Ito and Sasaki stepped into the arena as the tension in the room rose. In the background, TJ was still being treated by the medics, barely conscious.
Proctor: "When you are both ready… begin."
Ito stood calm, his posture relaxed, eyes sharp.
Ito: "Ready."
Across from him, Sasaki trembled slightly, sweat running down his face.
Sasaki: "R-Ready…"
Proctor: "Begin!"
Ito: "Wind Power: Mini Tornado."
A spiraling stream of gray wind shot from Ito's hand, twisting violently as it tore across the arena.
Sasaki: "Water Power: Shield of Water!"
A wall of water surged up from the ground, crashing into the wind and barely holding it back. The impact sent water splashing everywhere.
From the sidelines, Isao watched closely.
Isao (thinking):Water power… mostly defensive. But that shield barely held…
Ito (smirking): "Nice. Let's see you stop this."
"Wind Power: Air Cut."
A sharp, invisible blade of wind sliced forward.
Sasaki's eyes widened—
Too late.
SLASH!
Blood spilled as a deep cut opened across his stomach.
Sasaki: "W-What… I didn't even see it…"
The arena went quiet.
Ito (coldly): "Forfeit… or I won't hold back next time."
Sasaki clenched his teeth, shaking.
Sasaki: "No… I'm not done!"
He raised both hands.
"Water Power: Tidal Wave!"
A massive wave surged forward, crashing into Ito and slamming him across the arena. Water exploded everywhere, leaving cuts and bruises across Ito's body.
Isao: "No way… how did he use something that strong in that condition?"
Proctor (impressed): "An offensive water technique… very rare."
Ito stood up slowly, dripping wet, breathing heavier now.
Ito: "…It's not over."
He steadied his stance.
Ito: "Wind Power: Tiger of Wind."
The air around him roared.
A massive tiger formed from compressed wind—its body swirling, its presence overwhelming.
It lunged.
Sasaki tried to move—
Too slow.
The tiger tore into his arm.
CRACK!
Sasaki screamed as the force sent him crashing to the ground, his arm mangled by the pressure.
Proctor: "Stop the match! Medics—NOW!"
Sasaki collapsed, unconscious, blood pooling beneath him.
As he was carried away…
Isao noticed something.
Ito was smiling.
No guilt. No hesitation.
Just satisfaction.
Something inside Isao snapped.
Proctor: "Winner… Ito."
He paused.
"…Next match. Yamazaki vs Ito. Step forward."
Isao walked into the arena.
His fists were clenched.
His eyes… colder than before.
Isao: "I'm ready."
Ito (grinning): "Good. I was waiting for you!"
Proctor: "Begin!"
The second the word left his mouth—
Isao vanished.
"Lightning Power: Quick Flash!"
A crack of thunder echoed.
Isao appeared behind Ito instantly.
"Lightning Power: Piercing Strike!"
Electricity surged through his arm as he drove it forward—
BOOM!
Ito screamed as the attack tore through his arm, electricity exploding outward.
Ito: "MY ARM—!!"
Isao stood there, breathing heavily.
His voice was cold.
Isao: "Now you know how it feels…"
For a moment… silence.
Then—
Ito laughed.
Ito: "Heh… so you're not as perfect as they say."
Wind began swirling again.
Ito: "Wind Power: Tiger of Wind!"
The massive wind beast charged again.
But Isao didn't move.
Isao: "That won't work on me."
"Lightning Power: Thunder Cloud."
Dark clouds spread across the arena, crackling with electricity.
The entire battlefield dimmed.
Ito: "…I can't see…"
Lightning flickered within the mist.
Ito staggered, losing blood rapidly.
His breathing grew unstable.
Then—
Silence.
Ito: "…I forfeit."
The clouds faded.
The arena returned to normal.
Isao stood still.
Looking at Ito's arm.
At the damage he caused.
His fists slowly unclenched.
His anger… fading.
Replaced by guilt.
Isao (whispering): "What… did I just do…"
He lowered his head.
Isao: "Father… forgive me..."
"…I let my anger take over."
Proctor (sighing): "Medics… again."
He looked at Isao.
"…Winner of section one: Yamazaki."
Soon after, TJ and Sasaki—both barely healed—returned for the final match.
Proctor: "Before we begin… as you guys might know last place will be sent to Pyro Island."
The room went silent.
TJ: "Wait—WHAT?!"
Sasaki: "…I won't lose."
Proctor: "Begin! Who will the loser be!"
As they fought, Isao turned to the proctor.
Isao: "What is Pyro Island?"
The proctor glanced at him.
Proctor: "…Your mother never told you?"
He crossed his arms.
"It's where we send the weakest teams."
"A military island. Brutal training. No breaks."
He paused.
"…Most who go there… don't come back the same."
Isao's eyes widened.
TJ and Sasaki clashed, both exhausted.
Blow after blow.
Neither gaining ground.
Until—
BAM!
Sasaki landed a decisive strike.
TJ collapsed.
Proctor: "Winner… Sasaki."
TJ clenched his fists on the ground.
Frustrated.
Defeated.
Isao walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Isao: "You did your best."
TJ forced a small smile.
TJ: "…Yeah."
Proctor: "Final standings for Section One…"
He listed them off.
Then dismissed them.
Isao and TJ walked toward Section Two.
The moment they arrived—
They froze.
The arena was silent.
A boy stood at the center.
Wind swirling around him.
Calm. Untouched.
Proctor #2: "…Match over."
"…Winner: Endou."
A pause.
"…Time: five seconds."
No one spoke.
Even Isao felt it.
This pressure…
This presence…
Was different.