The air inside the Soren Central Combat Ring felt heavy.
Not because of heat.
But because everyone understood the truth—
Only one team would walk out of this arena with a future.
Arena – Match Start
The metallic floor shifted, panels sliding and locking into place.
Terrain Mode: Urban Ruins – Mid Range
Broken pillars rose from the ground.
Collapsed walls created blind spots.
Elevated platforms hovered just high enough to punish careless movement.
Riku rolled his shoulders.
"Same plan?" he asked.
Toma nodded quickly.
"Yeah. Mira controls space. I support. You strike only when needed."
Mira closed her eyes for a second.
"Don't rush," she said.
"This isn't about looking strong."
She opened her eyes.
"It's about surviving together."
Match One – Opening Clash
BZZZ—!!
The match signal rang.
Three enemy teams launched forward at once.
Not coordinated.
Not patient.
Just power.
"Too fast," Toma muttered.
"Good," Riku replied.
"Then they'll make mistakes."
A blast-type core detonated near a pillar.
Riku slid sideways, sparks grazing the ground as he avoided the impact.
Mira raised her gauntlet—
Her spirit core activated silently.
Thin, glowing lines spread across the battlefield like invisible threads.
"Area mapped," she said calmly.
"Three enemies on the left. One flanking high."
Riku smiled.
"Got it."
Teamwork in Motion
Riku didn't charge.
He waited.
An enemy leaped from above—
And landed directly where Mira's lines converged.
CRACK—!
The ground snapped upward, throwing the attacker off balance.
Toma reacted instantly.
"Now!"
Riku burst forward, lightning compressing around his arm—not exploding, not reckless.
Just precise.
A single strike.
The enemy's core destabilized and shut down.
One team member eliminated.
The crowd gasped.
👀 The Crowd Reacts
"Did you see that coordination…?"
"They didn't even shout."
"That timing—"
Parents leaned forward.
Veteran fighters narrowed their eyes.
This wasn't flashy.
This was clean.
⚔️ Pressure Builds
Another team adapted quickly.
They split formation.
Two attackers distracted Riku.
One went straight for Toma.
"Toma!" Mira warned.
Toma froze for half a second—
Enough.
A shockwave slammed into him, sending him skidding back.
"Tch—!" he groaned.
Riku's lightning flared.
But Mira stepped in front.
"No," she said sharply.
"Trust me."
She slammed her gauntlet down.
Her core resonated—
Not violently.
But steadily.
A barrier formed, thin but perfectly timed, absorbing the next hit.
Toma looked up, breathing hard.
"…Thanks."
Mira didn't look back.
"Don't thank me yet," she said.
"Get back up."
Adaptation
The enemy teams began to hesitate.
"They're reading us," one shouted.
"Don't engage one-on-one!"
Riku exhaled slowly.
"This is where most teams fall apart," he said quietly.
"They stop trusting."
Toma wiped blood from his lip and grinned.
"Too bad for them."
Final Exchange (Unfinished)
The battlefield was damaged.
Cracks everywhere.
Smoke rising.
Cores glowing unevenly.
Both sides were tired.
Mira's breathing was controlled—but slower.
Toma's movements were rough.
Riku's lightning flickered, no longer overflowing.
The official raised a hand.
"Final exchange—"
Riku stepped forward.
Lightning gathered again.
Not wild.
Focused.
The enemy captain did the same.
Two teams.
One chance.
Cut to Silence
Just as they moved—
The scene froze.
The crowd held its breath.
Above the arena, the sky rumbled softly.
Far away…
The World Tournament Vessel adjusted its course.
Waiting.
End of Chapter 20
Next:
Chapter 21 – "The Team Chosen by Soren Town"
Victory has a cost.
Defeat leaves scars.
And the road to the world finally opens.