Rhys walked back toward his team, still breathing hard. Puddle jumped onto his shoulder, clapping her tiny hands.

"MASTER STRONG! Master scary! Master SUPER WINNER!"

Rhys nearly collapsed.

"…I want water."

Sophia immediately handed him a bottle.

"Drink. Slowly."

Lyra added, "Rest. The other matches will take time."

Rhys lay back in his chair, trying to breathe normally.

He had just survived the first Top Ten match… and somehow won.

He was now officially in the Top Five, guaranteed a place in tomorrow's finals.

The referee raised his hand.

"Next match! Zenith vs. Eira Flamesong!"

The crowd exploded with cheers.

Rhys froze.

"…Eira? The girl who melted half the training field last week?"

Dreamer nodded.

"Yep. Fire demoness versus darkness swordsman."

Fate grinned.

"We get front row seats to a disaster!"

Rhys turned slowly.

"…Please never say that again."

Match 2: Zenith vs. Eira Flamesong

The arena shook as the two fighters stepped forward.

Zenith—calm, expressionless, holding his massive greatsword

His black runes flickered like a storm.

Eira—smirking, twin curved fire blades glowing red-hot

Flames danced around her like a burning aura.

"Try not to die too fast," she teased.

Zenith cracked his neck.

"Ladies first."

The referee's arm dropped.

FIGHT!

Eira charged instantly, flames blasting under her feet.

Zenith didn't back up—

he simply swung his greatsword down like a falling meteor.

BOOOOM!

A wall of fire exploded outward.

Dark shockwaves crashed back.

The arena ground ripped open.

Rhys whispered in horror,

"…Does nobody here understand LIMITS?"

Puddle added,

"They need naps. And hugs."

Smoke filled the field.

Eira stepped out, spinning her flaming blades.

Zenith stepped forward calmly, sword humming with dark power.

Then they attacked again.

And again.

AND AGAIN.

BOOOM! CRACK! FWOOSH!

Fire pillars blasted upward.

Dark arcs tore across the tiles.

The barrier flickered like it might shatter.

Lyra muttered,

"Both are holding back. Disturbing."

After five long minutes of explosions—

Zenith finally broke through.

His greatsword smashed into Eira's guard, sending her flying across the arena like a meteor.

She hit the wall, rolled, and forced herself up—

but her arms were shaking too hard to lift her blades.

"Match over! Zenith advances to the Top Five!"

The crowd roared.

Rhys gulped.

"…If I fight him, I'm dying."

Lyra answered calmly,

"Yes."

Match 3: Aristea Whitefall vs. Kai Stonefist

Both were Magic Swordsmen, but from different paths.

Aristea entered with calm steps, her sword glowing with pure holy mana.

She didn't look like someone preparing for a fight—she looked like someone about to deliver a blessing.

Kai walked in like a moving wall.

Big. Solid. Every step shook dust off the ground.

His gauntlets pulsed with earth mana, cracking the stone beneath his feet.

Rhys pointed.

"That's the guy who punched a reinforced training dummy until it apologized."

Fate nodded.

"He's famous for breaking rocks when he's bored."

The referee raised his hand.

FIGHT!

Kai charged instantly—a straight sprint that sounded like thunder.

Aristea raised a holy barrier, a flat circle of light.

BOOOOM!

Kai's punch shattered it.

She made another.

He broke that too.

Punch.

Barrier.

Punch.

Barrier.

Each impact echoed through the stadium.

But Aristea never panicked.

She shifted her stance, sword glowing brighter.

"Divine Descent."

Mana burst upward.

A pillar of holy light crashed down on Kai.

He blocked with both arms, sliding back several meters.

Kai grinned.

"Good! Hit me again!"

Aristea nodded politely.

"As you wish."

Another pillar fell.

Then another.

And another.

Kai blocked the first two—

the third one buried him into the ground.

Silence.

Then the referee raised his flag.

"Winner: Aristea Whitefall! She moves to the Top Five!"

Rhys whispered,

"…That was polite destruction."

Puddle shivered.

"Shiny lady is too strong."

Match 4: Rulian Froststar vs. Kain Voidstep

Two more melee-magic fighters.

Rulian: an ice Spellblade.

Sword drawn, cold aura spreading from each step.

Kain: a shadow Footwork Swordsman.

Short blades, cloak flickering with shadow mana.

They stared at each other.

Fight started—

FLASH! CRACK! BOOM!

Rulian swung his sword—

ice arcs shot out with each slash.

Kain dodged with shadow steps—

short bursts of speed like mini-teleports.

Half the arena froze white.

The other half dimmed into darkness.

Rhys squinted.

"…Are they teleporting?"

Dreamer shook his head.

"No. They're just moving too fast for sanity."

Finally, Rulian caught Kain's ankle with ice.

Just one second of slowdown—

But enough.

Rulian spun, sending a wide wave of ice spikes.

Kain dodged most, but one hit his side.

Kain dropped to one knee, breathing hard.

Rulian pointed his sword.

"Yield."

Kain sighed.

"Yeah… fine."

The flag rose.

"Winner: Rulian Froststar! He enters the Top Five!"

The New Top Five

The announcer's voice echoed:

"THE TOP FIVE FOR TOMORROW'S FINALS ARE—

Rhys

Zenith

Aristea Whitefall

Rulian Froststar

[Final spot pending Match 5]"

The crowd cheered wildly.

Rhys just stared.

"…I actually made it?"

Puddle hugged his face.

"MASTER IS IN TOP FIVE! MASTER IS ALIVE!"

Lyra smirked.

"You earned it."

Sophia clapped softly.

"We'll help you recover."

Fate yelled,

"WELCOME TO TOMORROW'S SUFFERING!"

Rhys sighed.

"…I regret everything."

Match 5: Leon Embersteel vs. Mira Stormbreaker

The final match for the Top Five spot.

Rhys leaned forward in his seat.

"These two again…? Oh no."

Puddle tilted her head.

"Are they scary?"

Dreamer answered,

"They once destroyed a training hall because they argued over who gets the last sandwich."

Fate added cheerfully,

"This will be fun."

Leon Embersteel stepped into the arena—

a Fire-Weapon Battlemage with a single burning longsword resting across his shoulders.

His hair literally smoked.

Mira Stormbreaker walked in with crackling steps—

a Lightning Spellblade, twin short swords sparking with energy.

Her boots zapped the ground with every step.

They glared at each other like sworn enemies.

Mira said first,

"Don't cry when you lose."

Leon smirked.

"I'll cry only when they send me your repair bill."

The referee raised his arm.

FIGHT!

Mira dashed forward so fast she blurred—

lightning exploding behind her.

Leon swung his flame blade downward—

a wave of fire shooting across the arena.

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