Elara's eyes glinted with excitement. Just as Ryan's blade was about to connect, she raised her hand, and a massive wall of dark fire exploded from the ground, swallowing the attack whole. Ryan's sword was stopped in its tracks, his flames vanishing in an instant.
Before he could react, Elara stepped forward, her hand gripping his sword arm tightly. "It's over," she whispered, and with a surge of dark energy, she sent him crashing to the ground.
Ryan groaned, his sword clattering to the floor as he lay defeated.
"The winner is Elara!" Azaraelis announced, her voice booming as the crowd erupted into cheers once more.
Elara stepped back, her flames receding as she looked down at Ryan with a smirk. "You fought well," she said, but there was no mistaking the superiority in her tone.
Ryan nodded weakly, his pride wounded but his spirit unbroken. "I'll get stronger… I swear."
