Chapter 47: The Fight Against Team Darkshade

The tension in the arena was thick as Tetsu stepped into the ring. His opponent was from Team Darkshade, a mysterious and powerful group that had been making waves throughout the tournament. This particular fighter, Raven, was smaller than Tetsu but had an aura of undeniable strength. His eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity, and his movements were precise, as if every action was calculated. It was clear he wasn't weak, but he wasn't the strongest of the Darkshade team either.

The moment Tetsu stepped forward, he couldn't help himself. With a mischievous grin plastered on his face, he blew a kiss in the direction of Eri, who was sitting in the stands with her arms crossed, watching the match.

Eri, unbothered, simply raised an eyebrow and rolled her eyes at his antics. She didn't react—her face was as stoic as ever, a quiet contrast to Tetsu's usual confidence.

But then, to Tetsu's surprise, Raven did something unexpected. He smirked, his lips curling into a teasing grin as he mimicked Tetsu's actions, blowing a playful kiss toward Eri as well.

The crowd let out an audible chuckle, clearly amused by the exchange. Eri's reaction, however, was still a nonchalant shrug, though her eyes narrowed slightly, as if sizing up the situation. She said nothing but continued watching the match with a sharp focus.

Tetsu's smile faltered for just a moment, but only a moment. The showmanship was fun, but now it was time to get serious. He rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck.

"Alright, let's see what you've got," Tetsu taunted, readying himself.

"I could ask you the same thing," Raven replied coolly, his hands in his pockets as if he wasn't bothered by Tetsu's playful attitude.

The referee signaled for the fight to begin, and in the blink of an eye, Raven darted toward Tetsu with remarkable speed, his hands glowing with dark energy. Tetsu's reflexes were lightning-fast, and he sidestepped the incoming strike just in time.

"Not bad," Tetsu remarked, grinning widely. "But you'll need more than that to get me."

Raven was quick, fluid in his movements, using his smaller frame to his advantage. He launched a series of precise jabs, each one aimed to land right where Tetsu was vulnerable. But Tetsu, ever the show-off, was having too much fun dodging, his movements smooth and effortless as he avoided each attack.

"Come on, is that all you've got?" Tetsu taunted again, his voice carrying across the arena. He slid behind Raven in a flash, landing a swift kick to his back that sent him skidding forward.

But Raven wasn't done yet. With a quick turn, he unleashed a blast of dark energy from his palm, the air around it crackling with power. The blast was fast and ferocious, and Tetsu only had seconds to react.

With a flip backward, Tetsu barely dodged the energy wave, landing gracefully on his feet just out of reach. His smirk never faltered.

"You're gonna need a little more than that if you want to hit me," Tetsu said, his voice laced with mockery. He clenched his fists, feeling the thrill of the fight course through his veins. He wasn't just fast—he was unpredictable. And that was what made him dangerous.

Raven, now more focused, narrowed his eyes and took a different approach. He shifted his stance, his body a little lower to the ground, ready to strike with even more precision. He dashed toward Tetsu again, but this time he didn't just use speed—he combined it with the dark energy he had been channeling. Raven's attacks were fast, but now they were also more powerful.

The air hummed as his fists collided with Tetsu's defensive blocks, each strike sending shockwaves through the arena. The crowd gasped at the force behind Raven's blows.

Tetsu's grin faded slightly. Raven wasn't backing down, and the hits were beginning to get harder to avoid. But Tetsu wasn't going to lose here. He ducked beneath another blast, rolling to the side as he came up behind Raven.

"This is what I was waiting for!" Tetsu shouted, as he focused his energy into his legs and launched himself at Raven with a flurry of punches.

The two collided in a whirlwind of energy and movement. Tetsu's punches were rapid, his attacks precise and quick. But Raven wasn't going to give up that easily. He matched Tetsu's speed, using his own dark energy to augment his strength, creating an unpredictable flow of attacks that kept Tetsu on his toes.

The crowd watched, on the edge of their seats, as the two fighters clashed in a battle of speed, strength, and energy. Each time they collided, it felt like the arena itself shook. Neither seemed to have the upper hand—yet.

"Come on, Raven! Show me what you've really got!" Tetsu laughed, clearly enjoying the challenge. But his face grew more serious as he realized that Raven wasn't just toying with him—he was fighting with everything he had.

Tetsu's grin returned as he readied himself for one final push. He focused his energy into his fists, preparing a strike that would end the match. His legs coiled beneath him, his muscles tense as he launched forward with blistering speed.

Raven's eyes widened for a moment, but he wasn't caught off guard. With one swift motion, he raised his arms, generating a massive shield of dark energy that absorbed Tetsu's blow. The force behind the strike caused the shield to crack, but it held strong.

"Impressive," Raven muttered, his energy still crackling around him.

Tetsu took a step back, his grin never leaving his face. "You're stronger than I thought. But I'm not done yet."

The fight raged on, neither willing to back down. The crowd watched in awe as the two competitors went back and forth, their energy clashing in an unstoppable torrent.

The battle was far from over.