Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he faced off against Laura, their swords clashing with fierce intensity. Each strike echoed through the arena, a battle of wills as they danced around one another, neither willing to yield. He could hear Jin's voice in his mind, urging him to focus, to find a way to turn the tide. Suddenly, Jin's determined tone broke through the chaos.
"Darin, use your bow! Shoot at Laura!" Jin commanded, urgency spilling from his words.
Darin running from the watcher , nodded and readied his bow. With a quick glance at Jin, he pulled back the string and loosed an arrow toward Laura. The arrow flew true, and Laura's focus shattered for a brief moment as she deflected it. That instant of distraction was all Kael needed.
"Now, Tarek!" he shouted, knowing she was fighting the enemy Prey and needed to make her move.
Tarek, still locked in her battle, glanced toward Kael, determination flashing in her eyes. She sidestepped a strike, darting toward her opponent's base with all the speed she could muster, but the enemy's Prey was right in her way. He was leaner and faster, his grin a mask of arrogance.
"Get out of my way!" Tarek snarled, leaping to the side to avoid his strike.
As the battle continued around them, Kael saw Laura stumble backward, her focus disrupted by Darin's shot. Without a second thought, he took the opportunity to break away from their fight, sprinting towards Tarek, who was on the verge of being overwhelmed. But as he charged forward, a sudden volley of spears rained down from the opposing team.
"Kael, watch out!" Tarek shouted, fear lacing her voice.
Kael instinctively raised his sword, deflecting the nearest spear just in time. The force knocked him off balance, but he regained his footing, scanning the chaos around him. He caught sight of the watcher preparing another spear and Laura recovering, her eyes narrowed in annoyance.
"Tarek, we need to regroup!" Kael called, but just as he turned, he saw Laura charging at him again, fury radiating from her.
Suddenly, the ring in Tarek's hand began to glow with an eerie, pulsating light. The green-black energy enveloped her, forming a protective sphere. In a blink, she vanished, leaving Kael stunned.
"What just happened?" Kael muttered, glancing around in confusion.
Moments later, Tarek reappeared right beside him, her eyes wide with shock. "Did you see that? What was that?"
Before they could process this unexpected turn of events, Jin's sister lunged at Tarek, fury etched on her face. "You can't escape that easily!" she screamed, blade flashing dangerously.
But Darin was quicker. "No, you don't!" he shouted as he released another arrow, striking the ground near Laura. The force of the impact caused her to stagger, giving Tarek a brief window.
"Go! We need to capture their Prey!" Tarek urged Kael.
Just then, the commanding voice of Kiran's team commander broke through the chaos. "Run, Beni! Get away from them! Don't confront the opponent!"
Kael's eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Beni, the enemy Prey, lingering too close, caught between the fray. Jin's strategic mind was already racing, formulating a plan in the midst of the battle.
"Kael, try to provoke him! Get him to fight you head-on!" Jin urged, his voice firm and unwavering.
Kael's pulse quickened at the thought. Jin believed in him. He could do this. He turned toward Beni, feigning confidence. "You think you can take me on? You're nothing but a coward hiding behind your team , I have seen people like you acting all powerful until they face someone stronger than themselves pathetic cowards!"
Beni's expression darkened, fury boiling beneath the surface. "I'm not afraid of you! You'll regret that!"
With that, the smaller fighter charged forward, determination fueling his every step. Kael met him halfway, their swords clashing with a resounding bang. Beni was fast, but Kael's training had prepared him for this. He countered Beni's strikes with precision, pushing back against his onslaught.
"Is that all you've got?" Kael taunted, his breath steady, despite the intensity of the fight.. "I expected more ."
Beni's face flushed with anger. "Shut up! I won't let you win!" he shouted, his strikes becoming more frantic as the pressure mounted.
Kael felt a surge of confidence as he began to find openings in Beni's defenses. With each clash of their swords, he could feel the tide of the battle shifting in his favor. Just as he was about to strike decisively, a loud voice rang out across the arena
Beni growled, frustration painting his features. "You're going to regret that!"
He lunged again, this time with more force, but Kael was ready. He parried the attack, their swords clashing with a resounding clang that echoed through the arena. The impact reverberated in Kael's bones, but he stood firm, his eyes glinting with determination.
"You'll have to do better than that, Beni!" Kael provoked, a teasing smile on his face. "I thought you were supposed to be strong. Or are you just a psycho?"
Beni screamed "Don't call me a psychooo...."
With a roar of anger, Beni pressed the attack, throwing a series of wild strikes, each one meant to overwhelm Kael. But Kael danced around them, fluid and agile, using Beni's aggression against him.
"Come on! Is that really the best you can do? My grandmother swings harder!" Kael laughed, taunting him further.
Beni's face turned crimson with rage, his eyes blazing. "I'll show you what real strength is!"
With renewed ferocity, Beni unleashed a flurry of strikes, each one more powerful than the last. Kael dodged and countered, his movements a blend of grace and precision. The rhythm of their duel was like a deadly dance, each step a test of skill and resolve.
Meanwhile, across the battlefield, Darin crouched behind a stack of crates, his bow drawn tight as he aimed at Laura, the opposing team's watcher. He could see her, flitting around the edges of the chaos, looking for an opening to strike. Darin's heart raced as he steadied his breath, trying to block out the distractions of the fight happening nearby.
"Just hold still, Laura," he murmured to himself, eyes narrowing as he focused on her. He knew he had to take the shot before she attacked Kael .
But just as he was about to release the arrow, a figure darted into his line of sight. Kiran's Watcher lunged from the shadows, throwing a spear aimed directly at him. Darin barely had time to react, ducking just in time to avoid the deadly projectile.
"Damn it!" he hissed, his heart pounding in his chest. He quickly glanced back to see Laura still moving about, unaware of his presence. "Attack from the front you shit."
Back in the thick of the battle, Kael continued to dance around Beni's wild attacks, using the moment to his advantage. He could feel the tension crackling in the air as the two warriors clashed, each refusing to yield an inch.
"Is this really all you've got?" Kael mocked again, sidestepping Beni's blade and delivering a swift kick that sent Beni stumbling back.
The chaos of the arena swirled around Kael and Beni as they exchanged blows, the sounds of metal clashing and the crowd's cheers creating a cacophony of energy. Jin, perched behind a pile of rubble, heard the duel unfold, his mind racing with possibilities.
"Now's our chance," he muttered to himself. With the commotion surrounding Kael and Beni, they could use this distraction to their advantage. "Tarek!" he called out, urgency lacing his voice. "Go capture the other team's commander! This is our opportunity!"
Just as panic began to set in, a voice echoed through the arena, drowning out the sounds of battle.
"THE GAME ENDS. WINNER TEAM KIRAN!
The sudden announcement caught everyone off guard. Kael froze mid-strike, his sword inches from Beni's face. Beni, equally shocked, lowered his weapon, confusion flooding his features.
"What?" Kael exclaimed, his breath heavy. "What happened"