The atmosphere in the arena is electric, a buzz of anticipation running through the crowd as they wait for the next round of battles. The cheers and applause from the previous matches still echo in the massive stadium, energy rising as everyone prepares for the next stage of the competition.
"Alright! We've officially got our top four Fire Elementals, which are Noah, Nik, Killian, and Zena!" Callie's voice booms through the arena, each name met with a new wave of cheers from the crowd. "Our four Water Elementals are Mai, Ouran, Naomi, and Daria! Give it up for them!"
The crowd responds with enthusiastic applause, the excitement building as the hosts prepare to announce the next match. Jason takes over, his voice more measured but no less intense. "Okay, now it's time for the battles between our Earth and Air Elementals. Let's start with E-1 vs. A-1."
The competitors line up, and the battle begins swiftly. The clash of elements is fierce, but the top two are decided quickly, and the round ends with thunderous applause.
"Okay! Now that we've got our first two pairs of the Earth and Air classes, let's kick off the final battle of Round 1 between class E-2 and A-2! Everyone, please approach your starting gates!"
On one end, Gunther stands with his class, his broad shoulders squared as he surveys the battlefield. Across from him, Lili takes her place with the Air Elementals, her heart pounding in her chest. She spots Gunther and feels a surge of reassurance when he flashes her a thumbs up, his usual easygoing smile firmly in place. She forces a nervous smile in return, grateful for his silent support.
But her nerves don't fully settle until she glances toward the Water section and finds Mai. Their eyes meet, and Mai gives her an encouraging smile, the kind of smile that says, You've got this. Lili takes a deep breath, feeling a renewed sense of determination. She's promised herself she'll give it her best, and she intends to keep that promise.
The tone sounds, and the battle is underway.
The first eight minutes pass surprisingly smoothly for both Gunther and Lili. They manage to hold their own, and for a moment, it seems like they might just make it through unscathed.
But then, in the final minute, everything changes. A group of Earth Elementals zeroes in on Lili, sensing a weak link, and she quickly finds herself overwhelmed. Panic sets in as they close in on her, their attacks relentless. She's just a blow away from being knocked out, and she can feel the tears welling up in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Mai," she whispers, her voice trembling as she closes her eyes, bracing herself for it.
But the blow never comes. Instead, she hears a loud bash and the sound of multiple grunts. When she opens her eyes, she's stunned to see Gunther standing over her, his Warhammers in hand, his chest heaving with exertion. The tone signaling the ten-minute mark dings in the background, but all Lili can focus on is the fact that Gunther is there, smiling down at her.
"I told you I had your back," Gunther says, his voice a mix of relief and triumph. His smile is wide and genuine, and it brings full tears to Lili's eyes.
"Thank you, Gunther. Seriously, thank you," she says, her voice thick with emotion.
Gunther grins and extends a hand to help her up. "Don't mention it. No one's getting left behind on my watch. We're gonna be friends forever, right?"
Lili nods, her smile shaky but sincere. "Right."
But before they can fully catch their breath, they're jolted back to the present by an angry shout. "You traitor!" One of Gunther's fellow Earth Elementals charges at him, spear raised, earth pellets flying from his hand as he rushes forward.
Gunther's eyes narrow as he quickly raises his Warhammers to block the attack. "Guess I better pay attention to my own battle now, huh?" he says, his tone light despite the situation. As he fends off his attacker, he calls back to Lili, "You're good! What you do now is up to you!"
Lili understands the unspoken message: she's safe now, no longer under the pressure of failing. She could bow out and no one would blame her. But as she glances toward the stands and sees Mai watching, a new wave of determination sweeps over her. She can't quit now—not if she ever wants to stand alongside Mai as an equal. With renewed vigor, Lili charges at her next opponent, her heart pounding with resolve.
"Alright! This battle is over, everyone! It was a great match, and now we've got our top four of each class!" Callie's voice cuts through the chaos, signaling the end of the battle.
The crowd erupts into applause once more, the noise almost deafening as the winners are announced. "Moving on for the Earth Elementals are Gunther, Pax, Doug, and Martha. Moving on for the Air Elementals are Trina, Hikari, Garth, and against all odds, Lili! That's quite surprising, but good job."
The cheers grow louder as the crowd celebrates the victors. Noah and Nik's voices rise above the rest, chanting Gunther and Lili's names with enthusiasm. Lili can't hear Mai, but she knows her friend is cheering for her too, just as her mother is likely watching with pride from the stands.
Gunther gives Lili a massive bear hug, lifting her off the ground as he laughs in delight. They walk off the field together, their spirits high despite the exhaustion settling into their bones. As they pass the council's table, Lili looks up and catches sight of her mother, Kira, who smiles gently at her. Even Tahno, usually so gruff and unimpressed, has a half-smile on his face—a rare show of pride that doesn't go unnoticed.
Gunther, too, sneaks a glance at Liam, but his father's face remains as unreadable as ever. Still, Gunther doesn't let it bother him; he's riding the high of victory, and nothing can dampen his spirits now.
Everyone is given an hour break to refuel and catch their breath before Round 2 begins. The cadets regroup, congratulating each other with hugs and praise. The camaraderie is high, their earlier tensions and rivalries set aside in the face of shared triumph.
Before they know it, the hour has passed, and it's time for Round 2 to begin. Once again, the cadets pair off, instinctively going after the opponents that none of their friends are facing—a strategy that serves them well. The battles are fierce, but the teamwork and trust they've built over the years prove to be their greatest assets.
In no time at all, Round 2 is over, and the final two pairs of each element class are decided. The tension mounts as the announcers prepare to reveal who will be moving on to the Semi-Finals.
"Round 2 is over, and we have our top two pairs for each elemental class!" Callie's voice rings out, the excitement in her tone mirrored by the crowd. "Going to the Semi-Finals Round from the Fire class are Noah and Nik! From the Water class, it's Mai and Ouran! From the Earth class, it's Gunther and Pax! Finally, from the Air class, it's Trina and Lili! Give them some applause!"
The arena goes wild, the noise level almost unbearable as the crowd cheers for their favorites. The cadets exchange looks of determination, knowing that the real challenge is just beginning.
After another hour break, Callie takes the stage again to explain the rules for the Semi-Finals. The anticipation in the arena is at its peak, everyone eager to see who will come out on top.
"Okay! I hope you all are having a good time—I know I'm having a great time!" Callie's voice is bright and bubbly, keeping the energy high. "Now, we're about to start our Semi-Finals Round. This round is only two rounds, as our pairs face off with their opponents at the same time. The first round will have Noah and Nik face off against Mai and Ouran. Our second round will have Gunther and Pax face off against Trina and Lili. Only the elemental with the fastest takedown of their opponent will move on, and their knocked-out opponent will be out. The pair still fighting will continue to battle it out, and whoever knocks out their opponent first will also move on."
The crowd listens intently, the stakes becoming clearer with every word. Callie continues, "This means that it's possible for both cadets in a single class to move on to the final round; however, we always hope for a single opponent of each class for a more exciting show, and it tends to go that way anyway. That's about it, so what do you say we get the first round started, huh? First up: Air vs. Earth! The council gets to match up the opponents in this round, and it appears that they've decided…oh dear! It seems they've decided that Gunther will fight against Lili, and Pax against Trina."
A chorus of boos rises from the crowd, the audience clearly displeased with the council's decision. Callie tries to placate them, but the disappointment is tangible. "The council has final say, guys, so these two friends—Gunther and Lili—will face off."
On the battlefield, Gunther and Lili exchange a look, both of them knowing what's at stake. The easy camaraderie they shared just moments ago is replaced by a grim determination. They've been through so much together, but now they have to face each other as opponents.
Gunther takes a deep breath, his eyes locking onto Lili's. "Let's do our best," he says, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Lili nods, her resolve hardening. "No holding back," she replies, her voice firm.
As they prepare to face off, the arena falls into an expectant silence, the crowd holding its breath in anticipation. The stakes have never been higher, and the bonds of friendship will be put to the ultimate test.