The semi-finals were about to begin, and the excitement in the air was thicker than ever. People filled every seat in the arena, chatting loudly and waving flags. Today's matches were even more special because two very important guests had arrived to watch — Princess Lyra and Princess Kyla. Their presence made the crowd even more energetic, and everyone was eager to see the battles.
The first semi-final match was between Lila and Yuno.
Both fighters stood calmly on the battlefield. The referee raised his hand and shouted, "Begin!"
Lila and Yuno didn't rush into fighting. They both took their time, watching each other carefully. Neither wanted to make the first mistake. The crowd was silent, hanging on every movement.
Yuno was different from any opponent Lila had faced before. His movements were elegant, smooth like a flowing river. Every time he used his wind magic, it was precise, without wasting any energy. The wind circled around him gently, making him look even more majestic.
Lila knew she couldn't afford a single mistake. She used her fire magic when Yuno got too close and her water magic to block and defend against his swift wind attacks.
Every clash of magic was exciting. Every dodge, every counter-attack kept the crowd on the edge of their seats. No one could afford to blink, afraid they would miss something incredible. The two young fighters were almost dancing, their weapons and magic creating beautiful yet dangerous patterns in the air.
After some time, something strange happened.
Yuno suddenly stopped moving. He stood still, his sword lowered, and the wind around him calmed.
Lila narrowed her eyes. She didn't understand what he was doing. Was it a trick? A trap? But she couldn't wait and find out — she had to attack. She rushed forward, aiming her sword carefully. But just as she was about to strike, Yuno raised his hand. "I give up," he said calmly. The entire arena gasped. Lila froze in place, staring at him in shock. The referee quickly ran forward and announced, "Yuno has surrendered! Lila is the winner!" Lila protested. "Wait! He can't just give up like that! We were still fighting!" The referee shook his head. "The rules allow a fighter to surrender if they wish. The match is over."
Lila felt a deep sense of disappointment. She didn't feel like she had won. She wanted a real fight, not a win like this. She tried to talk to Yuno, but he just turned around and walked away quickly, disappearing into the crowd before she could say anything.
Frustrated, Lila could only watch him leave.
The crowd buzzed with different theories. Some people said Yuno might have been secretly injured. Others said he got scared after feeling Lila's strength. No one knew the real reason. But no matter what they thought, the match was over, and Lila was moving to the finals. While Lila stood quietly, trying to calm her mixed feelings, the second semi-final match was getting ready to start.
---
It was Val versus Barkon.
The crowd was excited again. Both fighters had shown great strength during the tournament. People expected an intense and thrilling fight.
Val stood silently on her side of the arena. She had been very mysterious during the whole tournament, barely speaking a word. Nobody knew much about her. Barkon, on the other hand, was full of energy and wild spirit. He was confident and ready to win.
The referee raised his hand again and shouted, "Begin!"
Barkon immediately prepared to attack. His wild instincts were sharp. He trusted his senses more than anything else. But the moment he stepped forward, something strange happened. His instincts screamed at him — Danger! Run! Barkon hesitated. He forced himself to move again, trying to ignore the fear bubbling inside him. But again, his body froze. His instincts kept warning him to stay back, to run away.
Then, Val moved.
In the blink of an eye, she crossed the distance between them. One moment she was standing far away, the next she was right in front of Barkon. Barkon opened his mouth to say something — maybe even to surrender , but he didn't get the chance.
Val punched him hard in the stomach. The hit was so strong and sudden that Barkon fell to the ground, completely unconscious. The referee rushed forward and quickly declared, "Winner: Val!" The crowd was shocked. It had happened so fast that many people didn't even realize the match had already ended.
But Val didn't stop.
She looked down at Barkon's unconscious body and kicked him harshly. The referee, alarmed, shouted, "Stop! You've already won! There's no need to continue!" Val turned to him slowly, her face calm but cold. Without warning, she moved again. Before the referee could react, Val punched him straight in the chest, sending him flying backward. He crashed into the ground, groaning in pain.
The crowd was stunned into silence. Nobody could believe what they were seeing. Then Val lifted her head and looked directly at Princess Lyra and Princess Kyla. Before anyone could do anything, a strange magical seal appeared over the entire arena. It shimmered faintly in the air, covering the ground completely.
No one could enter.
No one could leave.
The crowd began to panic. People shouted and tried to move, but it was useless. The magical seal trapped them inside like invisible walls.
Val stood calmly at the center of the chaos, her cold eyes never leaving the princesses.
Something was very wrong. The finals had not even begun yet, but it was clear , something far bigger than a simple tournament was about to happen.