Lyra's hands gently caressed the thin sheets of the infirmary, feeling the rough, cold texture against her skin as she gradually regained consciousness in that room filled with the penetrating scent of disinfectant.
"Where am I?... Did I win?" Lyra wondered amidst the fog of confusion, her voice barely a whisper in the silence that enveloped the room.
"Finally awake, beautiful," echoed Touko's voice, breaking the stillness with her cheerful tone as she released Sombra's shoulder, who was resting on a nearby bed.
"Don't tell me I missed your fight," murmured Lyra, struggling to keep her eyes open while her mind fought to clear.
"Oh, yes, I felt terribly abandoned without your cheers in the stands," replied Touko with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes, though her smile faded upon noticing the sorrow in Lyra's gaze. "Don't worry, you still have the chance to witness Ik's fight. Somehow, you owe that more to him than to me," she added, trying to ease the tension in the air.
"Why do you say that?" Lyra inquired, her curiosity awakening as the haze of confusion began to dissipate.
"Because he was by your side while you were unconscious," Touko explained, watching tenderly as Lyra's face turned a subtle shade of red, her eyes shining with a mix of gratitude and surprise.
Determined not to be overcome by weakness, Lyra carefully got up and made her way to the bathroom in the room, where she changed clothes with slow and meticulous movements. Once ready, she headed resolutely towards the stands of the arena, eager to witness Ik's battle and repay the favor that had been granted to her in her moment of need.
"Alright, she's gone. Can you tell me now?" inquired the blonde softly, approaching Sombra, who remained lying in silence, his gaze lost in some distant point, his demeanor shadowed by the sadness weighing on him like a heavy burden.
Sombra's mother, a constant presence in his life, had been battling a terminal illness for years, a struggle that had consumed them both physically and emotionally. The treatment for her condition was exorbitantly expensive, a burden Sombra had carried on his shoulders since his earliest childhood. A father figure had been a painful absence since the moment Sombra came into the world, abandoning him and his mother to their fate.
Since then, Sombra had taken on the role of family breadwinner, working tirelessly from a young age to pay for the medications that kept his mother alive, as well as covering the basic household expenses, since his mother was unable to work due to her fragile health.
Just a few weeks ago, fate had dealt a new, cruel hand, transforming Sombra's mother's illness into a more aggressive and devastating variant. The necessary treatment to face this new stage was even more costly and demanding, raising the financial burden on Sombra's shoulders to unsustainable limits.
In the midst of this whirlwind of difficulties, Sombra had glimpsed an opportunity, a small light in the darkness that seemed to promise a momentary respite. He had managed to assemble a team and enter the tournament, hoping to achieve glory and, above all, the monetary prize that could save his mother. One hundred and fifty thousand lanas, a sum that resonated in his mind like a lifeline in the ocean of despair in which he was trapped.
Lyra settled into the front row of the stands just as the vibrant melody of the presentation music began to fill the air. From one side of the arena emerged Akino Riot, an imposing figure from the Kaji nation, a year older than the members of Lyra's team. Akino wore a sleeveless light blue top speckled with white spots, paired with tight black leggings. However, what stood out most about her was her completely shaved head, a distinctive trait that imbued her with an aura of uniqueness and determination.
In contrast, from the other end of the arena, Ik approached, dressed in shorts that reached his knees over the leggings of his hot-weather field uniform. His black t-shirt featured a skull with a straw hat embroidered on the left side of his chest, a detail that added a touch of irreverence to his appearance.
"Let the battle begin!" roared Osvaldo, the announcer, as a cascade of fireworks lit up the sky and the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd flooded the stadium with deafening fervor.
With determination palpable in his movements, Ik adopted a defensive stance, while Akino simply let herself fall to the arena floor, its surface beginning to dry after the morning rain.
"Whenever you're ready, prince," the girl challenged mockingly, reclining on the ground in a provocative pose reminiscent of supermodels in fashion magazines.
"I feel a bit nervous about fighting in public," Ik reflected, feeling a slight tingle of anxiety as he cautiously approached Akino. In the blink of an eye, the young woman sprang up with a sudden leap and lunged at him with determination. Ik barely had time to react and block Akino's powerful strike, which raised his damage counter to 7%. After the impact, both fighters leapt back, seeking distance and an opportunity to assess the situation.
"Good heavens, it's unusual to see a single hit go over five percent. Akino Riot is impressively strong," commented Manolo, surprised by the formidable strength of Ik's opponent.
Ik remained in a defensive stance, his mind racing to devise his next strategic move. However, before he could decide on his next step, time seemed to freeze for an instant as he blinked and saw Akino charging at him with renewed ferocity. In the blink of an eye, the young warrior launched a powerful kick, enveloped in blazing flames, that struck Ik's jaw with devastating force. Instinctively, Ik channeled all his Dark Armor into his fist, counterattacking as Akino's blow sent him flying backward, both bodies crashing to the ground in a whirlwind of movement.
"Great hit, Ik!" Lyra exclaimed from the stands, her voice barely audible amid the deafening roar of the crowd, overflowing with excitement.
The damage counters for both combatants skyrocketed. Akino's percentage stopped at 22%, while Ik's reached 28%, palpable evidence of the fierce exchange unfolding in the arena.
"Both fighters are displaying remarkable zen skills," commented Osvaldo, impressed by the balance between the contenders.
"Indeed, Osvaldo, it's impossible to predict who will emerge victorious at this point," confirmed Manolo, his voice filled with anticipation.
"However, Akino Riot demonstrates extraordinary speed in her leg attacks, which could make it difficult for Ik Orochi to use his Armor to defend himself," added the more experienced commentator, assessing the situation with keen insight.
With the tension in the air palpably thick, Akino began to charge her Repartir technique with an intense burning energy in her calf, while Ik responded by preparing his own Armor in his arm, ready to face the next onslaught with unwavering determination.
"Both have concentrated all their zen energy into a single point for the attack, which means they won't have Armor to defend themselves," Lyra reflected as she took a sip of her drink, watching the development of the battle closely from the stands.
Akino and Ik charged at each other with palpable determination, their movements swift as lightning as they converged in the center of the arena. At the precise moment they were close enough, Akino unleashed her powerful kick, enveloped in blazing flames, while Ik extended his arm that held all his zen energy, ready for the inevitable clash. An explosion of force sent them hurtling in opposite directions, their bodies propelled several meters by the brutal impact, as the damage counters began to rise rapidly. Ik's percentage skyrocketed to 74%, while Akino's stopped at 71%, clearly showing the cost both were willing to pay for victory.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing a cataclysm of zen energy!" exclaimed Osvaldo, his voice echoing through the stadium with a mix of awe and excitement.
A cataclysm of zen energy, the background voice of the stadium explained, occurs when there is a direct clash between attacks of energies with compatible poles. The natures of energy, divided into positive and negative, determine the dynamics of these confrontations. In the first group are natures like plant, fire, air, frost, and volatile, while the second includes natures like shadow, water, earth, psychic, and mentalist. The collision of these essential powers creates a burst of force and spectacle, a phenomenon that only the most skilled warriors can control and manage in the arena of combat.
The two youths stood up almost instantly, their bodies vibrating with adrenaline and palpable determination in every fiber of their being.
"Enough, surrender, I don't want to hurt you any more!" proclaimed Ik, his voice resonating with authority as he concentrated the dark aura into his left arm, prepared for what was to come.
"How amusing that you have so much confidence in your ability to challenge me, a warrior of the Kaji nation," Akino retorted arrogantly, igniting flames in both legs before launching herself at Ik with impressive speed, her determination burning as fiercely as the fire itself.
In the blink of an eye, Akino descended upon a bewildered Ik, who barely had time to react before receiving a flaming kick to the forehead, leaving a slight burn on his skin.
"Zen warriors will never be a match for those of the Kaji nation," Akino declared disdainfully, as Ik writhed on the ground, his damage counter rapidly climbing to 93%.
"If fighter Ik Orochi does not stand up in ten seconds, he will be considered unable to continue fighting!" announced Osvaldo, his voice echoing through the stadium as Manolo began the countdown:
"Ten, nine, eight, seven..."
"I'm fine, I can still go on!" shouted Ik with determination, struggling to his feet and facing his opponent with a gaze filled with anger and resolve.
"Lewa and I will restore the honor of the Kaji nation that Kano lost when he was defeated by that girl from Zen City," Akino proclaimed fiercely, unaware of Ik's discreet movements as he sent dark energy from his fingertips, forming an ominous energy sphere he had mastered in the mountains of the Darmeno village.
"You almost make me feel sorry for you. You'll be the first of your team to fall and not advance to the next round... What are you scheming?" Akino inquired naively, noticing her opponent's Jibun ability.
"Shadow Sphere!" Ik exclaimed with determination, launching the sphere of dark energy towards Akino with a precise strike to her stomach, using his skill masterfully to turn the tide of the battle in an instant.
With a final burst of power, Akino's damage counter surged to 107%, clearly showing the devastating impact of Ik's last blow. She tried to stand, but her strength faltered, exhausted by the furious exchange of attacks. In an instant, Ik loomed over her, placing his hand on Akino's face and kneeling on her arms, securing his position of dominance.
"Please, just surrender," pleaded Ik between exhausted gasps, his voice resonating with a mixture of determination and pleading as he looked at his rival with piercing intensity.
Exhausted and wounded, Akino realized she had no more strength to continue the fight. She stopped resisting quickly, aware of the severity of her injuries and the inevitable outcome that awaited her.
"Get off me, please," murmured Akino, her voice muffled by Ik's hand resting on her face. The young man nodded understandingly and stepped back, allowing Akino to slowly rise, her body trembling as she sat on the ground, resigned to defeat.
"I hope you make it to the final, so that Lewa can crush you... I surrender," declared Akino with a mixture of frustration and admiration, rising with effort from the ground and walking away from the arena with firm steps, accepting her defeat with dignity.
"The winner of this thrilling encounter is Ik Orochi!" announced Osvaldo enthusiastically, his voice echoing in the stadium as the crowd erupted in cheers and applause, celebrating the bravery and skill of the young warrior.
The relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant in the shopping mall provided a welcome break after the intensity of the tournament. As they awaited Same's next fight, the group enjoyed a quiet dinner, sharing moments of camaraderie and reflection.
"I'm glad you also made it to the next round. Your fight was really tough," commented Lyra, her voice soft as she took a small sip of water to refresh herself.
"Thank you, Lyra. I wasn't going to let them surpass me easily. All the fights have been a real challenge, but that's what makes us better," replied Ik with a grateful smile, acknowledging the effort of his teammates.
"Now we just need Same and Licka to advance to the next round too, to have the complete team advantage in case of a tiebreaker. Same is incredibly strong, so I'm confident he'll make it without any problems," added Lyra, her confidence in her teammate radiating in her words.
"True, where could Same have gone? I haven't seen him in a while. I was looking for him to join us for dinner," remarked Touko, looking around curiously for their absent friend.
"Speaking of missing persons, I haven't seen Crissalid since he checked us in at the tournament reception. It's a bit strange that both of them are absent at the same time," Ik added, furrowing his brow slightly as he cut into a succulent piece of steak.
Concern began to bubble up within the group, a shadow of intrigue weaving among them as they wondered where their missing comrades could be at such a crucial moment.
In a dark room, lost in some corner of the bustling stadium, Same and Crissalid faced off in a tense encounter, the atmosphere charged with tension and hidden secrets.
"You took a while to catch on, Special Agent Crissalid Star," Same joked, keeping his gaze fixed on his adversary, refusing to take a single step back in the face of Crissalid's cold seriousness.
"Always the same hairstyle. I began to suspect as soon as I saw you. And when I focused on your presence, though you suppressed it instantly, I could sense it. Onaji Nikami, founder of the Sacros sect. I thought the 'Gun' army had eradicated them," Crissalid responded with glacial calmness, his voice echoing in the darkness of the room.
"The people of Gun wouldn't have been able to do anything against us if Zen City hadn't intervened," Same retorted, his tone laden with resentment for the past that had brought them to this place.
"If you recognized me from the beginning, why did you agree to come?" inquired Crissalid, his presence spreading throughout the space with overwhelming intensity, enveloping Same in an oppressive and distressing atmosphere.
"I thought I could finally get rid of the bastard who's been bothering me ever since he found out about my existence," replied Same, his defiant gaze locked with Crissalid's, who couldn't help but feel unsettled by his adversary's relentless determination. "You're alone, don't waste your life like this. I just wanted to confirm that girl's presence was the 'Tiger Beast'," Same commented, eliciting an unexpected reaction from Crissalid, whose fury was palpable in the air.
"When I saw what happened in Lyra's fight, I reported to my superiors. Zen City is now aware of this," added Crissalid, his tone imbued with urgency as he struggled to maintain his composure under the pressure of the situation.
"I'm sure you know I could easily kill you," said Same calmly, without a hint of arrogance in his voice, simply stating an undeniable fact, like one declaring the sun rises in the east. The simple assertion left Crissalid breathless, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.
"Then why don't you?" asked Crissalid, his voice trembling with a mixture of fear and bewilderment, unable to comprehend his enigmatic adversary's motivations.
"It would be a waste. You're very well trained. Despite your fear, you didn't let your guard down for a second," replied Same with a glint of respect in his eyes, before withdrawing with a serenity that confounded Crissalid, who was left speechless as his enemy departed, powerless to stop him.
In the arena, anticipation was palpable as the boys took their seats in the stands, eager to witness the next fight, albeit with a tinge of fear over the possibility of Same not showing up.
"After Urale's spectacular fight, expectations are through the roof for the showdown between Victor Miselay and Demian Satoru," announced the announcer, his voice resonating in the stadium with a tone charged with excitement.
Same emerged into the arena with the same indifference he had shown to Crissalid, wearing his school uniform with rolled-up pants and a simple black shirt. Meanwhile, Victor Miselay sported a white shirt and denim pants, his confidence evident in his relaxed posture.
"The match begins!" announced the referee, signaling the start of the eagerly awaited showdown.
Victor began to perform extravagant stretches, while Same remained unperturbed, hands in his pockets, watching his opponent with unwavering calm.
"Hey, chubby! Why don't you take the initiative? Just make sure not to crush me," joked Victor, eliciting laughter from the audience with his sharp humor. But Same ignored his words, maintaining his composure without flinching as Victor performed a ridiculous mocking dance.
"Well, if you insist, I can start, but I assure you I'll knock you out with a single blow... Audience, raise your arms and lend me some of your energy," exclaimed Victor, appealing to the crowd's support as he unleashed his strange Keiyaku power contract.
Same swiftly withdrew his left hand from his pocket, grabbing Victor's neck in the blink of an eye. Despite Victor's attempts to break free, his blows to Same's arm only increased the pressure of his grip, raising the opponent's damage meter to 31%. With a precise movement, Same threw Victor against the wall, increasing his damage to 59%.
As Victor lay on the ground, trying to recover, Same pounced on him with ruthless ferocity, dragging him across the arena with a powerful leap. The damage meter continued to climb, reaching 91%, as Same carried on his brutal assault. Before the commentators could intervene, Same began to stomp on Victor, who lay unconscious on the ground, his mouth stained with blood, leaving the audience stunned by the violence of the scene.
The next morning, Touko decided to take her companions out for breakfast outside the complex, at a restaurant located a few streets from the stadium.
"My father has a farm here in Ming, that's why we used to come eat here frequently. He brought me to this place once, and it became my favorite in the whole Ming capital city," explained Touko, taking a seat at one of the rustic tables in the cozy establishment.
"I can't imagine your father enjoying a place without air conditioning, tablecloths, and all those things..." commented Lyra, fanning herself with her hand to mitigate the heat in the environment.
"Are the fans just there for decoration on the ceiling? Why are they moving so slowly?" asked Licka, resting her face in her hands with a tired expression.
"My father told me that one of his partners, named David Myers, showed him this place. Like you all, my father hated it as soon as he set foot here, but all his complaints disappeared as soon as the food arrived at the table," replied Touko with a smile as two waitresses approached with the kids' food plates.
So, wasting no time, the newcomers tasted the food before them to see if Touko's words were true.
"I can't believe it, this breaded steak is the best I've ever tasted!" exclaimed Licka, completely fascinated by the taste of her dish.
"Likewise, I never thought these shrimp would be so delicious," added Ik, surprised by the exquisite flavor of his food.
"It's a typical dish from 'Vista Hermosa', it's called Shrimp Ceviche," explained Touko, sharing some of her local knowledge with her friends.
"Of course, it wouldn't be called chicken ceviche, would it?" joked Lyra, lifting one of the shrimp with her hand in a playful gesture, although her joke didn't elicit laughter from the others.
—Thank you for bringing us to this place, Touko. The food is simply delicious," thanked Lyra, with a satisfied smile.
"But it's still very hot," complained Licka, tilting her head back in an attempt to escape the stifling heat.
"Your drinks, youngsters," announced one of the waitresses, bringing a tray with four flute glasses filled with a bubbly, icy, salmon-colored liquid.
"Tropical orange juice, my personal favorite. I hope you like it, friends," said Touko with a kind smile as the waitress served the drinks.
The kids wasted no time in taking sips of their refreshing drinks, enjoying the refreshing and exotic flavor of the tropical orange juice. Lyra was about to express her fascination with the taste, but her attention was quickly captured by the TV tuned to the stadium channel.
—Now, here's the schedule for the second round matches for tomorrow," announced Manolo's voice from the TV. In an instant, both Lyra and Touko were frozen, their eyes met, and at that moment, they could only exchange a look full of surprise and determination.
"I have to fight against you," they said in unison, letting the reality of the situation sink in. However, before the tension could completely take hold of the situation, Lyra broke the silence with a smile.
"I'm glad, I couldn't watch your fight. What's better than facing each other in a friendly match?" Lyra proposed, extending an olive branch to her friend amidst the impending chaos.
Upon hearing Lyra's words, Touko felt immense relief and returned the smile before embracing her friend with all the affection she could offer.
"I don't understand, we're on the same team, why are they making you fight each other?" asked Licka, confused by the situation.
"The letter said so. Teams are only requested as a requirement to fill the quota of forty participants. But once the tournament starts, participants will fight individually, although the victory is shared with the whole team," explained Touko, sharing some important information with her friend to clarify the doubts.
"Well, you're taking it quite well, girls. I have to fight against someone named Urale Mirai," Ik commented, still savoring his food.
"Are you Ik Orochi?!" exclaimed a female voice from a corner of the restaurant. The guys turned to identify the source of the voice, finding themselves facing the team of the mysterious girl with the iron mask that had attracted so much attention at the pre-tournament meeting.
"Yes, can I help you with something?" Ik responded indifferently, not moving from his seat as the girl approached their table with determination.
"I'm Urale Mirai. I saw your fight. Let me tell you, I'm quite disappointed. I was expecting to face someone who was actually a challenge," Urale declared frankly, unafraid to express her opinion.
"Hey, what's gotten into you? You can't just come and talk to him like that," Lyra intervened, raising her voice in defense of her friend.
"It's okay, Lyra. Let's just ignore her," Ik intervened, trying to calm the situation with his usual calmness.
"Lyra Yoto, I saw your fight too. What a pathetic performance," Urale added, defiantly, provoking Lyra's anger.
Touko decided to focus on her food, trying to avoid the conflict, while Licka slowly got up from her seat with an excuse to step away.
"I'm going to ask the waiters to prepare our food to go," Licka announced, seeking an exit from the uncomfortable situation.
Meanwhile, Lyra stood up in front of Urale, visibly angry, ready to confront her.
"Girls, calm down," Ik tried to mediate, but before he could do more, Touko intervened, grabbing him by the shoulder to prevent him from getting up from the table and worsening the situation.
As tension grew at the table, the TV screen announced the start of the first fight of the first round in the second group of the tournament.
"You better leave," Lyra warned, her tone threatening.
"Why don't you make me leave? I'd like to see you try," Urale responded challengingly, just as Osvaldo's voice echoed from the TV:
"The fight begins!"
The two girls prepared to face off, adopting defensive stances, about to launch into attack. But before they could do so, Ik stepped between them, and Urale's companions who were present in the establishment took hold of her arms and led her away, thus avoiding a direct confrontation.
The afternoon arrived, and Licka's fight was about to begin. Unlike her teammates, she was placed in the second group of the Tournament, which meant she wouldn't have to face them unless they made it to the final.
The boys took their seats in the front row, eager to witness their teammate's fight. Licka entered the arena dressed in shorts and a long, loose short-sleeved shirt.
"Now we have the third match of this second group. What are your expectations, Osvaldo?" Manolo asked.
"I'm easily impressed, Manolo, so I hope Licka Bennet and Yesenia Martinez live up to it," the head commentator responded as the girls prepared in the starting position.
"Let the fight begin!" Osvaldo announced.
The two girls began to move around the arena, always maintaining a considerable distance between them. Suddenly, a pair of long ice blades emerged from Yesenia's arms, who slowly began to close the gap between them, forcing Licka to summon a pair of gusts of wind that began to cover the palms of her hands, aiming towards her opponent.
"Yesenia takes the initiative and charges at Licka with her ice swords!"
"But Licka is evading the attacks with a couple of somersaults, she seems to be very agile," added Osvaldo excitedly.
Just after dodging Yesenia's attack, Licka attempted to position herself behind her. However, before she could get close, the girl with silver curls began to spin on her axis with her arms extended, turning her ice swords into deadly spinning blades at great speed. Licka was forced to step back and wait for her opponent to finish her attack.
Once Yesenia finished spinning, she seemed somewhat confused and dizzy, an opportunity that Licka took full advantage of. She quickly approached, extending her hands. Upon contact, a large shockwave was released, sending Yesenia flying to the other end of the arena. Yesenia's damage counter rose to 12%, while Licka rushed towards her to subdue her. However, Yesenia quickly recovered and jumped to her feet, resuming her spinning attacks in an attempt to cut Licka, who barely managed to dodge them, but not without suffering some cuts on the arms she used to protect her torso as she fled from the range of the attacks.
Licka's damage counter rose to 10%, and the bleeding was starting to inflict additional damage on her. But this time, Licka was prepared. As soon as Yesenia stopped spinning, she unleashed another shockwave onto the ground to propel herself and quickly reach her opponent, who was still dizzy.
"Licka is very skilled with her nature," commented Lyra from the stands, admiring her teammate's prowess.
"That's her Jibun 'Impulse Pump.' It utilizes the basic principle of the air nature: attracting and pushing slightly with gusts of air, but maximizes the pushing factor at the expense of deactivating the attraction ability," explained Touko, while enjoying her frozen soda through the straw.
When Licka landed in front of the still dazed Yesenia, she recharged her "Impulse Pump," aiming directly at the girl's face. Yesenia, with no other option, was forced to melt her ice blades before raising her hands and surrendering.
"I surrender!" she cried out.
"The winner is... Licka Bennet!" exclaimed Osvaldo, as both fighters withdrew through the doors they had exited from.