The arena buzzed with anticipation as the next rounds were set to begin. After the intensity of Collin's match, the crowd was eager for more action, and Stronghold's reputation as an energy powerhouse had everyone talking. Victor and Isabel stood side by side, eyes trained on the ring as they awaited their matchups. Each of them carried the weight of their city's pride, and both felt the anticipation surge in their veins."Next up, we have Victor of Stronghold against Emery from Aqualis!" Jimmy's voice rang out, each word charged with excitement.Victor took a deep breath, feeling the familiar rush of adrenaline flood his senses. Aqualis was famous for its water benders, and he knew this match would test him in ways he hadn't faced before. Across the arena, Emery—a lean, agile bender with piercing blue eyes and an aura that pulsed like the ebb and flow of the tide—stepped into the ring. A confident grin spread across his face as he sized up Victor, his fingertips already beginning to glisten with the faint sheen of water.Jimmy's voice thundered again. "Victor of Stronghold, known for his blazing power, versus Emery of Aqualis! It's fire against water, folks—let's see if Victor can withstand the tide!"As the match began, Emery wasted no time, summoning twin waves of water from thin air, shaping them into spirals that shot toward Victor with relentless force. Victor dodged one, ducked under the second, and retaliated by igniting his hands in a brilliant flame, sending a volley of fireballs at his opponent.Emery countered, summoning a barrier of water to absorb the impact, turning Victor's fire into steam. "That all you've got, Stronghold?" Emery taunted, his voice smooth and challenging.Victor smirked. "Oh, I'm just getting started." He propelled himself forward, sending a concentrated blast of fire straight at Emery, who countered by leaping back and hurling a whip of water at Victor's legs.The whip hit its mark, wrapping around Victor's legs and pulling him off balance. Emery yanked hard, slamming Victor into the ground before tightening his hold, water squeezing Victor's legs like a vice.Victor struggled, feeling the cool pressure building against his legs. "Not bad," he grunted, wincing against the pain. "But you'll need more than water tricks."With a surge of effort, Victor ignited his legs in a brilliant burst of fire, vaporizing the water whip around him. Emery's grip broke, giving Victor the opening he needed. He launched himself into the air, a blazing figure against the sky, and sent a spiraling pillar of flame down toward his opponent.Emery dodged just in time, the heat from the fire making him sweat. He retaliated by summoning a massive wave, rising from the ground like a wall, aiming to swallow Victor whole. But Victor had anticipated the move. He thrust both hands forward, and a concentrated burst of fiery energy sliced through the wave, evaporating it in a cloud of steam.For a tense moment, they both stood still, panting, sizing each other up."Looks like you're in deep water, Emery!" Jimmy's voice chimed over the speaker, earning cheers from the crowd.Emery, clearly tiring, pressed on, shaping his water into fast, slicing blades aimed directly at Victor. But Victor, fueled by the thrill of the fight, sidestepped each one, closing the distance between them. With a swift move, he gripped Emery's wrist, locking him in place."Checkmate," Victor said, his eyes blazing. He channeled a powerful surge of heat through his palm, forcing Emery to pull back with a wince, finally signaling his surrender."And the winner is Victor of Stronghold!" Jimmy shouted, as the crowd erupted in cheers.Victor stepped back, catching his breath, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. He'd won this round, and with it, the crowd's admiration.With Victor's victory celebrated, the arena prepared for the next match. Jimmy's voice boomed again, excitement dancing in his tone. "Next up, we have Isabel of Stronghold against Talia from Veilstead!"The crowd quieted at the mention of Veilstead. Known for its isolation, little was known about its fighters, and Talia—tall, cloaked in shades of deep green—had an air of mystery around her. Her gaze was cold and focused, like a hawk zeroing in on its prey.Isabel's heart raced as she stepped forward, drawing her energy inward as she prepared to face her enigmatic opponent. Unlike most fighters, Isabel wasn't known for overwhelming power but for her agility and teleportation, skills she hoped would counter whatever abilities Talia had hidden."Talia of Veilstead specializes in shadow manipulation," Jimmy announced, sending murmurs through the crowd. "And Isabel of Stronghold, known for her speed and teleportation, is here to put Veilstead to the test! Who will come out on top?"The match began with Talia vanishing into a swirl of shadows, disappearing entirely from view. Isabel's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of her opponent.Suddenly, a dark tendril shot out from the shadows, reaching toward Isabel like a snake. She teleported just in time, reappearing a few feet away, and shot a quick blast of energy into the shadows. The shadows recoiled, only for Talia to emerge from behind Isabel, striking with a tendril that wrapped around Isabel's arm.Isabel gritted her teeth, feeling the cold bite of shadow pressing against her skin. "So that's your game?"Talia didn't respond. Instead, she tightened her grip, the shadows coiling tighter, sapping Isabel's energy. But Isabel had been preparing for this. With a sudden burst of focus, she teleported out of Talia's grasp, reappearing a safe distance away."You're slippery," Talia observed, her voice low and emotionless. "But not slippery enough."Isabel smirked, adrenaline coursing through her. "You'll have to catch me first." With a quick motion, she darted forward, zig-zagging unpredictably and teleporting just as Talia's shadow tendrils struck. She got in close, aiming a swift kick to Talia's side.Talia staggered, but she quickly recovered, summoning a swarm of shadowy tendrils to surround Isabel. Isabel teleported again, dodging one strike after another, testing Talia's speed and reaction time.For a moment, it seemed like the match was at a stalemate, both fighters evenly matched in speed and strategy. But Isabel was waiting for the right opening.Then, she saw it—a split-second where Talia's focus wavered as she redirected her shadows. Isabel teleported in close, launching a rapid series of kicks and punches, each one aimed at Talia's center.Talia stumbled, her control over the shadows faltering as Isabel pressed her advantage. Summoning the last of her energy, Isabel released a concentrated pulse of force, sending Talia skidding across the ring, her control over the shadows finally breaking."Isabel of Stronghold is victorious!" Jimmy's voice boomed, the crowd cheering as Isabel caught her breath, a triumphant smile on her face.Victor greeted her as she left the ring, grinning. "Nice job. Didn't think you'd get the drop on her like that."Isabel chuckled, shrugging. "All about timing, right?"The two stood side by side, watching as the arena readied for the next match, a shared sense of pride and accomplishment fueling them. Today, Stronghold had made its mark, and they both knew it was only the beginning.