Arena Round One — The Dance of Water and Wild
The roaring crowd filled the massive arena, their cheers echoing beneath the enchanted dome.
Excitement crackled in the air like lightning through storm clouds.
The announcer's voice thundered through the magical loudspeakers:
"First round begins!"
"From Vanrakshak — RIKTO, the Monkey Soul Beast! "
From the golden gates, a blur of wild energy shot forward.
A tall figure flipped into the air and landed in a crouch, dust swirling around him.
Wild brown hair framed his mischievous grin, and a long tail flicked behind him as if alive.
Half-human, half-beast — pure chaos in motion.
He grinned, twirled, and gave a playful bow to the audience.
[Rikto - Monkey Soul Beast ]
The Vanrakshak stands roared in response, waving their crimson banners.
Then, the arena lights shifted to a deep, shimmering blue.
A cold wave rippled across the ground — glistening like liquid sapphire.
"And from Jalannandan — SERINA, the Mermaid of Tides!"
From the rising waters, she appeared — silver hair flowing like moonlit silk, eyes glowing ocean-blue.
Tiny scales shimmered on her cheeks, and water droplets floated gracefully around her.
She stepped onto the arena floor as though the very sea obeyed her command.
[Serina - The Mermaid Soul Beast]
A collective gasp swept through the crowd. Even some Vanrakshak supporters fell silent.
The First Clash
Without warning, Rikto dashed forward — energy flaring golden around his claws.
He leapt, spun mid-air, and slashed a wide arc of glowing power toward her.
But Serina didn't even flinch.
She raised one elegant hand — flick — and the golden energy burst dissolved into harmless light.
Her lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
"Is that all?
The Jalnandan crowd erupted with prideful laughter.
Queen Asthika's expression remained cool, her eyes sharp like blades.
Even in the royal balcony, Princess Inara smiled faintly, whispering something to her father, Master Zaydan.
"This is boring, the match's outcome already seems clear — lady's powers appear far greater in comparison." she murmured.
Her father, Master Zaydan, leaned back with a faint, knowing smile, his tone low and deliberate -
"She's asserting dominance early. In war and politics, fear wins half the battle."
"When you make your opponent doubt themselves, the war ends before it even begins."
Old King Kesari's eyes didn't leave the arena — thoughtful, calculating, unreadable .
[Soul Arena ]
Rikto snarled, fury burning. He swung his tail, channeling raw energy through it.
He leapt again, spinning midair for a brutal strike — but Serina blocked effortlessly.
A wave of blue light rippled from her arms, forcing him back.
Closing her eyes, she exhaled deeply.
Water burst upward beneath her, propelling her into the air.
Her silver hair floated around her as she gathered energy between her palms — shaping it into a spiraling storm.
Within seconds, a watery tornado surrounded Rikto, roaring like a beast of its own.
He slashed wildly, trying to break free — but Serina's control was unshakable.
With one graceful twist of her wrists, the whirlpool intensified, then froze in perfect silence.
When the waters settled, Rikto lay collapsed on the floor — soaked, breathless, defeated.
"Victory"
"The round winner is Serina from Jalnandan!"
The announcer's voice shook the entire arena.
Serina landed gently, bowing as the crowd chanted her name in rhythmic waves:
"Serina! Serina! Serina!"
Above her, a soft glow appeared — a small milky-white crystal orb, drifting through the air.
It floated into her hands, pulsing faintly like a living soul.
She smiled and raised it in acknowledgment, calm and radiant.
Queen Asthika's lips curved slightly — neither joy nor anger, just that deadly calm of a strategist who was already planning the next move.
King Kesari leaned forward, sign something to General Bijli through his eyes, who nodded silently.
A few seats away, Vishtra watched whole drama without expression, her masked face unreadable.
Nearby, the same Dove, dressed in Vanrakshak guard uniform, stood diagonally behind Rudr, her hands folded behind her back — her eyes sharp and calculating beneath her mask.
Next Round Water V/S Charm
"Next contender — also representing Vanrakshak — Lyra, the Fox Soul Beast!"
From the crimson gate stepped a girl whose beauty was disarming.
Amber eyes glowed with cunning warmth, and every step she took seemed to hypnotize the air itself.
Two soft fox ears flicked through her silky hair, and a furred tail swayed behind her playfully.
The Vanrakshak crowd went wild — chanting her name like a sacred mantra:
"Lyra! Lyra! Lyra!"
Even some Jalannandan fans couldn't help but stare in awe.
In the audience, Ayush stood beside a man who had already switched sides.
Ayush: "Now that's more like it — a true man praises beauty when he sees it!"
Man: "If we don't compliment beautiful women, then who will? "
Ayush: "Exactly! You've got your heart in the right place!"
He tapped the man's shoulder with a grin.
"But, Where is my heart ?" he added, his eyes darting around the audience, scanning every face with playful curiosity.
— his eyes landing on Agnira.
She was walking past in a flowing dancer's outfit, face veiled by a delicate mask, moving toward the royal chamber alone.
Man turned to ayush: "You're quite handsome yourself, Dude. You here to fight?"
Ayush (grinning): "Fight? No — I make friends, not enemies. Handsome men are meant for peace, not punches."
He smirked, twirled his paintbrush, and traced something invisible in the air.
"I'm off… to my magic."
A faint shimmer appeared — and with a soft whoosh, he vanished into thin air.
The man blinked, stunned.
His jaw dropped as the crowd roared again — but Ayush was already gone, reappearing silently near Agnira's side.
Agnira & Ayush
The crowd's thunderous cheers dimmed in the background as he materialized beside her.
Several nearby spectators gasped — a few women screamed at his sudden appearance, half in surprise, half in admiration.
Agnira didn't even flinch. Not a step back, not a blink.
Ayush tilted his head, mock-offended.
"You're not shocked? You didn't even flinch."
He sighed dramatically.
"Huh! My grand heroic entry — completely wasted."
Her veil shifted slightly as her lips curved beneath it — not a smile, but something close.
The faintest glimmer of amusement.
He caught it, grinned wider.
And as the crowd's roar returned for the next battle call, both of them turned toward the arena.
Round Two — Begins
Serina raised her hands, water coiling around her wrists like serpents.
Lyra smirked, tapping her foot lightly — a shimmering bubble of air formed beneath her, deflecting the first strike of water.
Serina's eyes narrowed, power rising. Lyra, calm and playful, closed her eyes inside her bubble — completely unbothered.
With a sharp motion, Serina unleashed another surge.
The bubble burst — Lyra dodged effortlessly, skimming across the watery surface without getting wet.
Both women now floated mid-air, facing each other — sea and flame, serenity and temptation.
The arena trembled as Serina's frustration boiled over.
She raised her arms, and in an instant, a massive surge of water exploded outward, flooding the battlefield and trapping both fighters inside a shimmering aquatic dome.
At first, Lyra appeared to panic. Her breaths grew shallow, her body trembling as bubbles escaped her lips. Serina's fierce eyes softened — perhaps too soon. She approached, believing her opponent was suffocating.
But the moment Serina came close, Lyra's eyes snapped open — A shimmer of pink light flickered briefly in Lyra's eyes — unnoticed by most due to water barrier around them.
The entire vortex shuddered. The crowd leaned forward, holding their breath as the waters suddenly parted. When the mist cleared, what they saw stunned everyone —
Serina stood before Lyra, kneeling gracefully, her eyes blank, her expression peaceful.
The Mermaid of Tides had yielded.
Gasps rippled through the stands.
Whispers broke into cheers.
[Had Lyra… hypnotized her?]
The announcer's voice echoed through the dome:
"Winner — Lyra from Vanrakshak!"
A deafening roar filled the arena.
Lyra smiled sweetly, bowing as floated down toward her — the mark of her victory.
As a winner she also got - small milky-white crystal orb.
High above, the five Highnesses exchanged unreadable glances.
Across the balcony, Agnira tilted her head, eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"Interesting," she murmured under her breath, the hint of a smirk tugging at her lips.
Beside her, Ayush crossed his arms.
"Well, well… I can't tell if you like the girl or her magic," he teased.
Agnira glanced sideways at him, unimpressed.
Ayush grinned. "Anyway, I've got something special too — something that'll make you more interested in me."
He snapped his fingers, and in an instant, his body vanished, concealed under his invisible sheet. His voice echoed faintly from nowhere:
"See? "
Agnira smirked, unbothered.
"Nice trick," she said calmly.
She reached out toward the sound of his voice, grabbing his sheet and yanking him close.
Ayush stumbled forward, his spell faltering as she pulled him under the same unseen sheet with her.
Their faces were inches apart — breath mingling, silence charged.
The illusion shimmered faintly around them, hiding them from every watching eye.
Agnira's eyes gleamed with mischief. "What's wrong? Got scared?"
Ayush straightened instantly, trying to mask the quickened rhythm of his breath.
"Scared? Me? Never," he said, too quickly.
Her laughter was low and dangerous — the kind that promised both trouble and thrill.
Without warning, she pulled a glowing spell card from her pouch and pressed it between their hands. Magic surged outward in a spiral of red light.
"Then hold on," she whispered.
The world blurred — gravity lost its meaning. They shot upward through swirling air, weightless and spinning, magic dancing between their bodies.
Ayush blinked, half amazed, half terrified.
"So… we're flying together now?"
Agnira stopped midair, her face calm, that wicked smile still on her lips.
"I like fighters… and their magic."
Her voice dropped lower, almost like a dare.
"If you want to stay beside me — win first."
Before he could reply, she slipped the spell card from his han — and let him go."
The air vanished beneath him.
Ayush's startled shout echoed through the arena —
"Are you insane?! I'm not ready for—"
He hit the arena floor with a heavy thud, dust exploding around him.
The crowd gasped. Even the announcer went silent.
When the dust cleared, a figure stood at the center —
Ayush, now wearing a white fox mask, his enchanted paintbrush gleaming in hand.
The announcer stammered, then raised his voice:
"New challenger! Representing Agniyata — the Masked Man!"
Ayush brushed dirt off his shoulder, muttering beneath his mask,
"She's absolutely insane…"
Then he lifted his head toward Lyra — the smirk back in place, confidence re-forged in chaos.
The next round was no longer just about victory.
It was personal.
To be continued ...