The arena did not calm after Aether's previous victory. Instead, the atmosphere grew noticeably heavier, as if the weight of every remaining participant had begun to press down upon the space itself. The earlier rounds had already eliminated the weak, the careless, and the overconfident, leaving behind only those who had proven themselves through repeated trials.
At this stage of the tournament, there was no longer any room for coincidence. Every student who remained had earned their position through skill, awareness, and the ability to adapt under pressure. Each of them had survived battles that demanded not only strength, but also composure and intelligence.
The number of participants had been reduced from sixty-four to thirty-two, and that reduction had changed the entire nature of the competition. It was no longer a test of potential. It had become a test of dominance.
