The arena hung suspended in tension.
Red warning lights flashed. Core instability alarms echoed through the massive ship-like stadium.
Riku and the silver-haired boy faced each other—breathing heavy, sparks dancing around their gauntlets.
Bolt crouched low, ready to explode at the first sign.
Toma adjusted his holo-pad nervously.
"This… this is insane. Their cores are resonating beyond safety parameters."
The silver-haired boy's smirk returned.
"You've improved since yesterday. Faster, sharper… but can you handle the next stage?"
Riku clenched his fist, violet-blue lightning flickering across his arm.
"I don't care how strong you are. We finish this."
[Scene 1 – Clash of Leaders]
They launched simultaneously.
Bolt dashed forward, leaving streaks of lightning in his wake.
The silver-haired boy's Edge Release projected razor-like shockwaves toward them.
Riku twisted midair, dodging one wave while redirecting another.
"Bolt—Mirror Strike!"
The wolf spirit leapt high, spinning through the air, colliding with the incoming shockwave.
Sparks erupted. Platforms cracked. Spectators gasped.
The silver-haired boy landed lightly, steel aura rippling.
"You've adapted… but evolution is just the beginning."
Riku's heart pounded. He felt it—the pulse inside his Core, stronger, surging beyond normal limits.
This… this is it. Core Evolution isn't waiting anymore…
[Scene 2 – Teams in Motion]
Iron Vale's remaining members launched coordinated attacks.
The hammer boy swung with brutal force.
The shield girl reinforced barriers around her teammates.
Riku and Bolt had no choice—fast reflexes and instinct alone weren't enough.
"Formation Delta!" Toma shouted.
Energy currents swirled, their team's aura amplifying each other.
Riku nodded to the female lead, now fully part of their trio.
"Keep your cores steady. Let's break them… together."
Blue, violet, and green lightning intertwined—clashing against Iron Vale's metallic and shielded assaults.
The arena quaked, floating platforms swaying violently.
Sparks, debris, and shockwaves filled the air.
Every move… every pulse… tests us.
[Scene 3 – The Final Surge]
The silver-haired boy's eyes glowed steel-gray.
"My Edge Release… reaches perfection now."
Riku's core pulsed wildly.
Bolt howled.
Not just me… not just us… we're pushing past limits!
A massive collision erupted at the center of the arena:
Platforms shattered.
Shockwaves tore through the air.
Lightning and steel energy collided in a blinding flash.
Time seemed to freeze.
Then… silence.
[Scene 4 – The Aftermath]
When the dust settled:
Platforms were cracked, floating in chaos.
Sparks still danced from the destroyed cores.
Every fighter was panting, bruised, trembling.
Toma's voice broke through:
"Everyone… okay?"
Riku staggered, clutching his gauntlet.
Bolt shook off debris, eyes scanning.
The silver-haired boy smiled faintly, nodding in respect.
No one knew the winner yet. The arena system hovered—
TEAM BATTLE – RESULT PENDING
Whispers spread.
"They pushed beyond the Core limit… no one expected this."
The tournament wasn't just testing strength anymore.
It was awakening something… in every participant.
⚡ End of Chapter 24
Next: Volume 1 concludes, tournament results announced, and the international qualifier setup begins.
One battle.
One evolution.
And every participant now glimpses the storm that's coming.