Circle of Tag

The referee announced, "The 2nd round will be... a Circle of Tag !"

Excitement rippled through the audience as they gathered around the ring again. Avasyu and Ash stood opposite each other, tension thick in the air.

Avasyu wasn't thinking about his earlier defeat anymore. His mind was preoccupied with the reddish-orange glow he had seen coursing through Ash's veins during the arm-wrestling match. It was as if fire itself had surged through him,but strangely, no one else seemed to notice or mention it.

Both contestants climbed into the ring, and the referee stepped onto the large purple circle at its center.

Twenty circles, painted in black and white, surrounded the ring with one randomly placed special purple circle among them. A dividing line split the center circle in half,one side labeled "Ash" and the other "Avasyu."

Raising his voice, the referee explained the rules, "The Circle of Tag involves twenty circles inside the ring: black, white, and a single special purple one. Both participants must cover as many circles as possible without making physical contact. "

"You can't stand on a circle for more than three seconds, nor can you step on the same circle twice."

"Ash will cover the black circles, and Avasyu will cover the white ones. You must first cover the assigned color on your opponent's side, then return to your side to cover the same assigned color."

" The central purple circle holds special value,it's worth five points, while black and white circles are worth one point each. The match will last ten minutes. Whoever completes their coverage and returns to the purple center first, upon my declaration, wins the round."

The crowd leaned in, murmurs of strategy and speculation buzzing through the air. Ash rolled his shoulders, flashing a confident grin, while Avasyu took a deep breath, eyes darting between the circles. This wasn't just about speed,it was a test of strategy, timing, and endurance.

The referee concluded, "Thank you for your patience. Contestants, take your positions. The second round is about to begin!"

In...3...2...1... "Let's begin!" the referee shouted, standing firmly on the purple circle at the center of the ring. Ash was positioned on the right side, his expression confident, while Avasyu stood on the left, focused and determined.

As soon as the match started, both contestants sprang into action, leaping toward their designated colored circles on the opposite sides,Avasyu toward the white circles and Ash toward the black ones.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement echoing through the training hall. Nearly everyone was rooting for Ash, chanting his name and eagerly watching his every move. Yet, Avasyu's focus remained unshaken.

The ring was designed with a total of twenty circles,ten black and ten white. Five of each color were placed within each competitor's starting area, while the remaining five were scattered on their opponent's side. To win, contestants had to cover all circles of their designated color, switching between sides while respecting the rules,no staying on a circle for more than three seconds and no repeating the same circle.

Ash swiftly jumped to the left corner of the ring, landing on a black circle with perfect balance. His movements were fluid, showcasing his experience and agility. Simultaneously, Avasyu leapt to the opposite corner, where Ash had stood moments before, planting himself on a white circle with precise timing.

Avasyu had a plan. His sharp gaze followed Ash's movements as he anticipated the next sequence. Ash, noticing this, grinned and quickly shifted to the farthest black circle in his area. Just as Ash launched forward, Avasyu timed his jump perfectly, heading toward a white circle positioned near Ash's path. The crowd gasped, impressed by the synchronization between the two competitors.

Ash's agility gave him a slight edge, but Avasyu's strategic moves closed the gap between them. Every jump, every second counted. Ash continued his swift path, covering his designated circles with remarkable speed. However, Avasyu's carefully calculated approach ensured he wasn't far behind.

The intensity grew as the match progressed. Both competitors raced against the clock and each other,while the audience held their breath, waiting to see who would gain the upper hand in this thrilling round.

Wherever Ash went, Avasyu followed, landing precisely on his designated white circles. Ash noticed Avasyu tailing him and quickly changed direction, leaping from a black circle on Avasyu's side to one on his own. Avasyu mirrored him, jumping from one white circle to another, staying close.

Ash's speed was impressive. Within moments, he had covered all five black circles on Avasyu's side. Only one black circle remained,on his side. Ash quickly sprang toward it, landing squarely where he'd started at the beginning of the match.

But Avasyu didn't follow him this time. Instead, he darted toward the center of the ring, landing on the purple circle marked with his name.

"The game is over!" the referee announced, his voice echoing through the hall.

A wave of confusion rippled through the crowd. By everyone's calculations, Ash needed to leap onto the purple circle to secure his win. Avasyu had jumped early, skipping a white circle on his side,hadn't he?

"The game is indeed finished," the referee repeated, pausing for effect. Then he pointed toward Avasyu. "And the winner is... Avasyu!"

Gasps erupted from the audience. It wasn't disbelief that Avasyu could win,it was shock that Ash had lost a round. For many, it was the first time witnessing such an outcome.

"How did he win?" several students asked in unison.

The referee raised a hand to quiet them. "Remember the rules," he explained. "The designated starting circle counts as the first point. Avasyu covered all his assigned white circles, including the starting one, and reached the purple circle. That totals fifteen points." He gestured toward Ash. "Ash, however, repeated a circle,his starting point,violating the no-repeat rule. That cost him both time and points. His total? Ten."

Murmurs filled the hall as comprehension dawned. Students who had been firmly in Ash's camp started nodding, impressed by Avasyu's clever strategy. While Ash still had a strong base of supporters, Avasyu's quick thinking earned him newfound respect.

Ash, standing beside Avasyu, chuckled and patted his opponent on the back. "Not bad, newbie," he said, grinning. "Didn't think you'd catch me with a loophole."

The referee stepped forward again. "Attention! The fight isn't over yet. The score is tied at one-to-one. The final round will decide who claims the title of Number One in the academy."

He glanced at both fighters before raising his voice. "After a fifteen-minute break, the last round will begin. And the deciding match will be... a physical combat duel!"

Excitement crackled through the air as students eagerly discussed what kind of battle awaited them next.

"The duel will begin after the break of 15 mins."