Scene 1: The Battlefield After the Storm
The arena was silent.
The ground was a shattered mess of craters, debris, and smoke, a battlefield scarred by the sheer force of Tanmay and Sigmund's clash. Even the barriers surrounding the ring had cracks running along their surface, a testament to the sheer brutality of their fight.
Tanmay stood in the center, victorious but barely able to keep himself upright. His fists, still glowing with the remnants of his golden chi energy, trembled as he struggled to breathe. His body screamed in pain, his muscles torn from the overwhelming pressure he had forced them to endure.
A deep breath.
A half-step forward—
And then, his legs gave out.
Tanmay collapsed.
The announcer's voice boomed across the stadium.
"TANMAY WINS!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, but within the Kit Sakti Academy's observation deck, the mood was far from celebratory.
Scene 2: The Professors React
Vice Principal Avantika Rao watched from her elevated seat, her fingers pressing lightly against her temple. Her expression remained neutral, but concern flickered behind her usually composed gaze.
"This… was reckless," she muttered under her breath.
Seated beside her, Professor Raghuvaran cracked his knuckles, grinning as he leaned forward. "Tch. That's how a real fight should be. That kid's got guts."
Kalendra Tetsuro, still dressed in his long, customized laboratory coat, let out a small chuckle. "Perhaps. But brute force without refinement is nothing more than wasted potential. We'll need to monitor his condition carefully… I may have to develop enhancements if he keeps fighting like that."
Rajan Awasthi, reclining in his chair, simply smirked.
"He won. That's all that matters right now."
His sharp eyes flicked toward the arena, where the medics had already rushed in to check on Tanmay.
"But yeah…" he muttered under his breath, "he needs to recover. Fast."
Scene 3: Recovery Ward – The Aftermath of Battle
The medical ward within the Elite Kit Force Headquarters was state-of-the-art, a facility designed to heal even the most grievous wounds in record time. Tanmay lay on a reinforced recovery bed, his body covered in light bandages.
Rai sat beside him, his own injuries still visible from his earlier battle against Daichi. His torso was wrapped tightly, his left shoulder bearing a deep cut, but he still grinned as he watched Tanmay stir awake.
"Dumbass. You just had to make it dramatic, huh?" Rai teased.
Tanmay groaned, rubbing his temples as his body screamed in protest. "Shut up."
Rai chuckled. "Seriously, though. That fight was insane. You actually took down the Titan."
Tanmay let out a breath, still exhausted. "Yeah… but that bastard hits like a truck."
Neha, standing near the door, folded her arms. "More like a tank."
Alisha, also present, added, "You're lucky your body can handle that much chi energy. If anyone else tried to do what you did, they'd be dead."
Tanmay scoffed. "Heh. Guess I'm just built different."
Rai smirked. "Yeah, well, 'built different' or not, you're out of the next fight. You need to recover."
Tanmay frowned but didn't argue. His body felt heavier than ever. Even if he wanted to fight again, he knew his limits. For now, he had to rest.
Scene 4: The Next Challenge Approaches
As Tanmay rested, the Kit Sakti Academy's team gathered in the waiting area. Professor Rajan Awasthi stood before them, his usual carefree demeanor slightly more serious.
"Listen up," he said, placing his hands in his pockets. "We've made a strong impression so far, but this competition is far from over. We've only seen a fraction of what the other academies have to offer."
"Tanmay is out for now," he continued, glancing at the injured fighter. "Which means we're down a powerhouse. The next battle has to be handled carefully."
Rai, now fully dressed and leaning against a pillar, nodded. "So who's up next?"
Rajan's smirk widened.
"Armaan."
Silence.
Armaan, who had been quietly sitting on the side, looked up. His cigarette hung loosely from his lips, smoke curling upward.
"Me?" he asked, exhaling.
Rajan nodded. "Yeah. You're up next."
Neha furrowed her brows. "Wait, but… Armaan hasn't had a chance to recover from his training. Is he ready?"
Kalendra Tetsuro, who had been watching quietly, let out a small laugh. "That's exactly why this is the perfect test."
Everyone turned toward him.
"Armaan's hybrid abilities are unique," Kalendra continued, adjusting his glasses. "And he's learned how to infuse chi into his attacks. The real question isn't whether he's ready.
It's whether he's willing to go all out."
Scene 5: The Coming Storm – Armaan's Next Opponent
Meanwhile, in a different part of the Elite Kit Force Headquarters…
A lone warrior stood on the edge of a floating combat platform, staring down at the tournament arena below.
His jet-black hair was tied back into a low ponytail, his dark red and silver robes billowing as the wind howled around him. His piercing violet eyes gleamed with quiet intensity.
He slowly unsheathed a long, curved black blade—its edge lined with faint purple lightning.
A tournament official approached him hesitantly. "Sir… your match is coming up soon."
The warrior said nothing.
He merely glanced downward at his blade, running his fingers along the steel before whispering—
"Finally… someone interesting."
The official swallowed hard.
This was no ordinary competitor.
This was Rising Phantom—Kaiser Valken."