The wind curled gently across the golden grass, sweeping through the open field like a whispered warning.
Yuri rose to his feet, wiping dust from his cheek as the impacts faded. Across the field, four identical versions of Geno stood poised, their forms glistening with a faint shimmer—water clones, all ready to strike again.
With a calm breath, Yuri extended his arm. His staff erupted from the earth with a thud, flying into his grasp as he steadied himself. He adjusted his glasses, then slid them off, tucking them into his belt.
Geno let out a short laugh.
"Gonna be able to see without those? Hope you're still a match."
But Yuri didn't answer.
The usual lightness in his eyes was gone. The underdog charm—the sheepish grin—all of it stripped away. What remained was focus. Precision.
The Genos didn't wait. With perfect timing, they charged.
One clone swung wide, another leapt into the air above. Yuri spun his staff with clean control, knocking the airborne clone off balance, then shifted his weight to block the sweeping punch from another. But the last two struck him from behind—one slamming into his shoulder, sending him skidding through the dirt.
Yuri gritted his teeth, landing hard.
"Four-on-one…" he muttered. "Tough odds."
His hand slammed to the ground.
"Transmute!"
In an instant, the terrain shifted beneath their feet—solid earth melting into thick mud. Before the clones could adjust, Yuri pressed his hand again, channeling his mana.
"First Form: Mud Dragon!"
A massive dragon's face surged from the mud, eyes glowing with earthen light. Its mouth opened wide—and with a roar, it unleashed a barrage of mud bombs, splattering across the field and striking two of the clones.
The impact shattered them instantly, water exploding into mist as they dissolved.
But the remaining clone and Geno used the shockwave to launch themselves into the air. The clone spun midair, gripping Geno by the arm—and with a powerful twist, hurled him like a missile toward Yuri.
"Here he comes…" Yuri muttered, bracing.
In mid-flight, the clone twisted and snatched genos sword from his grasp. Before Yuri could fully raise his staff, Geno's foot crashed into his chest.
"Ugh—!"
Yuri stumbled back, gasping—when the final clone followed, blade-first, aiming straight for his side—
Yuri's eyes widened at the incoming strike—but then, a small grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Gotcha," he whispered.
With a subtle flick of his finger, a vine-like root burst from the muddy ground and snared the clone's ankle mid-stride. The water clone stumbled, momentum lost—just in time for a cluster of mud spikes to erupt from the earth in front of it.
The impact distorted its form, disrupting the mana within.
Splash— the clone dissolved into mist on contact.
Only one figure remained.
Yuri exhaled sharply, clutching his ribs as he straightened up.
"Three down."
He swept his staff in a slow arc, eyes now locked on Geno across the field.
"Now there's one," he muttered under his breath—then called out louder:
"One on one. Just how I like it."
He took one shaky step forward, then another, staff still firm in his grip.
Geno smirked and slowly lowered his sword.
"Took you long enough to get serious, but unfortunately for you… I have more"
Geno's mana surged once more, swirling around him like mist drawn to a tide.
"Spirit Skill: Water Double!"
In a blink, two new clones split off from his form, their bodies rippling with the same pale blue glow.
Yuri's eyes widened as he caught his breath, beads of sweat running down his temple.
Again? he thought. Does that technique not have a limit? No drawback?
The two clones stepped forward in perfect sync, flanking Geno with their blades raised—ready to strike again.
Geno laughed, light but cocky.
"You didn't think I'd make it easy, did you?"
Yuri gritted his teeth, shifting his stance slightly as he leaned into his staff for support.
If this keeps up, he thought, I'll burn through all my stamina—and mana—before I can even land a clean hit.
He glanced between the three Genos, trying to find a weakness, an opening—anything.
But their formation was airtight. Precise. Smothering.
Yuri narrowed his eyes.
"I need to break the pattern… or I'm done."
Geno sheathed his sword slowly, the metal sliding into place with a cold hiss.
Then, he raised his hands in front of him—calm, confident.
"Oh, don't worry, Yuri…" he said with a grin. "This'll end quick."
His voice lowered, cutting through the tension like a knife.
"I know your biggest weakness is close combat."
He took a step forward, blue mana beginning to glow around him—slow, steady, controlled.
"Unfortunately for you… that's exactly where I shine."
The wind shifted.
"Spirit Skill—First Form: Water Shift!"
Geno snapped his arms down, and the two clones beside him collapsed into water—slamming into the ground as they transformed into a roaring wave. The liquid shot forward in a spiraling rush, targeting Yuri like a guided spear.
Before Yuri could brace himself, the torrent hit.
He was engulfed—lifted clean off his feet.
The swirling vortex of water wrapped around him like a cage. He struggled, clawing, choking, thrashing to break free—but Geno had full control. His hands moved with precision, guiding the current like a master conductor.
Inside the vortex, Yuri lost grip of his staff. His vision blurred. His breath disappeared into bubbles. He pounded at the water, but it was useless.
Outside the storm, Geno's stance shifted—his focus sharpening to a deadly edge.
His blade gleamed.
Blue mana flared around him like wildfire.
"This is for you, Gena," he whispered.
"I'll become a Royal Knight—for both of us."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Now."
The water suddenly dropped, losing its form.
Yuri gasped, collapsing forward mid-air—barely conscious.
Geno was already moving.
A burst of mana exploded under his feet as he launched forward in a blur of blue. Sword drawn. Eyes locked. Intent clear.
CLANG!
A brutal impact rang out.
Yuri's armor shattered across the chestplate—splinters of steel scattering like shards of light. The force sent him flying across the field, crashing hard into the ground with a heavy thud.
The crowd let out a collective gasp.
Dust rose.
Yuri lay in the grass, unmoving.
The stadium erupted—some fans roaring with cheers, others gasping in sorrow.
"No! Yuri!" Helion shouted, clenching the railing as he stared at the crystal projection, eyes wide with dread.
Across the stands, Clipso, Lilly, and Gena leapt to their feet.
Gena's eyes welled with tears—but this time, they were from joy.
"He did it…" she whispered. "Thank goodness… at least one of us will prevail."
But elsewhere in the crowd, Zezzy gripped the edge of her seat.
"No… it can't be…" she muttered. "Yuri… he took that hit head-on…"
Back in Zeyrs booth, Helion stood frozen—his chest heavy, his hands shaking slightly.
On the field, Geno slowly straightened his stance.
Sword low, eyes fixed on the crater of impact where Yuri had fallen.
"You fought well," he said aloud, voice steady. "But I have a dream to fulfill—for both me and my sister."
His gaze remained on the motionless figure ahead.
Golden Hyper Beams began to shimmer in the sky—ready to retrieve the victor.
But they stopped mid-descent.
Geno blinked. Confused.
He looked back down—just in time to see movement.
Yuri… was rising.
Slowly. Shakily.
His chestplate was shattered—blood marked a sharp slash across his torso, and water dripped from his soaked uniform. His staff was jammed into the ground, barely holding him up.
But he was on his feet.
Coughing. Gasping.
The crowd fell into stunned silence. As they watched the crystal projection.
Geno's eyes widened in disbelief.
"What the hell…?" he hissed.
His voice turned into a furious shout.
"How the hell are you still standing?!"
"You've done nothing but take hits—like a damn punching bag!"
"Stay down!" he screamed. "Don't make me finish this!"
"I came too far to lose!"
Yuri's fingers gripped his staff tighter, his teeth clenched through the pain.
Blood ran down his side.
But his eyes—those stubborn, determined eyes—met Geno's with fire.
"I have a dream too!" he shouted, voice hoarse but unwavering.
"And I'm not giving up."
He staggered forward, every step a battle.
"I watched him give it his all…" Yuri rasped, images flashing in his mind—of a boy with bright eyes and golden mana.
Helion.
"He fought with bravery… even when no one believed in him."
Yuri took another step.
"And he taught me something…"
Helion's voice echoed in his heart.
"Believe in yourself when no one believes in you"
Geno stood frozen—his grip tightening on the blade, caught somewhere between awe and fury.
Yuri's knees buckled.
He stumbled back to the ground—his body nearly spent.
But even as he collapsed, he reached out—dragging himself forward.
Still trying to rise.
Still fighting.
Geno unsheathed his sword and broke into a sprint toward Yuri.
"This is it," he growled. "One final strike… and you're finished."
Yuri staggered upright, his body battered, blood dripping from his lip. Still, he spun his staff into position, bracing for the attack.
Geno split into two—his clone charging alongside him.
Yuri lunged forward with his staff, but his movements were sluggish, drained. The clone easily slipped past it. Geno's fist cracked across Yuri's face, snapping his head to the side. The clone raised its blade high—ready to end it.
The crowd held its breath.
From the stands, Helion rushed up beside Zezzy, both of them frozen—eyes locked on the scene unfolding below. Tension wrapped around them like a vice.
Then—
A glint of light flickered across Yuri's eyes.
His fingers curled tight.
Amber mana burst from his body like a shockwave.
"AHHHHHH!" he roared.
"First Form—Mud Dragon!"
From beneath his feet, a massive dragon-like maw surged upward, carved entirely from hardened mud. It lunged and swallowed all three—Geno, his clone, and Yuri himself—in a thunderous crash.
The ground shook.
A powerful blast of mud erupted outward, tearing across the battlefield in a raw surge of force.
When the dust settled, Geno was on the ground—his armor torn to shreds, his body covered in mud. His sword was gone. The clone had vanished.
He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide, scanning the field.
"Where is he—?!" he muttered, panicked.
A rumble beneath him.
A thin trail of mud raced forward like a bullet—and in the blink of an eye, Yuri emerged from it, right in front of him.
Tears streamed down Yuri's face, mixing with the mud and blood.
"I want to fight beside my best friend—Helion—until the very end," Yuri breathed, voice trembling.
"That's why… I have to become a Royal Guard Knight!"
His body ached, soaked and bloodied—but his resolve flared brighter than ever.
Yuri raised his arm, and the mud clinging to him began to twist and gather. In seconds, it surged around his fist—growing, thickening—until it formed a massive arm-sized gauntlet, reinforced with gnarled roots and hardened earth. It was the size of a full-grown man, pulsing with amber mana.
He let out a final cry.
The giant mud-clad fist slammed into Geno with earth-shaking force—driving him into the ground. The impact carved a trench through the battlefield, tearing deep into the golden field as the fist buried Geno beneath layers of reinforced mud and root.
The crowd gasped.
Silence followed.
Only the dust and trembling earth remained as Yuri stood over the ruined battlefield—chest heaving, tears streaking down his face.
Geno laid motionless—completely out cold from the devastating impact.
From the stands, Helion and Zezzy jumped to their feet and hugged each other in pure joy.
"He did it—Yuri did it!" Zezzy shouted.
Still holding her, Helion's voice cracked with emotion.
"I knew he could… he just needed to believe in himself."
The crowd erupted—thunderous and raw.
"That underdog… Yuri… he actually pulled through".
"I've never seen a fist that big in my life!"
"Did you see the force behind that thing?!"
"Unbelievable…"
Golden Hyper Beams descended from above, enveloping both Yuri and Geno in radiant light. In a flash, they were transported back to the center of the stadium—where the crowd greeted them with a standing ovation.
Yuri reappeared, barely standing, his body trembling.
The crowd erupted in chants.
"YURI! YURI! YURI!"
He pushed his glasses back onto his face and gave a small, exhausted smile—then collapsed.
Helion didn't hesitate. He bolted like a flash of light across the stage.
He caught Yuri just before he hit the floor, throwing Yuri's arm around his shoulder to support him.
Yuri looked up weakly. "Thanks, Helion…"
Helion smiled wide, heart full. "You did it, best bud."
They fist-bumped softly—then walked together toward Zezzy, who waited with a proud grin.
The underdog had risen.
Yuri, once overlooked, had become a champion.
From the other side of the arena, Gena sprinted onto the field and knelt beside her brother.
"Geno!"
Clipso was right behind her. He extended a hand and helped lift Geno upright.
"Geno… you're crazy strong," Clipso said, steadying him. "You gave it everything out there."
Geno, muddy and bruised, gave a tired but proud nod.
Together, the two made their way off the field—both warriors respected, regardless of the outcome.
And as the roars of the crowd echoed across the arena…
All eyes turned to the final battleground.
The projection crystal flared—showing Liena and Noah locked in a whirlwind standoff.
The Striking Wind…
versus
The Mystic Aura…
The final clash of the round was roaring.