of energy close off the space.
Arwen jumped aside at the last moment.
One of the blades cut the rune in half — the spell shattered like glass.
Commentator:
— Perfect timing! But Kaien still controls the field!
Kaien frowned.
Instead of retreating, he took a step forward.
Too close.
Arwen noticed that.
Arwen (quietly):
— You trust the book too much.
Kaien opened a new page.
That was a mistake.
At that very moment, Arwen disappeared from his sight.
Not teleportation. Speed.
She appeared on his left.
The first dagger cut through the book's binding.
The second one stopped right at his throat.
Silence.
Kaien blinked.
His book fell to the ground.
Commentator (after a moment):
— KAIEN... ELIMINATED!
The crowd exploded.
Arwen took a step back, sheathing her blades.
Arwen:
— You thought I'd dance to your tune.
Kaien knelt on his knees and nodded bitterly.
— One step… too far.
On the other side of the arena, Valdor and Mira circled each other.
They haven't attacked yet.
Mira:
— Dragon Chase. A new team. And yet you're risking a tournament of this scale.
Why?
Valdor looked at her calmly.
Valdor:
— Because sometimes you have to step out of the shadows to end something.
Mira narrowed her eyes.
— Escape or response?
Valdor:
— Both.
Mira:
— We fight for forests. For balance.
— What about you?
Valdor was silent for a moment.
— For the past that refuses to die.
Mira:
— In that case... we won't back down.
Valdor:
— Tego się spodziewałem.
Their weapons rose simultaneously.
But the arena shifted its focus again.
In the northern part of the arena, Kael faced Hisagi.
Kael flew backwards.
He fell hard, hitting one knee on a rock.
The sword stuck into the ground.
He leaned on it, panting.
Hisagi stood before him, powerful, unshakable.
Hisagi:
— Get up. It's not over yet.
Kael remained silent, then closed his eyes.
Black banners.
Mud.
Screams.
Kael saw his people.
His unit.
They died in fire and blood.
The Devils of Azrok.
Allies.
Not when they were fighting the enemy.
But when they turned their backs.
Kael knelt before the commander.
— It wasn't the enemy. It was Azrok. They betrayed us!
The response was cold.
— Enough. You're looking for someone to blame, but Azrok is our ally. He couldn't have done it.
Kael stood before the graves of his entire squad.
On that day, he took the oath.
— I will defeat Azrok. — he replied.
— Even if I have to go through hell.
Kael opened his eyes and saw Hisagi looking at him.
Hisagi smiled.
— And I thought you had lost consciousness.
The stone under Kael's knee cracked.
He got up slowly.
He grabbed the sword hilt with both hands.
A blue aura began to seep through the blade.
Quiet. Deep. Stable.
Hisagi narrowed his eyes.
— Now you're really fighting.
Kael:
— Now I remember... why I live.
The sword rose.
The air trembled.
Commentator:
— KAEL RISES!
A blue light cut across the arena.
Hisagi laughed.
— So this is your true power!
Blue light seeped from the blade of Kael's sword.
— I'll finish it with one move. — replied Kael.
— We'll see if you can do it. — Hisagi replied.
— HAAAAAAAA! — Hisagi's scream broke the silence, and the sword scattered into hundreds of leaves that swirled around him.
They stood facing each other, ready to fight.