The battlefield was a storm of tension as Zara and Ned faced off. The air crackled with energy, anticipation hanging thick over the arena. Ned, battered but resolute, stood with his staff of gears shimmering faintly in the sunlight. Across from him, Zara gripped her towering blade, her amber eyes locked on him like a predator eyeing its prey.
Ned's posture spoke of newfound confidence, his time training in the wilderness now coming to fruition. With precise movements, he conjured mana needles from thin air, each glowing faintly with a bluish hue. His feet lifted slightly off the ground, winged shoes appearing on his feet, his mana control so fine-tuned that he floated with an almost ghostly grace.
The host's voice boomed through the arena, alive with disbelief and excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know about you, but I didn't sign up for this level of drama! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Ned Forester defying every expectation we had! What is even happening right now?!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, gasps, and murmurs of astonishment. Even those who had dismissed Ned earlier were now watching with bated breath, unable to tear their eyes away from the spectacle.
Zara wasted no time, her blade slicing through the air with devastating speed. Wind gathered around her strikes, amplifying the force of each swing. Ned countered with his mana needles, weaving them into intricate patterns to deflect her attacks. Sparks flew as steel met ethereal energy, their clash painting the sky with flashes of light.
Zara's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding. "You're stronger than you look, Forester. But strength without purpose is just noise."
Ned smirked, his floating form darting around her like a leaf in a gale. "Purpose, huh? Mine's pretty simple: survive and thrive. What's yours, Zara? Winning for the sake of winning?"
She didn't answer, her blade sweeping toward him in a powerful arc. Ned twisted mid-air, narrowly avoiding the strike, and sent a barrage of mana needles toward her. Zara spun, her wind talent creating a vortex that absorbed the attack. The crowd gasped as the arena shook from the sheer force of their battle.
As the clock ticked dangerously low, Zara took a step back, her aura shifting. The winds around her stilled for a moment before roaring to life with an intensity that made the ground tremble. Her blade began to glow, its surface etched with runes that pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat.
The crowd leaned forward, eyes wide with anticipation. Zara raised her blade, and with a cry that seemed to echo through the heavens, she unleashed a devastating whirlwind slash. The winds tore through the arena, a wall of sheer force aimed directly at Ned.
Ned braced himself, his mana needles forming a shield around him. He poured every ounce of his strength into holding back the storm, but it wasn't enough. The shield shattered, and Ned was flung backward, his staff clattering to the ground. He hit the dirt hard, his body trembling from the effort.
Zara approached the lone flag on the pedestal, her expression calm but determined. She reached out, took the flag, and without hesitation, sped toward her pyramid. The crowd erupted in cheers, convinced that the match was over.
The host's voice was tinged with disappointment. "And just like that, it seems the fight is over. Ned Forester put up a valiant effort, but in the end, even he couldn't withstand the might of Zara's ultimate move. Folks, let's give a round of applause for one of the most thrilling battles in tournament history!"
The crowd cheered, but there was an undercurrent of sorrow. Even the harshest critics of Ned couldn't deny the brilliance he had displayed. Surfer turned to Allen Forester, a rare note of respect in his voice. "Your cousin… he's something else. I wouldn't have minded facing him in the next round."
Allen, for once, said nothing, his eyes fixed on the field.
As Zara reached her pyramid, she placed the flag triumphantly in the deposit slot. The leaderboard flickered, and everyone waited with bated breath for her team's name to rise to the top. Seconds ticked by, but nothing happened. Zara's points increased—but by only one.
The crowd fell into stunned silence. The host's voice crackled back to life, filled with disbelief. "Wait… what just happened? One point? One single point? Is this some kind of malfunction?!"
The cameras panned to Ned's pyramid, where his team's name still blazed at the top of the leaderboard. The timer was now in its final seconds. Amidst the confusion, Ned emerged from behind the sand shield, holding a flag in his hand. He placed it in the main flag slot with a triumphant grin.
"See," he said, his voice carrying across the arena, "the rule is for the team to always be in possession of the flag. Doesn't mean it has to be on my pyramid."
The realization hit Zara and the crowd like a thunderclap. The flag she had taken wasn't Ned's main flag—it had been a decoy, it was but the flag of a random pyramid Ned captured at the beginning of the stage. In her rush, she hadn't noticed.
The host's voice reached a fever pitch. "Ladies and gentlemen, I… I have no words! Ned Forester has pulled off the most ingenious move in tournament history! He… he… he's done it! The match is over, and Team Reena wins!"
The arena exploded into chaos. Cheers, laughter, and disbelief filled the air as the timer hit zero. Ned's team remained at the top of the leaderboard, their victory sealed.
As Zara stood frozen by her pyramid, realization dawning on her, she let out a rueful laugh. "Well played, Forester. Well played."
Back in the stands, Surfer shook his head with a grin. "That kid… he's going to be trouble."
Allen's expression was unreadable, his gaze locked on Ned. "Trouble, indeed."
On the field, Ned's team gathered around him, their faces a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. Reena punched his arm lightly. "You're insane, you know that?"
Ned grinned. "Maybe. But it worked, didn't it?"
As the crowd roared their approval, one thing was clear: Ned Forester had cemented his place in the tournament's history, not just as a competitor but as a legend.