Chapter 20– Ascending Leagues

The arena was alive with energy, the crowd's cheers rising to a deafening crescendo as we stepped forward. Ronan and I had fought through the lower leagues, each match bringing us closer to the ultimate challenge. Today, we faced fighters from the higher leagues, and we were about to find out just how far we had come.

We were in the big leagues now, and the tension in the air was thick with anticipation.

"You ready?" Ronan asked, his voice steady, a trace of excitement in his eyes.

I nodded. "Let's do this."

As the gate to the arena opened, the cheers of the crowd swallowed us whole. The spotlight focused on us, and the announcer's voice rang out: "First match of the day—Ethan Verdanian!"

I stepped forward, facing my opponent, a tall figure who was completely still, almost eerily so. His name was Viktor, a fighter known for his kinetic manipulation—the ability to control and manipulate the movement of objects and even people around him with sheer force of will.

His eyes were cold, calculating. I could feel the air around us vibrating with the force of his ability. This was going to be different. Fire wasn't the only challenge in the arena anymore.

"Your move," Viktor said, his voice low, almost mocking.

I squared my shoulders. His powers were dangerous—he could manipulate the energy around him, turn even the smallest movements into deadly weapons. He wouldn't be like the last few fights. I couldn't rely on sheer strength or resonance alone. This was going to require strategy and adaptability.

Without warning, Viktor's hand shot out, and the ground beneath me trembled. The ground itself seemed to ripple, and a jagged rock shot up from the arena floor, aimed straight for me. I leapt to the side, narrowly dodging the attack. But Viktor wasn't done. The stone shifted in mid-air, twisting to follow my movements. The kinetic energy in the air was overwhelming, and I could feel it pressing down on me, pushing me toward the ground.

It was the first time I'd faced an opponent who could manipulate the environment around him like this. I couldn't just dodge and rely on my resonance to absorb attacks—I needed to adapt quickly.

My resonance flared, and I focused on the energy in the air. I couldn't just absorb or reflect this energy, but I could resonate with it. I let the energy from the shifting earth vibrate through me, feeling it in my bones. My body instinctively adjusted, strengthening in response to the force, my muscles adapting to the pressure as I braced myself against the kinetic force.

Viktor seemed to notice my reaction. With a twist of his wrist, he sent multiple stones hurtling toward me, each one faster than the last. My body resonated again, and this time, I didn't just absorb it—I adapted to it. My legs strengthened, my balance steadied, and I surged forward, using the kinetic energy Viktor had thrown at me to propel myself into a counterattack.

I reached him in a blur of motion, landing a punch that sent a shockwave through the air. Viktor staggered back, surprised. He had underestimated me. My body had adapted, and now I had the upper hand.

He raised both hands, his energy crackling in the air. "You're more than you seem," he said, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But I'm not finished yet."

The next moment, his entire body seemed to explode with kinetic force, sending a shockwave that knocked me back. I barely managed to regain my footing, feeling the air around me buzzing with Viktor's power.

But I wasn't backing down. My body continued to adapt to the strain, shifting, adjusting, absorbing the energy around me. I let the force work for me, using it to enhance my movements. I wasn't just reacting anymore—I was in tune with the battle.

With a sharp movement, I closed the distance between us once again, twisting my body to avoid Viktor's latest barrage of energy blasts. In a split second, I launched myself into the air, landing a decisive strike to his chest. The force of the blow sent him sprawling to the ground.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Viktor lay on the ground, unable to continue the fight.

The announcer's voice boomed: "Ethan Verdanian wins! Moving on to the next league!"

I stood there, my chest heaving, the adrenaline still coursing through me. I had done it. I had adapted, using the resonance to change my body and reflect Viktor's kinetic energy back at him. It wasn't just about absorbing the power anymore—it was about understanding it, resonating with it, and using it to my advantage.

As I walked off the arena floor, Ronan gave me a quick nod. He was already waiting for his turn. "Nice work, Verdanian," he said, flashing a grin.

"Thanks," I said, wiping the sweat from my brow. "This was a different kind of fight."

"I know," Ronan replied. "But that's the thing about this arena. You never know what you're going to face next."

He was right. The higher we went, the more unpredictable it became. But I was ready. Whatever came next, I would adapt.

And then it was Ronan's turn. I watched as he stepped into the arena, his clones flickering into existence beside him. His opponent—a fighter with speed and agility—didn't stand a chance. Ronan's clones surrounded him, disorienting him with rapid movements. The fight was over in seconds.

The announcer's voice rang out: "Ronan Elwas wins! Moving on to the next league!"

We had done it. We had both risen to the next level. The challenges ahead would be even greater, but with each victory, I could feel myself growing stronger. I wasn't just fighting to survive anymore. I was fighting to win.

As we made our way back to the locker rooms, I couldn't help but feel a surge of determination. The higher leagues were waiting for us, and we were ready for whatever came next.