Chapter 20: Fractured Unity

The Colosseum buzzed with tension, the crowd roaring as Feiyu and Zofia stood on opposite sides of the arena. Connor, Zohar, Raiden, and Kaito stood in formation, their breathing heavy, their bodies battered but still standing.

"They're up to something," Zohar muttered, his sharp eyes darting between Feiyu and Zofia. "Why else would they split like that?"

Connor clenched his fists. "Doesn't matter. We stick together, no matter what."

Raiden nodded. "Right. We can't let them force us into their game."

But then, Feiyu raised his hands, a sly smirk curling his lips as his energy surged. "Let's see how well you handle this!" he shouted.

Twelve clones of Feiyu materialized in an instant, each one identical to the original, their movements fluid and perfectly synchronized. The clones charged through the center of the arena, their footfalls shaking the ground as they raced toward the group.

"Which ones are real?" Kaito shouted, his voice laced with panic.

"I can't tell!" Raiden yelled, dodging one of the clones as it swung at him with a blade.

Connor slammed his fist into a clone, but it dissolved into smoke, only for two more to appear on either side of him. "We're surrounded!" he barked.

"Stick together!" Zohar shouted, swinging his lightning-charged axe and dissipating another clone.

But Zofia seized the opportunity, darting in from the right and slashing at Kaito with her dual blades. He blocked the attack with a gust of wind, but the sheer force sent him stumbling back.

At the same time, Feiyu's clones forced Connor and Raiden to move left, separating them from Zohar.

"Damn it!" Connor growled, smashing another clone into smoke. "We're splitting up—exactly what we said we wouldn't do!"

"We didn't have a choice!" Raiden shot back, dodging another attack.

Zohar, now isolated, turned to see Feiyu himself charging at him. He swung his axe, but Feiyu weaved effortlessly around the blow, landing a solid kick to Zohar's side that sent him skidding across the sand.

Meanwhile, Zofia zeroed in on Kaito, her movements like a deadly dance as she slashed and spun around his defenses. "You can't keep up," she taunted, landing a kick to his chest that knocked the wind out of him.

Connor faced three clones at once, his armor cracked and blood dripping from his forehead. He destroyed one with a punch but was blindsided by another, which slammed him into the ground. Feiyu himself appeared behind Connor, grabbing him by the back of his head and slamming him face-first into the dirt.

"You were supposed to be the tough one," Feiyu sneered, driving a knee into Connor's ribs. "Pathetic."

Zohar pushed himself up, blood running from his mouth. "Connor!" he shouted, charging toward Feiyu. But Zofia intercepted him, her blades locking with his axe in a violent clash of sparks.

Raiden, breathing heavily, looked around at his scattered teammates. His fists crackled with electricity as he shouted, "I've had enough of this!"

Feiyu, still pummeling Connor, laughed. "Oh, what's the matter? Feeling helpless? You should get used to it—it suits you."

Raiden's fists clenched tighter as memories of his childhood flashed through his mind: the jeers, the shoves, the punches. "I hate bullies," he growled.

Feiyu glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Going to give me a sob story now?"

Raiden stepped forward, his voice rising with emotion. "When I was a kid, I was bullied every day. They'd call me names, push me around, make me feel worthless. I hated them for it. But more than that, I hated myself for letting it happen."

Connor groaned, trying to push himself up as Feiyu loomed over him.

Raiden continued, his eyes blazing. "But I learned something from it. Strength isn't about beating people down. It's about lifting them up, protecting those who can't protect themselves. That's what it means to be chosen."

Feiyu chuckled darkly. "Touching. But you're defending someone who, what? Pounded your friend's face into the dirt a few days ago? Don't make me laugh."

Raiden's fists surged with power. "This isn't about him. This is about all of us. This is supposed to be a trial, not a slaughter. If you think killing your way to the top will make you worthy, you're wrong."

Zofia, standing a few feet away, smirked. "Oh, there's where you're mistaken," she said, flipping her blades. "If we take out the most powerful chosen here, the gods will have to notice us. That's how you survive in this world—by making sure everyone knows your name."

Raiden shook his head. "You don't want to be noticed. You just don't want to be forgotten."

Feiyu growled, his smirk fading. "Enough talk." He raised his fists, but Raiden launched forward in a flash of electricity, slamming his fist into Feiyu's chest and sending him flying.

Zohar and Kaito, seeing Raiden's determination, rallied together. Zohar charged at Zofia, deflecting her blades with his axe, while Kaito unleashed a whirlwind that sent her staggering.

Connor finally stood, clutching his side but grinning. "Let's show them what happens when you push us too far," he said, joining his friends.

The group regrouped, their combined powers surging as they faced Feiyu and Zofia one last time. The arena erupted in chaos as lightning, wind, and raw strength clashed with precision and ferocity, the battle reaching its explosive climax.

The dust settled around them as Connor, Raiden, Zohar, and Kaito stood in formation, each of them battered but unwavering. Their bodies bore the evidence of a grueling battle—cuts, bruises, and torn armor marking every inch of exposed skin.

Connor's once-pristine cyber-enhanced armor was dented and cracked, dried blood streaking down his face from a gash on his forehead. His breathing was heavy, and his knuckles were raw from repeated strikes. Despite the pain, his brown eyes burned with determination.

Raiden's uniform was tattered, his split-colored hair wild and damp with sweat. Bruises covered his arms, and a deep cut ran down the side of his ribs, but his stance remained sharp, his electric energy still crackling with intensity.

Zohar's lightning-clad form flickered, his Afro braids disheveled. Blood dripped from his lip, and his left arm ached from blocking too many of Zofia's strikes, but he refused to show weakness. His grip on his axe tightened as he eyed their opponents.

Kaito was gasping for air, his body covered in minor frostbite from pushing his ice manipulation to its limits. His clothes were torn, and his left leg throbbed where he had barely dodged one of Feiyu's clones. Still, he formed another sharp-edged ice construct in his hand, ready for the next strike.

Across from them, Feiyu and Zofia stood tall, but even they weren't untouched. Feiyu's once-flawless stance now held traces of exhaustion, and his lips were pressed together in frustration. Zofia wiped a trail of blood from her chin, rolling her shoulders as if to shake off the pain.

The six warriors locked eyes. No words were needed—this was the final clash.

Raiden and Zohar bolted in a flash of lightning, splitting in opposite directions around Feiyu and Zofia.

"Tch—fast!" Zofia gritted her teeth, tracking them with sharp eyes.

Meanwhile, Kaito and Connor charged head-on.

Kaito lifted his arms, summoning saw blades of near-freezing water. As they spun violently, they crystalized into razor-sharp discs of ice. He launched them at Zofia.

Zofia reacted instantly, slicing through the first with her dual blades. She dodged the second, twisting her body with elegant precision. But as she landed, her eyes widened—she had fallen for a trap.

Connor was already on her.

With a roar, Connor seized her, landing a devastating knee to her stomach before slashing at her with his bagh nakh, leaving deep cuts on her arm.

She gasped, stumbling back.

"Damn brute!" she spat, shaking off the pain.

Before Connor could land another strike, Feiyu intercepted, his fists striking Connor's ribs with rapid precision.

Connor coughed up blood as Feiyu struck his side again, then spun and launched a powerful kick to his chest, sending him flying across the arena. Connor crashed into the sand, skidding before coming to a stop, groaning in pain.

But before Feiyu could follow up, Zohar, Kaito, and Raiden closed in.

Zohar's axe swung down like a lightning-forged guillotine, barely missing Feiyu's head. Feiyu countered with a backflip, dodging Raiden's electrified punch, only to be blindsided by Kaito's powerful gust of wind that threw him off balance.

Zofia lunged at Kaito from behind, but Raiden appeared in a flicker of light, blocking her strike with his arm.

"This is over," Raiden growled.

Zofia smirked, despite her fatigue. "Not until you're on the ground."

The battle raged, a flurry of movement and chaos.

Zohar and Feiyu traded blows, lightning and raw combat skill clashing. Feiyu's mind raced—he was supposed to be winning. His techniques were flawless, his power immense. So why was he struggling?

What is this? he thought, blocking a strike from Zohar. Why can't I overwhelm them?

Raiden fought with precision, his past fueling his strikes. Each punch was backed by the weight of years of pain, of standing up to those who tried to break him. Zofia was fast, but he refused to fall again.

Kaito fought with strategy, using his environment, his water constructs keeping his opponents guessing.

Connor, despite his injuries, forced himself back to his feet, wiping blood from his mouth. His body screamed at him to stay down, but his spirit wouldn't allow it.

Feiyu's doubt grew. He was supposed to be better than this. Why? Why does this feel different from all my other victories?

Zofia, sensing his hesitation, gritted her teeth. "Don't falter now!" she yelled.

But it was too late.