Day two of the Stellar Youth Tournament dawned with the arena's artificial sun rising slowly over the horizon of the orbital ring, bathing the nine platforms in a warm golden glow that made the precursor alloy gleam like polished marble. The crowd had swollen overnight—word of the previous day's shocking upsets had traveled faster than light through galactic holo-feeds, drawing even more spectators from distant sectors.
Corporate boxes filled with high-level scouts in tailored suits, their augmented eyes recording every moment. Hidden sect observers adjusted their illusion veils for better views. The air vibrated with anticipation, the low roar of hundreds of thousands blending with the hum of energy barriers and the distant crackle of Qi demonstrations.
The Stellar delegation stood a little taller this morning. Kai paced with barely contained energy, his blue aura flickering brighter than usual as he replayed his own upcoming match in his mind. Gorak rolled his massive shoulders, red Qi sparking between his knuckles as he boasted quietly to nearby teammates about "crushing the next fool who steps up." Lirael adjusted her silver hair with deliberate grace, her expression calm but her eyes sharp, darting occasionally toward Lian and Elara with a mix of curiosity and calculation. Blitz remained motionless, claws sheathed, ears twitching at every announcement, his gaze fixed on the central ring as if already visualizing his next fight.
Lian and Elara, as always, stayed on the edge of the platform, slightly apart from the group.
Shoulders nearly brushing.
Blades sheathed.
Eyes forward.
They ignored the hype swirling around them—the whispers of "Ghost and Cyborg," the replay clips on holo-screens showing Lian's ten-second finish and Elara's silent dismantling, the excited chatter from their own teammates.
Just the arena.
The platforms.
The coming battles.
Quiet.
Focused.
Ready.
The announcer's voice boomed once more, deep and resonant, translated seamlessly into dozens of languages.
"Day two commences! Higher individual brackets—Core Condensation Peak and Stellar Circuit Early!"
The platforms shifted again on magnetic rails, drawing closer with a low mechanical groan until the central battle ring formed a perfect circle of reinforced stone, surrounded by multilayered energy barriers that shimmered like heat haze.
Lian was called early in the bracket.
His name flashed across every holo-screen in brilliant white letters.
"Lian Yu — Stellar Martial Academy versus Sol'kesh — Solaris Dominion!"
The crowd's murmur swelled into a wave.
Sol'kesh was a crowd favorite—a tall, golden-skinned human from Solaris Dominion, his body covered in advanced solar augs that made his skin glow like living ember. Intricate golden circuits traced his arms and torso, feeding directly into his fire Qi. Flames danced harmlessly around his fists as he stepped into the ring, grinning confidently, feeding off the cheers.
"Burn the Ghost!" chanted a section of Solaris supporters.
Lian walked forward without hurry.
Hammer blade still sheathed at his side.
No visible aura.
No dramatic show.
Just calm steps.
Elara watched from the edge, blue cyber eyes steady, expression unreadable.
The energy barrier sealed with a soft hum.
"Begin!"
Sol'kesh flared immediately.
A wave of intense heat rolled across the ring, temperature soaring as solar augs activated fully.
Flames coiled around his arms like living serpents.
He charged, fists blazing trails of fire.
Twin flaming punches—left, right—aimed to overwhelm.
Lian blurred.
A cool shadow cutting through the inferno.
He reappeared to the side, hammer blade drawn in a silent arc.
Faint blue Qi edge traced the metal.
Counter slash—precise, controlled.
Cut through the flame armor like paper.
Golden skin blackened along the graze.
Sol'kesh roared, pain mixing with anger.
He spun, unleashing a solar flare burst—ring became furnace, air distorting with heat.
Most opponents would falter.
Lian slipped inside the radius.
Hammer haft blocked a fire-coated elbow.
Elbow counter to gut—Qi burst internal, compressed and sharp.
Sol'kesh folded forward, breath exploding out.
Lian followed with knee to chin.
Boy staggered.
Tried desperate flame wave.
Lian blurred behind.
Hammer blade flat to throat.
Yield forced.
Sol'kesh down.
Twelve seconds.
The crowd erupted—mixed cheers and gasps, Solaris supporters stunned silent.
Stellar points soared high.
Delegation cheered loud.
Kai's eyes wide.
Gorak nodded deep respect.
Lirael whispered, "He's a monster."
Elara's blue glow brightened fractionally.
No expression.
But approval clear.
Elara called soon after.
"Elara Voss — Stellar Martial Academy versus Grav'nor — Iron Void Academy!"
Grav'nor massive Dravok.
Gravity augs tripled ambient pull.
Air visibly warped around him.
Step shook ring like earthquake.
Elara walked in.
Alloy legs absolutely silent.
Blade drawn—no sound.
Begin.
Gravity slammed—ten times normal.
Stone cracked under pressure.
Most would kneel.
Elara moved.
Machine balance perfect.
Steps precise, calculated.
Blade chain fast.
Gravity warped her strikes slight.
She adapted instant—shifted angles, used pull for momentum.
Silent thrust to aug joint.
Metal cracked.
Grav'nor roared.
Hammer fist down—crater deep.
Elara already repositioned.
Behind.
Blade flat to neck.
Yield.
Nine seconds.
Crowd went wild.
"Stellar duo unstoppable!"
Chants echoed.
Rounds continued.
Lian vs Aether Spire Psyari—big eyes, telekinetic storm, debris floated like weapons.
Lian closed eyes brief.
Predicted trajectories.
Blurred through storm.
Hammer strike shattered telekinetic shield.
Psyari down.
Elara vs Void Edge Shadekin—shadow merge, invisible strikes, darkness clung.
Elara cyber eyes shifted spectrum.
Saw heat trace.
Silent parry.
Counter cut precise.
Shadekin forced solid.
Down.
Bracket narrowed fast.
Lian and Elara undefeated.
Opponents scouted desperate.
Strategies whispered across platforms.
But none landed meaningful hit.
Lian's prediction blur.
Elara's machine silence.
Perfect counters.
Day two ended.
Stellar top three rankings.
Other academies wary—delegations huddled, instructors frowning.
Scouts frantic notes, offers already forming.
Instructors from rivals approached Vaeloria discreet.
"Those two—how trained?"
She smiled faint.
"Special program."
No more.
Lian and Elara back platform edge.
Victory meals brought—steaming meats, fresh fruits, nutrient shakes tailored.
Ate quiet.
Sparred light in private corner—refine tomorrow.
Words few.
But enough.
"Stronger foes coming."
"Yes."
"Good."
Team events tomorrow too.
But individual first.
Higher realms.
Stellar Circuit.
Nebula hints.
They welcomed.
Growth waited.
Crowd chanted duo names loud.
Ignored.
Focused.
Day three loomed.
Bigger stages.
Harder fights.
They welcomed.
The duo rose.
Silent.
Deadly.
Unstoppable.
The tournament heated