"Hello to you two!" Yuri said with a smile
March 7th and Ayaka walked into the crowd seats where Yuri, Firefly, and Kevin sat. Both of them held smiles on their faces after their rather extravagant duel.
"March!!! I need a hug!!" Kevin walked over and hugged March.
"I believed in you until the very end!"
"Aww!" March rubbed Kevin's back.
"Uh..Anyway...It's nice to see both of you are rather mellowed out despite having such a fierce duel!" Firefly said to Ayaka.
"For sure! I'm just glad we had such a great fight and nothing too negative came out of it!" Ayaka smiled.
"I have no doubt with the power you've shown Ayaka that you can take this entire tournament. Good work." Yuri smiled at Ayaka.
"Heh! I'll make sure to impress further! I won't stop until I've won this entire thing!"
"Let's see what fight is next!" Firefly's curiosity piqued.
The next match of the Top 8 is....
Argenti vs Clara!
The arena buzzed with anticipation as the crowd roared, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony of excitement.
"I'm going to bonk Clara when I see her.." Yuri sighed.
Firefly held a hand to her mouth as she lightly laughed.
Argenti strode into the arena, his polished silver armor gleaming beneath the artificial lights of the grand colosseum. He carried himself with the confidence befitting a knight of his stature, his long cape trailing behind him as the sound of his boots echoed against the stone floor. The crowd murmured in anticipation, eager to witness a spectacle of power and skill.
Then, from the opposite gate, his opponent stepped forth—a girl, barely in her teens, with auburn hair tied into a loose ponytail and clad in simple yet battle-worn clothes. She carried an oversized mechanical gauntlet, its bronze plating gleaming with residual energy. Her expression was not one of fear, but determination.
Argenti furrowed his brow as he took in the sight. "A child?" His voice carried a mix of bewilderment and skepticism. "What business does one so young have in the arena?"
Clara met his gaze, her blue eyes burning with resolve. "Don't underestimate me," she shot back, rolling her shoulders. "I came here to win."
Argenti let out a small chuckle, though not out of condescension. Rather, he was intrigued. He rested one hand on the hilt of his sword. "Very well, Clara. Show me your strength."
The announcer's voice boomed throughout the colosseum, signaling the start of the duel. In an instant, Clara surged forward, her mechanical gauntlet whirring to life. She lunged at Argenti with astonishing speed, her fist swinging forward like a battering ram.
Argenti barely had time to raise his blade before the impact struck. The sheer force of the punch sent him skidding backward, his boots dragging against the stone. His arms tensed from the shock of the blow, and he exhaled sharply. "Impressive."
Clara wasted no time pressing her advantage. She dashed to the side, using her gauntlet's propulsion to enhance her movement. With a swift leap, she brought her fist down in an overhead strike, aiming to shatter Argenti's defenses in a hurry.
Argenti reacted swiftly. He sidestepped, angling his blade to deflect the incoming attack. Sparks flew as steel met metal, the force rippling through the arena floor. The knight pivoted, bringing his sword in a wide arc, aiming for Clara's exposed flank.
But she was quicker than expected. Clara twisted mid-air, using the recoil from her gauntlet to propel herself away from danger. She landed on her feet, skidding slightly before stabilizing herself. Her expression remained focused, a small smirk forming at the edge of her lips. "Not bad, huh?"
Argenti straightened, lowering his blade slightly. "Not bad at all. Your power exceeds your age." He readied his stance. "But power alone does not determine victory."
Clara grinned, unfazed. She pounded her fists together, electricity crackling along the surface of her gauntlet. "Then let's see if I can prove you wrong."
The battle resumed with renewed intensity. Clara weaved through the battlefield with impressive agility, her mechanical arm striking with relentless ferocity. Argenti deflected each blow with practiced precision, his blade a silver blur as he maneuvered defensively. Despite his skill, he couldn't deny the weight behind Clara's attacks—each punch carried enough force to break through solid stone.
Then, she changed tactics. Instead of going for brute force, she shifted to unpredictability. She feinted left but then used her gauntlet's propulsion to spin mid-air, coming at Argenti from an unexpected angle. He barely managed to parry in time, the shockwave rattling his grip.
"She's not just strong," Argenti mused internally, "she's adapting."
The fight dragged on, neither willing to yield. The crowd roared as the two combatants clashed, each exchange growing more intense. Clara was proving to be a force of nature, her stamina seemingly boundless. Argenti, however, remained composed, studying her movements, waiting for the right moment.
And then it came.
Clara rushed in, aiming for a decisive strike. She fired her gauntlet's thrusters at full power, launching herself forward with explosive speed. But this time, Argenti was ready.
He sidestepped at the last second, pivoting smoothly before swinging his blade in a calculated arc. The flat of his sword struck the side of Clara's gauntlet, disrupting her balance. In the same motion, he twisted his grip and brought his sword down toward her shoulder—not to wound, but to incapacitate.
Clara tried to recover, but the momentum had shifted. With a final, well-placed strike, Argenti sent her sprawling to the ground, her gauntlet sparking from the impact. She groaned, attempting to rise, but her body betrayed her. The exhaustion had caught up.
The arena fell silent as Argenti stood above her, his blade lowered. The announcer declared the match over.
Instead of boasting in victory, Argenti extended a hand. His expression was one of admiration, not arrogance. "You fought exceptionally," he said. "Your strength, your skill, your heart—few possess such qualities at your age."
Clara, still catching her breath, stared up at him before letting out a soft chuckle. "Guess I still have a long way to go." She took his hand, allowing him to help her up.
Argenti nodded. "Perhaps. But if this is the strength you wield now, I look forward to the warrior you will become."
The crowd erupted into cheers, not just for the victor, but for the fierce display of battle from both fighters. And as Clara walked off the battlefield, she carried something greater than defeat—she carried the promise of growth.
The Winner is...Argenti!
Kevin cheered loudly from the stands, clapping enthusiastically. "That was incredible, Clara! You gave it your all out there!"
Yuri smiled warmly, his applause steady. "You fought well, Clara. The way you handled yourself out there was something to be proud of."
Firefly beamed with excitement, practically bouncing in her seat. "That was amazing! Everything built up to such a great fight, and Clara really gave it her best!"
March 7th clapped with a wide smile, eyes shining with excitement. "That was so cool! You're seriously tough, Clara!"
Ayaka clapped with a soft, pleased smile. "A truly wonderful fight. You should be proud of yourself, Clara.