Part 10 – The Ones Who Advance
The audience murmured, eyes flicking between the fighters. Ayame stepped forward, calm and focused, while Mika readied herself.
Ayame vs. Mika began almost immediately. Ayame's movements were fluid, precise, and effortless. She anticipated every strike Mika threw, dodging and countering with minimal effort. Within moments, Ayame had outmaneuvered Mika completely, claiming victory.
Next, Arashi vs. Kento. Arashi moved swiftly, timing each strike perfectly. Kento tried to anticipate, but one precise attack from Arashi ended the fight in his defeat.
Haruto vs. Yamashita was tougher. Yamashita matched him step for step, mixing strategy with bursts of brute force. The audience leaned forward, tense, as punches and kicks collided. The fight went back and forth, neither giving the other an opening easily. But Haruto stayed patient, carefully reading Yamashita's movements. When Yamashita pushed forward with a heavy strike, Haruto slipped past it and countered with a precise series of blows, finally overwhelming him and securing the victory.
Finally, the last and most anticipated fight: Saki Aizawa versus Amaya Homura.
The crowd erupted as both stepped into the arena. Saki, the previous tournament champion, had the audience fully behind her. Every cheer, every shout, seemed to fuel her dominance. She moved with precision and strength, keeping Amaya on the defensive.
Amaya blocked, dodged, and parried every attack, her burnt golden eyes flicking constantly, analyzing Saki's timing. Every strike from Saki was met with perfect anticipation, and Amaya's calm focus allowed her to wait for the single perfect opening.
Finally, it came. Saki overextended slightly, and Amaya seized the moment. A swift, precise strike landed, disarming and outmaneuvering Saki.
The arena went silent for a heartbeat, then erupted in shocked applause.
"Amaya Homura wins!" the announcer declared.
The audience, who had been fully betting on Saki, murmured in disbelief. Amaya stood, breathing evenly, her eyes still flickering with focus, victorious against the champion.
Even in the stands, some were stunned, while others whispered excitedly about the impossible upset. Amaya returned to the waiting area, calm, knowing she had earned every bit of this victory.
The arena slowly settled after Amaya's victory. The echoes of the crowd's shock and excitement still lingered in the air. Students who had just fought stood catching their breath while the audience murmured among themselves, replaying the unexpected outcome.
Saki stepped back from the arena floor, calm despite the loss, while Amaya returned toward the waiting area without saying a word.
The microphone crackled again.
"Attention everyone. Solo Round 2 has now concluded."
The arena gradually quieted as the announcer continued.
"The remaining matches of the Vanguard Tournament will take place tomorrow."
A ripple of whispers spread across the audience stands. Some students sighed in relief while others immediately began analyzing the upcoming battles.
The announcer raised his voice slightly for the final announcement.
"Tomorrow's matches will be as follows:
Amaya Homura versus Ayame Inazuma.
Haruto Inazuma versus Arashi Homura."
A louder murmur passed through the crowd.
Many spectators leaned toward each other, excited by the matchups. Two powerful fighters facing each other in each battle.
In the stands, Mimi's eyes widened as she heard Haruto's name again, while Akari folded her arms thoughtfully, already imagining how the fight might unfold.
Back near the arena floor, Haruto glanced toward Arashi for a moment before looking away, knowing tomorrow would not be easy.
Nearby, Ayame and Amaya stood quietly as well. Neither spoke, but both understood the weight of the match that awaited them.
The announcer gave the final words for the day.
"That concludes today's rounds of the Vanguard Tournament. All remaining participants are dismissed and will return tomorrow for the semifinals."
The arena slowly began to empty, but the excitement in the air remained.
Tomorrow would decide who would reach the final battle.