Last 4 standing

After Challenge round turns of top 32 came turn of those who were defeated in first challenge.They were given second chance to Challenge one person from top 16 to swap their ranks.First to come was of course Feryl who was defeated by Brynn.

He chose 10 ranked and by easily defeating her he became new rank 10 in top 16.Similarly one by one everyone chose their oppenent in top 16.Not all of them succeeded and also there were those who chose to retire due to grievous injuries like Issekan .

Zeph and Sauren were not chosen by any of second round challengers.Because of their demonstration of power they were avoided by all challengers like plague.Brynn and first ranked Tyson also didn't experience any challenger.Tyson was still a mystery in eyes of many but due to his 'strongest' title everyone chose to leave him alone.

Ceclia was not so fortunate as she was soon challenged by a boy who was first at rank 11 in top 16 but lost his position.He challenged Ceclia for two reasons first he wanted to impress her and second he wanted to check his own level with top 3 students of academies.He knew he was no match for them because he himself was Student and seen them fighting before.Ceclia didn't disappoint and with her Dragon spear finished match cleanly.

Other new intresting match was of Muse .He was challenged by self complacent guy who was in top 16 before but lost due to small difference in first round.He challenged the person with rare energy of sound in ranking.Match was totally one sided Muse used ultrasonic waves to blew off him out off arena.He didn't even have time to attack.

After all matches were concluded,New top 16 list was ready to see.It includes original only 8 members whereas remaining came from outside top 32.After this ,it was break for one day and then next round will be announced.

Sauren and Zeph didn't wander on rest day outside. Both felt the increasing pressure from matches.They spent that day in rest,meditation and ofcourse, food to bring themselves in top condition for remaining tournament.

In evening they went to academy common ground to check announcement for next round.

'Next round will be battle royale

all warriors will fight in arena simultaneously to knock each other outside arena.

Only last 4 standing will be chosen for finals.'

Reading the announcement,Sauren began to laugh .Zeph became confused to what thing he was laughing.

"Haha.....they couldn't stop themselves"

"what happened?"

"See the academies finally were not able to stop themselves from interference.They delebrately chose this round to give their students edge over other ones."

By his statement,Zeph immediately understood what authorities were trying to achieve.In Battle royale, naturally there will be two groups outsiders and Students . Students will form their team to defeat outsiders and because they will be familliar to each other they can perform with best teamwork,whereas for outsiders they have to band with them to protect themselves but because no one knows each other it will result in uneasy cooperation as no one knows who will backstab who and when.

But Zeph was confused by behaviour of authorities,is it worth for some Technique and Skill to interfere so much in competition.

"Why are they doing this, to prevent leaking of some Technique or skill?"

"Pride"sighed Sauren "you lived in seperation so you didn't know much of world, actually even academies are mainstream but still some upper echelon did not consider students from academies worth anything.

These students tend to be proved weaker than their peers who learn from their clans or master,thus it lead to dispute between two.

So academies consider their pride to be most important therefore they will stoop to any level to make their students win in these type of competition to prove that academy studen are superior to all."

"Thus they are doing their best to make this competition won by their students rather than outsiders"completed Zeph.

"But we can't let them have all can we ?Not only because we actually are in need of techniques but also because doing according to their wishes will make these students more weaker.So when they will fight demons next time in battlefield it will result in their unjust death"

"Let us prepare for next round ,i think we can defeat many of them together."said Sauren .

On day of competition,16 warriors could be seen standing inside arena,waiting for match to begin .As they were leisurely chatting with each other ,Zeph and Sauren saw Brynnwalking towards them.She came forward and greeted Sauren.

"So you are actually manipulator,I thought you would be close combat master"she said by smiling towards Sauren.

"You....are....you... Actually that trainning girl"said astonished Sauren ,he thought that girl was some student of academy.

"Oh so you still didn't try to find me ,ok let's leave that he is your friend"she said by pointing towards Zeph.

"Yeah we're friends.He is swordsman I talked about you see."

"He is good .well I came here to say goodbye to you .I hope we can spar with each other again."

"You are not taking part in competition"

"No I was just fooling around ,I didn't intend to fight seriously....Ok Bye,we will meet soon if fate permits"

"I hope that we can see each other some day again even if it is not written in fate."

She smiled and vanished with smoke trailing around and Slowly smoke also dispersed from arena

"So cheesy lines ....hnnn"commented Zeph as he gave look to Sauren.

"Hey that was heartfelt words don't misunderstand"

"Yeah yeah I know"

"Now we have less outsiders in team "Sauren casually changed subject .Zeph understood his attempt to change subject but he didn't object.

"Yeah we have to work with these number now"

Soon announcement was made of only 15 players left in competition and starting of competition.

As all of warriors were looking toward each other waiting for someone to act first,Tyson moved and stood at one corner of area.

He said ," I'm not stooping so low to team together for forcing others out. I will not participate in fight ,if any of you wether student or other ,came to my corner I will force him out."saying these words he closed his eyes.

Before Sauren could comment something to Zeph , Suddenly all students simultaneously attacked other warriors.Sauren quickly pulled out fire shield to deflect incoming sound wave and thunder strike by Muse and Polar respectively.Zeph dodged slash of sword and fire ball thrown by other warrior.

It resulted in start of chaotic fight between warriors. Zeph was covered by Sauren's shield which was deflecting incoming waves of attack.

"You have any idea? ,I thought they will move to opposite side to fight but they are fighting chaotically.Damn even Hercules will be thrown out of arena,if caught in such random attacks"

Zeph who was observing fights , interjected

"who is Hercules?"

Shield was beginning to develop cracks due to repeated barrage of attacks.

"Fu*k,He is .....forget it ,I meant to say even sir Linus will be thrown out"

Finally shield shattered ,Sauren hastily reformed another shield.Zeph commented,

"make some AOE damage attack to make fight more chaotic"

"Are you serious?"

"Yes "

Sauren dropped his shield and began chanting of falling meteorites,soon large balls of fire were descending into arena .Resulting in large explosion everywhere.Tyson easily deflected explosion waves coming to him.

After explosion only few warriors were left , Cecilia found herself close to Sauren .She Moved her spear and attacked towards Sauren.

Sauren quickly put on his fire cloak and punched out to stop her spear blow.She smiled embarrassedly as she realised him to be Sauren but her intensity of striking doesn't change even bit.