The arena was an explosion of metal and energy, mechas colliding in a storm of violence and precision. Luka's heart pounded in his chest as Vigil moved through the chaos, dodging energy blasts and incoming missiles. Kaela was close by, her draconic mecha flying low to the ground, weaving between cover with a grace that belied the intensity of the battle.
"Left flank!" Kaela's voice came over the comms, sharp and clear.
Luka spun Vigil to the side just in time to avoid a volley of energy blasts from an enemy team that had crept up behind them. Two medium-sized mechas, both armed with energy rifles and some kind of armor-piercing rounds, were advancing on their position.
"They're not letting up!" Luka called, firing back with Vigil's cannon. The energy pulse slammed into one of the enemy mechas, sending it stumbling backward, but it wasn't enough to take it down.
"We'll have to close the distance," Kaela responded, her mecha's wings flaring as she shot forward, her claws glowing with a sharp blue light.
Luka followed her lead, charging at the remaining enemy mecha. The pilot tried to fire another round, but Kaela was too fast. Her draconic mecha slammed into the side of the machine, its claws ripping through the armor with a screech of tearing metal. Luka finished the job with a quick strike from Vigil's blade, the enemy mecha collapsing in a heap of sparking debris.
"Two down," Kaela muttered, her voice breathless but focused. "But we're not even halfway through this."
Luka glanced around the arena, taking in the chaos that still surrounded them. Teams were scattered across the battlefield, some locked in brutal combat while others regrouped and attempted to strategize. Explosions rocked the arena as mechas fell one by one, their pilots unable to keep up with the relentless pace of the fight.
"We've got to keep moving," Luka said, scanning for their next target. "If we stay in one place too long, we're done."
Kaela nodded, her mecha already shifting toward the next pillar for cover. "Agreed. Let's pick off the weaker ones while they're distracted."
They moved in unison, advancing through the battlefield with calculated precision. Luka could feel the weight of every decision—every step, every attack, every moment of hesitation. It was like walking a tightrope, one misstep away from catastrophe.
As they moved deeper into the arena, they passed several other fallen teams. Some of the wreckage still sparked with energy, while others were completely destroyed, their pilots long since ejected or incapacitated. It was a sobering reminder of just how deadly this tournament had become.
Luka felt a flicker of anger in his chest. The council had turned this event into a slaughter, pushing the competitors to fight not just for victory, but for survival. It was a cruel, calculated test—and Luka wasn't about to let them get the better of him.
"Focus, Luka," Kaela's voice came through the comms, calm but firm. "We can't afford to lose our edge now."
Luka shook off his frustration, nodding to himself. "Right. I'm with you."
They pressed forward, weaving through the wreckage and debris, keeping a close eye on the remaining teams. Luka's instincts were on high alert, every sense attuned to the ebb and flow of the battle around him. He knew the other teams were watching them, just as he was watching them. The moment they made a mistake, someone would pounce.
Suddenly, a familiar voice crackled over the comms, cutting through the noise of the battlefield.
"Cross. Drask. Watch your six."
It was Lynel.
Luka's head snapped up, his eyes scanning the area behind them. Sure enough, two heavy mechas were advancing on their position from the rear, their weapons primed and ready to fire.
"Damn it," Luka cursed under his breath. "They're trying to box us in."
Kaela was already in motion, her mecha shifting to the side to avoid the incoming fire. "We need to split them up. I'll take the one on the left—you handle the right."
Luka didn't hesitate. He fired up *Vigil*'s thrusters, surging forward to engage the mecha on the right. The enemy pilot tried to bring up their shield, but Luka was faster. He swung Vigil's blade in a wide arc, the energy-infused metal slicing through the enemy's defenses. The impact sent the mecha stumbling backward, sparks flying as its systems struggled to compensate.
Luka pressed the attack, dodging a counterstrike before delivering a powerful kick that sent the enemy crashing into a nearby structure. He followed up with a blast from Vigil's cannon, the energy pulse slamming into the mecha's core and tearing through its armor. The enemy pilot ejected just before the machine exploded in a burst of flame and debris.
"Got mine," Luka said, turning to check on Kaela's progress.
Kaela was locked in a fierce melee with her opponent, their mechas trading blows in a whirlwind of strikes and counterstrikes. Her draconic mecha's claws flashed through the air, slashing through the enemy's armor with precise, deadly accuracy. But the other pilot wasn't giving up easily. Their mecha was bulkier, built for close combat, and they were using every trick in the book to keep Kaela at bay.
Luka could see Kaela's frustration mounting—her opponent was stubborn, refusing to go down despite the damage they'd taken. But Kaela was nothing if not relentless. With a sudden burst of speed, she darted to the side, dodging the enemy's attack and slipping behind them.
Before the pilot could react, Kaela's claws tore through the mecha's back, ripping out critical components and sending the machine crumpling to the ground.
"Nice work," Luka said as Kaela's mecha straightened, her breathing heavy but controlled.
"Thanks," she replied, her tone grim. "But it's not over yet."
Luka followed her gaze, and his stomach twisted. The battlefield was a graveyard now, littered with the remains of defeated teams. Only a handful of competitors were still standing, but they were the strongest—the ones who had survived the council's brutal test.
And then there was Lynel and Voss.
Their mechas stood at the far edge of the battlefield, watching, waiting. They hadn't engaged in the chaos directly, but Luka could tell they had been keeping a close eye on everything. Lynel's long-range weaponry was primed, her mecha crouched in a sniper position, while Voss's hulking machine stood ready to defend her.
"They've been waiting for the right moment," Kaela muttered, her eyes narrowing. "We can't let them get the drop on us."
Luka nodded. "It's time to end this."
They advanced on Lynel and Voss, moving with the same precision and focus that had gotten them this far. As they closed the distance, Luka could feel the tension building. This was it—the final confrontation. And it wasn't just about winning the match anymore. It was about survival.
Lynel didn't fire immediately, her mecha's weaponry trained on Luka and Kaela as they approached. Voss shifted slightly, his mecha's shields coming online as he prepared for the inevitable clash.
"We'll split them up," Luka said, his voice low but determined. "I'll take Lynel—keep her distracted. You handle Voss."
Kaela's smirk returned, though her eyes were hard. "You sure you can handle Lynel's sniper fire?"
Luka grinned, gripping the controls tightly. "I'm faster than she is."
Without waiting for a response, Luka charged forward, Vigil's thrusters propelling him toward Lynel's position. Kaela veered off to the side, her mecha's wings flaring as she closed in on Voss. The final battle had begun.
Lynel's sniper rifle fired with pinpoint precision, energy blasts tearing through the air as Luka dodged left and right, using the arena's remaining structures for cover. She was good—better than any other long-range fighter he'd faced so far. But Luka had fought enough snipers to know their weakness. They needed distance, and he wasn't going to give her that.
He closed the gap quickly, using Vigil's speed to outmaneuver her shots. With each second that passed, he got closer, until finally, he was within striking range.
Lynel's mecha shifted, her rifle transforming into a shorter, more compact weapon for close-quarters combat. But it wasn't enough. Luka's blade came down hard, slicing through her mecha's arm and disabling her weapon. Lynel tried to retreat, but Luka was relentless, slamming Vigil into her machine and sending her crashing to the ground.
Meanwhile, Kaela was locked in a brutal brawl with Voss. His mecha was built like a tank, absorbing her blows with his heavy shields and responding with devastating close-range strikes. But Kaela was faster, using her draconic mecha's agility to dodge his attacks and land precise hits on his exposed joints.
With a final, powerful strike, Kaela's claws tore through Voss's shields, and she slammed him into the ground, pinning his mecha beneath her.
The battlefield fell silent, the roar of the crowd a distant echo in Luka's ears. The final two teams had been defeated.