Chapter: Yuddha Tournament Begins – Clash of the Hundred
The morning sun had barely crested over Nexus City, casting long golden rays across the polished glass-and-stone towers of the stadium. Anay stepped into the enormous ground-level lobby of Nexus Arena, and for the first time in his twelve years, he felt the full scale of what "huge" could mean. The open space seemed endless, stretching as far as his eyes could see. Thousands of competitors filled the area, moving, chatting, sizing each other up. The hum of spiritual energy was tangible, vibrating through the soles of his feet and making the air shimmer faintly.
His jaw dropped. So many people… He let his gaze sweep across the crowd, noting the variety of weapons, elemental auras, and skillful stances. Students floated above the floor, their powers keeping them aloft. Others glared at potential rivals, fists and energy forming in anticipation of the fights to come. Every individual seemed confident, some cocky, some nervous, but all radiated potential.
Anay's heart started to race. His fingers twitched with excitement, though he kept a calm face. This… this is insane. I've never seen anything like this. He adjusted his stance slightly, letting the familiar thrill of adrenaline wash over him. The wind stirred lightly around him, as if sensing his anticipation. His chosen elements—Wind, Water, Ice, and Thunder—flowed faintly through him, just enough to feel the connection without revealing himself.
Nearby, a group of students was arguing. One boy shouted, puffing out his chest, "Come on! Team up with us and you'll survive longer!" Another laughed, his water aura forming a shimmering barrier around them. The girl they tried to coerce shook her head, calm and composed, her long hair glinting faintly in the sun. A hush fell on the spectators around them, curious how the confrontation would play out.
Before the tension could escalate further, a deep voice boomed across the arena:
"Competitors! Listen carefully!"
The sound silenced the crowd instantly. All heads turned toward the central platform, where Hrithik Rao, the tournament manager, stepped forward. His presence alone commanded attention; every student straightened, some instinctively bracing themselves. His voice carried authority and calm menace, cutting cleanly through the chatter.
"Today's battle will be unlike any you have ever faced. Each of you will fight individually. No teams. No waiting. All participants will engage simultaneously!" His words echoed through the lobby, bouncing off the polished walls and shimmering banners. "Yes—all of you! At the same time! You will need strategy, skill, and focus. Only the strong will survive. Move to the battlefield promptly!"
A wave of murmurs swept through the arena. Some students' eyes widened in shock, others grinned, exhilarated by the sheer audacity of the announcement. The idea of hundreds of solo fights occurring simultaneously was overwhelming, almost incomprehensible. The energy of the arena surged, a living pulse of anticipation and tension.
Anay's grin widened, and his heart pounded faster. Yes! Finally… the real challenge! The thought of thousands of attacks flying at once, of dodging, countering, and observing patterns—it was exhilarating. This is going to be amazing… I can't wait! He shifted slightly on his feet, letting the wind brush through his hair, teasing him like an old friend. Every sense was on fire; every nerve thrilled with the coming chaos.
Kael and Liora were already in the stands inside the battlefield, watching silently. Kael leaned forward slightly, sharp eyes analyzing each competitor, while Liora remained composed, though a faint smile hinted at her anticipation. Their presence reassured him in a subtle way, anchoring his excitement.
The final countdown began as Hrithik Rao raised his hand. "Competitors… Begin!"
The battlefield erupted instantly. A storm of energy and elemental attacks filled the air. Fire, water, ice, wind, and streaks of golden lightning lit up the arena in a dazzling spectacle. Fists collided with shields, slashes of energy cleaved through the air, and every movement sparked a ripple of force. Students collided midair, others dodged narrowly, sending stray attacks whirling toward unintended targets.
Anay's eyes darted through the chaos. A random blue slash streaked toward him from a clash between two distant participants. He didn't even flinch. With a subtle tilt of his head, he stepped aside. The energy cut the air, missing him by inches, embedding a small scar into the stone behind him. Dust kicked up at his feet.
Hah… not bad, he thought, a small smirk forming. So this is the level of the tournament… insane, unpredictable, and fun. He scanned the battlefield, his sharp eyes noting patterns of attack, ranges, and elemental combinations.
Far across the field, a flicker of golden lightning caught his attention. Aanya, her long hair whipping around her as she moved, darted between opponents. Her yellow thunder streaked across the battlefield like a living bolt. Though they hadn't faced each other yet, her skill was apparent. Anay's grin widened further. She's strong… really strong. I can't wait to fight her.
Before he could even consider moving toward her, three participants spotted him. They saw a calm, unassuming boy in the middle of the chaos and assumed he was weak. Instantly, they charged, launching attacks with a combination of fire, wind, and energy blasts.
Anay's eyes narrowed faintly. Guess there's no avoiding it. He exhaled, letting his elemental energy flare subtly through Wind, Water, Ice, and Thunder. The surrounding air hummed as he readied himself.
The first opponent lunged, swinging a glowing blade. Anay sidestepped smoothly, letting the momentum carry the attacker past him. A second one tried a spinning kick infused with wind energy. He barely moved, just a light step to the side, and the attack collided with the third participant's flank instead.
This is going to be interesting, he thought, his grin widening. Every movement was precise, effortless, a demonstration of control he didn't need to show. Collisions erupted around him as elemental attacks ricocheted, some hitting unintended targets. Fire flared, ice shards flew, gusts of wind roared, and golden thunder arced across the arena.
He raised a hand subtly, sending a small arc of wind forward. It didn't aim to harm, but to gently push one charging participant off-balance. They stumbled, barely avoiding an ice spike from another fighter. Every step, every dodge, every shift he made flowed naturally, a dance amid the storm.
From the stands, Kael's eyes narrowed, observing quietly. He's holding back, Kael noted silently. Liora, still composed, let out a tiny exhale. He's more than ready for this.
Anay's attention flicked to Aanya again. She was moving fluidly, striking at her opponents with precision, golden arcs of lightning following her every movement. So fast… and so focused. She's really amazing. I can't wait… He clenched his fists slightly, anticipation sparking like the energy in his veins.
Suddenly, another student tried to flank him from behind, water forming a spiraling lance aimed at his side. Anay twisted effortlessly, dodging and letting the lance shoot past. The attack glanced off another fighter who hadn't noticed it, knocking them to the ground. Chaos was absolute; every move was unpredictable, yet Anay remained a calm eye in the storm.
He laughed quietly to himself, the sound lost amid the roaring of energy and clashes all around. This… this is exactly what I needed. A proper battle. No holding back, no limits, just skill and instinct.
Lightning flared across the field again—this time from a clash near Aanya and another competitor. The golden bolts leapt across the battlefield, narrowly missing him. Anay's eyes sparkled faintly. She's going to be one hell of a fight… I can't wait to test myself against her.
Another group of three charged him simultaneously, fire, ice, and wind combining in an unpredictable assault. He tilted his head, a small grin tugging at his lips. He raised a hand, sweeping a controlled gust of wind to redirect one attacker. Ice shards flickered from his other hand, intercepting another. Thunder crackled faintly around his fingertips, a warning more than an attack, and the third opponent barely avoided being shocked.
So many powers, so many strategies… This is insane. He felt his pulse synchronize with the rhythm of the battlefield, reading patterns, predicting trajectories, and moving with a natural, fluid instinct. Every action he took was precise yet effortless, a silent demonstration that he was far above the average participant.