The hum of the crowd was a constant backdrop as we waited for round three to begin. Sera and I sat on one of the stone benches in the preparation area, watching the remaining matches of round two unfold on the arena grounds below. The air was thick with excitement, and the cheers and gasps from the audience rose and fell like waves. "You see that guy over there?" Sera whispered, nudging me with her elbow. I followed her gaze toward the center of the arena, where a fighter wielding a massive scythe moved with an unsettling grace. His face was hidden behind a strange, ornate mask that glinted in the sunlight. Each swing of his scythe seemed almost too precise, as though he knew exactly where his opponents would move before they did. His opponent—a bulky axe user—barely lasted a minute before the scythe wielder landed a decisive blow, sending the axe clattering to the ground. "He's… different," I muttered, unable to look away as the masked fighter stood in the center of the arena, his weapon resting casually against his shoulder. "Different? Try terrifying," Sera said, crossing her arms. "He hasn't even broken a sweat, and that mask? What's he hiding under there?" I shrugged, though unease coiled in my chest. "Doesn't matter. He's not our opponent—at least, not yet." Sera nodded, but I could tell she was just as unsettled as I was. The scythe user gave a small bow to the audience before disappearing into the shadows of the preparation area. The rest of round two passed in a blur of clashing swords and bursts of magic. Sera and I watched each match closely, taking mental notes of potential opponents. A few stood out—a pair of twin mages with an uncanny synchronization, a shield bearer with seemingly impenetrable defenses—but none captured my attention quite like the masked scythe user. Finally, the last match of the round ended, and the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we now move on to round three! Competitors, prepare yourselves!" The crowd erupted in cheers, and I felt a familiar mix of nerves and excitement bubbling in my chest. Sera glanced at me, her sapphire eyes gleaming with determination. "Think we'll get another easy win?" she asked, smirking. "I wouldn't count on it," I replied, gripping the hilt of my sword. We didn't have to wait long for our names to be called.
The arena was alive with noise as Sera and I stepped onto the field. The stone floor was scuffed from countless battles, and the air buzzed with the faint remnants of magical energy. On the opposite end of the arena stood our opponents: a tall swordsman with a long blade strapped to his back and a lithe archer with a quiver slung over her shoulder.
The swordsman exuded confidence, his smirk widening as he drew his weapon. The archer, meanwhile, moved with a quiet precision, already nocking an arrow as she studied us with sharp, calculating eyes. "Keep an eye on her," I said to Sera, nodding toward the archer. "She's not going to give us a chance to breathe."
"Got it," Sera replied, unsheathing her own blade. "You take the swordsman. I'll handle the arrows." The announcer's voice rang out once more. "Competitors, are you ready?" We all nodded, the tension between us palpable. "Begin!"
The swordsman charged at me immediately, his long blade cutting through the air with a whistle. I dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, and countered with a slash of my own. Our blades clashed, the impact vibrating through my arms as I struggled to hold my ground against his sheer strength. "Not bad," he said, grinning. "But you'll have to do better than that!" He pressed the attack, his movements quick and relentless. I parried his strikes as best as I could, each clash of steel pushing me closer to the edge of the arena. Meanwhile, Sera was engaged in a fierce battle with the archer. The archer moved like a shadow, firing arrows with pinpoint accuracy while darting out of Sera's reach. Sera deflected the projectiles with her blade, her movements fluid and precise. "Stay still, will you?" Sera growled, lunging forward. The archer smirked, leaping back and loosing another arrow in one smooth motion. This time, Sera wasn't fast enough to deflect it entirely; the arrow grazed her shoulder, leaving a thin line of blood.
"You'll pay for that," Sera muttered, her sapphire eyes blazing.
I knew we couldn't let the fight drag on. The swordsman's strikes were growing more forceful, and I could see Sera was starting to tire against the archer's constant barrage.
As the swordsman swung again, I dodged and let my instincts take over. Light energy surged through me, and I activated my "Light Configuration" ability. A glowing golden shield materialized in my free hand just in time to block his next strike. His eyes widened in surprise. "What the—?" I didn't give him a chance to recover. Using the shield as a distraction, I summoned a light-constructed spear in my other hand and thrust it toward him. He barely managed to dodge, the spear grazing his side and leaving a singed mark on his armor. "Your tricks won't save you," he growled, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes.
On the other side of the arena, Sera decided she'd had enough of playing defense. As the archer fired another arrow, Sera caught it mid-air with an impressive display of reflexes. "Nice try," she said, snapping the arrow in half. The archer hesitated, her composure faltering for the first time. Sera took advantage of the opening, closing the distance between them in a flash. With a swift strike, she knocked the bow out of the archer's hands and pressed her blade to the girl's throat. "Yield," Sera said firmly. The archer nodded, raising her hands in surrender.
With the archer out of the fight, it was two against one. The swordsman fought fiercely, but it was clear he knew he couldn't win. Sera joined me, and together we overwhelmed him. I disarmed him with a well-timed parry, and Sera knocked him to the ground with a powerful strike to his chest. "Yield," I said, pointing my light-constructed blade at him.
He glared at us for a moment before finally nodding. "Fine. I yield."
The crowd erupted in cheers as the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"And the winners of this round: Noctis and Sera!" I dispelled the light constructs, my body sagging with exhaustion. Sera grinned, clapping me on the shoulder. "Not bad, partner," she said. "Not bad yourself," I replied, though my eyes drifted toward the edges of the arena. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching us.
As we left the field, I felt it—a pair of sharp, piercing glares cutting through the crowd. I glanced over my shoulder but saw no one familiar. "Did you feel that?" I asked Sera.
She frowned, her hand instinctively resting on her sword. "Feel what?"
"Like someone was watching us," I said. She shrugged but didn't look convinced. "Probably just your imagination. Come on, we've got quarterfinals to prepare for." Still, the unease lingered as we walked away from the arena. The tournament was only getting more intense, and I couldn't shake the feeling that the real challenges were still to come.