Chapter 27: The Final Showdown – Part 2

The air in the arena was thick with tension, each breath the crowd took weighed down by the intensity of the battle. The final match of the **Grand Tournament Selection** had already proven to be far more than anyone had anticipated. Karma, the underdog tamer, had pushed **Carl**, the seasoned guild master of the **Steel Ravens**, to his limits. But the fight was far from over.

Karma stood at the edge of the battlefield, his body bruised, his breath labored. Kuro, his grey fox companion, crouched low beside him, ready for the next move. Across from them, Carl loomed large, his greatsword still gleaming despite the blood dripping from the wound on his back. His gauntlets flickered with magic, and his eyes burned with fury. The attack from Kuro had surprised him, and he wasn't about to let it happen again.

"**You've gotten further than I expected, Karma,**" Carl growled, his voice low and dangerous. "**But playtime's over. I'll crush you and that little fox of yours.**"

Karma wiped the sweat from his brow, his eyes never leaving Carl. "**You're strong, Carl. I'll give you that. But you've underestimated us—me and my monsters.**" His voice was calm, but his mind was racing. He knew this battle was reaching its peak, and one wrong move could cost him everything.

Carl raised his greatsword, the runes on his gauntlets glowing brighter as he summoned more mana. The very air around him crackled with energy, and the ground beneath his feet trembled with his power. He was preparing for something big—a final, devastating strike.

Karma gritted his teeth. He had been holding back Kuro for most of the fight, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Now, with Carl preparing his most powerful attack, the time had come for the final push.

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**Carl's Ultimate Attack**

With a roar, Carl raised his sword high above his head, the magic in his gauntlets surging into the blade. The crowd gasped as the greatsword began to glow with a brilliant white light, pulsing with raw energy. Carl's eyes gleamed with confidence—he believed this would be the blow to end the battle.

"**Let's see how your tricks hold up against this!**" Carl shouted, his voice booming across the arena.

In a single, fluid motion, Carl brought the sword crashing down, unleashing a massive shockwave of magical energy that ripped through the ground, tearing up stone and earth as it barreled toward Karma and his monsters. The force of the attack was overwhelming, and the crowd gasped in fear and awe as the energy surged forward, intent on obliterating everything in its path.

But Karma wasn't about to let Carl have the upper hand. He had already synchronized with Shiro, his body moving faster than most could see. He knew he had to act quickly—if he hesitated for even a second, Carl's attack would end the fight.

"**Kuro, now!**" Karma shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of Carl's attack.

Kuro's eyes flashed, and the fox disappeared into the shadows, using **Shadow Sneak** to vanish from the battlefield. The grey fox darted from shadow to shadow, its movements impossible to track as it closed in on Carl.

But Kuro wasn't the only part of Karma's plan. As the shockwave of energy hurtled toward him, Karma summoned his **Tyrants** once again, the two massive ants fusing into a single, powerful creature with the help of **Monster Fusion**. The fused Tyrant's mandibles snapped shut with a resounding crack, its body brimming with strength and endurance.

The moment Carl's attack collided with the fused Tyrant, the impact sent a shockwave through the arena, the sound deafening as the two forces clashed. The ground shook, and dust and debris flew into the air, obscuring the battlefield in a thick cloud of smoke.

For a moment, everything was silent. The crowd held its breath, unsure of what had happened. Had Carl's attack finished Karma? Or had the tamer found a way to survive?

As the dust began to settle, the faint outline of the fused Tyrant came into view. The massive creature had taken the brunt of Carl's attack, its exoskeleton cracked but still standing strong. It had protected Karma, shielding him from the worst of the damage.

But Carl wasn't done.

"**Impressive,**" Carl muttered, his voice low. "**But that won't be enough.**"

Before Karma could react, Carl dashed forward with blinding speed, his greatsword raised for another strike. He was moving faster than ever, the runes on his gauntlets propelling him forward with an almost unnatural velocity.

Karma's heart raced as Carl closed the distance between them, his sword aimed directly at Karma's chest. The fused Tyrant was too slow to intercept, and Shiro, while fast, couldn't take a direct hit from Carl's blade.

"**This is it, tamer!**" Carl shouted, his eyes blazing with victory.

But just as Carl's sword was about to strike, Kuro emerged from the shadows behind Carl, his claws gleaming with dark energy. In a flash, the fox leaped onto Carl's back, sinking its teeth into his shoulder with ferocious strength.

Carl let out a roar of pain, his momentum faltering as he stumbled forward. His greatsword missed Karma by mere inches, the blade embedding itself into the ground with a thunderous crash.

"**Kuro!**" Karma shouted, his heart pounding with adrenaline.

The fox's **Shadow Sneak** ability had allowed him to appear behind Carl without being detected, and now, with Carl's shoulder injured, Karma had the opening he needed.

With a surge of energy, Karma activated **Skill Share**, borrowing Shiro's agility one last time. His body moved with blinding speed as he closed the gap between himself and Carl, his sword drawn from his **spatial wristband**.

Carl, still reeling from Kuro's attack, barely had time to react as Karma's blade sliced through the air, aimed directly at his exposed side. The crowd watched in stunned silence as Karma's sword connected, the sound of steel meeting flesh echoing through the arena.

Carl's eyes widened in shock as the blade bit into his side, blood spraying from the wound as he staggered backward. He clutched his side, his face contorted in pain, but he refused to fall. His gauntlets flared with magic, summoning one last burst of energy as he prepared to retaliate.

But Karma wasn't about to let Carl recover.

With a final command, Karma called out to his fused Tyrant. The massive creature charged forward, its mandibles clicking with deadly precision. Carl, weakened and bleeding, had no time to defend himself as the fused Tyrant slammed into him, its massive weight driving him to the ground.

The force of the impact was enough to crack the stone beneath them, and the arena trembled as Carl's body hit the floor. His greatsword clattered to the ground beside him, the runes on his gauntlets flickering and fading as his magic sputtered out.

Karma stood over Carl, his sword still in hand, his breath coming in heavy, ragged gasps. Kuro reappeared at his side, the fox's fur matted with sweat but its eyes still sharp and focused.

For a long moment, the arena was silent. The crowd was too stunned to react, their eyes locked on the scene before them.

Then, slowly, the referee stepped forward, his voice shaky but clear. "**The winner of the Grand Tournament Selection is... Karma!**"

The crowd erupted into cheers, the sound deafening as they celebrated Karma's hard-fought victory. The once-unknown tamer had done the impossible—he had defeated Carl, the guild master of the Steel Ravens, and claimed the title of champion.

Karma stood tall, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins as he looked down at Carl. The guild master was still conscious, but barely. His face was twisted in pain, but there was a hint of respect in his eyes as he met Karma's gaze.

"**You fought well, tamer,**" Carl muttered, his voice weak but sincere. "**I underestimated you.**"

Karma nodded, his expression serious. "**You were a tough opponent. I had to give everything I had.**"

Carl chuckled softly, wincing at the pain in his side. "**Next time, I won't go easy on you.**"

With that, Carl's eyes fluttered shut, and the medics rushed onto the battlefield to tend to him.

Karma let out a long breath, his body relaxing for the first time in what felt like hours. He had won. The weight of the battle finally lifted off his shoulders, and he felt a deep sense of relief wash over him.

Kuro nudged Karma's leg, and he knelt down to pat the fox's head. "**Good job, Kuro,**" he whispered. "**You were the MVP today.**"

The fox's eyes gleamed with pride as he nuzzled Karma's hand.

As the cheers of the crowd continued to echo through the arena, Karma looked up at the sky, the weight of his victory finally sinking in.

He had done it.

He was the champion.

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**Author's Notes:**

This final chapter of the battle between Karma and Carl brings the intensity and strategy to a climactic conclusion. The use of Kuro's **Shadow

Sneak** ability was key to Karma's victory, showing how even the smallest of allies can turn the tide of battle. Karma's growth as a tamer and strategist is evident, and the battle showcases his ability to adapt and overcome overwhelming odds. The Grand Tournament Selection has come to an epic end, with Karma proving that tamers are a force to be reckoned with!