The anticipation in the coliseum was electric, every seat filled with eager spectators waiting for the first match to unfold. The circular arena was an architectural marvel, with tiered seating carved from smooth marble that seemed to glow under the radiant sunlight. Magical barriers shimmered faintly around the stage, designed to protect the audience from stray attacks. The atmosphere hummed with mana energy, amplifying the excitement of the crowd.
In the stands, the commanders and vice commanders of the various ranger units sat in an elevated royal box, their presence adding gravitas to the event. King Henry Jewel, dressed in regal blue and gold robes, sat at the center alongside the Twelve Elders. The Grand Elder, a stoic figure radiating an aura of profound wisdom, remained silent as he watched the proceedings with a steady gaze.
The announcer, a charismatic figure in a bright red suit adorned with golden trim, stood at the center of the stage, a mana-enhanced microphone in hand. His voice boomed across the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Welcome to the Blue Star Ranger Festival Tournament!" The crowd erupted into cheers, banners waving in the air. "The moment we've all been waiting for is here! The legendary ranger units are set to battle it out for glory, honor, and, of course, bragging rights!"
As the crowd roared, the announcer grinned and held up a hand for silence. "To kick off today's thrilling matches, we start with an absolute firecracker of a duel: Josuke Akari of Unit Zero versus Arden Star of Unit Six!"
The names flashed on a massive mana-infused board above the arena, alongside glowing portraits of the two competitors. The noise of the crowd surged as people leaned forward in their seats, eager to see how Unit Zero returning to the tournament after years of absence would fare.
From the left entrance of the arena, Josuke Akari strode out confidently, his black hair catching the light as he waved to the crowd. His relaxed demeanor and boyish grin drew cheers from the audience, many already charmed by the enigmatic fire mage of Unit Zero.
From the opposite side, Arden Star marched onto the stage with a determined scowl. His golden armor gleamed under the sun, his presence commanding. The crowd cheered for him as well, though a few murmurs of tension rippled through the stands. Arden's reputation as a fierce fighter preceded him.
The two stood across from each other, the tension between them palpable. Josuke extended a hand with his characteristic grin. "Good luck. Let's give it our best, yeah?"
Arden slapped Josuke's hand away, his voice laced with disdain. "Luck? I don't need luck to beat a devil." His words carried across the arena, drawing a collective gasp from the audience.
Josuke blinked, scratching the back of his head in confusion. "Devil, huh? That's a new one."
The announcer quickly stepped in, his energetic voice cutting through the murmurs. "Alright, competitors, to your positions!"
The moment the announcer vanished from the stage, Arden wasted no time summoning his fullbringer: Infernal Aegis. The chains that erupted into flames as he pointed at Josuke, his mana surging visibly around him.
"Prepare yourself!" Arden bellowed, charging forward with blinding speed.
Josuke summoned his own fullbringer, Crimson Edge, a sleek, fiery blade that gleamed like molten metal. With a calm expression, he raised his weapon to meet Arden's strike. Their blades clashed with a deafening roar, sending sparks flying as a shockwave rippled through the arena.
The crowd exploded into cheers and gasps as the two fighters exchanged blows. Arden's heavy strikes were ferocious, each one aimed to overwhelm Josuke. But Josuke moved fluidly, parrying and dodging with a grace that seemed almost effortless.
"You're pretty serious about this," Josuke said with a chuckle as he sidestepped another swing. "You ever take a break?"
Arden snarled, his frustration growing. He leaped back, raising his greatsword high as mana swirled around him. The flames on his blade roared to life, intensifying as he channeled his energy.
"Let's see you dodge this!" Arden shouted. "Flames of Oblivion!"
The ground beneath Arden cracked as a massive wave of fire erupted from his blade, surging across the stage toward Josuke. The heat was so intense that even the magical barriers flickered, the sheer power of the attack drawing gasps from the audience.
Josuke's Immunity
The inferno engulfed Josuke, obscuring him from view as the flames raged. Arden stood tall, a confident smirk on his face as he lowered his blade.
"Looks like you're not so special after all," Arden muttered.
But as the flames died down, Arden's smirk vanished. Josuke stood in the center of the scorched stage, completely unharmed. His Crimson Edge rested casually on his shoulder, and his expression was one of mild curiosity.
The official quickly checked the magical sensors, confirming the hit. "The attack landed, but Josuke Akari is unaffected."
"What?!" Arden's voice cracked with disbelief. "Impossible! That hit you point-blank!"
Josuke scratched his head, looking at his unharmed body. "Yeah, it hit me. But, uh… I guess fire just doesn't work on me? Now that I think of Never has I've never felt heat or fire for as long as I can remember , that's really Weird, right?"
The crowd erupted into laughter and cheers, and even the announcer chuckled. "Ladies and gentlemen, it seems we've discovered an interesting quirk of Unit Zero's Josuke Akari!"
Arden's frustration boiled over. "Fine! If fire doesn't work, I'll beat you the old-fashioned way!"
He charged again, his strikes growing more aggressive and wild. Josuke parried with ease, his movements almost lazy as he sidestepped and blocked each attack.
"You're gonna tire yourself out like that," Josuke said, his tone light and teasing.
"Shut up!" Arden roared, pouring more mana into his strikes. The arena shook as the two clashed, the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Finally, Josuke saw his opening. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them in an instant, his Crimson Edge glowing brighter as he channeled his mana into the blade.
"Let's wrap this up," Josuke said, swinging the back of his massive blade in a swift, controlled arc.
The strike hit Arden's side with incredible force, sending him flying out of the ring. He landed outside the boundary with a heavy thud, his greatsword vanishing as he lost consciousness.
The crowd erupted into cheers, their excitement shaking the arena. The announcer reappeared on the stage, his voice booming over the applause.
"And the winner of the first match is Josuke Akari of Unit Zero! Three points to Unit Zero!"
Josuke walked back to his team, his grin as bright as ever. He waved to the cheering crowd before turning to Kyle, who stood waiting at the sidelines.
"Not bad for a first match, huh?" Josuke said with a chuckle.
Kyle smirked, his arms crossed. "Don't get cocky. We've got a lot more to win."
As the magical board above the arena updated the score Unit Zero: 3 points the announcer's voice rang out once more, signaling the end of the match.
"What an explosive start to the tournament! And we're just getting warmed up! Stay tuned as we prepare for the next match: Arthur Pendragon of Unit Zero versus Morgan Griffin of Unit Four!"
The crowd cheered even louder as the stage was reset, the excitement for the next fight already building.