Doran and Sera had already secured their victories, giving the Rising Heroes a strong 2-0 lead over the Order of the White Pike. Three bouts were still left to be fought. Even if the Rising Heroes won the next one and confirmed their place in the next round, the remaining matches would still take place. The purpose of the tournament had always been clear, entertainment for the audience and growth for the fighters. Every bout mattered.
As the next two fighters stepped onto the battlefield, the crowd settled in with anticipation.
Ifa's voice rang out, filled with excitement. "And for the next bout, we have yet another amazing lineup! From the Rising Heroes, their leader, Lila! And from the Order of the White Pike, Eva!"
The crowd cheered loudly.
Shai followed, calm but intrigued. "This is indeed an interesting matchup. Lila, who wields both fire and water, going up against a nature user. Normally, that would spell disadvantage for the nature user. But Eva is not just any opponent. Also known as 'Zelyonaya Tishina'... the Green Silence. A name that carries meaning."
The two fighters faced each other.
And the match began.
Lila moved first.
She stepped forward with speed and precision, her spear already glowing with fire. Without hesitation, she launched a fireball toward Eva and followed it up immediately with a forward dash 'Flame Charge'. Her movements were clean, her footwork sharp, every action controlled.
Eva, on the other hand, didn't rush.
She stayed on the defensive, calmly stepping back. With each movement, each block, even with each subtle tap of her foot, she was placing something, small seeds, barely noticeable.
Lila kept the pressure high.
She chained her attacks smoothly, fire into water, then into sharp thrusts. 'Fireball', 'Water Bullet', quick spear strikes, and bursts of flame. From the outside, it looked like Lila had complete control of the fight.
Eva kept retreating.
She took minor hits but never lost composure. Quietly healing herself, while continuing to spread her seeds across the battlefield.
Then, something felt off.
Lila slipped slightly during a step.
A thrust missed its mark by just a little.
Nothing obvious.
But enough.
Lila narrowed her eyes. "Something's interfering…"
Eva remained silent.
Then, the first disruption came.
One of the seeds activated.
Mid-combo, Lila's footing stuttered. Her rhythm broke. Her movement felt slightly delayed.
Lila pulled back instantly.
But before she could fully adjust, the battlefield changed.
Multiple seeds had already been planted.
Eva stepped forward.
"Natural Hunt."
The trap activated.
Withering spores spread into the air, slightly slowing Lila's movements. Draining roots began to rise beneath her feet, weakening her stance.
Lila's attacks lost power.
Her fire didn't burn as fiercely. Her follow-ups weakened. Her movement grew heavier.
And Eva, finally advanced.
But she didn't stop there.
With Lila already disrupted, Eva raised her wand.
'Leaf Edge'.
Dozens of razor-sharp leaves shot forward like knives, slicing through the air. Lila immediately shifted into defense, using her spear to deflect as many as she could, but a few slipped through, grazing her arms and shoulders. Small cuts appeared, shallow but stinging.
Before Lila could recover,
'Vine Reaper'.
Massive vines burst from the ground, twisting and whipping through the air like living chainsaws. They surged toward Lila, forcing her to constantly move, duck, and parry. One vine brushed against her side, tearing through her guard and leaving a deeper mark.
Lila gritted her teeth.
Eva pressed harder.
'Thornbloom Barrage'.
Eva slammed her wand into the ground. Instantly, explosive thorn-covered vines erupted outward in a wide cone. Razor-sharp petals followed, flying unpredictably through the air.
Lila had no choice but to go fully defensive.
She spun her spear, using both water and fire to block and deflect. Even then, the sheer volume of attacks overwhelmed her. A thorn grazed her leg. Another cut along her arm. A vine's impact pushed her back.
The battlefield had become Eva's domain.
Seeds glowed faintly across the ground.
Lila was being controlled.
Every movement interrupted. Every step contested.
For a moment it truly felt like Eva would win.
But Lila didn't panic.
Instead she slowed down.
Her stance shifted.
She switched to water-based movement, calming her breathing. With careful precision, she began clearing spores around her. She cut through roots methodically, disrupting their hold.
Her attacks became shorter.
Sharper.
More efficient.
"I don't need to win fast… I just need to stop feeding her."
That realization changed everything.
Then, Lila acted.
She used water first, spreading moisture around her. Then suddenly, she introduced intense heat.
A burst of steam exploded outward.
The battlefield was covered in thick vapor.
It disrupted Eva's vision.
More importantly it disrupted her timing.
Her control faltered.
That was enough.
Lila stepped forward.
The rhythm broke.
Eva reacted quickly.
"Call of Nature."
The remaining seeds activated together.
Roots surged upward, binding Lila's movement. The trap closed in, stronger than before. For a moment, Lila was caught.
The audience held their breath.
But Lila didn't struggle wildly.
She didn't panic.
Instead she committed.
One strike.
Ignoring the pain, she forced her body forward. The roots tore against her, causing visible damage, but she pushed through.
And then, a single, decisive thrust.
Her spear pierced through.
The strike landed before the trap could fully close.
Silence.
The referee stepped in.
The match was over.
Lila had won.
She stood there, breathing heavily, small cuts visible across her body, her stance slightly unstable. This wasn't an easy win.
Eva looked at her.
Lila spoke softly, "If I kept rushing… I would've lost."
Eva gave a small nod.
Respect.
Ifa's voice echoed again. "And just like that, after twists and turns, we have a winner, Lila! And with that, the Rising Heroes have secured their place in the next round!"
The crowd erupted.
Shai added, "But don't lose focus yet. Two more bouts are still to be fought. Can the Order of the White Pike recover some points, or will the Rising Heroes dominate completely?"
Ifa continued, "It wouldn't be surprising if they don't! Despite qualifying at the lower end, the Rising Heroes have shown their true strength. But the Order of the White Pike still has more to prove their leader is yet to step in."
The Rising Heroes had done it.
Qualification secured.
But the battle was not over yet.