As we headed to buy some skewers, we passed one of the competitors on the way. He carried a massive axe—seriously huge. His physique matched his weapon: towering, muscular, and built like a war machine.
Jason glanced at him. You think he's strong? I mean, yeah, people would assume so just by looking at him, but what do you think?
I smirked. What am I, your personal appraisal service?
Still, I took a closer look. Scars lined his arms, old and deep. That told me one thing. Judging by those marks, he was a fighter long before he got his powers. Strength is one thing, but experience? Now that makes him dangerous.
Jason nodded, considering my words. What if he fought that ice guy one-on-one? Who do you think would win?
I hesitated. My gut said the ice user would win, but something about the axe guy felt… off. He wasn't flaunting his strength, and I found nothing about him in my research. That kind of mystery? It usually meant he was hiding something.
"I'm not sure," I admitted. If I see him in battle, I'll have a better idea.
Once we finished eating, we made our way back to our seats. Just as we sat down, the announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
Alright, the next match is about to begin! On my left, we have Stormborn, and on my right, Soul Forge!
As the barrier was being set up, the crowd buzzed with excitement, and people rushed to place their bets.
I nudged Jason. Should we try betting? We might win big money.
Jason raised an eyebrow. And what if we lose? You wanna go hungry?
I chuckled. "No, not really."
We both laughed it off as the betting frenzy continued around us.
The betting frenzy continued, with shouts of excitement and groans of doubt filling the arena. I could hear people arguing over their picks.
Stormborn's gonna wipe the floor with them!
Nah, Soul Forge is unpredictable. They've got this!
I heard one of them has never lost a fight before!
Jason leaned back, arms crossed. Who do you think's got the edge?
I tapped my fingers against my knee. Hard to say. I don't have enough info on either of them yet.
Jason smirked. You mean you didn't do your research?
I rolled my eyes. I'm not a walking encyclopedia. I can only gather so much before a tournament.
Before Jason could respond, the barrier surrounding the arena shimmered, locking into place with a hum. The announcer's voice boomed through the speakers.
A gust of wind blasted across the stage as Stormborn's leader stepped forward. He was tall and lean, lightning crackling at his fingertips. His partner, a woman with short silver hair, raised both hands, and a swirling storm formed around her, mini-tornadoes twisting at her feet.
Opposite them, Soul Forge stood unfazed. One of them—a stocky man with a heavy hammer strapped to his back—cracked his knuckles, while his partner, a masked fighter clad in dark robes, simply tilted their head as if analyzing the battlefield.
"Looks like we've got an elemental powerhouse versus a mystery team, Jason muttered.
I nodded. Yeah… but something about Soul Forge feels off. They don't seem concerned at all.
Stormborn wasted no time. The silver-haired woman raised her hand, summoning a powerful gust of wind to disorient their opponents. At the same time, the lightning user shot forward, electricity sparking around his body as he aimed a precise strike at the robed fighter.
But just before the attack connected.
BOOM!
A shockwave exploded from the robed figure, sending the lightning user flying backward.
The crowd gasped.
Jason sat up straight. "What the hell was that?"
I narrowed my eyes. "Some kind of repulsion field… but that power was raw. No fancy movements, no signs of buildup. Just pure force."
The hammer user from Soul Forge finally moved. He grabbed his weapon and slammed it into the ground, sending cracks spiderwebbing across the battlefield. Flames erupted from below, forcing Stormborn to leap into the air to avoid the sudden explosion.
The lightning user recovered quickly, twisting midair and launching a bolt of electricity at the robed fighter. This time, it connected.
Or at least, it should have.
Instead, the lightning fizzled out just before impact, as if it had been swallowed by an unseen force.
Jason inhaled sharply. Okay. That's not normal.
I exhaled. Yeah… we're dealing with something weird here.
The robed fighter finally made a move, raising one hand. A ripple spread through the air, and suddenly, the battlefield itself seemed to shift. The lights flickered. The air felt heavier.
And then darkness.
A deep, unnatural shadow engulfed the arena, swallowing everything inside.
The last thing I heard before silence took over was the announcer's startled voice.
What in the world…?! What kind of power is this?! I— I can't even see the fighters anymore!
Jason and I exchanged a look.
This was no ordinary match.
This was something else entirely.