Chapter 43: Frozen Victory

Aiden felt the impact of Julius's relentless punches with each blow, his body aching and bruised. The crowd's cheers and roars of excitement faded into a distant murmur as the battle raged on. Elara stood nearby, ready to heal him the moment he needed it.

Despite the pain, Aiden's mind raced. He realized that there might be a weakness in their opponents' abilities, one they could exploit to turn the tide of the fight.

As Julius continued his barrage of strikes, Aiden communicated his strategy to Elara through quick glances and subtle gestures. They had always been an exceptional team, their bond allowing them to understand each other's intentions with ease.

Elara nodded, acknowledging Aiden's plan. She had confidence in his ability to lead them through this challenge.

Aiden focused on Julius, maintaining a defensive stance. He could see the unwavering determination in Julius's eyes as he threw punch after punch. But Aiden knew that maintaining this close-quarters combat would be their downfall. He had to find a way to change the flow of the battle.

Elara stood ready with her broom, its tassels infused with Neo Light energy. But before she could act, Mantle, their other opponent, moved swiftly and touched the broom. A wave of power emanated from Mantle's hand, freezing the broom in mid-air, rendering it immovable.

Aiden realized the gravity of their situation. Mantle's ability could neutralize their weapons and give Julius an even greater advantage. He needed to act fast.

With newfound determination, Aiden retreated a few steps, drawing a cautious look from Julius. Aiden pretended to be on the defensive, but his mind was racing with a plan. The key was to stay back, where their opponents' powers would have a harder time affecting them.

Elara caught onto Aiden's strategy. She used her Neo Light powers to moisten the arena floor while maintaining a safe distance from Julius and Mantle. Aiden followed up by freezing the water, creating a slick and treacherous sheet of ice that covered the entire arena.

Julius and Mantle, caught off guard by this unexpected maneuver, struggled to maintain their balance on the slippery surface. Their powers were less effective when they couldn't make direct contact or see the full extent of the threat.

Aiden saw his chance and seized it. With intense concentration, he used his Neo Light powers to freeze the air around him, shaping it into two colossal discs of ice, one in each hand. These massive ice projectiles held the power to strike down their disoriented opponents.

With precision and strength, Aiden hurled the enormous ice discs towards Julius and Mantle. The discs crashed into them, sending them sprawling across the icy floor. It was a calculated strike that disrupted their opponents' balance and effectively neutralized their powers.

As the dust settled, the referee raised his hand high and declared Aiden and Elara the winners of the first round of the fight. The crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating their remarkable victory. Aiden and Elara shared a triumphant smile, knowing that this tournament held even greater challenges ahead for them.