Chapter 26: The Final Showdown – Part 1

The day had finally arrived. The **Grand Tournament Selection Finals**. The arena was packed with spectators, their cheers and excited murmurs filling the air. The northern part of the city was alive with energy, and every street corner, every tavern, every guildhall had been talking about one thing: **Karma**, the tamer, against **Carl**, the powerful guild master of the **Steel Raven** guild.

Karma stood at the edge of the battlefield, his heart steady but his mind sharp. This wasn't just another fight—this was the **finals**. He had come this far, fought through some of the toughest adventurers in the Northern Lands, and now there was only one more obstacle in his way: Carl.

Across the arena, Carl stood tall, his imposing figure casting a long shadow in the early afternoon sun. He was a veteran of countless battles, his name known in the adventurer's circles for his prowess in both offense and defense. His guild, the Steel Ravens, may not have been the most famous, but those who knew Carl knew that he was no ordinary guild master. He was a master of both brute force and strategy, his greatsword strapped across his back and magical gauntlets shimmering faintly with runes.

Carl's confident smirk never left his face as he eyed Karma from across the battlefield. "**I've heard a lot about you, tamer,**" he called out, his voice booming over the noise of the crowd. "**You've made it far, I'll give you that. But this is the end of the line for you. Your tricks won't work on me.**"

Karma's eyes narrowed. He knew Carl was no ordinary opponent, and unlike some of the others he had fought, Carl wouldn't fall for any simple strategies. This would be a battle of wits as much as power, and Karma couldn't afford to hold anything back.

"**We'll see about that,**" Karma replied, his voice calm but firm. He reached down and patted **Kuro**, his grey fox cub, who was crouched low at his side, hidden by the shadows cast by the towering arena walls. Kuro's shadowy fur blended into the surroundings, making him almost invisible. This fight would be different—Kuro would be the secret weapon, and today, he would prove his worth.

The referee stepped forward, raising his hand to silence the crowd. The tension was palpable, the weight of the moment pressing down on everyone in the arena. The final match was about to begin.

"**This is the final match of the Grand Tournament Selection for the Northern Lands!**" the announcer's voice boomed, drawing cheers from the crowd. "**Karma, the Tamer, versus Carl, the Guild Master of the Steel Ravens! Let the battle... begin!**"

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**The First Strike**

As soon as the referee's hand dropped, signaling the start of the battle, Carl wasted no time. With a roar, he unsheathed his massive greatsword, the blade gleaming in the sunlight as he charged forward, his footsteps shaking the ground beneath him. Carl's speed was surprising for someone so large, and his sword was aimed directly at Karma's midsection, ready to cut him down in a single blow.

But Karma had expected this. With a quick motion, he activated **Skill Share**, borrowing Shiro's agility, and darted to the side, narrowly avoiding Carl's devastating swing. The air whistled as the sword passed by, carving a deep gash into the stone floor where Karma had been standing just moments before.

Karma didn't stop moving. He knew he couldn't afford to engage Carl head-on, not with that sword. Instead, he kept his distance, circling around his opponent and watching for an opening.

Carl smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "**Running won't save you, tamer. You'll have to face me sooner or later.**"

Karma didn't reply. Instead, he raised his hand, summoning one of his **Tyrants**. The massive ant-like creature materialized with a flash of red light, its mandibles clicking menacingly as it stood between Karma and Carl.

Carl's smirk widened. "**So, that's your play? A big bug to keep me busy? You'll need more than that to beat me.**"

With a grunt, Carl swung his greatsword again, this time aiming for the Tyrant. The blade connected with the creature's hard exoskeleton, sparks flying from the impact. But the Tyrant held its ground, pushing back against Carl's strength with its own immense power.

Karma took the opportunity to summon his second **Tyrant**, the two giant creatures standing side by side, their combined strength enough to give even Carl pause.

But Carl wasn't easily intimidated. With a roar, he swung his sword in a wide arc, knocking one of the Tyrants back with sheer brute force. The crowd gasped at the display of power, but Karma remained calm.

"**Let's see how you handle this,**" Karma muttered under his breath.

"**Synchronization!**"

In an instant, Karma synchronized with Shiro, his muscles tensing as the power of the rabbit flowed through him. His body moved with supernatural speed, his senses sharpened to the point where he could see every twitch of Carl's muscles, every flicker of magic in his gauntlets.

Carl swung his sword again, but this time, Karma was ready. He dodged the blow with ease, moving so quickly that Carl could barely track him. Using Shiro's agility, Karma closed the distance between them, his hand resting on his **spatial wristband**. With a flick of his wrist, his sword materialized in his hand, the black blade gleaming as he aimed for Carl's side.

Carl, however, wasn't caught off guard. With a grunt, he activated the runes on his gauntlets, and a barrier of magic sprang up around him just as Karma's sword connected. The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, but Carl's shield held strong, deflecting the blow.

"**Nice try, tamer,**" Carl growled, his eyes narrowing. "**But you'll need more than that to break through.**"

Karma leaped back, his mind racing. Carl was stronger than he had anticipated, and his combination of swordsmanship and magic made him a dangerous opponent. But Karma had yet to play his trump card—**Kuro**.

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**Kuro's Move: Shadow Sneak**

As the battle raged on, Kuro remained hidden in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike. Karma glanced down at his companion, giving him a subtle nod. Kuro's eyes gleamed with understanding, and he melted into the shadows, disappearing from sight.

Carl was focused entirely on Karma and the Tyrants, unaware of the danger lurking in the darkness. He swung his sword in wide, powerful arcs, keeping the Tyrants at bay while simultaneously casting spells to reinforce his defenses.

But Kuro had a trick that Carl wouldn't see coming. **Shadow Sneak**, an ability that allowed Kuro to travel through shadows and reappear from any shadow within a 100-meter radius.

Karma watched as Kuro slipped from shadow to shadow, moving silently and undetected. The fox's fur seemed to blend into the darkness itself, making him invisible to the naked eye. Carl, too focused on Karma's movements, had no idea what was coming.

With a sudden burst of speed, Karma lunged at Carl, drawing the guild master's attention. Carl raised his sword, ready to counter, but that was exactly what Karma wanted.

"**Now, Kuro!**" Karma shouted.

From behind Carl, Kuro emerged from the shadows, his form flickering as he dashed forward with blinding speed. The fox's claws gleamed in the dim light as he aimed for Carl's exposed back.

The attack was perfectly timed. Just as Carl raised his sword to block Karma's strike, Kuro's claws raked across Carl's back, the force of the blow sending the guild master staggering forward.

Carl let out a grunt of pain, his eyes widening in surprise as he turned to see Kuro standing behind him, the fox's fur bristling as he prepared for another attack.

"**What the—?**" Carl began, but Karma didn't give him time to recover.

Seizing the opportunity, Karma charged forward, his sword raised high. With a powerful swing, he brought the blade down toward Carl's side, aiming to end the fight with a decisive blow.

But Carl wasn't finished yet.

With a roar, Carl summoned all of his strength, activating the runes on his gauntlets once again. A surge of magic burst forth, creating a shockwave that knocked Karma and Kuro back. The force of the blast sent them both tumbling across the arena floor, but Karma quickly regained his footing, breathing heavily as he stared at his opponent.

Carl stood tall, blood dripping from the wound on his back, but his eyes were filled with fury. "**You'll pay for that, tamer,**" he growled, his voice filled with venom.

Karma wiped the blood from his lip, his heart racing as he prepared for the next phase of the battle. This fight wasn't over—not by a long shot.

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**Author's Notes:**

This chapter sets the stage for the epic final showdown between Karma and Carl. The tension is palpable, with both fighters showing off their incredible skills and strategies. Karma's use of synchronization, Skill Share, and Kuro's **Shadow Sneak** ability adds a dynamic layer to the battle, giving him the edge against Carl's

brute strength and magic. The next chapter promises to be even more intense as the fight continues!