Nami, among the crowd, couldn't contain her joy. "I knew it!" she exclaimed, excitedly. "Demon has always had the heart of a fighter, and today he's proven it to everyone."
Dracarys smiled from the shadows, pleased with her apprentice and the lesson she had learned. Suddenly, an arrogant voice was heard among the crowd. "Well, what a disappointment, Lyria," said Elandrial disdainfully. "I expected a more exciting battle, but all we saw was boredom. I thought you'd be a worthy mage for this tournament, but it seems I was wrong."
Some murmurs were heard among the crowd, surprised by Elandrial's audacity to make such a comment after the intense battle they had witnessed.
Demon, with a fiery look of anger, responded to Elandrial, "I'll make you eat your words! Lyria fought with all her might; she's an exceptional mage, the best. You have no right to belittle her."
Elandrial, without losing his arrogant composure, retorted with a mocking smile, "Ha, I hope so, you cursed fool. Do not underestimate my power." Then, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving a trail of mystery and tension in the air.
With the stadium plunged into an expectant silence, Demon looked towards where Elandrial had disappeared and then turned to where Lyria lay, still unconscious on the arena floor. He approached her carefully, his face showing concern and relief at the same time for the victory.
Nami, watching the scene from the preparation area, hurried over to Demon. "You did it, Demon!" she exclaimed joyfully, but noticing his worried expression, she added, "But, how is Lyria?"
Demon looked up at Nami, his eyes reflecting a mix of emotions. "She's unconscious, but she's breathing," he replied, somewhat easing Nami's concerns.
Meanwhile, the audience began to applaud, acknowledging the intensity and excitement of the battle they had witnessed. Although some were disappointed by Lyria's defeat, many recognized the effort and talent of both mages.
With the battle between Demon and Lyria still fresh in the minds of the spectators, the stadium buzzed with anticipation for the next match. On one side of the battlefield, with her metal magic sparkling in her hands, stood Nami. What surprised the commentator and many in the audience was to discover that Nami was an elf. Although some boos were heard from the stands, the commentator's neutral remark made it clear that not everyone shared those feelings towards elves.
On the other side, emanating a cold and powerful presence, was Lorian. His icy magic promised to be a formidable challenge for Nami.
The crowd was eager, the air felt electric, charged with emotion and anticipation. Conversations and whispers filled the stadium as everyone awaited the start of the showdown.
The commentator, with a powerful voice, announced the beginning of the match. Nami and Lorian lunged towards the center of the field, their gazes locked on each other, ready for the face-off.
Lorian, displaying his disdain for elves, exclaimed, "You elves shouldn't even exist, let alone participate in this tournament." The boos from the audience grew louder, but at that moment, the bearer of the spirit of light and darkness stood up. His calm presence filled the stadium, and his voice resonated with authority: "We should not let prejudice cloud our judgment. All beings, regardless of their race, deserve respect and equal opportunities. In times like these, we must come together and help each other, not be divided by our differences."
The stadium fell into a respectful silence. The commentator, picking up the thread of the event, continued with the match.
Nami, with her metal magic sparkling, prepared for the initial attack. Lorian, on his part, made an elegant gesture and stalactites of ice emerged from the ground, pointing towards Nami.
The battle commenced with a series of attacks and counterattacks, each mage displaying their skill and power. Spectators were on the edge of their seats, each spell met with applause and exclamations of awe.
With a snap of his fingers, Lorian conjured ice spikes from the ground, attempting to trap Nami. "Freezing Embrace!" he shouted, sending a gust of icy wind towards her.
Nami, agile as always, jumped to dodge the ice spikes and countered with her "Sparkling Lance," a metal spear she hurled towards Lorian. "Don't underestimate the power of elves!" she exclaimed as the lance flew.
Lorian, with a quick hand movement, created an ice barrier to stop the spear. "You have skills, but ice will always prevail over metal!" he retorted, sending ice rays from his fingers.
Nami, with determination in her eyes, invoked her "Shield of the Aurora," a metal barrier that reflected light in brilliant colors. "I'll show you that metal can be as strong as ice!" she responded, blocking the rays with her shield.
The battle intensified with each moment. Spells and counterspells filled the air, creating a spectacle of lights and sounds that left everyone in awe. The two mages moved with agility, dodging and countering each other's attacks.
Among the spectators, comments were flying. "Wow, Nami is putting up an impressive fight!" exclaimed a young man in the crowd. "But don't underestimate Lorian; he has tricks up his sleeve too!" another responded.
Meanwhile, feeling the pressure of the battle, Lorian decided to change his strategy. "Ice Prison!" he shouted, trying to trap Nami in pillars of ice. But Nami, with her elven agility, managed to dodge the trap.
Seizing the moment, Nami unleashed her most powerful spell, "Metal Tempest." Thousands of metal shards flew towards Lorian, who struggled to dodge them.
As the battle continued, Nami demonstrated a superiority that left everyone in the stadium in awe. Her agility and precision in dodging Lorian's attacks were commendable. Every time Lorian cast a spell, Nami quickly responded, countering with her own spell that showcased her mastery of metal magic.
One of the bearers, Darius Elucidus, watched in astonishment. "I've never seen anyone control metal magic with such skill. Nami has truly exceeded all expectations," he commented admiringly.
Lorian, on the other hand, began to show signs of fatigue. His spells were less precise, and his speed had decreased. Despite his efforts, he seemed to be losing ground against Nami.
In the stands, Demon, eyes fixed on the battlefield, cheered Nami on fervently. "Go Nami! You can do it! Show them your power!" he shouted, his voice resonating among the spectators.
Fueled by the support and determination, Nami intensified her attack. With a fluid motion, she launched her "Sharp Projectiles," creating a burst of sharp metallic projectiles, like discs, towards Lorian.
Lorian, struggling to stay on his feet, tried to counter the attack, but the speed and force of the projectiles were overwhelming. The metal discs pounded against his ice barrier, shattering it into a thousand pieces.
The crowd rose from their seats, applauding and chanting Nami's name. The bearers, impressed by the display of power, nodded in approval.
With one last effort, Nami invoked her ultimate spell, "Stellar Forge." Bright metal stars began to form in the air, each one launching towards Lorian with deadly precision.
Lorian, too drained to defend himself, was struck by the metal stars, falling defeated to the ground. The stadium erupted in applause and cheers, recognizing Nami's incredible skill and determination.
The bearer of the spirit of light and darkness stood up once more, this time to congratulate Nami on her victory. "Bravo, Nami. You have proven to be a formidable mage. Your power and skills are worthy of praise," he said with a smile.
Demon, thrilled and proud, ran onto the field to embrace Nami, celebrating this impressive victory together.
Feeling Demon's arms around her in a celebratory hug, a deep blush rose to Nami's cheeks. In an attempt to maintain her composure, she quickly raised her hand, invoking a metal spell. From her palm emerged a small shiny metal sphere that spun rapidly towards Demon.
"Not here, Demon!" Nami exclaimed with a mix of embarrassment and amusement.
The spell gently hit Demon on the forehead, making him release a playful "Ouch!" and step back a few paces, rubbing the spot where it hit. The spectators burst into laughter at the comedic scene.
With a mischievous smile, Nami withdrew her hand and looked at Demon with sparkling eyes. "Learn not to hug an elf in public without permission!" she joked, eliciting more laughter from the audience.
Demon, still recovering from the light blow, smiled in amusement. "You're right, I should've asked first," he said, winking.
Both shared a laugh as Nami swayed slightly, clearly exhausted from the effort. She looked at Demon with pleading eyes.
"Would you take me to the magical infirmary? I need to recover a bit before the next round," Nami said, trying to sound firm but showing her evident tiredness.
Demon nodded with concern and kindness. Without saying a word, he lifted her in his arms, holding her carefully to avoid hurting her further. However, as he did so, he felt something strange: two large, soft objects pressing against his back.
Demon's face turned a deep shade of red, his eyes widening a bit. He tried to maintain his composure and looked straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with Nami.
Nami, feeling Demon's strong and muscular body against her, also blushed deeply. Though both tried to engage in casual conversation, the tension between them was palpable.
"Thanks for carrying me," Nami murmured, her voice soft and slightly trembling.
"No problem," Demon replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just rest, you'll be fine."
As they moved, other competitors and the audience whispered and observed the scene with curiosity and amusement, adding to the gossip and rumors.
The stadium echoed with the commentator's voice, which flowed with contagious elegance and enthusiasm. "What an exciting day we've had! From the start, with impressive magic demonstrations, to passionate battles between our brave mages. Tomorrow promises to be even greater with the conclusion of the tournament and the crowning of our champion!"
The three Spirit Bearers stood up, their imposing presences filling the air.
Arianth Celestius, with his divine aura, spoke first. "I thank you all for your formidable participation. You have shown courage and skill in every battle. Tomorrow will be the day when one of you will be crowned the tournament champion."
The other Bearers followed, each expressing words of encouragement and gratitude towards the participants and the audience. Their imposing presence and words resonated in the hearts of everyone present, reminding them of the importance of unity and collaboration in the world of magic.
With a final bow, the Spirit Bearers withdrew, leaving the participants and the audience filled with anticipation and excitement for what the next day would bring.
¡TO BE CONTINUED!