The arena was alive with energy, the crowd chanting and roaring as the final match of the tournament was announced. The towering screen displayed the fighters' names: Ryo Takashi vs. Akira.
Ryo stepped into the ring, stretching his arms and rolling his shoulders. Across from him stood Akira, a mysterious fighter who had revealed themselves to be Rei's estranged sibling. Akira's expression was cold and unreadable, a stark contrast to Ryo's usual smirk.
From the sidelines, Rei called out, "Akira, stop this! Why are you doing this?"
Akira's gaze remained fixed on Ryo. "This isn't your fight, Rei. Stay out of it."
Ryo sighed dramatically, scratching the back of his head. "Man, family drama and I didn't even bring popcorn. Can we at least wait until after the fight for all this?"
---
The Match Begins
The referee raised their hand. "Final match—Ryo Tanaka versus Akira! Fighters, ready?"
Ryo slipped into his stance, a relaxed posture that belied his sharp focus. Akira, in contrast, stood still, exuding an aura of calm menace.
"Begin!"
The moment the referee's hand dropped, Akira vanished, a blur of motion that Ryo barely caught. They reappeared behind him, a blade flashing toward his back.
Ryo twisted just in time, the blade narrowly missing his ribs. "Whoa! No warm-up? That's just rude!"
Akira didn't respond, pressing the attack with swift, precise strikes. Ryo dodged and parried, but it was clear Akira's technique was leagues above anyone he'd faced before.
"Okay, okay," Ryo muttered, ducking under a slash. "Note to self: Stop mouthing off to sword-wielding maniacs."
---
The First Exchange
Akira's strikes were relentless, forcing Ryo to backpedal across the arena. The clang of blade meeting his shard-enhanced gloves echoed through the air, each impact sending sparks flying.
"You're quick," Ryo admitted, sidestepping a thrust. "But don't think I'm just gonna let you show off."
He pivoted, delivering a sweeping kick aimed at Akira's legs. Akira leapt gracefully over it, spinning midair to land a counterattack. Ryo barely managed to block, the force sending him skidding backward.
From the sidelines, Kenji shouted, "That's my bro! Show 'em who's boss!"
Rei grabbed Kenji's arm. "Stop distracting him!"
"I'm hyping him up!"
Ryo glanced at them. "Guys, little busy here!"
---
Weapons and Improvisation
Akira unsheathed another blade, the twin weapons glowing faintly with shard energy. Their strikes became even faster, forcing Ryo to grab a nearby metal pole from the arena floor as a makeshift staff.
"Two swords? That's cheating!" Ryo said, parrying the blades with his pole.
Akira smirked. "You're not very bright, are you?"
Ryo grinned. "Maybe not, but I'm still standing!"
The pole was no match for the sharpness of Akira's blades. With a flick of their wrist, Akira sliced it in half, forcing Ryo to toss the pieces aside.
"Okay," Ryo muttered, "Plan B: Don't get stabbed."
---
Akira's Dragon Summoning
As the fight intensified, Akira activated the shard embedded in their gauntlet. The ground trembled, and a massive shadowy dragon emerged behind them, its glowing red eyes fixed on Ryo.
The crowd gasped, and even Ryo took a step back. "Oh, come on. A dragon? Really? What's next, a meteor shower?"
The dragon roared, sending a wave of dark energy toward Ryo. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding being incinerated.
Rei screamed, "Akira, stop! That power will destroy you!"
Akira didn't respond, their focus entirely on Ryo. "Let's see how you handle this."
---
Ryo's Counterattack
Ryo activated his own shard, his fists glowing with energy. He sprinted toward the dragon, dodging its energy blasts and leaping onto its back.
"Let's see how you like being ridden!" he shouted, gripping the dragon's scales.
The crowd roared with laughter and excitement as the dragon thrashed, trying to shake Ryo off.
Kenji stood up, waving his arms. "Ride 'em, cowboy!"
Rei buried her face in her hands. "Why do I even know you two?"
---
Turning the Tide
Ryo climbed to the dragon's head, focusing his shard's energy. With a powerful punch, he sent a shockwave through the creature, causing it to dissipate into a cloud of dark energy.
Akira staggered as the dragon vanished, their gauntlet sparking.
"You're stronger than I thought," Akira admitted, stepping forward. "But this fight isn't over."
"Oh, I know," Ryo said, wiping sweat from his brow. "Because my luck never lets me off easy."
Akira lunged, their blade aimed at Ryo's chest. Ryo met them head-on, their attacks colliding in a burst of light and shadow.
---
The Final Blow
As the dust settled, Ryo stood over a defeated Akira, breathing heavily. The crowd erupted into cheers, but Ryo ignored them, kneeling beside his opponent.
"Why are you doing this?" Ryo asked softly.
Akira looked away. "You wouldn't understand."
Rei ran into the ring, her voice trembling. "Akira… please. Come back with us. You don't have to fight anymore."
Akira hesitated, their expression conflicted. Before they could respond, a shadowy figure appeared at the edge of the ring, their voice echoing through the arena.
"Enough!"
The figure's presence sent a chill through the air, silencing the crowd.
Ryo sighed, standing up. "Great. More trouble. Just what I needed."