The energy in the arena surged as the crowd buzzed with excitement, eagerly awaiting the next match. The announcer's voice crackled over the speakers, brimming with enthusiasm."Next up, we've got a match you won't want to miss, folks! From Stronghold Academy, it's the fire starter himself—JOHN!" Jimmy's voice carried over the din, his charismatic tone hyping up the crowd as they erupted in cheers.John stepped onto the stage, his face set with determination. He scanned the massive arena, already calculating his approach. As he moved into position, Jimmy continued with the introductions."And from the elemental lands of Mira," Jimmy announced with dramatic flair, "we have the powerhouse, the mountain of muscle, and no stranger to the art of brute strength—give it up for RICH JAMES!"A colossal figure emerged from the shadows, towering over John. Rich James, all bulk and muscle, wore a confident grin as he lumbered forward. His build was daunting, with every movement emphasizing his solid strength. The sight reminded John instantly of Brick, and he felt a flicker of unease as he recalled their earlier clashes. But he shook it off, steeling himself for the match.Jimmy's voice broke through his thoughts. "It's Stronghold's spirit versus Mira's might! Who's ready for a clash of titans?"The crowd roared in response, and as Jimmy stepped back, he raised his arm high. "Fighters—ready? Begin!"Before John could even blink, Rich lunged forward with surprising speed, his powerful arms swinging wide in an attempt to grab hold of John. John barely sidestepped in time, feeling the rush of air as Rich's hand missed him by inches."Whew! Did you see that?" Jimmy's voice rang out. "Rich is bringing his brute force to bear, and John's going to have to use every trick he's got to keep up!"John scrambled to create distance, realizing that going toe-to-toe with Rich would be a mistake. He took a deep breath, deciding to go for a different strategy—this time, no fire, just energy manipulation. If he could channel his energy precisely, he could maneuver around Rich's strength and maybe even create some openings.Rich charged at him again, this time catching the edge of John's arm with a glancing blow that sent him stumbling back. The strength behind it felt like a hammer. He couldn't take many more hits like that."Come on, Stronghold," Rich taunted, cracking his knuckles. "Is that all you've got?"John steadied himself, calling his energy to his core, feeling it hum within him. He focused it into his hands, concentrating on controlling the flow, rather than letting it burst out like a flame. He darted to the side, releasing a thin line of energy at Rich's legs, hoping to trip him up.Rich, however, was faster than he looked. He leapt back just in time, grinning down at John. "Nice try, but you'll have to do better than that!"With a roar, Rich lunged forward again, his fist aimed straight at John's head. John ducked, feeling the raw power in the punch as it brushed past his hair. He countered by sending a blast of focused energy at Rich's chest, but the Mira bender simply grunted and brushed it off, seemingly unfazed."Looks like Rich has some serious resilience!" Jimmy exclaimed. "John's giving it his all, but this Mira bender isn't going down without a fight!"John circled around, his mind racing. Rich was too strong to take head-on, and his physical strength seemed nearly impenetrable. He needed to outmaneuver him—keep him guessing. Summoning his energy, he let it flow into his legs, boosting his speed as he darted around Rich, sending controlled bursts of energy from different angles.Rich turned, his eyes narrowing as he tracked John's movements, but his massive frame struggled to keep up with the agile bender. John seized the opportunity, striking at Rich's legs and arms with swift, sharp bursts of energy, trying to wear him down.Rich growled, throwing out his arm with sudden ferocity, and this time he caught John in the side. John felt the impact reverberate through his ribs, staggering him. He stumbled, trying to catch his breath, but Rich was relentless, advancing with a confident smirk."Don't let him corner you, John!" Jimmy shouted from the sidelines, his voice full of encouragement.John braced himself, focusing his energy. He channeled it into his arms, feeling the power gather as he prepared to make his move. He launched a powerful wave of energy straight at Rich, aiming for his center.The attack connected, forcing Rich to take a step back, but he shook it off almost immediately, grinning as he cracked his neck. "That all you got?"John's heart raced as he realized that his usual techniques were barely making a dent. He was going to have to push his limits. He concentrated, drawing his energy inward, gathering it to a single point in his core before releasing it in a surge that coursed through his limbs.Rich charged again, his massive arms outstretched to grab hold of John. But this time, John ducked low, letting the energy boost his reflexes. He sidestepped just in time, releasing a focused blast at Rich's knee. The attack finally found its mark, forcing Rich to stumble.The crowd gasped as Rich wobbled, his balance momentarily thrown off. John pressed his advantage, darting forward and delivering a series of rapid, concentrated strikes to Rich's legs, channeling every ounce of his energy into precision attacks.Rich staggered, his defenses weakening as he struggled to keep up with John's relentless assault. For a moment, it seemed like he might topple over, but then, with a roar, he swung his arm around in a wide arc, catching John's shoulder and sending him flying backward.John hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him. He gasped for air, his body screaming in protest. But as he looked up, he saw Rich breathing heavily, his stance slightly weakened."It looks like John's precision attacks are starting to wear down Mira's muscle man!" Jimmy's voice filled the arena. "But can he keep it up long enough to secure a win?"John forced himself to his feet, drawing on the last reserves of his energy. He focused everything he had, channeling his power into his fists. This was it—his final chance.With a burst of speed, he closed the distance between them, aiming his energy-charged fists at Rich's chest. Rich swung, trying to catch him, but John ducked, weaving around the massive arms and landing a powerful strike just below Rich's ribs.Rich grunted, his stance faltering as John continued his assault, each punch carrying the full weight of his remaining energy. With a final surge, John released one last, explosive burst right into Rich's core.The impact sent Rich stumbling back, his balance completely shattered. He fell to one knee, gasping for breath as he tried to steady himself. But his strength was spent, and with a final exhale, he slumped forward, unable to continue.The crowd erupted in cheers as Jimmy's voice rang out over the speakers. "And that's it, folks! John from Stronghold takes the win!"John stood there, panting heavily as he took in the roaring crowd. Relief flooded through him as he watched Rich, who was slowly getting back to his feet, giving him a respectful nod."That was a good fight," Rich said, a small grin breaking through. "Next time, I won't let you off so easy."John grinned back, his chest still heaving. "Looking forward to it."