The Tournament: Last man standing

After ten days, the tournament dawned at last. 

Leo and Alice arrived at Central Square Colosseum in the early morning. 

Contestants flooded the arena, fired up .. Leo among them.

"Good luck, Leo! Take them all down!!" Alice shoved him toward the sands. 

"Thank you, Alice."

He stepped into the arena, nerves and energy warring inside him. A boy standing alone among monsters hulking, hairy giants.

"Why are you here, fella? Go drink milk or something ." A warrior smirked, belittling him. 

Leo stared back, silent.

"HOW DARE YOU IGNORE ME?!" The man lunged, sword flashing.

Leo's eyes locked onto his. Pupils sharp. Filled with years of unspoken pain.

"Ooooh... I think someone called me! Bye!" The warrior spun abruptly and fled.

The little caged girl was displayed atop the colosseum, sadness etched across her face. 

Leo and the warriors glimpsed her distantly, unaware of her identity. 

Why cage an innocent girl? Leo's knuckles whitened around his sword hilt.

The arena seethed with spectators , a tidal roar of noise. 

Alfred watched from his private box, a faint frown tightening his lips.

For the first day's battle: eight groups in last-man-standing matches. 

Leo's group entered the sands. 

Time to see how far I've come. He tightened his grip on the sword.

"Are you ready?" The Herald's voice boomed. 

"3...2...1... START!"

His shout echoed , drowned instantly by warriors' screams.

Chaos erupted. 

Swords CLANGED Flails WHIPPED the ground. weak Bodies fell. 

Leo fought without hesitation, raw power behind every swing. 

i got to end this fast , find Lin

Warriors flew over arena walls. The Spectators roared..

"GET HIM OUT, ANDRI!! NO DINNER FOR FIVE NIGHTS!"

"USELESS COWARD! WHY'D YOU EVEN JOIN?!"

" .Interesting.. " Alfred watched from the nobles' box, domino mask fixed on Leo struggling against a twin-bladed brute. .

As Leo clashed swords with the twin-bladed warrior, a muffled voice came through the mask: 

"Give up already, boy."

"This place eats kids like you alive."

Leo ignored him , muscles straining as he drove his massive sword down, slamming the warrior into the ground. dust puffed around them. 

Leo leveled his blade at the man's throat.

"You'll learn this world's cruelty soon enough," the warrior panted.

Leo turned, scanned the remaining fighters

 a scheming laugh hissed behind him.

"Leo! Look out!" Alice's scream vanished in the arena's roar

He whirled. Two blades gleamed at his neck. 

CLANG!

Leo parried just in time.

"Impossible! That sword's too heavy for such speed !"_

Their blades locked like grinding millstones. 

"Go. Away."** Leo's whisper made sweat bead on the warrior's mask.

One brutal shove sent the man skidding over the arena's edge.

After thirty minutes, Leo stood with only two warriors remaining. They grappled near the arena's edge

"DON'T PUSH ME!"

"NOT UNTIL YOU YIELD!" 

"NO YOU BIG IDIOT !"_ One warrior lunged... 

Both toppled into the void.

Leo didn't understand what just happened. He stared blankly at the empty arena, wind carrying plumes of dust where warriors had fallen. 

The Herald's voice cracked like thunder: 

LEO VENATOR—VICTOR OF GROUP ONE!"

The crowd's roar swelled—a tidal wave of cheers and furious screams crashing over the sands.

"YAY!!!! LEO WON! LEO WON!!!!!!!!" Alice leaped wildly, braids flying.

The Herald's voice cracked again: 

"ALL WINNERS!!! GATHER NOW!"

Leo walked toward the announcement zone, movements heavy with exhaustion.

"Congratulations, victors." 

Some warriors panted; others clutched bleeding wounds. 

"Hope we get rest before the main event," one muttered, elbowing his companion.

The Herald smirked.... a knife-slash of a smile. 

"About that rest..."

He turned To the spectators his Voice Thundered

"VERSUS ROUNDS COMMENCE IMMEDIATELY."