As the battle between Unit 92 and Unit 3 raged on, both teams were pushed to their limits. Sweat dripped down the faces of the benders, their once precise techniques now laced with the fatigue of constant combat. Every movement was deliberate, every strike a calculated risk.
John and Victor's fiery duel intensified, their flames dancing through the arena in chaotic arcs. Their breaths came in heavy gasps, but neither was willing to back down. John, emboldened by his earlier advantage, sent a fiery wave toward Victor, who countered with a blast of searing flames that cut through the air like a molten blade.
"You're good, John," Victor grunted, his flames still crackling around him, "but you're predictable."
John smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "We'll see about that!"
Suddenly, John shifted his stance, lowering himself and channeling his energy into a new tactic. Instead of launching a frontal attack, he shot a concentrated burst of fire at Victor's feet, destabilizing the ground beneath him. Victor stumbled, caught off guard by the sudden change in approach.
Seizing the opportunity, John closed the distance, throwing a powerful punch wreathed in flames. Victor managed to block it just in time, but the sheer force of the impact sent him sliding backward, his boots skidding across the dirt.
"Not so predictable now, am I?" John taunted, his eyes flashing with determination.
Victor's grin faltered for a moment, but his fiery resolve burned brighter. He quickly shifted gears, redirecting his energy into a different attack. With a roar, he summoned a towering pillar of flame that spiraled toward John like a blazing tornado. John braced himself, but the intensity of Victor's power forced him to go on the defensive, throwing up a wall of flame to protect himself.
Across the battlefield, Anne and Isabel continued their cat-and-mouse game. Isabel's teleportation made her a slippery target, but Anne's keen tactical mind kept her on the offensive. Anne's energy pulses hummed through the air, creating a web of defensive fields that Isabel struggled to penetrate.
"You can't keep dodging forever, Isabel!" Anne shouted, her energy forming an expanding bubble, cutting off Isabel's escape routes.
Isabel narrowed her eyes, her breath quickening. She teleported once more, aiming to appear behind Anne, but as she rematerialized, Anne anticipated the move. With a flick of her wrist, Anne redirected her energy field, catching Isabel mid-teleport and slamming her into the ground.
"Got you!" Anne said triumphantly, pinning Isabel with her energy.
Isabel gritted her teeth, her body tense as she tried to teleport out of the trap, but Anne's energy held firm. "You think this will hold me?" Isabel growled, but her breathing was labored, the strain of constant teleportation catching up to her.
"It doesn't have to hold you for long," Anne replied, her voice calm yet strained from the exertion. "I just need to outlast you."
Meanwhile, Gordon and Max were locked in their own grueling battle. Max's control over gravity made every movement feel like wading through quicksand. Gordon struggled to gain momentum, each step feeling like it weighed a thousand pounds.
"You're strong, Gordon," Max said, his voice steady, "but strength means nothing if you can't move."
Gordon's muscles screamed in protest, but he refused to back down. "I don't need to move to take you down!"
With a surge of energy, Gordon planted his feet firmly and unleashed a powerful shockwave of raw energy that radiated outward, disrupting Max's gravitational hold for just a moment.
Max stumbled, momentarily losing control of the gravitational field around them. It was all Gordon needed. With a roar, he charged forward, fists glowing with energy, and slammed into Max with a forceful punch to the gut. Max gasped, the wind knocked out of him as he collapsed to the ground, gravity faltering.
On the far side of the arena, Alex and Lila circled each other cautiously. Alex's muscles were tense, his physical prowess unmatched, but Lila's ability to enter his mind had him second-guessing every move. She watched him with a calm intensity, her powers subtly probing his thoughts, searching for an opening.
"You're distracted, Alex," Lila said softly, her voice almost soothing. "I can feel it. You don't want to hurt me."
Alex clenched his fists, his body coiled with tension. "I don't want to do this, Lila. But I have to—for my team."
"I understand," Lila replied, her voice gentle but firm. "But that won't stop me from doing what I must."
She reached out with her mind, gently tugging at the edges of Alex's consciousness, trying to disorient him. For a moment, Alex faltered, his mind clouded with doubt. His fists relaxed, his breathing quickened.
"You can't win if your mind isn't clear," Lila murmured, stepping closer.But Alex, driven by a sudden surge of determination, shook off the mental fog. He clenched his fists again, his body thrumming with raw strength. "You're not getting in my head!" he growled, charging forward with a forceful lunge.
Lila dodged, but Alex's strength kept her on the defensive. Every punch he threw was a powerful reminder of his physical dominance, forcing Lila to keep her distance. She couldn't afford to get caught by his raw strength.
As the battles reached their peak, Unit 92 and Unit 3 were evenly matched, the field crackling with energy and tension. The crowd watched in anticipation, unsure of who would come out on top.
Victor, bruised and breathing heavily, squared off against John and Gordon. His flames flickered weakly, his energy reserves nearly spent. John stepped forward, flames still dancing around him, while Gordon flanked him, his fists crackling with raw power.
Victor glanced between the two of them, a defiant grin spreading across his face despite his exhaustion. "Looks like you've both got me cornered."John smirked, wiping the sweat from his brow. "You fought hard, Victor. But this is where it ends."
Victor's grin widened, and with a final burst of energy, he launched a spiraling wave of fire at both John and Gordon. John braced himself, his flames roaring in response, while Gordon unleashed a wave of energy to counter the attack.The resulting explosion shook the battlefield, flames and energy colliding in a burst of light and heat.
When the smoke cleared, Victor lay on the ground, defeated but grinning."You got me... this time," Victor muttered, his breath labored.
At the same time, Anne finally forced Isabel to concede, pinning her to the ground with a powerful energy barrier, while Max remained motionless on the field, Gordon's punch having knocked him out cold.And with one final burst of strength, Alex closed the distance between him and Lila, his fists crackling with energy. But just as he prepared to strike, Lila raised her hand, her powers pressing against his mind once more.
"Enough," she said softly, her voice echoing in his thoughts. "You've proven your point."
Alex hesitated, lowering his fists. "You're not going to fight anymore?"Lila smiled, stepping back. "You've already won."
As the dust settled, it became clear—Unit 92 had emerged victorious, though barely.
They stood, exhausted and bruised, but victorious nonetheless.Benji allowed himself a small, satisfied smile from the sidelines, while Chris folded his arms, his expression unreadable.
"Your team fought well," Chris said quietly, though there was no malice in his voice. "You've trained them well."
Benji nodded, his pride evident. "Your team gave us a real fight. We couldn't have done it without pushing ourselves to the limit."
Chris smirked. "Don't get too comfortable, Benji. We'll win the prelims."
Benji chuckled, glancing back at his students. "I wouldn't expect anything less."