Chapter 24: Clash of Monsters Rudeus Vs Karma

The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows over the arena as the crowd buzzed with anticipation. This was it—the semi-final match that everyone had been waiting for. The air was thick with tension, the kind that settled in the chest and made it hard to breathe. Karma stood at one end of the battlefield, his hand resting on his spatial wristband, ready to summon his sword at a moment's notice. His heart raced, but his mind was clear. This was the battle that would determine whether he had what it took to reach the finals.

Across from him stood **Rudeus**, the powerful guild master who had mastered both swordsmanship and magic. Rudeus looked calm, his eyes narrowing as he sized Karma up. He had a long sword strapped to his back and intricate runes glowing faintly along his robes—a clear indication that he was prepared to use both physical combat and powerful spells.

The crowd roared as the announcer's voice echoed through the arena, "Ladies and gentlemen, the semi-final of the Grand Tournament! ( selection round) Karma, the Tamer, versus Rudeus, Guild Master of the Fallen Dawn!"

Karma could feel the intensity of the moment, the weight of the eyes on him, but he pushed it all aside. His entire focus was on the opponent in front of him. This wasn't just any fight—this was against a man who had mastered every aspect of battle.

Rudeus smirked, unsheathing his long sword in one smooth motion. "**I hope you're ready, Karma,**" he said, his voice carrying across the arena. "**You may have made it this far, but today, it ends here. I'll show you what real power looks like.**"

Karma's eyes narrowed. He wasn't intimidated. He had trained hard for this moment, mastering the **Monster Fusion** spell and perfecting his synchronization with **Shiro**. This fight wasn't going to be easy, but he had no intention of losing.

The referee raised his hand, and the crowd fell silent.

"**Three! Two! One! Fight!**"

In an instant, Rudeus dashed forward with lightning speed, his sword gleaming as it arced toward Karma. But Karma was ready. He had synchronized with Shiro the moment the fight began, his body moving with supernatural agility. He ducked under Rudeus' swing, his enhanced reflexes saving him from what would have been a devastating strike.

Karma darted back, his heart pounding. Rudeus was fast—faster than he had expected. The power behind his swing had been overwhelming, even though he had barely missed. But Karma wasn't done. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his sword from the spatial wristband, the sleek black blade materializing in his hand.

Without a word, Rudeus cast a spell, his hand glowing with a dark, violet aura. Mana surged through the air, and the ground beneath Karma's feet exploded, sending shards of stone flying into the air. Karma leapt backward, narrowly avoiding the blast, but before he could catch his breath, Rudeus was on him again, his sword aimed at Karma's chest.

Karma parried the strike with his blade, the force of the impact rattling his arms. The sound of clashing steel echoed through the arena, and the crowd gasped at the ferocity of the battle. The two fighters exchanged blows in a flurry of motion—Rudeus' sword slashing with precision and deadly intent, while Karma moved like lightning, dodging and countering with equal speed.

Rudeus smirked as their swords clashed again, sparks flying from the impact. "**Is this all you've got, Tamer? You're fast, but speed alone won't win this battle.**"

Karma didn't respond. He couldn't afford to get distracted. Rudeus was right—speed alone wasn't enough. He needed to use his monsters to tip the scales in his favor.

"**Miniaturization!**" Karma whispered under his breath.

In a flash, Shiro, who had been hiding near Karma's side, leaped into action. The white rabbit, now at full size, moved with blinding speed, aiming for Rudeus' legs. Rudeus barely had time to react as Shiro's powerful hind legs slammed into him, forcing him to stagger back.

"**A tamed rabbit? That's your strategy?**" Rudeus spat, his eyes flashing with annoyance. He swung his sword in a wide arc, forcing Shiro to leap back.

But Karma wasn't done. While Rudeus was distracted with Shiro, Karma rushed forward, his sword aimed directly at Rudeus' chest. The sudden attack caught Rudeus off guard, and for a brief moment, Karma thought he had the upper hand.

But then, with an almost casual flick of his wrist, Rudeus summoned a wall of fire between them. The flames roared to life, forcing Karma to stop his advance. The heat was intense, and Karma could feel his skin prickling from the sheer power of the spell.

Rudeus emerged from behind the flames, his sword once again raised. "**You think you can win with cheap tricks, Karma? This is the difference between a real warrior and a tamer.**"

The words stung, but Karma didn't flinch. Instead, he smiled—a slow, menacing smile that sent chills through the air.

"**You've forgotten something, Rudeus,**" Karma said, his voice low but filled with confidence. "**I'm not fighting alone.**"

With a loud roar, Karma summoned his **Tyrants**, the two giant ants that had served him so well in previous battles. But this time, he had something different in mind. As the massive creatures appeared on the battlefield, Karma activated the spell he had spent the last five days mastering—**Monster Fusion**.

The Tyrants began to glow with an intense light, their forms melding together into a single, towering behemoth. The fused creature was larger, stronger, and more terrifying than either of the original Tyrants. Its mandibles clicked menacingly as it faced Rudeus, its sheer presence dwarfing everything around it.

The crowd gasped in awe, and even Rudeus' confident smirk faltered for a moment.

"**What in the...**" Rudeus muttered, his eyes widening as the fused Tyrant charged toward him.

Rudeus raised his sword, summoning a barrier of magic to block the attack, but the Tyrant's massive claws crashed into the barrier with enough force to shatter it. The ground shook with the impact, and Rudeus was sent sprawling to the ground, his sword knocked from his hand.

Karma seized the opportunity. He rushed forward, his sword poised to strike, but Rudeus wasn't finished yet. With a furious roar, Rudeus unleashed a surge of mana, blasting Karma back with a wave of force.

Karma hit the ground hard, the wind knocked out of him. He coughed, blood staining the corner of his mouth as he struggled to stand. Rudeus, breathing heavily, staggered to his feet, his eyes blazing with fury.

"**You think you've won? You're nothing but a tamer with a few cheap tricks.**"

But Karma was already on his feet, his body pulsing with the power of synchronization. He had one last card to play.

Karma used skillshare spell and borrowed the skill of kuro ( grey fox cub) and used his special ability shadow sneak and when he used it he disappeared from his shadow and then in a flash karma appeared begins rudeus from his shadow and with the back of his sword Karma hit rudeus on the head hard and he fell on the ground unconscious.

The crowd erupted in cheers, the noise deafening as Karma stood victorious over his fallen opponent. He wiped the blood from his mouth, breathing heavily as he looked down at Rudeus.

It had been a brutal, neck-and-neck battle, but in the end, Karma had emerged victorious. He extended his fist toward Shiro, who hopped over and bumped it with his head in a celebratory gesture.

"**Good job, buddy,**" Karma whispered, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

The referee rushed forward, his voice ringing out over the roar of the crowd. "**Winner—Karma!**"

The cheers grew even louder, the arena alive with excitement. Karma allowed himself a moment to bask in the glory of his hard-earned victory. But even as the crowd celebrated, his mind was already moving forward. The finals awaited, and the next battle would be even more intense.

But for now, Karma stood tall, his head held high. He had proven that a tamer was more than just a man with monsters—he was a force to be reckoned with.

The journey wasn't over, but Karma knew one thing for certain: **He was ready for whatever came next.**

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**Author's Notes:**

This chapter brings the tension and intensity of Karma's battle with Rudeus to life. The fight is fast-paced, with both combatants showing off their unique strengths. Rudeus' combination of swordsmanship and magic creates a formidable challenge for Karma, but through strategy, teamwork, and the use of the **Monster Fusion** spell, Karma is able to emerge victorious. The dynamic between Karma and his monsters, particularly Shiro, adds emotional depth to the battle, and the victory feels well-earned. The stage is now set for the finals!