The arena was a chaotic swirl of dust and debris, the aftermath of an intense battle. Ella stood there, her expression unyielding, while Ben lay sprawled on the ground like a discarded sack of potatoes. The crowd was stunned, their cheers silenced by the unexpected turn of events.
"And we have a winner—Blaze!" The announcer's voice cut through the tension. He hesitated, as if wanting to address the rule violations that had occurred during the match, but ultimately decided against it. He simply declared the victor and exited the stage.
Jack leaned over to Ella, his eyes wide. "Level 6," he murmured. "She's now the strongest in our group." Ella's determination radiated from her, an unspoken challenge to anyone who dared cross her path. Jack, too, felt the itch for growth. He was already at level 5+, but he needed that elusive breakthrough.
