Nato7

After a cataclysm called The Fracture, the world is split into zones, each ruled by different elemental beasts and corrupted heroes from an old war. Kids born after The Fracture awaken "Wills"-unique power traits shaped by their desires and trauma. An elite academy trains them to fight rogue Wielders and hunt corrupted relics from the past.

Shadowborn: Rise of the Last Will

The air shifted. Silence blanketed the arena as the crowd held its breath, the announcer's voice booming across the stadium:

"The matchups have been decided!"

Eight names lit up on the massive screen suspended above the arena, paired off for the quarterfinal round.

Kael Renji vs. Riku Masanori

Hana Yume vs. Ryuu Takashi

Tetsu Akiyama vs. Daiki Fujimoto

Old Man Kyoushiro vs. Noboru Kanzaki

Tension cracked through the stadium like lightning.

Kael stepped into the ring, his white hair catching the light, his robe flowing behind him. Across from him stood Riku Masanori, a lean fighter with deep green eyes and a pair of twin daggers laced in glowing threads of chi. He spun one blade effortlessly as he stared down Kael.

"Show me what you've got, Void Boy," Riku smirked.

Kael didn't answer. He simply cracked his knuckles, eyes glowing faintly.

The crowd erupted in gasps as two familiar names appeared together on the screen. Hana looked over at Ryuu. His expression was unreadable, cold, focused.

"So it's you," she said softly, trying to find his eyes.

"No holding back, Hana," Ryuu replied. "I'm not going easy. You wouldn't respect me if I did."

She nodded, determination burning in her eyes. "Then don't be surprised when I don't hold back either."

Tetsu vs. Daiki Fujimoto

Tetsu scratched the back of his head as he faced Daiki Fujimoto, a silent, brooding brawler with fire-forged gauntlets. His arms were wrapped in scorched bandages, his stance solid.

"Oh great," Tetsu muttered. "Another quiet guy. Guess I'll have to do the talking and the punching."

Kyoushiro vs. Noboru Kanzaki

The final match was perhaps the most bizarre. Noboru Kanzaki was a young fighter known for his unpredictable weapon-switching technique. He seemed cocky, bouncing on his heels as the old man approached.

But Kyoushiro, with slow, deliberate steps and hands clasped behind his back, said nothing.

Noboru laughed. "What, grandpa? You forget your weapon at home?"

Kyoushiro raised an eyebrow. "I don't need one."

Each match unfolded with brutal intensity.

Kael dismantled Riku Masanori using a perfect blend of precision and overwhelming bursts of Voidstep-enhanced strikes. The match ended quickly, Kael's control clearly on another level.

Ryuu and Hana's battle was the most emotionally charged. Blinding speed, devastating attacks. But in the end, Ryuu edged her out. When she fell to one knee, exhausted and breathless, Ryuu stood over her—equally worn—but victorious.

Tetsu pulled off a scrappy, inventive win against Daiki Fujimoto, narrowly dodging a flame-fist and finishing with a combo he'd learned from his guild training.

And perhaps most shockingly… Kyoushiro, the old man, won with barely any movement. Every attack Noboru threw missed—or was redirected with the flick of a finger. A simple touch sent Noboru flying from the ring.

After the matches, Ryuu walked past Kael and said, "Next time… it's you and me."

Kael nodded. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

The final four stood ready.Kael Renji.Ryuu Takashi.Tetsu Akiyama.Kyoushiro—the mysterious old master.

The true endgame was about to begin.

Chapter 72: The Final Eight Clash