[3/5]
As soon as Kaela had finished her first fight, she turned her gaze to the other competitors on the wide, chaotic stage. Most of them were still locked in intense battles, sweat and energy flying through the air like sparks. Only a few had already managed to end their matches, just as she had.
One among them, a female with short brown hair—clearly a second-year—immediately caught Kaela's attention. The girl's posture was tense, her body leaning slightly forward as she began to close the distance between them. Her face bore a fierce determination, eyes narrowed in a clear signal: she was ready for an all-out brawl.
Kaela blinked. She had initially assumed the combatants would wait for all sparring rounds to conclude before beginning any new engagements. It had seemed logical. But this—this was different. And since the announcer said nothing about it, since he made no move to halt the progression of battle, she knew it was permitted.
The rules had changed.
