The Tournament Begins

The coliseum stood tall beneath the artificial sky of the Nexus Syndicate's headquarters, a grand structure forged from reinforced metals and cutting-edge technology. Towering stands encircled the battlefield, filled with soldiers, recruits, and commanders alike, all enger of witness of the brutal clash of strength and ambition.

At the highest point of the arena, Knox and Seraph sat upon elevated thrones—an intentional design by the engineers to reinforce their authority. The position allowed them an unobstructed view of the battlefield below, where sixteen fighters prepared to battle for their ranks.

Max stood in the center of the ring, his voice amplified by the speakers embedded in the walls.

"Listen up! This tournament will determine who among you is worthy of climbing the ranks. There will be no interference, no holding back. If you lose, you accept your place. If you win, you prove yourself. Fight with everything you have!"

The crowd erupted into cheers.

Seraph rested her chin on her palm, gazing over the gathered combatants. "They seem eager."

Knox leaned back. "They should be. This is their only chance to move up the ranks quickly."

Seraph smirked. "And what about the ones who have no powers? This is hardly a fair competition for them."

Knox glanced at the contenders below. "They knew what they were signing up for."

Seraph studied him for a moment but said nothing. She turned her attention back to the battlefield as the first match began.

Round 1: Daniel vs. Richter

Daniel was a seasoned combatant, his body covered in scars that told the tale of past battles. He wielded a pair of short daggers, his movements sharp and precise. Opposing him was Richter, a mountain of a man clad in reinforced gauntlets, his power evident in the way he cracked his knuckles.

Max raised his hand. "Begin!"

Daniel vanished in a blur. His speed was incredible, dis daggers flashing like streaks of silver as he lunged at Richter. But the larger man barely flinched—his gauntlets-clad fist shot forward like a cannon.

Daniel twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the strike. He landed behind Richter and slashed at his exposed side. Sparks flew as his daggers scraped against the metallic plating hidden beneath Richter's clothes.

"Damn," Knox muttered. "He reinforced his body. Smart."

Richter responded with terrifying force. He spun, swinging his arm in a wide arc. Boom! The air itself trembled. Daniel ducked just in time, but the force of the punch alone sent him sliding backward.

Without hesitation, Daniel dashed forward again. This time, he threw his daggers. Richter instinctively raised his arm to block—ut it was a feint.

In the blink of an eye, Daniel was behind him again, a new blade appearing in his grip. He stabbed downward toward Richter's exposed shoulder.

Clang!

Richter turned at the last second, his gauntlet catching the blade. With a smirk, he crushed the weapon in his grip before grabbing Daniel by the throat and slamming him into the ground.

The battlefield cracked beneath the impact.

 Daniel gasped, struggling to breathe, but Richter didn't give him a chance. His fist rocketed downward.

Boom!

The ground split apart from the sheer force. When the dust settled, Daniel lay unconscious, a crater beneath him.

Max stepped forward, raising his hand. "Winner: Richter!"

The crowd roared in approval.

Seraph exhaled. "That was brutal."

Knox nodded. "That's how it goes. The weak fall, the strong rise."

She glanced at him. "And yet, you still provided them with Exosuits."

Knox smirked. "I never said I wanted them to die."

Round 2: Evelyn vs. Juno

The next match saw Evelyn, a woman draped in dark robes, stepping forward. She carried no visible weapon, her presence exuding an eerie calm. Opposite her stood Juno, a brawler with reinforced knuckles, his stance fire and confident.

Max signaled the start.

Juno charged instantly, closing the distance with a single powerful stride. His fist rocketed forward, aiming to end the fight in one blow.

But Evelyn merely raised a finger.

The moment Juno's fist was about to connect, he froze. His entire body seized, muscles locking as if bound by unseen chains.

Seraph glanced at Knox "Psychic manipulation?"

Knox leaned back slightly. "Something like that. Could be telekinesis, or maybe some kind of mind-linked weapon control."

Evelyn stepped forward leisurely, placing her hand on Juno's chest. Then, with a flick of her wrist, she sent him flying.

Juno crashed into the wall on the far end of the arena.

The crowd gasped.

Max walked forward, confirming Juno was unconscious before raising his hand.

"Winner: Evelyn!"

Cheers erupted once again.

Seraph smirked. "That was... efficient."

Knox chuckled. "More like terrifying."

Seraph's gaze lingered on Evelyn. "I'd like to see more of her."

Round 3: Tobias vs. Gregor

A muscular man named Tobias stepped into the ring, wielding a massive battle-axe. His opponent, Gregor, was smaller but had an aura of electricity flickering around him.

The moment Max started the match, Gregor vanished.

Tobias barely had time to react before a bolt of lightning struck his chest. He stumbled, but swung his axe in retaliation—only to hit empty air.

Seraph leaned forward. "Teleportation?"

Knox shook his head. "Lightning-speed movement."

Seraph glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Like Bolt."

Knox met her gaze, his jaw tightening. "You still hate me for that?"

She didn't hesitate. "Yes. I still hate you for killing Bolt and Vanguard."

Knox exhaled, leaning back in his seat. "They were threats. You know that."

Seraph's eyes burned with something between anger and restraint. "They were heroes. You didn't even hesitate."

Knox's fingers dimmed against the armrest. "Hesitation get you killed."

Seraph scoffed. "Maybe. But it also makes you human."

A silence stretched between them. Knox finally looked away, watching the ongoing match. "Hate me all you want. I did what I had to do."

Seraph didn't respond immediately. When she finally spoke, her voice was quieter. "That's the problem."

Gregor blurred across the arena, vanishing and reappearing in rapid bursts of speed. One moment, he was behind Tobias, the next, at his side, delivering a devastating.

Tabias snarled, spinning around with a powerful swing, but Gregor already gone.

For the next minute, it was a relentless game of predator and prey. Tobias lashed out, trying to anticipate Gregor's next move, but his opponent was too fast—darting across the battlefield in streaks of electricity. Every attempt to land a hit met only empty air.

Then, in a single flash of motion, Gregor charged his fist with crackling energy and launched forward like a human lightning bolt.

Crack!

The impact was brutal. His electrified punch connected squarely with Tobias's jaw, sending the larger man crumpling to the ground.

Max stepped forward. "Winner: Gregor!"

And so, the tournament continued. Each fight was a showcase of raw talent, skill, and determination. Some combatants replied on sheer strength, others on speed, tactics, or unique abilities. The weak fell, the strong rose.

Knox and Seraph watched it all unfold—sometimes entertained, sometimes bored—but never missing a single moment.

As the final match approached, a new tension filled the arena.

The real battle was about to begin.

To be continued...

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