chapter 36: Second Round

Liana entered the tournament arena with her usual composed grace, her long hair flowing behind her. Though slightly late, she wasn't concerned; being one of the top 10 meant her participation was guaranteed, and she didn't feel the need to watch the earlier challenges. However, as she joined Jessica, Xavier, and the rest of the group, she was met with a barrage of excited chatter.

"You missed it, Liana," Felix said, his voice brimming with excitement. "Xavier just took out ten challengers in a row—each with a single strike!"

"One strike?" Liana asked, her brows raising in genuine surprise.

Mara nodded enthusiastically. "It was insane! The way he moved… You could barely see him!"

Liana turned her gaze to Xavier, her expression softening as a smile tugged at her lips. "Impressive, as always," she said, though her thoughts were far deeper. Seeing him command such strength and confidence only solidified her admiration—and desire—for him.

Jessica noticed Liana's lingering gaze but chose to ignore it, leaning closer to Xavier. "You didn't even break a sweat," she said teasingly. "Save some energy for the real battles, my love."

Xavier chuckled, brushing off the compliments. "I'm just warming up. The real challenge will come soon."

As the group shared a lighthearted moment, the tournament continued. The open challenges began to dwindle, and the second round was announced—where the top 50 would battle for a spot in the final phase.

Among the contestants, a dark horse emerged, drawing the crowd's attention. A tall, lean warrior with jet-black hair and piercing amber eyes stepped into the ring. His movements were sharp and calculated, and his victories were swift but brutal.

"Who is that?" Eddie asked, leaning forward in his seat.

"His name's Raiden," Jessica said, her tone intrigued. "I've seen him around the academy, but he always kept a low profile. Didn't expect him to be this strong."

Raiden's fights were captivating, his techniques unpredictable and precise. He quickly became the talk of the arena, challenging even the most experienced warriors and securing his place among the strongest.

Xavier watched Raiden closely, his dragon eye faintly glowing as he analyzed every movement. "He's good," Xavier admitted. "But his fighting style leaves openings. If I face him, it won't be an issue."

The second round began, with the top 50 warriors stepping into the arena to challenge one another. The matches were intense, filled with explosive clashes of spiritual energy, leaving the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Jessica, Liana, and Xavier watched as their peers fought fiercely for a spot in the top 10. Each match brought new surprises, and the anticipation for the final battles only grew.

As the matches continued, Xavier felt a growing sense of excitement. This wasn't just a tournament—it was a stage for him to prove himself, to show not only his strength but also his resolve to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The arena buzzed with anticipation as Raiden stepped forward, his piercing amber eyes scanning the crowd before locking onto Mara. The dark horse had quickly gained a reputation for his unpredictable and calculated style, but now he faced someone just as cunning and skilled.

"I challenge Mara Velis," Raiden announced, his voice calm yet filled with determination.

Mara smirked as she gracefully leapt into the ring, her twin daggers glinting under the sunlight. "You've got guts," she said, twirling the blades in her hands. "Let's see if you've got the skills to match."

The crowd roared as Lord Cedric raised his hand. "Let the battle commence!"

Raiden moved first, his footwork fluid as he unleashed a flurry of precise strikes. His spiritual energy surged, forming razor-sharp arcs that cut through the air, forcing Mara to dodge and weave. Her movements were equally graceful, her agility allowing her to evade the initial assault effortlessly.

"Not bad," Mara said, her voice laced with amusement. She countered with a sudden burst of speed, her daggers aiming for Raiden's blind spots.

Raiden deflected the attacks with surprising precision, using the flat of his blade to parry the blows. The crowd watched in awe as the two danced across the arena, their movements a blend of offense and defense.

But as the battle progressed, Mara began to notice the very openings Xavier had mentioned. Raiden's aggressive style left subtle gaps in his defense, and Mara wasted no time exploiting them.

"You're good," Mara admitted, landing a clean strike on Raiden's shoulder. "But not good enough."

Raiden gritted his teeth, his aura flaring as he launched a desperate counterattack. Mara, however, was ready. She sidestepped his strike and delivered a swift blow to his leg, causing him to stumble.

With one final, decisive strike, Mara disarmed Raiden and pointed her dagger at his throat. "Yield," she said, her tone firm but respectful.

Raiden hesitated before nodding, his breath ragged. "I yield."

The crowd erupted in applause as Mara helped Raiden to his feet. "You've got potential," she said with a grin. "Just need to tighten up your defense."

Raiden nodded, a small smile forming. "I'll keep that in mind."

The atmosphere shifted to one of excitement and camaraderie as Felix and Eddie stepped into the ring. The two friends exchanged playful banter, their competitive spirits shining through.

"Don't hold back, Eddie," Felix said, brandishing his massive battle axe.

Eddie smirked, adjusting his gauntlets. "I wouldn't dream of it. Let's give them a show."

Lord Cedric signaled the start of the match, and the two clashed with explosive force. Felix's strength was evident in every swing of his axe, each strike sending shockwaves through the arena. Eddie, on the other hand, relied on his agility and precision, his gauntlets glowing with concentrated spiritual energy.

The battle was evenly matched, with neither willing to back down. Felix's raw power met Eddie's finesse in a series of breathtaking exchanges, their auras clashing in vibrant displays of light.

"Come on, Eddie!" Felix shouted, a wide grin on his face. "Is that all you've got?"

Eddie laughed, narrowly dodging a powerful strike. "I'm just getting started!"

The crowd was captivated as the two pushed each other to their limits. Their friendship was evident in every move, the trust and respect they shared shining through despite the fierce competition.

In the end, the match ended in a draw, both warriors collapsing to the ground, laughing and panting.

"Guess we're evenly matched," Felix said, offering Eddie a hand.

"For now," Eddie replied with a grin, accepting the gesture.

The audience cheered, the display of skill and friendship leaving a lasting impression on everyone present.

As the second round of the tournament neared its conclusion, the excitement in the air was palpable. Warriors were giving their all, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats. Amidst the noise, Liana leaned in close to Xavier and Jessica, her voice low enough to keep the conversation private.

"So, Jessica," Liana began, her tone light yet teasing. "I was thinking… would you ever share Xavier?"

Jessica blinked in surprise before breaking into a playful smile. "Absolutely," she replied, her tone equally teasing. "But only with someone worthy."

Liana smirked, her confidence radiating. "Good, because I'm strong, and I can prove it."

Before either Xavier or Jessica could respond, Liana stood up, her emerald-green eyes flashing with determination. "I challenge Jessica Vice!" she declared, her voice cutting through the arena's chatter like a blade.

The entire crowd fell silent, their eyes widening in shock. A challenge between two earth-rank warriors, especially ones ranked fourth and fifth, was a spectacle no one wanted to miss.

The two women stepped into the ring, their auras clashing before the battle even began. Jessica drew her glacial sword, its icy glow radiating a chilling energy, while Liana's aura of ancient wind energy swirled around her, rustling her long hair like a tempest.

"You're strong, Liana," Jessica said, her tone respectful yet firm. "But don't think for a second I'll go easy on you."

Liana smirked, her voice filled with equal determination. "I wouldn't expect you to."

Lord Cedric raised his hand, signaling the start of the match. "Begin!"

Jessica moved first, closing the distance with incredible speed as she unleashed a barrage of precise strikes. Liana dodged and countered, her movements graceful and fluid like the wind itself.

The arena erupted with cheers as the two warriors traded blows, their clashes creating shockwaves that rippled through the air. Jessica's swordsmanship was precise and unrelenting, her glacial energy leaving trails of frost with every swing. Liana, however, used her ancient wind bloodline to deflect and redirect the attacks, creating pockets of air to shield herself.

"You're impressive," Jessica admitted, her breath visible in the cold air around her. "But let's see how you handle this!"

Jessica's aura exploded as she activated her Glacial Sword Art, a technique that turned the battlefield into a frozen wasteland. Icy spikes shot up from the ground, and a blizzard-like storm enveloped the arena, forcing Liana to fight in the harshest of conditions.

Liana's eyes narrowed, and she tapped into her ancient wind bloodline, summoning a powerful gust that momentarily disrupted Jessica's storm. For a brief moment, the arena stilled as Liana's winds held Jessica's attack in check.

The crowd gasped at the display of power. "She stopped it?" someone murmured in awe.

However, Jessica wasn't done. With a shout, she pushed her technique further, her glacial energy overwhelming Liana's defenses. A surge of frost struck Liana, sending her skidding backward.

Panting and with frost clinging to her skin, Liana raised her hand in surrender. "I yield," she said, her tone respectful.

The crowd erupted in applause, the display of strength leaving everyone awestruck. Jessica sheathed her sword and extended a hand to Liana, a small smile on her face. "You're strong," she said. "Worthy, even. But not today."

Liana took the hand and laughed, her competitive spirit undimmed. "Not today," she agreed. "But one day, I'll win."

Xavier, watching from the sidelines, shook his head with a mix of admiration and amusement. "You two are unbelievable," he said, his voice carrying a hint of pride.

The two women returned to their seats, their mutual respect evident. Despite the challenge, there was no animosity between them—only a shared understanding of each other's strength.