CHAPTER 93 — THREE BATTLES
The arena was still roaring after Zayn's victory.
The giant screen displayed the updated standings.
ZAYN — 4 POINTS
The crowd continued chanting his name while the tournament staff prepared the next arena.
But there was no time to celebrate.
Another match was already being announced.
The lights changed.
The enormous screen flickered.
Three new names appeared.
ECHO VS RODRIGUE
KIRAN VS KIRA
NEFARIA VS RANMARU
The atmosphere immediately changed.
Yojuro looked up at the screen.
— Three interesting fights.
Zayn crossed his arms.
— Especially Nefaria and Ranmaru.
Kai nodded.
— That one is going to be dangerous.
Robin looked toward the arena entrance.
— Let's see what happens.
Echo entered first.
She walked into the arena without saying anything.
Her expression was calm, but her eyes were focused.
Rodrigue entered from the opposite side.
He stretched his shoulders.
— So… we're fighting now.
Echo smiled slightly.
— Looks like it.
Rodrigue laughed.
— Don't expect me to go easy on you.
— I wouldn't want you to.
The referee raised his hand.
— Ready?
Both fighters took their positions.
— FIGHT!
Rodrigue immediately moved.
His Fumetsu activated.
The trajectory of his movement suddenly changed.
He accelerated sideways, disappeared from Echo's line of sight, then attacked from another angle.
BOOM!
Echo blocked.
Rodrigue immediately followed with another attack.
Then another.
He moved around her constantly, changing direction at impossible angles.
Yojuro watched carefully.
— Rodrigue isn't trying to overpower her.
Zayn nodded.
— He's trying to make her guess where he'll attack from.
Echo suddenly stopped.
Rodrigue rushed toward her.
At the last second, Echo turned.
BAM!
Her counterattack sent Rodrigue sliding backward.
He stopped himself with one foot.
— Okay…
He smiled.
— You're good.
Echo raised her guard.
— So are you.
Rodrigue charged again.
The two collided.
BOOM!
The battle continued across the arena, each fighter adapting to the other's movements.
Neither wanted to give up an opening.
Finally, after a long exchange, Echo managed to catch Rodrigue's movement.
BAM!
Rodrigue fell to one knee.
He tried to stand.
Echo was already there.
The referee raised his hand.
— RODRIGUE IS DOWN!
Rodrigue looked at Echo.
Then laughed.
— Guess you got me.
Echo extended her hand.
— Good fight.
He accepted it.
— Good fight.
The crowd applauded.
The atmosphere changed completely for the next match.
Kiran entered the arena.
He carried his massive hammer.
His expression was serious.
No smile.
No unnecessary words.
Across from him stood Kira.
She stared at him coldly.
The referee looked between them.
— Fighters ready?
Kiran tightened his grip.
— Yes.
Kira smiled.
— Then come at me.
— FIGHT!
Kira moved first.
She attacked with incredible speed.
Kiran blocked.
BOOM!
The impact pushed him backward.
He planted his feet.
Kira attacked again.
Kiran swung his hammer.
CRASH!
The two attacks collided.
The shockwave spread across the arena.
Kiran's expression didn't change.
He advanced.
Kira tried to dodge.
Kiran changed direction.
BOOM!
The hammer struck the ground beside her.
The impact threw her off balance.
Kira recovered instantly.
She attacked again.
The fight became increasingly intense.
Kiran took several hits but continued advancing.
He wasn't fighting with anger.
He was fighting with determination.
Zayn watched silently.
— Kiran is different today.
Yojuro nodded.
— He's completely focused.
Kira suddenly launched her strongest attack.
Kiran raised his hammer.
The two attacks collided.
BOOOOOOM!
Dust filled the arena.
When it cleared, Kiran was still standing.
Kira had fallen.
The referee moved toward her.
Kiran lowered his hammer.
He didn't celebrate.
He simply looked at his opponent.
— Stay down.
Kira tried to move.
Kiran's expression became colder.
— The fight is over.
The referee intervened immediately.
— KIRA IS OUT!
The medical team rushed onto the arena.
Kiran stepped away.
He looked at his hammer.
Then toward the arena entrance.
His face remained serious.
Zayn whispered:
— He didn't even smile.
Kai shook his head.
— That's Kiran.
Yojuro added:
— Loyal. Serious. He fights because he believes he has to.
Kiran left the arena without saying another word.
Then came the fight everyone had been waiting for.
The stadium lights went dark.
A single spotlight appeared.
NEFARIA ROMANOV.
She entered the arena.
Her long silver-white hair moved gently behind her.
Her black eyes remained completely emotionless.
Across the stadium…
Another name appeared.
RANMARU.
Ranmaru stepped into the arena.
He smiled.
— Nefaria.
She looked at him.
— Ranmaru.
The crowd began to roar.
Zayn leaned forward.
— This one's going to be crazy.
Yojuro stared at the arena.
He knew exactly how dangerous Ranmaru could become.
Ranmaru raised his right hand.
His green ring began glowing.
— Let's make this interesting.
Nefaria said nothing.
The referee raised his arm.
— FIGHT!
Ranmaru disappeared.
FWOOSH!
He appeared behind Nefaria.
She turned.
Too late.
BOOM!
Ranmaru struck.
Nefaria was pushed backward.
She stopped herself.
Ranmaru appeared above her.
Then beside her.
Then behind her again.
His green ring continuously created objects and trajectories around the battlefield.
Nefaria blocked one attack.
Then another.
Then another.
Ranmaru smiled.
— You're strong.
Nefaria looked at him.
— You're fast.
Ranmaru suddenly rose higher.
Higher.
And higher.
The crowd watched as he continued ascending.
The arena became smaller beneath him.
He passed through the clouds.
Then disappeared into the sky.
Zayn's eyes widened.
— Where is he going?!
Kai looked upward.
— He's still climbing.
Yojuro understood.
— He's preparing something.
Ranmaru continued upward.
His body became a tiny point in the sky.
Then…
He stopped.
He looked down.
The arena was barely visible.
Ranmaru smiled.
— Let's see if you can stop this.
He turned his body downward.
And began falling.
Faster.
And faster.
The air around him began to distort.
His body became surrounded by a brilliant green aura.
From the ground, it looked like a meteor descending from the heavens.
FWWWWOOOOOSH!
The crowd erupted.
— HE'S COMING DOWN!
— THAT'S INSANE!
Zayn stood up.
— RANMARU!
Nefaria remained completely still.
She looked toward the sky.
The meteor became larger.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Ranmaru smiled.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
He descended directly toward Nefaria.
At the final instant—
Nefaria raised one hand.
She caught him.
The entire arena went silent.
Ranmaru's eyes widened.
Nefaria stood there completely unmoved.
Then she spoke quietly.
— You're too predictable.
BAM!
Her fist struck Ranmaru.
He was launched across the arena.
FWOOSH!
Ranmaru flew through the air.
He tried to regain control.
His green ring activated.
But Nefaria had already moved.
She appeared beside him.
Ranmaru's eyes widened.
— What—
BAM!
A second strike sent him straight downward.
He crashed into the arena.
BOOOOOOM!
The ground exploded beneath him.
A huge cloud of dust rose into the air.
Silence.
The crowd couldn't believe what they had just seen.
Yojuro stared.
Zayn's mouth was slightly open.
Kai slowly crossed his arms.
— Two hits.
The dust began clearing.
Ranmaru lay motionless on the ground, unable to continue.
The referee rushed over.
He checked Ranmaru before raising his hand.
— RANMARU IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE!
The stadium erupted.
Nefaria stood alone in the center of the arena.
Not a scratch on her.
She looked toward Ranmaru.
There was no arrogance in her expression.
Only calmness.
Zayn stared at her.
— She beat him in two hits…
Yojuro remained silent.
Robin looked equally shocked.
— Ranmaru went all the way into the sky…
Kai nodded.
— And she stopped him like it was nothing.
Nefaria slowly turned away.
The giant screen displayed the result.
NEFARIA — WINNER
The crowd erupted again.
Three battles.
Three completely different endings.
And the Crown of Ash was becoming more dangerous with every match.