"What the—?!" he gasped, struggling against the paralyzing cold.

Maria used his momentary weakness. "Ice Spears!"

Dozens of razor-sharp projectiles formed in the air around her, gleaming wickedly under the aurora lights. With a flick of her wrist, they shot towards Aiden.

Aiden roared, forcing his sluggish muscles to move.

He deflected the first few spears with his swords, sparks flying as lightning met ice, but he was too slow.

Several spears pierced his armor, embedding themselves in his shoulders and legs. He hissed in pain, stumbling back.

"Damn it!" He channeled more lightning, trying to burn away the frost, to regain his speed, but Maria was relentless.

"Glacial Prison!" Walls of thick, translucent ice erupted around him, trapping him within a rapidly shrinking cage.

Aiden hammered against the walls, lightning crackling, but the ice, infused with Maria's potent mana, barely chipped.

He was contained, slowed, wounded. Maria stood outside the prison, her expression cold and analytical, staff raised, ready for the final blow.

"She controlled the environment, neutralized my speed, and trapped me," Aiden realized, his earlier confidence evaporating.

"She… she predicted everything."

He looked at her through the ice, seeing not just a mage, but a master strategist.

With a final, frustrated roar, he unleashed all his remaining lightning in a desperate, explosive burst.

The prison cracked, shattered but it was too late. Maria had already prepared her final spell.

"Absolute Zero."

The beam of concentrated cold struck him.

This time, there was no resistance.

Aiden's body froze mid-stumble, his defiant grin frozen on his face, before dissolving into data particles.

[Match Over. Victor: Maria Frostheart.]

The Colosseum was quieter this time. There was less shock, more a grudging respect for Maria's flawless, suffocating strategy. Aiden emerged from his pod looking frustrated but also thoughtful.

He hadn't been beaten by power; he'd been dismantled by tactics.

He shot Maria a look – no longer just a rival, but someone he had severely underestimated. Scark Stromfang fell silent, stroking his beard, a rare frown on his face.

Deiman Frostheart gave the smallest, almost imperceptible nod of approval. Maria had advanced to the Semifinals.

—————————

[Match 2: Aurelia Miller (Seed #7) vs. Elara Moonshade (Seed #8)]

The next match promised a different kind of intensity: the pragmatic strategist versus the serene archer.

Their arena materialized as a dense, ancient forest, massive trees creating a complex web of cover and ambush points.

[BEGIN!]

Elara moved first, melting into the shadows of the trees with elven grace.

Her bow was drawn, an arrow nocked, her senses scanning the environment.

Aurelia didn't seek cover. Instead, she stood calmly in a small clearing, adjusting her non-existent glasses.

She drew her rapier, its tip glowing faintly with fire mana.

Around her feet, almost imperceptibly, tiny seeds of light—Life mana—sank into the earth.

"She's baiting me," Elara thought, tracking

Aurelia's movements from the canopy.

"Or setting a trap."

She decided to test the waters.

"Piercing Root Arrow!" An arrow infused with Earth mana shot from the shadows, aimed at Aurelia's leg.

Aurelia sidestepped with effortless precision, the arrow thudding harmlessly into the ground behind her.

"Predictable," she murmured.

Suddenly, the ground where the arrow struck erupted.

The seeds Aurelia had planted, activated by Elara's Earth mana, burst into "Sunpetal Snares"—glowing, thorny vines that lashed out, attempting to entangle Elara's position.

Elara gasped, leaping back, cutting the vines with a swift movement of her glaive attachment.

"She used my own mana against me!"Aurelia smirked.

"Lesson one, Princess: never attack blindly." She tapped her rapier on the ground.

"Controlled Burn."

The clearing around her ignited in a low, contained ring of fire, burning away potential hiding spots, forcing Elara into the open or deeper into the woods.

Simultaneously, Aurelia activated a Life mana buff on herself, enhancing her speed and reflexes.

It was a battle of control versus evasion.

Elara used the forest to her advantage, firing arrows from unexpected angles, using Earth mana to create temporary barriers or disrupt the ground beneath Aurelia.

Aurelia countered with precise fire strikes, calculated movements, and clever use of Life mana traps that healed her minor injuries while simultaneously hindering Elara.

_____________________________________

[Elorina Kingdom – Royal Palace]

Queen Elenia watched intently. "Aurelia Miller… she fights like a human merchant, valuing resources and calculated risks above all else. Clever, but lacks the grace of the forest."

King Hemdril nodded. "Elara understands the terrain, but she is too reliant on defense. She hesitates to unleash her full power. The Wind still sleeps."

______________________

[Arena]

The fight culminated near a large, ancient oak. Elara, cornered, decided to unleash a stronger attack.

"Gaia's Wrath!" The earth around Aurelia buckled, attempting to trap her in stone.

But Aurelia had anticipated it. Just as the spell hit, she activated a pre-planted Life rune.

"Flash Heal & Phase Step." A burst of healing energy negated the initial shockwave, and she momentarily became intangible, phasing through the rising stone walls.

She reappeared directly behind Elara, rapier tip glowing dangerously.

"Checkmate, Princess."

Elara froze, sensing the heat at her back. She lowered her bow slowly. "…Yield."

[Match Over. Victor: Aurelia Miller.]

Aurelia emerged from her pod with a satisfied smile.

She had won through superior planning and resource management.

Elara appeared moments later, looking thoughtful rather than defeated.

She had learned a valuable lesson about human cunning.

Queen Elenia and King Hemdril exchanged knowing glances.

Growth comes from challenge.

____________

[Quarterfinal Match 2: Eric William (Seed #3) vs. Selena Veylan (Seed #4)]

The tension ratcheted up again.

The Heir versus the Princess. Light and Wind versus Shadow and Light.

Eric walked onto the platform, his expression unreadable.

The earlier fury was gone, replaced by an icy calm that felt even more dangerous.

He had processed his Labyrinth failure, processed Maria's victory over Aiden.

His objective was singular now: absolute victory, demonstrating William dominance.

No mistakes. No arrogance. Only perfection.

Selena met his intensity with her own quiet grace. Her scythe materialized, shadows swirling around it, but faint motes of light already danced at its edge.

She knew Eric was wounded pride personified, making him doubly dangerous.

He seeks a swift kill. I must seek the balance.

The arena formed: a moonlit Elven treetop village, intricate walkways connecting massive, glowing trees, offering both verticality and precarious footing.

[BEGIN!]

Eric moved instantly, faster than his previous match.

"Gale Strike!" Wind propelled him across the walkway, sword flashing not with a broad attack, but a precise, targeted thrust aimed directly at Selena's core.

He wasn't showing off; he was aiming for an instant kill.

Selena reacted with fluid grace.

"Reaper's Step."

She dissolved into shadow an instant before Eric's blade arrived, reappearing on a higher branch, scythe already swinging.

"Night Veil Slash!"

Eric, anticipating the counter, spun, his own blade rising to parry.

"Light Barrier!" The shadow slash dissipated harmlessly against the golden shield.

But Selena had used the clash as misdirection. While Eric's attention was high, "Shadow Bind!" erupted from the walkway beneath him.

Eric reacted instantly, leaping upwards, landing lightly on a narrow branch opposite Selena.

"Predictable," he stated, his voice flat.

"Perhaps," Selena replied softly, already moving.

She flowed through the treetop village, using shadows and structures for cover, forcing Eric to pursue. It was a game of cat and mouse, Shadow versus Light.

Eric pursued relentlessly, his Light Arts illuminating the shadows, his Gale Strikes shattering branches Selena used for cover.

He was faster, stronger, but Selena's movements were fluid, evasive, occasionally landing a swift shadow-strike before melting away again.

_______________________________________

[Denmard Royal Palace – Private Chambers]

"She's controlling the pace," King Frederik observed.

"Forcing him to expend mana chasing her. Wise."

Queen Isabella nodded. "But Eric William's reserves are vast, and his patience seems… colder today. She cannot evade forever."

The chase culminated on the highest platform. Selena, seemingly cornered, turned to face Eric.

"No more running, Princess?" Eric asked, his blade glowing brightly.

Selena smiled faintly. "I was merely choosing the stage."

She raised her scythe, both Shadow and Light flaring around it in volatile harmony.

"Twilight Judgement." A wave of interwoven light and shadow surged towards Eric.

Eric met it head-on.

"Lightstyle Sword Arts: Purging Sun."

A miniature sun erupted from his blade, colliding with Selena's attack.

KRA-KOOOOOOM!

The explosion rocked the virtual world. When the light faded, Selena was on one knee, scythe cracked, drained.

Eric stood opposite, slightly scorched but unharmed. His pure Light had overwhelmed her balanced attack.

"Balance," Eric stated, walking forward, sword raised.

"Is merely a compromise for those who lack true power." He swung his blade down.

Selena closed her eyes, accepting defeat.

[Match Over. Victor: Eric William.]

Eric emerged from his pod, expression unchanged.

He had executed his victory with chilling efficiency. He had proven his point.

Denish William allowed a curt nod. Somiya looked relieved. Gideon observed silently.

King Frederik sighed softly.

Selena had fought bravely, but raw power, honed by ruthless focus, had won.

Eric William advanced to the Semifinals.

Semi-final is set for Eric as he will face Maria as his opponent.

(To be continued).

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