"Oh wow, it ended like that. Aww, I haven't even had a chance to rest yet, but I've got to get back into the ring," Akirion muttered, standing up slowly. He stretched his limbs, brushing off the dust from the fight. Despite his exhaustion, determination burned in his eyes. He knew the quarter-finals awaited, and he had to be ready. After all, the tournament was far from over.

Everyone took a breather as the stage was hurriedly repaired. The damage from the previous matches was extensive—scorch marks, broken pieces, and scattered debris. The crew worked swiftly, knowing the next round was crucial. Meanwhile, the crowd's chatter echoed through the arena, a mixture of excitement and anticipation.

Princess Fiana stood apart, her eyes fixed on the empty stage. A troubled expression clouded her face, her brows furrowing as she gazed at the silent platform. She was lost in thought, her mind replaying the scenes of the earlier matches. Images of the winners flashed before her eyes—how they'd fought, the exhaustion etched on their faces, the toll it all took. She felt a pang of sympathy for the tired fighters, knowing some of them had pushed themselves to their limits. She wondered how they were holding up now, after such grueling battles, especially since the upcoming matches would be assigned randomly, without knowing who would face whom.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the prince, who had been observing her from a distance, caught her distracted gaze. He stepped closer, concern evident in his eyes. "Hey, Fiana," he said softly, his voice gentle but firm. "You look disturbed. What's wrong?"

The princess didn't answer immediately. She remained silent, her mind swirling with worries. Her gaze drifted back to the empty stage, as if trying to find some clarity there.

"Fiana," he repeated, a little more insistently. "Are you alright?"

She hesitated for a moment before turning to face him, her expression distant. "I've just been thinking," she finally said quietly.

"Thinking about what?" the prince asked, tilting his head slightly, his brow raised.

She hesitated again, then sighed. "About the competitors. They fought so fiercely in the first round—did they even get a chance to rest? I wonder if they've recovered enough for the next fights. Some of them looked exhausted—especially the ones who barely made it through."

The prince sneered as he looked away, crossing his arms. "Well, that's their problem. If they're tired, they shouldn't have pushed so hard. It's not like this is some friendly sparring match," he said dismissively, though a flicker of concern crossed his face.

Fiana looked at him sharply. "But they're still human," she said softly. "They're risking their health. It's not right to push them that far without giving them a proper break."

He scoffed, but then his expression softened slightly. "You're too soft," he said with a smirk. "Besides, you think they have a choice? This is a tournament. Everyone's here to win. If they're too tired, they'll just have to deal with it."

Fiana shook her head, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I just wish there was a way to help them recover faster. Maybe if they had some kind of energy booster…"

The prince raised an eyebrow. "Energy booster? Like what?"

She hesitated, then her eyes brightened with an idea. "There's this serum I heard about. It's called the Manafuse. It's supposed to restore energy quickly—within five minutes of drinking it."

The prince's interest piqued. "Really? What's in it?"

Fiana looked around cautiously before whispering, "It's made from special flowers—secret ingredients. It's supposed to be incredibly effective, but I don't know the full details. I've only heard rumors."

He nodded thoughtfully. "And it actually works?"

"From what I hear, yes. It restores stamina instantly. They'll be back in fighting shape in no time."

He smirked. "That's smart. So, it's like a shortcut. They drink it, and suddenly they're unstoppable."

Fiana nodded. "Exactly. It's supposed to be safe, too. They just have to drink it, and in five minutes, they're ready again. That's why the organizers brought it here."

The announcer's voice suddenly boomed across the arena, breaking the moment. "Attention, participants of the quarter-finals! Please proceed to the designated drinks room to receive your energy serum—the Manafuse."

The fighters, including Olivia, Yuna, Renn, Taro, Akirion, Lucas, Anda, and Shin, all moved toward the room, their faces a mixture of anticipation and exhaustion. They knew the serum was their last hope to regain strength quickly.

Inside the room, the fighters received small cups filled with a strange, sour-smelling liquid. Some hesitated, eyeing the concoction warily, while others downed it eagerly. A few looked visibly reluctant, their faces twisted in disgust as they sipped the bitter serum. Those who were already exhausted or sleepy felt their bodies surge with newfound energy almost immediately.

"Come on, guys," one of the organizers said with a smile. "Drink up. You'll thank us later."

After a few tense moments, everyone had taken their doses. They waited anxiously, watching the clock. Within five minutes, the effects became obvious—eyes sparkled with renewed vigor, muscles tensed with anticipation, and the fighters looked ready to battle again.

The fighters, now revitalized, were led back to the stage. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause and cheers, whistles ringing louder than birdsong on a summer morning. The energy was contagious, and everyone eagerly waited for the next match.

The announcer's voice rang out again, loud and commanding. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back! We are thrilled to see such enthusiasm. Let's get this show on the road! First up, we have Akirion versus Shin. Participants, please step onto the stage!"

The crowd roared in excitement. The fighters moved into their starting positions, their faces serious, eyes burning with focus. The atmosphere was electric—anticipation thick in the air.

"Alright," the announcer continued, "let's get this battle started!"

"Wow," Princess Fiana exclaimed, her face lit with excitement. "I can't wait to see this one. Akirion is so fast, and Shin… well, he's got some incredible moves. It's going to be legendary!"

Kaid, standing beside her, narrowed his eyes with a hint of interest. "Good for you. I'm more interested in Lucas. I hear he's got some serious power."

"Ohh, the scary Lucas?" Fiana teased, a mischievous smile on her face.

"Yeah," Kai replied quietly. "Let's see if he can turn the heat off or if the fire will burn him out."

The fighters took their positions, their expressions stoic. The tension was palpable as the announcer finally signaled the start.

"Ready… fight!"

Akirion stood still, his gaze locked on Shin. His expression was serious—calm, focused, ready. His lips pressed into a straight line, muscles tense.

Shin moved slowly toward Akirion, a sneer curling his lips. His eyes blazed with fury, eyebrows furrowed, as if challenging him silently.

The crowd fell silent, watching intently. The fighters looked like strangers or dogs sizing each other up—no smiles, only fierce determination.

Then, Shin broke the silence, his lips curling into a slow, confident smile. "Hey, hey, class A," he said, voice smooth but edged with excitement. "Glad to finally meet you. I saw your fight—impressive, really. You're pretty agile. I'm a big fan."

Akirion's eyes narrowed slightly. He wondered what Shin was up to—trying to get inside his head? Or was this just trash talk? Either way, he remained silent, studying Shin carefully.

Shin took a step closer, his smile widening. "You know, I was really impressed by your moves. Honestly, I didn't expect to face someone like you so soon. I've been looking forward to this."

Akirion finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "It's an honor to meet you too, Shin. I've heard about your skills. Let's see what you've got."

Shin chuckled softly. "Oh, I plan to show you. And I hope you're ready to be amazed."

The tension between them was thick. They stared at each other, neither willing to back down. The audience sat on the edge of their seats, waiting for the first move, knowing this fight would be one to remember.

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