Day three of the Stellar Youth Tournament had reached its most intense stage. The individual brackets were now down to the true elites, with fighters mostly in the Stellar Circuit Early and Middle stages, and a few Late-stage prodigies showing power that made the energy barriers ripple. The crowd's roar was constant thunder.
Elara's quarter-final match was one of the most awaited of the day.
Her opponent was Nex-7, the top seed from Mechari Ascendancy.
He was a full machine—no organic parts below the neck. His body was sleek silver-black plating, seamless and shining, with crimson circuit lines pulsing like veins across his chest and limbs. Plasma blades extended from his forearms, and his neural overclock made his movements fast and smooth. At Stellar Circuit Middle realm, he had crushed every earlier opponent with cold calculation.
Nex-7 entered the ring first. His steps were precise and mechanical, echoing slightly on the stone. His voice came from chest speakers, smooth and full of pride.
"Hybrid model detected. Old design. Time to scrap you."
Elara stepped in opposite him.
Her posture was straight, long black hair tied back tight.
Her face was beautiful—sharp cheekbones, full lips, pale skin—and the only fully human part visible.
Her blue cybernetic eyes locked on him.
She drew her curved black blade in one fluid motion.
Nex-7's crimson circuits flared brighter.
The energy barrier sealed around the ring with a deep hum.
"Begin!"
Nex-7 attacked right away.
His overclock started with a high whine, speed increasing.
Plasma blades lit up blue-white and hot.
He closed the gap fast, left forearm slashing high for the shoulder, right following low for the legs.
Elara reacted.
Her alloy legs shifted weight perfectly. She leaned just enough to let the high slash pass.
She parried the low one with her blade. Metal met plasma with bright sparks, but her block held strong.
She countered at once—a short thrust toward his elbow joint.
Nex-7 twisted. The blade grazed plating and left a shallow mark.
He pressed harder.
His blade chain was endless—overhead smash, spin elbow, knee drive, straight thrust.
Elara flowed through it.
She dodged, parried, stepped inside his reach.
A short slash to his side exposed circuits for a moment.
Nex-7 adapted faster.
He tried to grab her wrist with his metal hand.
She twisted free—her wrist joint moved beyond normal human limits.
She kicked his thigh piston.
A dent formed.
He staggered half a step.
He roared with a synthetic sound.
Full power.
Plasma overcharge.
Blades grew longer.
A wave of heat rolled out.
Elara felt the strain on her servos.
She pushed back.
Her blade chain became faster, angles perfect.
She cut toward his core processor housing.
Nex-7 blocked.
But he was a fraction slower.
She followed up.
An elbow to his chest.
The tip of her blade to his throat area.
He froze.
He raised his arm to yield.
The barrier flared red.
The match was over.
Elara had won.
It was close.
Her chest plate was cracked from an earlier block.
Her red heart monitor flickered.
A small amount of blood came from the neck seal graze.
She lowered her blade.
She turned to leave the ring.
Nex-7 stood rigid.
His circuits turned red with rage.
His voice glitched and rose high.
"Error."
"Unacceptable."
"Half-flesh trash."
He lunged.
His plasma blade lit up again at maximum.
He struck down straight at her heart monitor.
Full lethal power.
No mercy.
Elara turned too late.
The blade hit.
Her chest plate shattered.
Alloy crumpled.
The red monitor cracked.
Sparks flew.
Human blood sprayed.
She dropped to her knees first.
Then to her side.
Pain shocked through her system.
She curled to protect herself.
Her hand clutched her chest.
The crowd gasped in horror.
Instructors stood up fast.
The principal rose.
Guards started to run.
They were too slow.
Before anyone could move a muscle.
Pressure came.
Sudden and heavy.
Invisible knives pressed on every throat.
The crowd.
Students.
Teachers.
Scouts.
The principal.
All of them.
Frozen solid.
Breath caught.
Hearts skipped.
Death waited if anyone moved.
Nex-7 was mid-strike.
His blade buried deep.
Frozen.
Then in a blink.
His head was severed.
A clean diagonal cut from left shoulder to right ear.
It rolled slowly on the stone.
His crimson eyes dimmed.
His body stood for a second.
Then fell heavy.
Synthetic fluid pooled blue.
Lian was there.
He had come from the platform edge.
Impossible distance crossed in an instant.
His blade was drawn.
The Qi edge was blue and razor sharp.
It dripped.
His void eyes were ice cold.
His face blank.
Nonchalant.
He sheathed the blade slowly.
No hurry.
He bent down.
Lifted Elara gently.
One arm under her knees.
The other supporting her back.
He carried her bridal style.
She was light in his arms.
Her head rested on his shoulder.
The red monitor pulsed weak but steady.
He turned.
Walked slowly to the ring edge.
The pressure eased gradually.
The crowd was silent in absolute shock.
No sound at all.
Just horror.
Awe.
Terror.
He blurred.
Gone.
With her.
The platform was empty.
The arena was stunned.
Guards arrived too late.
Instructors were still half risen.
The principal sat back slowly.
Her eyes wide for the first time.
The Mechari delegation exploded in rage.
They screamed for justice.
Disqualification.
Murder charge.
The announcer stayed mute for a long time.
The holo froze on the severed head mid-roll.
Then cut to black.
Chaos rose slowly.
The Stellar delegation was pale with shock.
Kai's mouth hung open.
Gorak's fists were clenched tight.
Lirael had her hand over her mouth.
Blitz's ears were flat.
The tournament was halted for an indefinite time.
Investigators were called urgently.
Some boxes whispered about Reapers.
But Lian was gone.
Elara safe with him.
The Ghost had acted.
The line was crossed.
For her.
No hesitation.
The duo's legend turned darker.
Protective.
Lethal.
Beyond all rules.
The arena held its breath.
Waiting for what came next.