The next morning brought a renewed sense of determination among Kazuki and his allies. They had spent the night setting up magical defenses around their quarters, and though everyone tried to focus on their upcoming matches, there was an unspoken tension hanging in the air.
Kazuki's first match of the day was against a burly warrior named Goran, a man known for his brute strength. As Kazuki stepped into the arena, he could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on him. The cheers of the crowd rang out, but the noise felt distant. His thoughts were focused elsewhere—on the dark presence that had been lurking on the tournament's outskirts.
"Focus, Kazuki," he whispered to himself as he took his stance.
Goran charged forward, his sword raised high. The man was powerful, but Kazuki quickly realized he was also predictable. Dodging the initial strike, Kazuki landed a swift kick to Goran's side, sending the larger man stumbling backward. The crowd roared as the two fighters exchanged blows, but Kazuki was clearly faster, weaving in and out of Goran's range.
As the fight continued, Kazuki began to notice something strange. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure standing in the shadows near the edge of the arena, watching the match with an unsettling intensity. Kazuki's instincts flared. Was this one of the demon king's agents?
Distracted for just a moment, Kazuki felt Goran's fist graze his side, knocking the wind out of him. He quickly recovered, landing a sharp elbow to Goran's chest and sending the larger man sprawling. The referee declared Kazuki the winner, but his victory felt hollow.
Kazuki glanced back toward the shadows where the figure had been standing, but they were gone. He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the unseen threat growing heavier with each passing day.