A Dark Turn

The players headed to the preparation room, excited yet nervous. Everyone suited up, their minds focused on the upcoming matches. Avoi adjusted his martial arts kit, his reflection staring back at him from a full-length mirror. His dark, tousled hair was slightly messy from the preparation, and he ran his fingers through it absentmindedly. The muscles he had worked so hard to build were now prominent under the fitted kit, and his amber eyes shone with anticipation. He flexed his hands slowly, feeling the energy building within him.

Just then, Lila found him. She had suited up as well, wearing a light martial arts uniform that contrasted with her dark hime-cut hair. She looked stunning, her soft features glowing with a combination of excitement and nervousness. Her deep blue eyes focused on Avoi as she walked over to him.

"Nervous?" she asked, a small smile forming on her lips.

Avoi turned to her and grinned. "Not at all. I've been waiting for this for years."

Lila chuckled softly. "Always so confident. Just don't go showing off too much, okay? Save some of that energy for the finals."

Avoi gave her a playful nudge. "Only if you save some energy to win your match first."

They laughed, but the moment was cut short as the bell rang, signaling the start of the tournament. The speakers crackled to life, and the announcer's enthusiastic voice filled the arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the tournament is about to begin! All players, please take your positions!"

Everyone in the preparation room finished suiting up and began heading toward their seats. As Avoi and Lila made their way to the stands, Avoi glanced around and asked, "Where's Ren? I thought he was coming with us."

Lila sighed. "He's not competing. He said he's not as skilled as us and didn't want to drag the team down."

Avoi looked back toward the audience area and found Ren sitting in the spectator section, waving enthusiastically. Avoi smiled and waved back.

The masters took their designated seats, and the first round was called. The crowd cheered as the first fighters from Avoi's team stood from their seats and made their way to the ring. The bell rang loudly, and the first match began.

The crowd roared as two fighters faced off. Avoi's teammate—a swift and agile boy named Kiro—dodged the opponent's powerful kicks and retaliated with a quick series of punches. The match was intense, each fighter testing the limits of the other's endurance. But Kiro remained calm, waiting for the perfect opening. When the moment came, he executed a flawless roundhouse kick, knocking his opponent off balance and winning the match.

The audience erupted in applause as Kiro raised his fist in victory. Avoi and Lila clapped along with the rest of their team.

"One down, many more to go," Lila whispered with a smile.

The rounds continued, and Avoi's team racked up win after win. Their score climbed steadily—15 points by the end of the first few rounds. The closest rival team trailed behind at 12 points, and the others were scattered with scores like 10, 6, and 3. But it was the team led by a hulking boy named Moron that caught everyone's attention.

Moron was massive—taller than Avoi, with muscles that rippled under his uniform. His sheer size and strength made him a formidable opponent, and he had a reputation for crushing anyone who stood in his way.

"He's going to be trouble," Avoi muttered, watching Moron's team rack up points.

Lila nodded. "We'll deal with him when the time comes."

Finally, Lila's name was called. She stood up, adjusting her uniform, and glanced at Avoi.

"Wish me luck," she said softly.

"You've got this," Avoi replied with a grin.

Lila stepped into the ring, facing her first opponent. The battle began, and Lila moved like water—swift and graceful. Her opponent barely had time to react before she struck with a flurry of kicks and punches. The crowd cheered as she defeated four fighters in a row, each victory more impressive than the last.

But then came her toughest challenge—Ron, a skilled fighter from Moron's team. As soon as the match began, it was clear Ron was no ordinary opponent. He was quick and calculated, matching Lila's movements with precision.

The fight was intense—Lila dodging kicks and retaliating with powerful blows. But Ron was relentless. He delivered a sharp kick to her arm, sending her stumbling back. The audience gasped as Lila fell to the mat, clutching her injured arm in pain.

Ron was declared the winner, and Lila walked back to her team, her head hung low.

"You okay?" Avoi asked, concern in his voice.

Lila forced a smile. "I'll be fine. Just... annoyed."

Now it was Avoi's turn. Lila gave him a small smile despite her disappointment. "Best of luck, Captain."

Avoi stood and made his way to the ring. The crowd roared in excitement as he entered, and many students cheered his name. He scanned the audience and spotted Ren cheering him on from the stands. With a determined grin, Avoi turned his attention to the fight.

The bell rang, and his opponent rushed at him. But Avoi was ready. He dodged effortlessly, countering with a powerful punch that sent the opponent sprawling. The fight was over in seconds, leaving the crowd in stunned silence before erupting into applause.

The next match was against Opos from Moron's team. This fight was far more challenging. Opos was fast and cunning, constantly staying just out of Avoi's reach. Avoi found himself frustrated, struggling to land a hit.

But then he noticed Opos's pattern—how he leaned slightly to the left before every dodge. Avoi waited patiently for the right moment. When Opos moved again, Avoi feinted a punch, then pivoted and struck with a powerful kick. Opos staggered and fell, and the crowd erupted in cheers once more.

The final match was between Avoi and Moron. The crowd buzzed with excitement as the two captains stepped into the ring, sizing each other up. Moron cracked his knuckles, smirking.

"Ready to lose, pretty boy?" Moron taunted.

Avoi smirked back. "You wish."

The bell rang, and the fight began. Both fighters charged at each other, fists flying. Avoi dodged Moron's powerful strikes, countering with quick jabs and kicks. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, cheering with every blow exchanged.

The fight raged on, both fighters matching each other blow for blow. Sweat dripped from their brows as they fought with everything they had.

Just as they prepared to land their final punches, the sky darkened suddenly. The arena fell into an eerie silence as dark clouds swirled above.

"What the...?" Avoi muttered, stepping back in confusion.

Moron looked equally puzzled, but then a sinister black smoke emerged from the sky, swirling toward him. He tried to bat it away, but the smoke latched onto him, seeping into his skin.

Moron screamed in agony as his body twisted and morphed. His skin darkened, and horns sprouted from his head. He grew larger and more monstrous, transforming into a black demon before everyone's horrified eyes.

The demon let out a deafening roar, shattering windows around the arena. Avoi instinctively took a step back, his heart pounding in his chest.

"What... what is that?" Lila whispered, her voice trembling.

The crowd panicked, and students scattered in fear. Avoi clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes.

"I don't know," Avoi said, "but I'm going to stop it."