Aria sat in the bustling tournament lobby, surrounded by wielders from various towns and villages. The air was charged with anticipation, conversations buzzing as competitors prepared themselves for the battles ahead. While As Elzid, Lili, Adara, Orris and Samo sat near Aria."The competitors will be called individually to fight in the designated arena." Samo started.Elzid, Lili, and Adara nodded, their attention focused on Samo's words. "The fights will determine the victors of each round," he explained. "The winners will advance to the next stage of the tournament, while the losers will be eliminated," he added.As Samo outlined the tournament procedures, he emphasized a crucial detail that eased the tension in the room. "Companions are allowed to stay here in the lobby while you compete," he explained, his voice carrying a note of reassurance. "I can be here while you fight and... remember," he said solemnly, "our enemy is strong and..."Before Samo could finish his words, Elzid gently tapped his shoulder, offering him a reassuring smile. It was a silent gesture but spoke volumes, conveying their group's unwavering confidence and solidarity.As the minutes passed, the tension in the tournament lobby grew palpable as the announcer's voice boomed over the speakers, signaling the start of the competition.The announcer's voice echoed throughout the room, welcoming the competitors and outlining the mechanics of the tournament. Each duel would occur in a designated arena, with the victor determined by skill, strategy, and strength. As the announcer concluded his introduction, anticipation filled the room.The announcer's voice echoed through the tournament lobby. Elzid, Lili, Adara, and Samo waited patiently for their names to be called, and each moment stretched on as they listened intently, their anticipation growing with each passing second."Next up," the announcer declared, "we have Lili from Pravera facing off against Vravin from the village of Hatamo." Lili's heart skipped a beat as her name was called. With a determined nod, she rose from her seat and headed to the designated arena.Before the fight began, Lili and Vravin exchanged brief introductions, their eyes locking in a silent acknowledgment of the battle to come."I'm Lili," she said, her voice steady as she gripped her sword tightly. "From Viralinn but representing the village of Pravera."Vravin nodded in response, a fierce determination shining in his eyes. "Vravin," he replied, his voice filled with confidence. "From the village of Hatamo."With their introductions made, they braced themselves for the impending clash, the tension between them crackling in the air. Vravin made the first move, lunging forward with a swift strike using his spear, but Lili deftly dodged his attack by blocking his spear with her dagger.Their weapons clashed in a whirlwind of steel as they danced around each other. Each strike met with a calculated parry or a swift dodge. Lili's movements were fluid and precise.Vravin fought with ferocity, his determination driving him forward despite Lili's skillful defense. But as the battle raged on, it became clear that Lili had the upper hand. With each exchange, she gained ground, slowly wearing down Vravin's defenses.As the battle raged on, the crowd erupted into a frenzy of cheers and applause, their excitement reaching a fever pitch as they witnessed the fight.Vravin lunged forward at Lili, his sword cutting through the air with deadly precision. Lili, ever graceful, anticipated his move, sidestepping at the last moment with a dancer's grace.As Vravin's sword whistled past her, Lili seized the opportunity to counterattack.Their blades clashed with a resounding clang, sending sparks flying in all directions. The force of their collision reverberated through their arms, each warrior striving to gain the upper hand in the heat of battle.With a grunt of exertion, Vravin pressed forward, his sword a blur of motion as he launched a relentless assault. Lili danced away from his strikes, her movements fluid and unpredictable as she sought an opening in his defenses.Finally, with a powerful strike, Lili disarmed her opponent, clattering his spear to the ground. Vravin stumbled backward, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he realized he had been defeated. The crowd erupted into cheers as Lili emerged victorious. She extended her hand to help him to his feet. And as she exited the arena, Adara greeted her with cheers and applause."Congratulations, Lili," she said, her voice filled with genuine sincerity. "That was a fight."Still catching her breath from the intense battle, Lili returned Adara's smile with a grateful nod. "Thank you, Adara," she replied, her voice tinged with relief and exhaustion.As the tournament progressed, the announcer continued to call out competitors' names, each duel unfolding with intensity and anticipation. And then, as time went on, Adara's name echoed through the tournament lobby. Adara rose from her seat, her expression focused as she went to the designated arena.As Adara stepped into the designated arena, the crowd's murmurs swelled into a crescendo of anticipation. Her opponent, a formidable fighter from a neighboring village, stood across from her."I'm Adara," she stated firmly, her voice steady as she gripped her sword. "From Virallin, representing Pravera."Elysia smirked condescendingly, a gleam of superiority in her eyes. "Tiessa," she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Village Gertu of Rizeni."With their introductions made, Adara and Tiessa prepared to face each other in combat. The tension in the air was palpable as they circled each other, Tiessa's movements oozing arrogance while Adara remained focused and determined.Tiessa struck first; her attack was aggressive and overconfident. Adara deftly dodged the blow, but Tiessa sneered, her arrogance fueling her relentless assault. She taunted Adara with every strike, her words dripping with disdain.DespiteTiessa's arrogance, Adara remained composed, her focus unwavering as she sought to find an opening in her opponent's defenses. But Tiessa's superior technique and unwavering confidence proved challenging to overcome.Tiessa's arrogance grew with each moment, her attacks becoming more aggressive and reckless. Adara fought valiantly, but in the end, Tiessa's skill proved too much to overcome. With a swift and decisive strike, Tiessa emerged victorious, her sword at Adara's throat as the crowd fell silent. Adara lowered her weapon in defeat, her heart heavy with disappointment. As she exited the arena, Lili greeted her with a hug.As the tournament progressed, the announcer continued to call out competitors' names, each duel unfolding with intensity and anticipation. Elzid, Lili, Aria, and Samo watched with bated breath, their hearts pounding in rhythm with the clashing of weapons in the arena. After several bouts had passed, the tension in the tournament lobby reached its peak as Elzid's name was finally called."And now," the announcer declared, "we have Elzid from Pravera facing off against Everos from the village of Hatamo!"Elzid rose from his seat, his expression determined, before he went to the designated arena. He tapped Samo's shoulder, reassuring him.Elzid squared off against his opponent, Everos, a seasoned fighter known for his cunning tactics and fierce determination in the designated arena. The tension in the air was palpable as the two adversaries remained silent even when the starting sound was announced.Elzid's grip tightened around his sword as he focused his gaze on Everos, his senses heightened and his mind sharp. He could feel the immense power his opponent had.As the battle began, Everos wasted no time launching a swift and aggressive attack. His sword flashed with deadly precision, but Elzid was prepared. He deftly dodged each blow with lightning-fast reflexes, his movements fluid and precise.The two combatants danced around each other, their swords clashing in a symphony of steel as they sought to gain the upper hand. Everos fought ferocity, his attacks fast and furious, but Elzid remained focused.As the clash of steel echoed through the arena, the crowd erupted into cheers, their voices blending into a cacophony of excitement and anticipation. The spectators leaned forward in their seats. Their eyes riveted on the spectacle unfolding before them.With each strike and parry, the cheers grew louder, the crowd's energy fueling the intensity of the battle. They cheered for Elzid and Everos alike, their admiration for the skill and determination of the two fighters evident in their enthusiastic applause.Amidst the roar of the crowd, Elzid and Everos fought on. With each exchange, Elzid studied his opponent's movements, searching for any weaknesses he could exploit. He waited patiently for the perfect moment to strike, his eyes never wavering from Everos's every move.Suddenly, an opening presented itself. Everos overextended his strike, leaving himself vulnerable to a counterattack. With lightning speed, Elzid seized the opportunity, launching a powerful assault that caught Everos off guard.The impact of Elzid's strike reverberated through the arena, sending Everos staggering backward. But he quickly regained his footing, his determination unwavering as he prepared to retaliate. The battle raged on, each combatant pushing themselves to their limits in a relentless exchange of blows. Elzid's movements become more fluid and calculated with each passing moment.And then, with a final, decisive strike, Elzid emerged victorious, his sword at Everos's throat as the crowd erupted into cheers."Elzid from Virallin, representing Pravera," he said stoicly.Marcus let his sword fall on the ground as he raised his hands, surrendering. As Elzid removed his sword from Everos's throat, Everos spoke."An impressive display, Elzid," Marcus remarked, his voice tinged with admiration. "I am Everos, from the village of Hatamo."Elzid offered a nod of acknowledgment, and he exited the arena. As the echoes of Elzid's victory faded away, the announcer's voice rang out again, breaking the brief silence that followed."And now," the announcer declared, "we have from Pravera again, Aria, facing off against Fera and uhm..." the announcer pauses "...Fera's village or town is unknown."She rose from her seat and headed straight to the arena. As she entered the arena, her gaze met that of her opponent, Fera, a formidable fighter with a steely determination in her eyes. As Aria and Fera faced off in the arena, the tension between them was palpable, their eyes locked in a silent exchange of determination.Fera introduced herself, "I'm Fera."With Aria's silence and steely gaze, Fera cursed and wasted no time launching a relentless assault, her attacks coming fast and fierce as she sought to overwhelm her opponent. She moved with fluidity and precision, her sword flashing through the air in a whirlwind of deadly strikes.Aria dodged Fera's attacks, her movements swift and agile as she sought to evade her opponent's blows. She moved gracefully and finessed; her years of training were evident in every fluid motion.With each passing moment, Fera's assault grew more ferocious, her strikes raining down on Aria relentlessly. But Aria remained calm and focused, her senses sharp as she anticipated Fera's next move.Despite the onslaught, Aria refused to yield as she danced around Fera's attacks with skill and precision. She watched for openings in her opponent's defenses, biding her time for the perfect moment to strike. The crowd watched in awe as the two fighters engaged in a breathtaking display of skill and agility. Aria's dodges were swift and calculated, her movements a blur of motion as she evaded Fera's relentless assault.Fera's attacks were relentless, her unyielding ferocity as she sought to break through Aria's defenses. With each strike, she tried to push Aria to her limits. As the battle between Aria and Fera climaxed, Fera's determination surged. With a fierce cry, she channeled her elemental power into her sword. Flames danced along its blade, casting a fiery glow illuminating the arena. The heat of Fera's attack was intense, searing the air around them as she unleashed a barrage of strikes fueled by the power of fire. Aria scrambled to defend herself, her movements frantic as she sought to evade Fera's fiery onslaught.Fueled by a surge of determination, Fera unleashed another powerful strike, and Aria made a split-second decision. Instead of dodging or parrying the attack, she stood her ground, allowing Fera's flaming sword to connect with her.As Fera's strike landed on Aria, a surge of energy erupted from the impact point, igniting the air around them with a blinding flash of flames. The intense heat radiated outwards, engulfing the entire arena in a searing inferno that illuminated the surrounding landscape with a fiery glow. As the fire destroyed the arena in a blazing inferno, a hushed silence fell over the spectators, their eyes wide with shock and awe at the spectacle unfolding before them."Aria," Lili whispered, watching from the lobby. Her heart clenched with worry as she watched the battle unfold before her. Her eyes darted frantically through the swirling smoke and fire, searching for any sign of Aria amidst the chaos.As the last flames dwindled into embers and the smoke began to clear, the figures of Aria and Kara slowly emerged from the dissipating haze, gradually becoming visible to the anticipating spectators.As the spectators witnessed the scene unfolding, a palpable sense of shock rippled through the crowd. Aria stood before Fera, her form untouched by the flames that had engulfed them. Her sword was held steady as she pointed it at Fera's neck.On the other hand, Fera knelt before Aria, her sword discarded on the ground beside her. Despite her formidable strength and skill, she had been bested in the battle. The silence that had descended upon the arena was deafening as the spectators watched the scene unfold before them, their eyes riveted on the two warriors locked in a silent standoff.For a moment, the arena was filled with a tense silence, broken only by the soft rustle of fabric and the murmur of voices as spectators exchanged confused glances. It was as if time itself had come to a standstill. It was a win for Aria.As Aria returned to her seat in the lobby, she sank. The names were called individually, and each announcement met with excitement and trepidation from the crowd. The number of competitors dwindled with each round of the tournament, and anticipation hung thick in the air as the crowd eagerly awaited the announcement of the next round.As the announcer called out the names for the next round of battles, a hush fell over the crowd as they listened intently, their eyes darting between the competitors in anticipation. But when the names "Aria" and "Lili" echoed through the arena, a collective gasp rose from the spectators, their surprise evident in the murmurs that spread like wildfire.As Lili glanced at Aria, who rose from her seat, a shiver ran down her spine as she walked towards the arena. Aria stood before Lili, waiting for her to attack. With deadly accuracy, Lili launched a barrage of daggers toward Aria, and Aria's reflexes surged into action. With a swift and precise motion, she dodged each projectile. She gracefully sidestepped the deadly rain of blades.Closing the gap between them in a motion blur, Aria swiftly closed on Lili's blind spot. With a calculated strike, she closed the distance, her sword firmly in her grasp. In a split-second decision, she opted for a non-lethal approach, aiming for Lili's carotid sinus with the pommel of her blade.The blow landed with stunning accuracy, the force of impact sending shockwaves reverberating through Lili's body. A sharp gasp escaped Lili's lips as she staggered backward, the world spinning around her as darkness threatened to engulf her consciousness. Aria stood over her fallen friend.As Aria moved to lift Lili's unconscious form from the ground, a hand gently grasped her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. Startled, she turned to see Elzid standing beside her, his expression somber yet determined."Let me," he said softly, his voice tinged with concern as he knelt beside Lili and carefully lifted her into his arms. Aria watched silently as Elzid carried Lili away from the arena, and she followed close behind."Lili," Adara approached worriedly as Elzid lay her body on the ground."She's just unconscious," Aria said as she said it.The tournament continues until the two remaining competitors fight for the final round.The announcer called Aria and Elzid's names for the tournament's final stage. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, the showdown between Aria and Elzid."Cheers erupted as the Aria and Elzid stood in the arena."Tsk," Aria hissed.Aria raised her arm unexpectedly as the announcer signaled for the final about. Everyone was shocked at her gesture, and spectators started to murmur what was happening.With a moment of silence, Aria gazed around before she spoke. "I give up."Elzid's astonishment mirrored the collective sentiment of the crowd as Aria raised her arm in surrender. The arena fell into stunned silence, punctuated only by murmurs and whispers that rippled through the spectators like a gentle breeze.But as the realization of Aria's decision sank in, the silence was shattered by a cacophony of shouts and exclamations that erupted from the crowd. Some voices rang out in disbelief, their cries echoing off the arena's walls. Boos and jeers echoed through the arena, drowning out the announcer's voice."Unbelievable!""What is she doing?""Show us a real fight!"Amidst the din of disbelief and shouts echoing through the arena, Aria made her way toward the exit, her steps purposeful despite the chaos around her. The crowd parted before her, their voices fading into the background as she focused on the path ahead.