We are in the other branch of the tournament.
The stadium lights slowly dim as the names of the next pair appear on the giant projector.
SHIRO vs KROSS VAYNE
In the audience, Kael and Akira watch.
Akira clasps his arms.
"That guy…" he says quietly. "He's not playing fair."
The gates open.
Shiro calmly steps into the arena, a faint blue energy vibrating beneath his snow-white coat.
Kross Vayne stands opposite him. A casual smile, a challenging look.
"I hope you like poison," he says with a grin.
Peons
Shiro – Frost Phantom
When Shiro launches his peon, a cold wind sweeps through the arena.
An icy mist appears around his spinning peon.
The ghostly figure of a huge frost wolf slowly emerges from the mist.
Blue eyes, icy aura.
The creature circles around the peonza, as if protecting it.
Kross – Venom Spiral
Kross' peonza slams into the arena with green-black energy.
A dark green mist oozes from the spin.
A long, venomous snake-like creature emerges from the mist.
Its eyes glow yellow, its body made of scales formed from energy.
The snake wraps itself around the Venom Spiral, ready to attack.
The fight
Start
– Spin… GO!
The two peons slam into the arena at the same time.
The Venom Spiral attacks immediately.
Not with one strong blow – but with many small, quick collisions.
The venomous snake-like creature zigzags and strikes again and again.
The Frost Phantom's spin is slightly wobbly.
The Ice Wolf growls and leaps towards the snake, but Venom Spiral continues to harass him.
The commentator exclaims:
– Kross' tactics are brutal! He keeps his opponent under constant pressure!
Kross grins.
– Slowly… he falls apart.
Shiro's style
Shiro doesn't panic, though.
He just watches.
His eyes follow the movement.
He analyzes the pattern.
He realizes something.
Venom Spiral relies on close combat.
The more times it hits, the greater its advantage.
Shiro speaks softly.
– Then… we'll change the course.
Turning Point
– Frost Phantom… Frozen Illusion.
The Ice Wolf roars.
The fog immediately thickens in the arena.
The cold air refracts the light.
Suddenly…
it seems that two Frost Phantoms are circling the field.
The Frost Wolf's form also splits into two, as if two ghosts are trapped in the fog.
Kross laughs.
- Cheap trick.
The Venom Spiral attacks.
The snake-like creature strikes with lightning speed.
But…
it hits the wrong peon.
It's just an illusion.
Trapped by Ice
The real Frost Phantom doesn't attack.
It moves in a circle.
The Frost Wolf runs through the fog, slowly cooling one side of the field.
A section of the field becomes icier.
The Venom Spiral passes through it…
and its movement slows down for a moment.
The commentator exclaims:
– This is brilliant! Shiro cools the field!
Kross' face contorts.
– Don't mess with me!
Finish
– Venom Spiral! Full attack!
The snake-like creature roars and strikes.
The Venom Spiral starts to speed through the fog.
However, Shiro calmly says:
– Now.
Suddenly, the real Frost Phantom bursts out of the fog.
The ice wolf leaps towards the opponent.
– Frozen Illusion – Mirroring!
The peonza hits from the side, at a perfect angle.
The Venom Spiral flies up…
and flies out of the arena.
🏁 Result
Shiro wins.
The ice wolf's form slowly dissolves in the cold fog.
Kross angrily picks up his peonza.
"This isn't over yet…" he growls.
As he heads out into the hallway…
a shadow is watching him.
A dark figure by the wall.
Perhaps he's connected to Virex.
Final scene
In the arena, Kael walks up to Shiro.
"It was a good fight."
Shiro just nods.
The camera switches to the tournament board.
The next match flashes on it:
Akira vs. Lira Dusk
The air in the stadium is getting tense.
The tournament is now really starting to get dangerous