The sprawling Nexus Grounds had fully come alive, its ever-changing terrain warping with every step the competitors took. Stronghold's team had split off into their respective groups, with John and Anne making quick progress through the forest, while Gordon and Alex stormed ahead into the rocky valley. The goal was clear—secure a token, no matter what."Keep an eye out," John muttered as he and Anne darted through the shifting trees, which seemed to grow denser by the second. "These tokens could be hidden anywhere in this mess.""I know, I know," Anne replied, her voice tinged with a mix of focus and excitement. Her sharp eyes scanned the area, energy crackling just beneath her fingertips. "But we should expect competition soon. We're not alone here."As if on cue, the distant sound of clashing benders reached their ears—flames roaring, energy crackling, and water splashing against unseen foes. The race was in full swing, and Stronghold wasn't the only team determined to advance.John smirked, his fiery aura flickering to life. "Good. Let's hope they cross our path."The terrain beneath their feet shifted yet again, the forest floor giving way to patches of rock and sand. Just ahead, a soft glow caught Anne's attention. "Wait—there," she whispered, pointing ahead.Sure enough, suspended just above the ground was a glowing token, its light faintly illuminating the area around it. John and Anne exchanged a quick look, determination sparking in both their eyes."Let's grab it," John said, already preparing to surge forward.But before they could act, a sudden gust of wind whipped through the trees, followed by a burst of water that erupted from the nearby foliage. The air grew colder, the atmosphere denser with moisture as two figures emerged from the shadows. Aqualis benders."You're not getting that token without a fight," said one of the Aqualis benders, a young woman with piercing blue eyes and a confident stance. Her partner, a taller bender, was already summoning more water into his hands, preparing to strike.John raised his fists, flames licking at his fingers. "Oh, you want a fight? Be careful what you wish for."Anne stepped forward, her energy flaring to life. "Don't get cocky, John. Focus."The Aqualis benders wasted no time. The taller bender launched a swirling torrent of water toward them, aiming to flood the area and take control of the battlefield. But John was ready. With a sharp motion, he unleashed a blast of flame, the intense heat evaporating the incoming water mid-air, turning the attack into steam."Nice try!" John shouted, rushing forward.Anne flanked him, her energy crackling at her fingertips. The female Aqualis bender moved swiftly, creating a shield of water in response. But Anne, ever tactical, redirected her energy toward the ground, sending a shockwave that disrupted the Aqualis defense, splashing water across the forest floor."That token's ours," Anne said, her voice calm but resolute.The battle quickly escalated, flames and water clashing violently as the two teams fought for control. John sent waves of fire crashing against their enemies' defenses, while Anne's precision strikes destabilized their attacks. The Aqualis benders were agile, but John's raw power and Anne's strategic mind were a dangerous combination.Meanwhile, elsewhere in the valley...Gordon and Alex raced through the rocky landscape, the tension between them palpable. Gordon was ahead by a few paces, his sharp eyes constantly scanning the horizon for any sign of a token."Try to keep up," Gordon grunted, clearly preferring the solitude of battle. He was already irritable, not enjoying the idea of pairing with Alex, even if Alex's brute strength was an asset.Alex, on the other hand, kept pace easily, his physical prowess allowing him to navigate the rocky terrain without missing a beat. "I'm right behind you, man. No need to run off solo.""I'm better off on my own," Gordon snapped back, his voice clipped.Alex sighed but didn't push it. "Whatever, as long as we find that token."Their path took them through a narrow gorge, the steep cliffs towering above them. The ground here was uneven, and the rocks seemed to shift with each step. Gordon stopped suddenly, eyes narrowing as a familiar figure came into view at the far end of the gorge.Victor.His fiery aura was unmistakable, flames already dancing around his hands. Victor was from Stronghold too, but his rivalry with both Gordon and John made it clear this wasn't going to be a friendly encounter."Well, well," Victor called out, his voice carrying over the rocky terrain. "You two think you're fast enough to claim this token?"Gordon tensed immediately, his eyes narrowing. "Out of the way, Victor. This isn't your fight."Victor smirked, flames flaring brighter around his fists. "I think it is. Besides, I'm not letting you take this one easily."Alex stepped forward, hands raised in mock surrender. "Whoa, whoa. Guys, we're on the same side here.""Not today," Victor growled, his eyes locking onto Gordon. "I've had enough of you and John thinking you're the best. Let's see what you've got, Gordon."With that, Victor charged, flames roaring to life around him. Gordon didn't hesitate, his own energy crackling as he surged forward to meet the attack head-on.Flames clashed with energy, the impact sending shockwaves through the valley. Gordon moved quickly, sidestepping Victor's fiery punches, but Victor was relentless, pressing the attack with a barrage of flame-enhanced strikes.Alex stood back for a moment, watching the two benders collide. "You two are ridiculous," he muttered under his breath, before turning his attention to the landscape around them. There had to be a token nearby.As Gordon and Victor continued their heated exchange, Alex spotted it—a faint glow, half-hidden behind a cluster of boulders. The token."Guys, the token's over here!" Alex shouted, but neither Gordon nor Victor seemed to hear him, both too locked in their fiery clash.Gordon gritted his teeth, dodging another one of Victor's flame strikes. "Back off, Victor!""Make me!" Victor spat back, flames intensifying.Realizing this wasn't going to stop anytime soon, Alex made a split-second decision. He sprinted toward the token, using his raw physical strength to leap over the boulders and grab it before anyone else could."I've got it!" Alex called, holding the token high as he landed on solid ground again.Both Gordon and Victor stopped mid-fight, breathing heavily, flames still flickering around their fists. For a brief moment, there was silence as they processed what had just happened.Victor scoffed, wiping sweat from his brow. "Tch. Lucky break."Gordon shot Victor a glare, but he let the flames dissipate around his hands. "Whatever. Let's just move."Alex grinned, pocketing the token. "Told you we'd find it."Back in the forest, the battle between John, Anne, and the Aqualis team raged on. But as Anne delivered a final, well-aimed blast of energy, the Aqualis benders were forced to retreat, their water defenses shattered by the relentless fire and energy assaults.John quickly grabbed the token they had been fighting over and smirked. "That was too easy."Anne shot him a sideways glance, her breathing heavy but steady. "You need to learn some humility."With tokens in hand, both teams regrouped, the sounds of distant battles still echoing in the air. The real race wasn't over yet.And somewhere far off in the Nexus Grounds, other teams continued their search—teams from Aqualis, Ignis Peak, Skyshear, and Mira. And it was only going to get more intense from here.As they moved forward, John, Anne, Alex, and Gordon regrouped at the edge of the valley, victorious but aware that their challenges were far from over."Let's keep moving," John said, determination in his voice. "There's more tokens to find.""And more teams to beat," Gordon added, his rivalry with Victor still simmering under the surface.Anne nodded, eyes scanning the horizon. "We stay sharp and stick together. This race is just getting started."And with that, Stronghold's team pushed forward into the Nexus Grounds, ready for whatever came next.