Divine Reckoning

The Colosseum, already cracked, scarred, and nearly in ruin from the past battles, now stood silent. But, it was a different kind of silence, an anticipatory silence.

Only three teams remained.

NTG's Team 1 had earned their seat in the final match--and they wouldn't be the ones fighting now.

No, this next clash belonged to the only other remaining teams--Astralla Clan and the mysterious force that had torn through every round like a storm.

LuLu stood at the center of the arena, her robes singed, her eyes burning with fury.

The horn sounded.

A beam of demonic energy cracked across the sand like lightning--LuLu spun mid-air, dodging it--but Kaide, Yunoi, and Faust were not so lucky. They were hit directly and sent flying, bodies tumbling like leaves in a storm.

But LuLu roared like a Hurricane, eyes flaring white.

Her halo reignited with that vengeful Glow.

Wings of obsidian and gold unfurled.
Her Vengeful ArchAngel form ignited once again.

She blitzed forward, divine speed tearing the wind apart--her scythe glowing like a comet ready to split the heavens.

But the moment she reached striking distance--

Boom.

A third figure from the opposing team crashed into her from above, driving her into the ground with a crater-forging impact.

Her halo shattered. Her wings snapped. The glow vanished.

LuLu went limp.

Unconscious and defeated in one blow.

Backstage, NTG's Team 1 gathered in silence. Rikushi's jaw tightened. Blaidd stared down at his hands. Glonk looked at the screen, unmoving.

"...We need a plan," Rikushi muttered. "A real one. Not just who hits harder."

The four huddled close.

They weren't planning for a victory.

They were planning for survival.

Because the finals had just been announced.

"--LADIES AND GENTLEMEN--"

The Arena shook from the voice of the commentator.

"YOUR FINAL MATCH IS HERE!"

The lights dimmed, spotlights slashing across the sky.

"TEAM NTG: Rikushi, Blaidd, Valentine, and Glonk!"

Cheers.

Then a slow, rumbling drumbeat.

"VERSUS--"

And the screen flared with godlike energy.

"SANA, MAGNUS, VIRGO, AND BIDUS."

Silence.

No cheers.

Just pure awe.

"Sana, the One of the World's Best Mage.
Magnus, the Godly Commander of War.
Virgo, the Divine Shield of the Heavens.
And Bidus--the Kingdom-Leveler."

Rikushi turned pale.

Blaidd's hand slipped slightly from its grip on his dagger.

Glonk just stands there (menacingly).

Valentine dropped to his knees.

His eyes trembled, mouth dry, sweat pouring down his neck.

"They... they ranked them... that's why they're the top twenty one in the entire world..."

"Bidus is number ten... The Kingdom-Leveler. He destroyed a city the size of Petra with one swing of his blade."

"Sana is number nine. Her magic bends reality."

"Virgo's the fifth strongest... she once stopped a meteor with her hands."

"And Magnus..." Valentine looked up, voice breaking, "...he's ranked eighteen, and he's their least dangerous member."

Blaidd grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Look at me," he said coldly.

Valentine's panicked eyes met his.

"You think we came this far to break now?"

Rikushi stepped in. "We either call it quits here--or show the world who we really are."

Valentine, shaking, clenched his fists.

Then nodded.

"...Let's go."

The gates creaked open.

Sand crunched underfoot.

NTG entered the battlefield--opposite four towering figures cloaked in glowing energy.

Sana floated inches above the ground, eyes unreadable.
Magnus stood still as a statue, arms folded, sword strapped but untouched.
Virgo was armored in radiant plates, her mere presence humming like divine gravity.
And Bidus...
His aura bled black flames. Even standing still, the Arena floor beneath him cracked.

No words were exchanged.

No taunts. No threats.

Just tension.

And a storm about to break.

Rikushi narrowed his eyes.

"We show them everything," he whispered. "Every last secret we've been holding, every last power we've trained, every last piece we've discovered in the last couple months, we will show them here."

Valentine's voice was calm now.

"Then let the world remember this fight."

Blaidd Agreeing... "Godspeed"

The horn rang.

The Arena Games' Finals have begun.