In the Changing Room
Tension filled the air as the usual argument broke out between Yamo and Raiki.
Yamo: "I'm the one who's going to win the test! Hehe!"
Raiki: "Don't be so sure of yourself. I'll win — not you."
Ryomi, clearly annoyed, sighed and said:
> "Ugh, you two are so loud! Jian, when does the test even start?"
Jian: "Relax. According to schedule, it begins in about three minutes."
Then Katoha asked curiously:
> "Will there be any other girls besides me?"
Ryomi, losing his patience, snapped:
> "Good grief! Enough questions! Once the test begins, the announcer will explain everything!"
---
Suddenly, the announcer's voice echoed through the arena:
> "Now we officially begin the Konka Users' Test – Level One!
I'll explain the rules briefly, so listen carefully!
The test consists of four stages, and each stage's rules will be explained as you reach it.
The first stage will be a group battle — without using Konka powers!"
He continued:
> "You'll be divided into groups of five.
There are 120 participants in total.
Your entire group doesn't need to win — even if one person from your group remains, they alone will advance!"
Yamo raised an eyebrow.
Yamo: "So even if someone separates from their team, they can still win? But what exactly are the victory conditions?"
---
After the divisions were made, Yamo and Katoha ended up in the same group, while the others were assigned to different teams.
Everyone stood in neat lines, waiting for the final instruction.
The announcer spoke again, firmly:
> "Now, the conditions for victory:
You must stay inside the arena until the number of participants drops to eighty.
Stay by any means necessary… but do not use Konka yet— Begin!"
As expected, chaos immediately erupted.
Shouts filled the air, fists flew, and the arena became a wild storm of combat.
Yamo smiled faintly.
Yamo: "Just as they wanted… everyone's fighting everywhere. So what should I do now?"
He spotted Katoha in the middle of the battle and called out:
Yamo: "Hey, Katoha! How about we fight together?"
Katoha (coldly): "Absolutely not."
Out of nowhere, a fighter lunged at Katoha — but she struck him down with sheer force.
Yamo laughed.
Yamo: "Your physical strength's amazing, Katoha!"
Katoha (disdainfully): "Get out of my face."
Yamo (smirking): "Alright, alright… I just need to last till the end anyway."
After a few minutes of fierce fighting, the announcer's voice rang out again:
> "The first test is over! Everyone still standing in the arena — advances!"
Yamo exhaled with relief, smiling.
Yamo: "That was easier than I expected…"
---
After the First Test
In the changing room, Jian's team gathered after passing the first round successfully.
Everyone was hyped up, talking about the fight and how to improve in the next stage.
Only ten minutes passed before the announcer's voice filled the arena again:
> "Congratulations on reaching the second test!
This time, forty of you will be eliminated!
The battle will be open — and you may use your powers freely!
The rule is simple: stay in the arena until only forty remain.
Now— Begin!"
The moment he finished, chaos exploded once more — fiercer than before.
Energy blasts flew in every direction, explosions thundered, and clouds of dust filled the sky.
Amid the chaos, Ryomi thought calmly as he dodged an attack:
> "They didn't set any rules this time… meaning we can work as a team!"
He shouted to his comrades:
> "Listen up! No rules this round — we fight together! Cover each other's backs!"
They nodded and moved in unison, rotating between offense and defense — fighting like a single, unified force.
But they weren't the only ones who figured it out.
Across the field, a mysterious fighter charged toward them, firing waves of dark energy.
Ryomi deflected the first blast skillfully, twisting it aside, then countered with a blazing explosion that froze the enemies in their tracks.
The air crackled with heat and energy.
For half an hour, the arena was filled with relentless combat and the roar of power.
Finally, the announcer spoke again:
> "The second test is over!
All participants, head to the rest area!
The third test begins in forty-five minutes!"
---
Time passed quickly, and the crowd gathered again.
> "To the battlefield!"
Everyone lined up once more, excitement and tension on every face.
The announcer stepped onto the platform, voice booming:
> "Congratulations on reaching the third test!
This time, prepare for something… different!"
The contestants exchanged puzzled looks — some excited, others nervous.
He smiled, then said:
> "The third test will be… Tug of War!"
A brief silence followed, then murmurs of disbelief swept through the arena.
> "Tug of war?!"
"Is this a joke?!"
The announcer chuckled but continued seriously:
> "Yes — tug of war! We need to reduce your number to twenty contestants.
You'll be split into two equal teams — the winning team advances entirely to the final stage!"
Then he pointed toward one line.
> "Ryomi Seri — you'll be the leader of Team One! Choose nine others."
Ryomi froze for a moment, surprised, then said:
Ryomi: "Me? …Alright then. I choose Raiki, Katoha, Yamo, and…"
He continued until he had chosen all ten members.
The rest formed Team Two.
> "Now — take your positions!"
Both teams grabbed the rope with all their might.
Sweat poured, the ground trembled beneath them.
Every breath burned with determination.
Minutes passed in fierce struggle until the rope finally tilted toward Ryomi's side.
Yamo shouted: "Pull harder! Don't give up!"
With one final heave, Team Two fell to the ground.
> "Team One… wins!"
The arena erupted in cheers.
The announcer raised his voice again:
> "And now… it's time for the final round!
The ultimate test — one-on-one combat!
Only ten fighters will earn the title of Certified Konka User!"
The crowd roared, and the fighters' eyes gleamed with fire.
The real battle was about to begin.
---
Final Round
The air grew heavy, silence thickening the battlefield.
Everyone knew — this was the decisive moment.
The fighters stood within glowing energy circles, eyes locked on the announcer.
> "Now we reach the final stage — one-on-one duels!
Only the winners will earn the Konka User License!"
Jian stood behind his team, arms crossed, expression calm.
He looked at Ryomi and said quietly:
> "Prove you're worthy of the title."
Ryomi nodded with confidence.
Beside him stood Yamo, Raiki, and Katoha — each burning with their own flame.
---
Battle 1: Yamo vs. Korin
> "First match — Yamo Kagimitsu versus Korin of the Shadow Kingdom!"
Korin dragged his long sword across the ground and smirked:
> "A kid with two swords? You'll learn pain tonight."
Yamo (calmly): "And you'll learn that overconfidence kills."
The blades clashed, sparks flying.
Korin relied on strength and speed, but Yamo's movements were precise — reading every motion.
With a flick of his wrist, Yamo fired an energy bullet at the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
From within the haze, he appeared behind Korin.
> "You depend too much on reach… and forgot about distance."
A double slash knocked Korin's sword aside and sent him flying out of bounds.
> "Winner — Yamo Kagimitsu!"
Cheers erupted, and Jian smiled proudly.
---
Battle 2: Raiki vs. Fenra
A fierce wind swept across the arena.
> Fenra: "I'll lift you into the sky before you even touch me."
Raiki: "If you can touch the sky — I'm the one who commands lightning."
A storm formed around them — wind clashing with lightning.
Raiki slammed his hand into the ground, summoning a ring of electricity that surrounded him.
Fenra dove in, but lightning collided with wind, creating a blazing vortex.
Raiki raised his arm to the sky.
> "Thunderbolt!"
A massive lightning strike crashed down, merging with the storm — blasting Fenra out of the ring.
> "Winner — Raiki!"
---
Battle 3: Katoha vs. Saila
Saila stood in the center, frost radiating from her.
> Saila: "I'll freeze your question before it's even asked."
Katoha: "Then try touching it first."
Shards of ice shot forward — but melted before reaching her.
Katoha raised her hand, water droplets circling around her like blades.
Saila froze the ground, but Katoha let a drop of her own blood fall — melting the ice instantly.
A blood thread wrapped around Saila's body and flung her out of the ring.
> "Winner — Katoha!"
Katoha bowed slightly, whispering:
> "Freeze somewhere else."
---
Battle 4: Ryomi vs. Zeif
Flames flared even before the match began.
> Zeif: "My fire burned cities. Is yours more than smoke?"
Ryomi: "My fire doesn't burn… it purifies."
Zeif hurled a massive violet fireball.
Ryomi calmly extended his palm, twisting the attack into a black vortex that devoured the flames.
The black fire grew, consuming everything Zeif threw at it.
Ryomi walked through the inferno as if it were air.
> "Anything that can't withstand fire… doesn't deserve to remain."
A massive explosion shook the arena.
When the smoke cleared, Zeif was out cold beyond the boundary — while the black fire faded around Ryomi.
> "Winner — Ryomi Seri!"
Jian smiled proudly in the background.
---
Battle 5: Sera vs. Kain
> "The final match — for the fifth license!"
Light shimmered around Sera, while Kain melted into his shadows.
Light and darkness clashed in rapid bursts — too fast for the eye to follow.
Each collision sparked brilliance.
Both shouted simultaneously:
> "Konka — Special Ability!"
The two energies collided in a dazzling explosion that lit the sky.
When the light faded, Sera stood trembling — Kain lay defeated outside the ring.
> "Winner — Sera!"
---
The rest of the matches proceeded smoothly until the final round concluded.
The announcer's voice echoed one last time:
> "The final test is over!
Those who have won will now receive the official Konka User License!"
Flags rose, and the audience erupted in cheers.
Jian stepped forward, pride glowing in his eyes.
> "You've all become true Konka Users… but remember — this isn't the end.
It's only the beginning."
---
"End of the Test."