Dawn arrived without mercy.
The lights of Selection City dimmed, and the central arenas awakened one by one—massive circular platforms floating in the air, surrounded by transparent energy walls.
Group C's arena was the largest.
And the loudest.
Teams gathered at their assigned gates, tension crackling in the air like static before a storm.
Riku rolled his shoulders.
Bolt's core rested in spirit form near his wrist, pulsing steadily.
Toma adjusted his glasses.
"Opponents confirmed. Team Iron Vale."
Across the arena, three figures stepped forward.
A bulky boy with a hammer-type gauntlet.
A girl controlling a shield-shaped core.
And at the center—
The silver-haired boy from yesterday.
He smirked.
"Told you we'd meet."
[Scene 1 – Match Start]
A mechanical voice echoed.
Group C – Match 01
Team Battle: Elimination Rules
Begin!
The arena floor split into shifting platforms.
"Formation Alpha!" Toma shouted.
Riku dashed forward as Bolt manifested fully—lightning racing along the ground.
Iron Vale's hammer user slammed his gauntlet.
BOOOOM!
A shockwave tore across the platform.
Riku leapt, sparks trailing behind him.
"Bolt—Speed Post!"
Bolt roared, launching forward in a streak of blue.
The shield girl reacted instantly.
"Barrier—Lock!"
A hexagonal wall materialized, blocking Riku's path.
Too solid.
Too fast.
Riku clicked his tongue.
"So that's how you play."
[Scene 2 – Pressure Rising]
Toma's voice cut in.
"Riku, don't force it! They're controlling space!"
The silver-haired leader raised his hand calmly.
"Push them."
The hammer user charged again.
This time, the impact shattered an entire platform, sending debris spiraling into the void.
Riku landed hard, skidding.
Bolt growled.
"They're strong… but slow."
Riku smirked.
"Then we go faster."
He twisted his gauntlet.
"Bolt—Double Sync!"
Electricity flared brighter than before.
Riku's movements sharpened—steps lighter, reactions sharper.
He vanished.
The shield cracked.
"What—?!" the girl gasped.
Riku reappeared behind her.
"Out."
A lightning pulse struck the ground at her feet.
The arena system flared red.
Participant Eliminated
"One down!" Toma shouted.
[Scene 3 – Iron Vale Strikes Back]
The silver-haired boy's smile faded.
"So you can accelerate your sync rate…"
His core glowed steel-gray.
"My turn."
The air pressure dropped.
His spirit emerged—not loud, not wild—but heavy.
A blade-shaped presence formed behind him.
"Edge Release."
In an instant, razor-thin shockwaves sliced across the arena.
Riku barely dodged.
His sleeve tore.
Bolt yelped.
"That one's dangerous!"
The hammer user moved in from the side.
"NOW!"
The platform beneath Riku collapsed.
Riku fell—
Toma slammed his palm down.
"Support Mode—Anchor Field!"
Energy surged, halting Riku midair.
Riku flipped back onto solid ground, breathing hard.
"Thanks."
But the silver-haired boy was already in front of him.
Too close.
[Final Scene – Unfinished Clash]
Their eyes met.
No words.
Only cores roaring.
The silver-haired boy whispered—
"Let's see whose evolution breaks first."
Their powers collided.
Blue lightning.
Steel pressure.
The arena screamed.
The screen flashed—
MATCH TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED
Core instability detected.
Alarms blared.
The light swallowed everything.
⚡ End of Chapter 23
Next Chapter:
"When Power Refuses to Stop"
One match.
Two leaders.
And a limit neither wants to accept.