The atmosphere in the arena was different now, thick with tension and anticipation. With only four teams left, the crowd buzzed with excitement, each pair of competitors more formidable than the last. Kaito and Ryker had only just caught their breath after their victory, but now the weight of what lay ahead settled heavily on their shoulders.
The announcer's voice echoed across the arena, cutting through the chatter. "The semifinals are about to begin! First up, Kaito versus Kael, followed by Ryker versus Shiro! Who will advance to the final round?"
Kaito and Ryker exchanged a quick, nervous glance. They'd expected to face each other, but fate had separated them. The challenge now was to overcome these two strange, powerful opponents.
"We've got this, man. Just remember—stay sharp," Kaito said, clapping Ryker on the back.
"Don't worry about me. Just focus on Kael. We'll both make it through this." Ryker's grin was strained, but it was the same determination Kaito had seen countless times before.
Kaito nodded, walking toward his arena entrance. His heart beat like a war drum, his thoughts spinning. Kael wasn't just another fighter—he was dangerous. Kaito had seen him fight in the previous rounds, and his control over water was unlike anything he'd encountered. Kaito wasn't sure what to expect, but he was ready to give it everything.
The massive arena gates opened, and Kaito stepped onto the battlefield. The cheers from the crowd were deafening, but his focus remained fixed on the figure standing opposite him.
Kael, with his chiseled features and intense gaze, stood calmly, his expression unreadable. There was a strange aura around him, a quiet confidence that sent a chill down Kaito's spine.
"Ready to face me?" Kael asked, his voice smooth, almost predatory.
"I don't need to ask if you're ready," Kaito replied, raising his hands and crackling with electric energy. "Let's do this!"
The moment the bell rang, Kaito surged forward, sending bolts of lightning toward Kael. But Kael wasn't caught off guard. With a swift motion, he raised his hand, and the water in the arena seemed to respond, swirling in the air, forming a barrier that absorbed Kaito's lightning. The electricity fizzled out on contact with the water, and Kael smirked.
"Impressive," Kael said. "But you'll need more than that to beat me."
Kaito gritted his teeth and continued the assault, charging up more energy and hurling it at Kael. Kael simply stepped aside, letting the bolts whizz past him, his movements fluid, almost like the water he controlled.
"You think you can outpace me with speed? I control the flow of everything, including your own power," Kael said, his voice calm but dripping with arrogance.
Kaito's eyes narrowed. This wasn't just a battle of brute strength—it was a battle of wits, too. He couldn't just rely on raw power. He had to outsmart Kael.
Thinking fast, Kaito gathered the electricity around his fists and launched himself at Kael, moving with lightning speed. Kael's eyes widened as Kaito closed the distance, but just as Kaito was about to land a hit, Kael's hand shot out.
Water burst from the ground in a wave, curling around Kaito's body like an invisible hand. He tried to react, but the water constricted around him, trapping him in place.
"What the—?" Kaito gasped, struggling against the watery grip.
Kael stepped forward, his eyes flashing. "Playtime is over."
Kaito's blood ran cold. He had no time to react before Kael's next move. With a sickening pull, Kael twisted his hand, and Kaito felt something surge through him—something cold, and unnatural.
Kael was controlling the water in Kaito's body.
Kaito's heart raced as his blood was manipulated like a puppet's strings. His lightning powers, which had once come so naturally, now flickered and sputtered, out of his control. Pain coursed through him as he felt his blood slowing, his energy draining. He couldn't summon his lightning.
"Wha—what are you doing?" Kaito grunted, trying to regain his composure, but it was futile. Kael was draining him, controlling his very essence.
"I'm not just a water bender, Kaito. I control all water. Including the water inside your body." Kael's smile was cold, cruel. "And right now, you're nothing more than a vessel for me to manipulate."
Kaito felt his knees buckle beneath him as his body betrayed him. His powers—his very strength—were being stripped away. He couldn't even summon a spark of lightning. The crowd's cheers faded into an overwhelming buzzing sound, but all Kaito could hear was his own labored breathing.
With a vicious twist, Kael sent Kaito crashing to the ground, his body wracked with pain. Kaito gasped for air, but every breath felt heavier, as if the water inside him was fighting against his every movement. He tried to rise, but Kael's control over him was absolute.
"I could finish you now," Kael said, looking down at him. "But I think this is more fun. Watch how helpless you really are."
With that, Kael began to slam Kaito into the arena floor with ruthless efficiency, each hit weaker than the last. Kaito tried to raise his arms to defend himself, but his muscles were weak, his body betraying him in ways he never thought possible. He felt like a puppet being strung along by an invisible hand.
Through the haze of pain, Kaito could barely hear Ryker's voice, calling his name from the sidelines. His best friend's face was etched with horror as he watched Kaito being pummeled, powerless to intervene.
*This can't be happening…*
With one final crushing blow, Kael stood over Kaito, who was barely conscious, his body battered and broken. "Now, let's end this," Kael said softly, his hand raised high, a gleam of victory in his eyes.
The bell rang, signaling the end of the match.
The crowd was silent. No one had expected such a one-sided defeat.
Ryker stood frozen in disbelief, his fists clenched tight as he watched the lifeless form of his best friend on the ground.
The announcer's voice cracked through the silence. "And Kael is the winner… Kaito has been… defeated."
Kaito's vision blurred as he fought to stay awake. His body was failing him, his mind overwhelmed with pain. The last thing he remembered was Ryker's face—angry, helpless, torn.
---
Ryker didn't even wait for the medical staff to arrive before he rushed to Kaito's side. The sight of his best friend's mangled form was too much to bear. Kaito was bruised, bloodied, and completely still. He was breathing, but barely. It looked like the fight had drained the very life out of him.
"C'mon, Kaito," Ryker muttered, shaking him gently. "You gotta wake up, man. Don't do this. Not now. Not like this."
Kaito's eyelids fluttered, but he didn't wake up.
With a final, furious glance at the arena, Ryker turned and marched toward his own match. His heart was heavy with anger, regret, and the bitter sting of helplessness.
*Kael's going to pay for this.*
Ryker stepped into the arena, his hands ablaze with fire, his expression a mask of fury. The ground trembled beneath him as he faced Shiro, who stood across the field with that same calm, unsettling smirk.
"This is for Kaito," Ryker whispered to himself, taking a deep breath.
Then, with fire in his heart, he stepped forward, his eyes locked on Shiro.
The final match was about to begin.