The arena lights dimmed slightly.
Not because the system ordered it.
But because the energy in the air demanded it.
Three platforms floated apart — each holding one duel.
Japan vs Nepal.
One-on-one.
No escape.
No outside interference.
Only Core and willpower.
[Scene 1 – Riku vs Kaito (Speed vs Precision)]
Tora lunged first.
Not wildly.
Not recklessly.
Perfect angle. Perfect timing.
Kaito's voice rang sharp:
"Tora — Crimson Fang Step!"
The tiger vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Bolt with a slicing arc of red energy.
Riku twisted his body mid-air.
"Bolt — Thunder Shift!"
Lightning exploded beneath Bolt's paws, redirecting momentum. The strike grazed instead of pierced.
Sparks scattered across the arena floor.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
"You're not just fast… you're adapting."
Riku grinned slightly.
"Speed isn't about moving first."
His Core flared blue-violet.
"It's about moving last."
Bolt shot forward again — not straight — zigzagging through afterimages.
The audience gasped.
Even the Japan team members on standby leaned forward.
Tora roared.
Two apex predators.
Neither backing down.
[Scene 2 – Mira vs Ayane (Control vs Deception)]
Flames spiraled around Kitsune's nine tails.
Ayane smirked.
"Kitsune — Phantom Ember Waltz!"
Illusionary fire clones scattered across the platform.
Mira didn't panic.
She closed her eyes.
Her Core glowed soft silver.
"Reflective Pulse."
The floor shimmered.
The fake flames distorted.
Only the real Kitsune cast a shadow.
Mira opened her eyes.
"There."
She stepped forward calmly and struck at the exact moment Ayane shifted weight.
Flame met mirrored light.
The clash sent a shockwave through the barrier walls.
Ayane stumbled back.
Then smiled.
"You're dangerous."
Mira replied quietly:
"You're clever."
Two tacticians.
No wasted movement.
No wasted breath.
[Scene 3 – Toma vs Haru (Technique vs Power)]
Oni Bear slammed both fists into the platform.
BOOM.
The platform cracked.
Toma nearly lost balance.
Haru shouted:
"Overpower everything! Oni Break!"
The massive bear charged like a living fortress.
Toma inhaled sharply.
"Green Flow — Vector Redirect!"
A spiral of emerald energy wrapped around Oni Bear's arm.
Instead of stopping the force—
He bent it.
The bear's own momentum twisted sideways, causing Haru to skid.
The audience erupted.
"He redirected brute force?!" "That's insane control!"
Haru laughed loudly.
"Good! Now it's fun!"
[Scene 4 – Rising Pressure]
Back to Riku and Kaito.
Their platforms had already taken the most damage.
Tora's claws scraped across Bolt's side — sparks flying.
Bolt growled but stood firm.
Riku felt the Core throb harder.
Not painful.
But… heavier.
Like something knocking from inside.
Kaito noticed.
"Your energy is fluctuating."
Riku didn't answer.
Because he felt it too.
That strange pull again.
That slight distortion in Bolt's aura.
For a split second—
The lightning flickered darker.
Not blue.
Not violet.
Something deeper.
Then it stabilized.
No one else noticed.
Except…
Kaito.
[Scene 5 – The Turning Point]
All three duels reached critical speed at once.
The announcer's voice echoed:
"Energy levels approaching threshold!"
Ayane leapt backward.
Haru roared.
Kaito clenched his gauntlet.
Riku raised his hand.
"Bolt—Full Output!"
"Tora—Final Edge!"
"Kitsune—Blazing Spiral!"
"Oni Bear—Titan Crash!"
Four Core Beasts moved simultaneously.
The arena became a storm of:
Lightning. Flames. Steel. Shockwaves.
Platforms shattered mid-air.
Barriers flickered violently.
The entire ship trembled above the ocean.
Spectators gripped their seats.
Nepal flags waved.
Japan banners shook.
This wasn't just a match anymore.
It was pride.
[Scene 6 – Silence]
Then—
White flash.
Total impact.
Everything froze.
When the light faded—
All six fighters were standing.
Barely.
Panting.
Bruised.
Core sparks fading.
The system voice began calculating.
"Round Evaluation in progress…"
No one spoke.
The ocean outside the ship glowed under moonlight.
Japan's captain Kaito met Riku's eyes.
No hostility.
Only recognition.
"You're not unstable," Kaito said quietly. "You're evolving."
Riku answered with a faint smile.
"Then let's see who evolves faster."
The screen flickered—
But before the results appeared—
The ship's navigation AI announced:
"Next docking point approaching. Prepare for arrival."
The arena lights dimmed.
The match results were suspended until official review.
Because something bigger was coming.
⚡ End of Chapter 34
Next: • Official match results • Tension between Japan and Nepal teams • Rumors spreading about Riku's strange energy shift • And the next country boarding the Spirit Masters vessel
Author's Note
Hey guys,
First of all… I'm sorry.
This time I've been feeling really lazy.
Not just physically — even mentally.
Sometimes when I sit down to write, my imagination feels heavy, like it doesn't want to move.
I don't know why, but lately even writing the story feels slower than usual. Still, I'm trying my best to keep going, because these characters and this world mean a lot to me.
And one more thing — please don't forget to follow my TikTok account.
My pen name is MK No Jutsu — and yes, that's also my TikTok username.
On TikTok, I post illustrations of the stories I've written — including Core Clash and my other series. I try to bring the characters to life visually there, so if you enjoy the story, please go support me there too.
Your support honestly means more than you think.
Thank you for staying with this journey.
— MK No Jutsu 🔥⚡