The fight ended.
Instead of announcing the next match, the lights across the arena shifted to a steady white.
The central platform expanded, forming a wide circular stage large enough for multiple fighters. The barriers around it thickened, clearly different from the earlier one-on-one setups.
The crowd slowly quieted.
This wasn't preparation for another normal match.
Director Luo stepped onto the central platform.
The arena quieted almost immediately.
He didn't raise his voice. He didn't wait for suspense to build. He simply looked at the screen once, then spoke.
"Due to evaluation requirements," he said evenly, "the semifinal round will be conducted in a free-for-all format."
A brief pause.
"Four participants. One platform."
"This match will decide the overall winner of the Starfall City NCEE."
A pause followed.
"If you win this match," he continued, "you become the champion."
Murmurs spread immediately.
The words settled into the arena slowly.
Then the reaction came.
A low ripple spread through the stands. Not shouting. Not cheering. Just confusion turning into realization.
"A free-for-all?" "At the semifinals?" "That's never done…"
Names appeared beneath the announcement.
Wei Jin — Starfall Tenth Academy
Lu Shen — Starfall First Academy
Shen Lian — Radiant Sky Institute
Han Yue — Starfall First Academy
The moment people saw them together, the mood shifted.
Teachers from lower academies stiffened first.
Three top-academy students.
One from Starfall Tenth.
A Starfall Seventh instructor leaned forward, voice tight. "They'll target him first."
"Of course they will," someone beside him muttered. "Why wouldn't they?"
Even a few mid-tier academy teachers frowned. A free-for-all like this wasn't about fairness. It was about control. About seeing who could survive pressure—and who couldn't.
In the Starfall Tenth section, the excitement from earlier dimmed.
Zhao Chen's jaw tightened. "They're not even hiding it anymore."
Qiao Ning didn't speak. Her eyes stayed on Jin.
On the teacher's platform, Han Qiu's expression finally cracked.
"This is deliberate," he said under his breath.
His hands clenched at his sides. A free-for-all meant no structure. No protection. If the other three decided Jin went first, the match could end in seconds.
Han Qiu reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.
A nearby instructor noticed. "Han Qiu?"
He didn't answer.
He turned slightly away from the arena, thumb already moving across the screen, jaw set hard.
"I told them to stop playing games," he muttered. "Now they want to push it this far?"
Around him, a few teachers exchanged uneasy looks. No one interrupted him.
Meanwhile, not everyone was worried.
In the upper stands, excitement was building instead.
"A free-for-all with those four?" "That's going to be insane." "Finally something worth watching."
Some students leaned forward eagerly, eyes bright. This wasn't a clean duel. This was chaos. Unpredictable. Dangerous.
"Lu Shen alone could clear half the platform." "Don't forget Han Yue." "And Shen Lian won't fight fair."
A pause.
Someone added, quieter, "But that Tenth Academy guy… he's still standing."
Eyes shifted back to the arena.
The platform lights began to change, widening, barriers adjusting to accommodate four fighters instead of two.
Director Luo spoke again.
"There will be a ten-minute break before the final match begins."
A countdown appeared.
[ FINAL MATCH BEGINS IN: 10:00 ]
Some students cheered, excited for chaos.
Others exchanged uneasy looks.
Lu Shen folded his arms, eyes still on Jin.
"Whatever they're trying to do," he thought, "they're being too obvious."
He exhaled once, slow and controlled.
"And if it's this obvious to me… then Jin must feel it too."
9:47
9:46
9:45
The timer continued to tick down.
Here's a clean, natural continuation. Simple tone, no edge, no drama inflation—just people talking like people.
---
Jin sat near the edge of the platform area, breathing slow, letting the last traces of tension leave his body. Sweat cooled on his skin as the announcement echoed in his mind.
Final match.
All four together
Footsteps approached.
Chen dropped down beside him, resting his arms on his knees. He didn't joke this time. "You'll be alright, right?"
Jin glanced at him. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Chen hesitated, then said it anyway. "You know they'll come for you first."
Jin smiled faintly. "Yeah. I figured."
Before Chen could say more, another presence cut in.
Teacher Han Qiu stood in front of them, hands clasped behind his back. His gaze stayed on Jin. "Are you confident?"
Jin stood up, rolling his shoulders once. "I'm not planning to lose," he said. "Not after coming this far."
Teacher Han's expression softened. For a moment, he looked older than usual. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I couldn't stop this. I've already filed a report, but it won't change today."
Jin shook his head. "You've done enough."
Teacher Han looked at both of them, then nodded. "I'm proud of you," he said. "Both of you. No matter how this ends."
Jin met his eyes. "It won't end badly," he said. "We're winning this."
The countdown hit zero.
A sharp tone echoed through the arena.
[ FINALS — BEGIN ]
The lights dimmed slightly as the arena system shifted.
Four names appeared at once.
Final Four — Starfall City NCEE
Lu Shen
Academy: Starfall First Academy
Primary Monster Gene: Crimson Horn Minotaur
Elemental Affinity: Fire — High
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [High]
Shen Lian
Academy: Radiant Sky Institute
Primary Monster Gene: Voidplume Raven
Elemental Affinity: Shadow — High
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [High]
Han Yue
Academy: Starfall First Academy
Primary Monster Gene: Tideveil Manta
Elemental Affinity: Water — Mid-High
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [High]
Wei Jin
Academy: Starfall Tenth Academy
Primary Monster Gene: — Undisclosed
Elemental Affinity: Lightning, Water
Rank: Three-Star Warrior [High]
A low hum ran through the arena as the four stepped out from different sides.
Lu Shen rolled his neck once, eyes already sharp.
Shen Lian stood still, shadow barely shifting around his feet.
Han Yue took her place without a word, calm as ever.
Jin walked forward last, gaze steady, expression relaxed.
The barrier rose.
Jin stepped forward as the others moved into position.
There was no more waiting.
The final battle had begun.