Chapter 25: The Final Battle Royale
The battlefield was a chaotic tapestry of destruction, with remnants of defeated teams scattered across the landscape. At its center stood Aruis Valen, his mana swirling like a raging storm, as if he commanded the very essence of the battlefield.
Having dispatched the last remnants of another team, Aruis turned his attention toward Aeris and his group, who had been strategically maneuvering on the outskirts. He raised a hand, and the air itself seemed to hum with anticipation as threads of mana wove intricate patterns around him.
"It's your turn now," Aruis declared, a chilling smile spreading across his face.
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The Hunt Begins
Aeris crouched behind a jagged boulder, his arcane goggles scanning Aruis's every move. Data streamed across his lenses, highlighting mana flows and potential weak points, but the overwhelming density of Aruis's control made him grit his teeth.
"He's coming straight for us," Aeris muttered, loading elemental bullets into his arcane rifle.
Zord hefted his war club, Mjolnir, over his shoulder. "We've gotta stand our ground this time, Aeris. No more running."
Elara, standing to the side, clutched her staff nervously. "He's too strong. His mana control is insane—he's attacking and defending at the same time."
"That's why we disrupt him," Aeris said, his tone sharp. "Zord, you'll take point. Elara, support Zord and keep him in the fight. I'll keep him off-balance."
"What about you?" Zord asked.
Aeris adjusted his goggles, the lenses flashing as he activated multiple analysis modes. "I'll control the flow of the battle. Just buy me enough time to activate the gauntlets."
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The Clash
Aruis approached with calm confidence, his hands weaving intricate shapes in the air. Threads of mana unraveled from his fingertips, coalescing into spiraling projectiles and barriers. Without hesitation, he launched a barrage of attacks.
Zord charged forward, his massive frame a wall of muscle and determination. Swinging Mjolnir with thunderous force, he deflected the mana projectiles, each strike shaking the ground. "You're gonna have to try harder than that!" he roared.
Aruis's expression remained impassive as he redirected a wave of mana to encircle Zord. Elara reacted quickly, casting a barrier of water magic to shield him. "Stay focused!" she yelled, pouring her energy into the spell.
Meanwhile, Aeris took aim from behind cover, firing precise elemental bullets. Each shot disrupted the flow of Aruis's mana, forcing him to adjust his attacks. The goggles on Aeris's face hummed softly, calculating trajectories and highlighting weak points in Aruis's defense.
Aruis's eyes narrowed as he flicked his wrist, sending a surge of mana directly toward Aeris. The blast shattered the boulder Aeris was hiding behind, forcing him to roll to safety. "You're annoying," Aruis said coldly.
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Melee Combat Mode
Aeris glanced at his gauntlets, which were glowing faintly as they charged up. "Almost there…" he muttered.
"Zord, switch to defense!" he shouted, firing a series of elemental bullets to draw Aruis's attention.
Zord slammed Mjolnir into the ground, creating a shockwave that disrupted the mana threads around him. Elara followed up with a barrage of water blades, each one slicing through the air toward Aruis.
But Aruis was relentless. With a wave of his hand, he condensed the mana into a massive sphere and hurled it at the group. Zord intercepted it, planting his feet and using Mjolnir to absorb the impact. The ground cracked beneath him, but he held firm.
"That's enough!" Aeris shouted as his gauntlets powered up. The boosters on the sides roared to life, and he launched himself forward at blinding speed.
Aruis raised an eyebrow as Aeris closed the gap. "Finally stepping in, are we?"
Aeris didn't respond. His goggles calculated every move, predicting Aruis's attacks before they landed. With each thrust of his gauntlet, he used the boosters to adjust his position mid-strike, striking with precision and speed.
Aruis countered by weaving mana into a shield, but Aeris anticipated the move, using his momentum to feint and land a blow from an unexpected angle. Sparks flew as the gauntlets collided with the mana barrier, cracking its surface.
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The Final Struggle
The intensity of the battle reached its peak. Aruis's mana control became more aggressive, forming tendrils that lashed out in every direction. Elara and Zord had both been taken down, their energy depleted, leaving Aeris to face Aruis alone.
Aruis smirked, his hands glowing with an overwhelming surge of mana. "You've fought well, but this is where it ends."
Aeris's goggles flashed a warning—his gauntlets were running low on power. He clenched his fists, the boosters sputtering slightly. "I've got one move left," he muttered under his breath.
As Aruis began charging his final attack, Elara, still conscious but weak, spotted the stun baton on the ground. With trembling hands, she picked it up and hurled it toward Aeris.
Aruis, ever alert, caught the baton midair. "Really?" he said, his tone dripping with condescension.
But as his fingers wrapped around the charged end of the baton, a jolt of electricity surged through his body. His concentration faltered, and his mana dissipated for a split second.
Aeris seized the moment, using the last bit of power in his gauntlets to launch himself forward. With a devastating uppercut, he struck Aruis, sending him crashing to the ground.
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The Draw
Both fighters collapsed, the battlefield silent except for the crackle of residual mana. Elowen's voice echoed through the air as the medics rushed in.
"This match is declared… a draw!"
As Aeris was carried off, he glanced over at Aruis, who was lying on a stretcher nearby.
"You were good," Aruis muttered weakly. "But that baton… really?"
Aeris chuckled despite his exhaustion. "Battle IQ, my friend. It's all about the tools."
And so, the competition ended—not with a clear winner, but with a story that would be told with equal parts awe and laughter for years to come.
Chapter 28: The Final Battle Royale (Continued)
"In tenth place," Elowen announced, pausing for effect, "Team Aeris!"
A smattering of cheers and laughter rippled through the crowd. Aeris, lying on a stretcher with bandages haphazardly wrapped around his forehead, weakly raised a hand. "We made it... barely," he muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Zord, sitting cross-legged beside him with bruises across his face, gave a hearty laugh. "Hey, tenth is better than nothing!"
Elara, who was leaning on a nearby pillar nursing her own wounds, rolled her eyes. "Tenth place in a competition with twelve teams, Zord. That's hardly a victory."
Aeris groaned. "Can we at least call it character development?"
Elowen raised a hand to silence the crowd before continuing. "And finally, in first place, the one who singlehandedly dominated this competition… Aruis Valen!"
A deafening roar of applause echoed across the arena. Aruis stood at the center of the battlefield, arms crossed, the faint glow of mana still lingering around him. He nodded slightly, his expression unreadable. His gaze swept across the remnants of his opponents and landed briefly on Aeris, who gave him a lazy thumbs-up.
Elowen's voice softened as she added, "For those curious about this remarkable young man, let it be known: Aruis Valen is no ordinary competitor. He is the disciple of the legendary war general Aldain Kyril, a warrior whose strength once shook empires."
The crowd gasped at the revelation, murmurs of awe rippling through them. Zord let out a low whistle. "Explains why he hit like a runaway boulder."
Aeris smirked despite himself. "Guess we never stood a chance to begin with."
Before anyone could say more, a loud commotion broke out on the sidelines.
"Aeriiisss!" Zord bellowed as he sprinted toward the group, dragging something behind him.
"What now?" Aeris muttered, too tired to even lift his head.
Zord held up the object with a triumphant grin—a familiar, worn-out stun baton. "Look what Elara found earlier!"
Elara flushed slightly, waving dismissively. "It was lying around, so I threw it toward Aeris during the fight! Thought it might help…"
The audience broke into laughter, but Aruis' sharp eyes zeroed in on the baton. His expression darkened.
"Wait, don't tell me…" Aeris started, but before he could finish, Zord tossed the baton in his direction.
Aruis, acting on instinct, intercepted it mid-air with a smirk. "You'll have to do better than—"
Before he could finish his taunt, his fingers brushed the active end of the baton.
A loud crackle filled the air as electricity coursed through Aruis' body. His hair stood on end, and his previously stoic expression contorted into a ridiculous grimace before he crumpled to the ground with a loud thud.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, the entire crowd burst into laughter. Even Elowen, struggling to maintain her composure, turned away to hide her grin.
Aeris sat up weakly, covering his face with his hands. "This... this is how the great Aruis Valen goes down?"
Zord was laughing so hard he was doubled over. "Guess you didn't see that one coming, huh, mana master?"
Elara groaned, rubbing her temples. "I didn't think it would actually work…"
Elowen finally managed to compose herself, raising her voice over the laughter. "And with that… I officially declare the competition over!"
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause once more, their spirits lifted by the unexpected and comedic ending.
Aeris flopped back onto the stretcher, staring at the sky with a faint smile. "Tenth place never felt so good."
Zord slapped his shoulder with a hearty laugh. "A win's a win, right?"
Elara shook her head but smiled. "I don't think I'll ever live down the fact that a stun baton ended this."
Aeris grinned, his goggles still reflecting the setting sun. "Whatever works, Elara. Whatever works."