The roar of the crowd filled the arena, a thunderous symphony of cheers and chants. Banners as massive as houses waved high, bearing the insignias of the most prominent guilds participating in the tournament. Among them were the crimson blade of The Shadow Reapers, the golden sunburst of The Dawnbringers, and the arcane crescent of The Radiant Vanguard.
Team Eclipse waited in the preparation chamber. The room was silent but for a glowing terminal containing the tournament brackets.
Team Eclipse – Round 1 Opponent: The Iron Talons
Draven whistled as he stretched out his arms. "The Iron Talons, huh? Sounds menacing."
Aris smirked. "They'll need a lot more than a nice name to take us down.
Ryu didn't respond immediately. He was reviewing their inventory and skill sets one last time. His Starbreaker Blade rested against the wall, its recent upgrades gleaming under the chamber's dim light. "Stick to the plan. I'll handle their frontline. Aris, focus on disruption. Draven, keep them off balance with your crowd control. Don't overextend."
Draven grinned, his confidence unwavering. "Relax, leader. We've got this."
The system's voice echoed through the chamber:
[Round 1: Team Eclipse vs. The Iron Talons. Start!
They entered through a shimmering, golden-lit portal to end up right in the center of the arena.].
The battlefield was a flat desert expanse, studded with sharp rocks and the remnants of old pillars. Before them stood The Iron Talons, a four-piece team dressed in heavy armor with massive arms, their leader-the tallest of them, sporting a greatsword almost that tall- gesturing in the direction of Team Eclipse.
"Crush them!"
The Iron Talons moved on.
"Here they come!" Aris called out, vanishing into the shadows with a flicker of her cloak.
Draven planted his feet and called up a barricade of fire, forcing the enemy to slow their advance. "Let's see how they like a little heat!"
Ryu didn't hesitate. He dashed forward, his enhanced speed turning him into a blur. His Starbreaker Blade met the greatsword of their leader with a resounding clash, the force of the impact sending a shockwave across the battlefield.
"Impressive," the enemy leader growled, pushing against Ryu's blade. "But you're outmatched!"
Ryu smirked, his calm demeanor unshaken. "You're too slow."
With a twist of his wrist, he redirected the greatsword's weight and spun into a precise slash, cutting through the enemy's guard. The leader stumbled back, his health bar dropping severely.
Meanwhile, Aris emerged behind their healer, a dagger gleaming in her hand. A quick series of strikes sent the enemy reeling, their healing spells interrupted. "Support down," she whispered, melting back into the shadows before the others could react.
Draven was holding his own against two opponents, keeping them occupied with his shields and area-of-effect skills. One of them broke through his defenses, and he smacked him back with a thunderous stomp.
"Ryu, a little help here?" Draven called, grinning despite the chaos.
Ryu was already going. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance, and his blade was glowing with the charged ability. He executed a devastating combo, landing a hit on both at once, sending them scattering on the ground.
Announcer's voice boomed:
[Victory: Team Eclipse!]
The crowd burst into cheers as the system transferred them back to the prep chamber.
Draven walked to a bench and collapsed onto it, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Well, that wasn't so terrible.
Aris leaned against the wall, her eyes drifting off into nowhere. "The Iron Talons were strong, but predictable. It won't be that simple with the next round."
Ryu sat cross-legged on the floor, with his sword laid out upon his lap. "We adjust. That's what separates the greats from the good."
The terminal updated with their new match:
[Round 2: Team Eclipse vs. The Thunderfang Clan.]
"Well, Thunderfang Clan." Draven said under his breath. "Speed-focused fighters, specialize in lightning attacks.
Aris smirked. "Sounds like a challenge."
"Stick to the strategy," Ryu said, his voice calm yet commanding. "We counter their speed with precision. Draven, your barriers will be key. Aris, focus on picking them off one by one. I'll keep their leader occupied."
The system chimed again:
[Round 2: Commence!]
The place transformed to a misty forest. Dense trees and undergrowth would be able to conceal their position in a natural manner. Lightning flashed far off; the visual gave an indication of their enemies' power.
The Thunderfang Clan didn't take their time. They moved like a storm, dashing through trees at an electrifying pace.
"Keep your wits about you," Ryu cautioned, his sword drawn.
Aris walked into the fog, her stealth capabilities making her almost invisible. She vanished, and Draven erected a barrier around both himself and Ryu, throwing off the first wave of lightning bolts.
"They test us," Draven stated. "They try to see our weak point."
"They won't," Ryu answered.
As if on cue, one of the Thunderfang warriors launched himself at Ryu, twin daggers crackling with electricity. Ryu sidestepped his attacker with fluid ease. He struck upwards once for an upward slash, causing the attacker to go skyward, health bar taking a nosedive.
One of the fighters closed in on Draven. Aris attacked first this time, dagger slicing neatly through the armor. "Two down," she said before becoming invisible once again.
The enemy leader, a lithe rogue wielding a lightning-infused rapier, confronted Ryu directly. "You're strong," they said, their voice calm yet menacing. "But strength alone won't save you."
"Good thing I'm more than just strong," Ryu replied.
Their battle was a blur of lightning and steel. The rogue was fast—faster than anyone Ryu had faced before—but Ryu's reflexes and battle instincts kept him a step ahead. He parried each strike with precision, countering with devastating blows that chipped away at their health.
"Impossible," the rogue muttered as Ryu's final strike landed, leaving them defeated.
[Victory: Team Eclipse!]
The trio stepped back into the preparation chamber to take a moment to regroup.
"Two rounds done, and the competition's just going to get tougher," Aris said, her voice level, but laced with the anticipation of a wild predator.
Ryu nodded. "We'll see sterner opponents in the next round. Stay sharp, trust one another."
Draven clapped Ryu on the shoulder. "I'm not worried as long as you're the lead on this team."
The terminal updated once again and revealed their next opponents:
[Semifinals: Team Eclipse vs. The Shadow Reapers.]
The room fell silent.
"The Shadow Reapers," Aris said, her tone serious. "They're the favorites to win this tournament."
Ryu stood, his eyes blazing with determination. "Then we'll show them why they're wrong."
The system chimed again:
[Prepare for the next match.]
The trio exchanged a determined glance. They weren't just fighting for victory—they were proving that Team Eclipse was a force to be reckoned with.