The battles resumed with renewed intensity.
The arena echoed with the roars of combatants who remained not for glory alone—but for pride, defiance, and the refusal to back down.
Those who had stayed behind were not fools.
Especially those with more knowledge about Michael.
Many had seen what Michael did and had done before, and still chose to stay. Whether out of unyielding will or sheer stubbornness, they remained—and it showed.
Every clash on the stage now felt heavier, fiercer.
The crowd watched, gripped by the relentless back-and-forth. Power exploded like fireworks. Blades clashed with ripples.
There were fewer participants now, but that made each bout stand out more.
But elsewhere, a different kind of tension grew.
Back in the waiting chambers, the atmosphere had changed drastically.