"The duel reaches its climax, and the outcome hangs on a single decisive strike. Who will seize the championship this year? Will it be the Predacons, the unlikely underdogs of the tournament, or the Extremists, aiming for their fourth consecutive victory?" exclaimed the commentator, capturing the attention of everyone as they remained enthralled by the intense battle unfolding on the screen.
Both fighters had unleashed their attacks at maximum power, sparks crackling around Lee's body and swirling sakura petals enveloping Carlene. Behind Lee, three circles materialized, and from the petals surrounding Carlene, multiple tiny swords formed.
"Muster of a Hundred Swords," Carlene muttered, launching all 100 miniature swords towards Lee, who stood resolute, unmoving. One of the circles behind him began to rotate, generating swirling lightning within.
"Stage 1: Phase Shift," Lee muttered, causing all the strikes aimed at him to pass through his body as if he were invisible. The tiny swords disintegrated, and the petals collapsed, scattering upon each other.
A smirk spread across Lee's face as the first circle vanished, causing the second one to activate. Carlene was dismayed as her attack failed to connect, but she decided to raise the stakes.
The flowers began to cluster together, and perfect replicas of Carlene emerged, surrounding Lee. The sparks emanating from his body condensed, illuminating the circle with intense radiance.
"Stage 2: Bolt Mastery," he muttered, drawing his sword from its sheath and launching strikes too swift to be perceived. With each strike, one of Carlene's copies fell. Their swords clashed with a resounding clash, and a scent filled the air, blurring the lines between the game and reality.
"And it seems that Lee has turned the tide. Meanwhile, the remaining teammates are engaged in a one-against-three struggle. Can he endure until the main battle concludes, or will we witness... And there he goes!" exclaimed the commentator as a sniper attempted to flee from his pursuers.
The sniper found himself confronted by an archer, a fighter, and a paladin—a dire situation for someone accustomed to long-range combat. With a smirk, he discarded his gun, conjuring two daggers with a snap of his fingers. Sporting a red scarf, he adjusted it over his nose before tossing a smoke bomb onto the ground, vanishing into the haze. The trio huddled closely, backs against each other, remaining vigilant.
"The fight has taken an intriguing turn. By utilizing Vanishing Steps—a skill of assassins—alongside the smoke bomb to conceal his movements, Frank has seized the opportunity. But can he reverse the situation?" pondered the commentator.
The paladin plunged his shield into the ground, conjuring a protective force field that shielded them from any potential surprise attacks. The other two focused on detecting any irregularities to exploit and defeat Frank.
Meanwhile, the fighter sought to break free from the protective barrier and confront Frank head-on, aware that long-range specialists often lacked formidable close-quarters combat skills. Deciding on a course of action, he heard a gunshot from his left.
"I'm going after him!" he declared, stepping out of the protective bubble and narrowly evading a bullet, distancing himself from his teammates. Though they could not see anything, they heard the fighter's final words.
"Stay together! He's a—" His transmission abruptly cut off. The archer and the paladin exchanged bewildered glances, huddling even closer. The force field flickered and dissipated into particles.
"I need time to recharge my skills. If you spot him, hold him off for 20..." he began before being silenced. The archer turned, witnessing the fighter grasping his throat, gasping for air, and eventually disintegrating into particles.
The archer's vigilance heightened, her senses acutely attuned. Listening intently to her surroundings, she discerned faint footsteps, indicating Frank's potential emergence. Loading an arrow, she took aim and released.
"Impressive," Frank remarked, sidestepping the arrow and revealing himself from within a wisp of smoke. The archer smirked, drawing three arrows that shimmered with a yellow glow, and aimed at him. In an instant, she released them skyward.
"Rain of Arrows," she declared with a smirk, observing as Frank utilized Vanishing Steps to evade some of the arrows, while others pierced his arms. His health points flickered dangerously low, and his stamina bar depleted.
"Seems this is the end," he smirked, pressing a button on a remote he produced, perplexing the archer. Suddenly, shots resonated from all directions, striking both Frank and the archer simultaneously.
"It was a good game. I have no regrets losing to you, Extremists," Frank contemplated as he dispersed into particles, vanishing into the air.
"No one emerges as the victor in this three-on-one battle. Achieving such a feat is extraordinary and seemingly impossible. Frank may well earn the MVP title for this match," exclaimed the commentator excitedly.
"Now, back to the... What is happening?" a collective shock rippled through the spectators as they observed the screen.
Trees blazed, and sakura petals danced amidst the fiery chaos, yet both fighters wore smirks as they clashed their swords.
"You know, it's time to unleash our final trump cards," Carlene declared, stepping back. Lee nodded in agreement, activating the third circle, while Carlene gathered the scattered leaves and fused them together, creating numerous clones of herself.
Each clone brandished a sword imbued with a pink aura, and Lee incorporated the third circle's power into his own being, surrounding himself with crackling lightning.
"Stage 3: Lightning Flash," he muttered, vanishing in a blink and slicing through the first clone like a hot knife through butter. His sword crackled with lightning, mirroring the sparks that emanated from his body.
His stamina rapidly dwindled, and he hastily consumed every potion in his inventory to sustain his onslaught, moving in swift, straight lines to defeat all the clones. Only the genuine Carlene remained, and Lee swiftly closed in for the decisive blow.
Their swords clashed once more, sending shockwaves through the area, uprooting the blazing trees. The battleground resembled an inferno, ignited by Lee's second attack, an eruption of energy unleashed in all directions.
Nearing his limits, Lee's strikes wore down Carlene. The lightning dissipated, and Carlene found herself on her knees. Lee smirked playfully, pressing his sword against her neck.
"Any last words?" he menacingly inquired, observing the dejection etched on Carlene's face. He felt a twinge of sympathy, but he knew the world they inhabited was unforgiving. With a swift motion, he severed her neck, witnessing her body disintegrate into sakura petals.
"What the..." he paused, sensing a sword pierce his heart from behind. With a smile on his face, he murmured softly.
"Well played, Carlene of the Predacons."
"And the victors are the underdogs! The Predacons seize the cup in this year's Legends tournament!" exclaimed the commentator, igniting a wave of jubilant cheers from the crowd.