**[EAST DISTRICT ARENA – SEMIFINALS]**
The arena was packed.
Word had spread about the semifinals—high-quality competitors, exciting battles guaranteed.
Alex arrived an hour early, wanting to watch the first semifinal before his own fight.
**[Semifinal 1: Toran vs. Level 46 Warrior]**
It was a massacre.
The local champion, with his massive Earth Dragon, demolished his opponent in four minutes.
No suspense. No drama.
Just pure domination.
The crowd cheered wildly—Toran was the local favorite, and he was proving exactly why.
Alex watched carefully.
Toran was level 52, but fought like level 60. Years of experience, perfected technique, coordination with his Earth Dragon so polished they moved as a single entity.
If Alex made it to the finals...
He couldn't win. Not without revealing too much.
He would have to lose deliberately.
But first—he had to get to the finals.
---
**[WAITING AREA]**
Grim (80cm form) was curled up on Alex's shoulder, unusually quiet.
