Melly shot forward like a comet, his flaming fist cocked for a devastating flying punch.
Meriosa dropped low at the last instant, planted her right hand on the ground, twisted her body, and delivered a powerful spinning kick to his ribs.
Melly spun through the air, landing hard on one knee and one arm. Dust billowed around him.
"Impressive," he said, that calm smile never leaving his face.
Meriosa retracted her claws. She clenched her fists and raised them, a grayish-blue aura swirling around her knuckles like coiled lightning.
Haven't had any reason to go all out… until now. This isn't an opponent I can hold back against.
A calm wind swept across the Golden Arena. Spectators leaned forward, hearts pounding, not daring to blink.
For a brief moment, the two stared at each other in silence.
Then they moved.
In a blink, they were face-to-face. Their fists collided with the force of a sonic boom. The impact exploded outward in a visible shockwave that cracked the arena walls and knocked every standing spectator off their feet.
Meriosa was pushed back several steps. She extended her claws and slashed forward, sending razor-sharp blades of compressed air hurtling toward Melly.
Melly dodged smoothly, but the air blades slammed into the ground, carving deep gashes exactly as if Meriosa's claws had struck them directly. His eyes widened in genuine surprise.
Meriosa didn't let up. She fired a dozen more air slashes in rapid succession—faster, deadlier. Melly weaved and twisted, but the attacks kept accelerating. Some began to connect: a graze across his shoulder, a cut on his thigh, a shallow slash across his cheek. The final one struck him square in the chest and hurled him to the ground.
Meriosa stood breathing steadily, eyes locked on her opponent.
Melly pushed himself up, laughing softly as he rose.
Meriosa frowned, confused.
"I thought I was the one not holding back," Melly said, still smiling calmly.
"Why are you acting like this is a game?" Meriosa growled, anger creeping into her voice.
Melly took one step. In the next instant, he was directly behind her.
"Everything is a game to me," he whispered coldly into her ear.
Before she could turn, a massive burst of fire exploded from his palms and slammed into her back. Meriosa flew forward, tumbling across the arena floor.
Melly opened his hands wide, laughing lightly.
Meriosa forced herself up, teeth clenched.
He appeared in front of her again. Another explosion rocked the arena, sending her flying once more. Explosion after explosion followed in blinding succession—too fast for her to think, let alone counter. The entire arena fell deathly silent, jaws dropped, eyes wide with disbelief.
What such great power… the Golden Guardian thought, her masked face betraying nothing.
Meriosa dropped to her knees, clothes mostly burned away, one eye swollen shut and bleeding.
So this… is what defeat feels like.
Melly launched himself forward at blinding speed, his flaming fist raised high.
"It's over!" he shouted.
The punch landed… lightly on top of her head.
Everyone froze in confusion.
"Oh no… not now…" Melly muttered. His fire armor flickered, then faded completely. He staggered back, breathing heavily, thin trails of smoke rising from his body.
Meriosa stared at him for a second, stunned.
Then, with the last of her strength, she charged forward and slammed into him, knocking Melly flat on his back.
The arena went completely silent… then erupted in thunderous cheers.
Meriosa turned slowly, scanning the stage. She found Nelly lying unconscious on the ground—the shockwaves from their fight had knocked her out cold.
The horn blared.
Winners: Meriosa and Harry!
Support staff and healing Flow users rushed onto the stage. They began unfreezing Harry while carefully lifting Melly and Nelly.
Meriosa dragged herself toward the exit, refusing any help, never once looking back.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as they waited for the next match.
In the contenders' stand, the atmosphere was electric.
"Okay… what just happened?" Anna said, eyes wide. "If Melly had shown even half that power in class, Cal wouldn't be anywhere near the top."
"Melly is always so silent," Koya added, still staring at the arena. "But today he was like a completely different person. And three different Flows? How? History has never recorded a triple Flow user before…"
"Him and that beast girl just stole the show," Gilbert said with a smug grin, arms crossed. "But no matter. My awesomeness will still shine perfectly."
Koya and Anna shot him annoyed glances. Lira couldn't help but giggle softly.
The arena's damage was quickly repaired by restoration Flow users. Harry was fully defrosted, and the stage stood ready once more.
The massive board flashed again.
Next Match:
Ben and Lorry vs. Gilbert and Anna.
Both teams stepped onto the arena floor.
Ben and Lorry moved with confident strides. Gilbert walked in with his usual smug expression. Anna's eyes were locked on Ben—serious, dark, and filled with clear intent.
"Lorry is all yours," Anna said quietly, voice low and dangerous. "Leave Ben to me."
"Want to avenge your brother, I see," Gilbert replied with a lazy smile. "Well, I have no issue with that. Though I won't lie—I wanted Ben for myself. Oh well, Lorry will just have to do."
The horn blew.
Ben opened fire immediately, rapid energy shots streaking toward them.
Anna rolled her staff on the ground. A thick water wall rose, blocking every shot.
Ben kept firing while glancing at Lorry. They nodded in sync.
Lorry charged forward, her gauntlets sparkling with energy. She punched the water wall hard. Electricity surged through it, and the barrier shattered.
Anna used a jet of water to launch herself into the air, flying straight at Ben.
Lorry turned toward her, but Gilbert was already there.
"Turning your back on me?" He swung his sword in a wide arc. "Pitiful mistake!"
Lorry dodged at the last second, heart racing. That was close…
From above, Anna unleashed a barrage of sharp water slashes at Ben. He moved with eerie precision, his eyes glowing faintly as he weaved between the attacks. In a brief opening, he aimed and fired. The shot grazed Anna's shoulder.
She landed smoothly.
Ben unleashed another volley. With no time to raise a wall, Anna swung her staff through the air. The incoming bullets froze mid-flight and dropped harmlessly to the ground.
The crowd burst into applause.
Meanwhile, Gilbert and Lorry clashed fiercely—sword meeting gauntlet in a shower of sparks. Gilbert attacked fast and focused. Lorry kept pace, countering perfectly. He swung right; she dodged, spotted an opening, and drove her gauntlet straight into his jaw with all her strength.
Gilbert flew backward and hit the ground hard.
Lorry stared, confused by how easily he went down.
Gilbert suddenly laughed loudly. He levitated into the air, flipping upside down.
"Pretty impressive. Guess I was wrong for underestimating you."
Lorry's eyes widened in shock.
On the other side, Anna pressed Ben up close, swinging her staff in fast, intense arcs—left, right, left again. Ben's eyes glowed brighter as he dodged every strike, seeing fractions of a second into the future.
Anna took a deep breath, rolled her staff on the ground, and sent a wave of ice splashing forward. Ben jumped back, but the ice caught the edge of his leg. He quickly shot it off and broke free—only to find Anna already in front of him.
She swung with perfect timing. The staff connected cleanly, sending Ben crashing to the ground.
Ben pushed himself up on his hands and knees, breathing heavily.
"Why haven't you ended it?" he asked. "You obviously have me."
"You're right," Anna replied calmly.
She swung her staff again. Ice instantly encased Ben's entire body, leaving only his head free.
Anna raised her staff high with all her might.
Ben closed his eyes.
The staff stopped just beside his head.
Anna smiled softly. "Hmm… I won."
At the same moment, Lorry tried one final desperate attack on Gilbert. He dodged while still levitating, then slipped behind her, swung his sword, and slashed her down cleanly.
The horn blew.
Winners: Gilbert and Anna!
Gilbert bowed theatrically, arms spread wide. The crowd erupted in cheers.
Anna and Gilbert walked off the stage together. Support Flow users rushed in to help Ben and Lorry.
Anna approached Koya, still wearing that calm expression.
"So you finally avenged Cal," Koya said.
Anna's face darkened for a moment—serious, almost angry—then she broke into a calm smile.
"What? I wasn't in it for revenge. I just didn't underestimate Ben."
The support team carried Ben and Lorry away.
The board flashed once more.
Next Match:
Cal and Jacob vs. Koya and Lira
Koya froze in place. Her heart pounded loudly in her chest, nerves twisting in her stomach.
To be continued…