All according to plan

The air felt heavy with tension—almost suffocating.

Every breath burned. Every movement ached.

But still, Almina, Brai, and Kesha stood their ground against Dylan, the ace of the opposing team. Golden radiance poured from his body like a divine furnace, the Ascendant Resonance Mode warping the arena floor beneath his feet. With each passing second, his strength only seemed to grow.

"Fools," he muttered, lifting a hand. "You should've stayed down."

Almina's grip on her sword tightened. Her mana reserves were dwindling, her legs barely holding her up. But her eyes gleamed with defiance. 'If pure power won this match, we would've lost already. But we're still here, aren't we?' She thought.

"Brai," she muttered.

He nodded, reading her thoughts.

"Kesha, can you still coordinate?"

"Just barely," Kesha replied, biting her lip. "If you're thinking what I think you're thinking—then yes. But I'll need a few seconds to cast."