The crowd's energy buzzed with anticipation as the raised platform gleamed under the midday sun, marking the beginning of Round Two's new rule—the out-of-bounds stipulation. The arena had transformed into a high, circular platform, the edges sloping steeply toward the ground below. Each competitor now had to not only battle their opponent but also keep a wary eye on their footing. And for John, who was already nursing an injury, this match promised to be a trial of endurance.In the stands, Alex leaned forward, his eyes on the platform as John climbed up to meet his opponent. "This should be interesting," he murmured, glancing at Anne, who was sitting a few rows back with Lila, both of them intently focused on the arena.Anne smiled, catching Alex's look. "You know John—he's too stubborn to go down without a fight. Though I bet he'd appreciate keeping his ribs intact."Lila, sitting beside Anne, chuckled softly. "Egor's fast, though. It won't be easy. John will have to keep up if he wants to win."As John stepped onto the raised platform, he took in the sight of his opponent. Egor from Skyshear was smaller in stature, with a bright, almost childlike energy radiating from him. With his wind-bending ability, he bounced lightly on his feet, a wide grin spread across his face."Hey there!" Egor greeted, his voice cheerful. "Hope you're ready, because I'm not planning to hold back!"John smirked, forcing himself to ignore the dull ache in his ribs. "Good," he shot back. "Neither am I."Jimmy's voice cut through the arena, his tone as excited as ever. "Alright, folks! This match promises to be a battle of speed, skill, and sheer determination! Will Skyshear's own Egor, with his lightning-fast reflexes, outpace Stronghold's John, who packs a punch but may be feeling yesterday's hits?"The gong sounded, signaling the start of the match, and Egor wasted no time. He dashed forward with startling speed, his movements almost a blur. John tried to track him, but Egor's quick footwork kept him constantly moving, weaving around John in dizzying circles."C'mon, John!" Egor called out, his voice almost teasing. "Can't catch me, can you?"John clenched his fists, frustration building as he tried to anticipate Egor's next move. He threw out a quick blast of energy in the direction of Egor's voice, but the agile Skyshear bender dodged effortlessly, laughing as he danced just out of reach.Anne leaned forward, her expression worried. "Egor's too fast. If John doesn't find a way to corner him, he'll wear himself out."Beside her, Lila nodded. "It's like trying to catch smoke. Egor's making John waste energy."On the platform, Egor continued to move in unpredictable patterns, darting forward just long enough to land a glancing hit before retreating to a safe distance. Each hit sent a jolt of pain through John's injured side, reminding him of the hit he'd taken from Hager."Feeling tired already?" Egor taunted, grinning as he dodged another blast from John."Just... warming up," John replied, his voice tight as he tried to keep his breathing steady. He felt the pressure building with each failed attempt to land a hit.Finally, he took a deep breath and decided to shift tactics. Instead of aiming directly at Egor, he concentrated his energy into his palms, gathering power for a wider blast. As Egor darted in to taunt him again, John released a powerful pulse, sending a wave of energy out in all directions.The blast caught Egor off guard, and he staggered, momentarily thrown off balance."Nice one!" Egor laughed, shaking himself off. "Didn't expect that, but you'll have to do better!"John's pulse quickened. Egor's resilience was surprising, and the pain in his side was growing harder to ignore. He steadied himself, deciding to keep his stance low, conserving his strength for a well-timed counter.With a mischievous grin, Egor spun on his heel, summoning a gust of wind that swirled around him, carrying him up into the air. Hovering just above John, he waved playfully. "Think you can get me up here?"John smirked, narrowing his eyes. "Watch me."He raised his hands, firing off a rapid succession of energy blasts. Egor dodged each one with a laugh, spinning and twirling through the air, his agility almost uncanny. The crowd cheered at Egor's acrobatics, but Anne could see the frustration building in John's stance."Come on, John!" Alex muttered under his breath, fists clenched as he watched the match. "Don't let him play you."But John didn't need the reminder. With his breaths coming faster, he waited until Egor closed in again. This time, as Egor made his descent, John channeled a dense surge of energy, aiming just ahead of where he calculated Egor would land.The gamble paid off. The blast hit the platform near Egor's feet, sending a shockwave through the floor that knocked the Skyshear bender off balance. Egor stumbled, his concentration breaking as he wavered on the edge of the platform."Whoa!" Egor yelped, scrambling to regain his footing.Not one to waste an opportunity, John stepped forward, the dull pain in his ribs forgotten as he pushed himself to the limit. He channeled a powerful burst of energy into his fist, lunging at Egor with a final, determined strike.The blow connected, sending Egor staggering backward toward the edge. For a moment, he managed to maintain his balance, teetering on the brink. But with one last surge of effort, John fired an energy blast at Egor's feet, sending him off balance and tumbling out of bounds.The crowd erupted as Jimmy's voice boomed across the arena. "And that's it, folks! John from Stronghold has managed to clinch the win! It was a close call, but he's done it! Give it up for Egor and his incredible speed, but it looks like John's resilience won the day!"Breathing heavily, John straightened, his chest heaving as he allowed himself a small smile of relief. The pain in his ribs was sharper now, but the satisfaction of victory dulled the ache, if only slightly.In the stands, Alex whooped, punching the air. "That's my guy! Way to hold your ground, John!"Anne grinned, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "He really pulled through. I was worried there for a second."Beside her, Lila looked impressed, nodding. "He was outmatched in speed, but he found a way to win. That's real strength."Back in the competitor's lounge, John walked off the platform, clutching his side as he joined Alex, who patted him on the back. "Nice work, man. Egor gave you a run for your money."John chuckled, wincing slightly. "More like a sprint. Thought I was done for there.""Looked like it too," Alex teased. "Good thing you pulled off that last blast—could've gone either way.""Just had to keep him on his toes," John replied with a grin, trying to hide his discomfort.Anne approached them, giving John a light punch on the arm. "Congratulations, John. You didn't let him get to you."John smiled at her, appreciating the support. "Thanks, Anne. Guess I owe you guys for cheering me on."The team gathered around, sharing in John's hard-fought victory as the tournament continued. With each match, the stakes rose, but for now, they could savor the small win, knowing they were one step closer to the ultimate goal.