P75 - The Ones Who'll Walk Through The Fire

The arena's sky dimmed as the next match began.

"From NTG - NTG1 enters the field!"
Rikushi, Valentine, Kaide, Rumoto, and Para stood at the gate, eyes forward, backs straight, and their presence unwavering.

"Facing them - WL1! Latro, Brevis, Vim, Sana, and Kali!"
The World Leaders emerged like wolves, with wide grins, heavy steps, and their eyes locked on their chosen prey.

Latro's gaze never left Rikushi.
Kali smirked the second she saw Valentine.
Brevis cracked his neck as his fingers curled around the handle of his newly equipped axe.
Sana's hands already pulsed with plasma-charged chains.
Vim remained still--but not calm. Tension brewed under his skin as rage and darkness flooded his eyes and mind.

The bell rang.

Valentine and Kali both ran at each other, colliding immediately in the center of the arena, fists flying like thunderclaps and meteors.
Each punch sounded like bone hitting metal.
Kali ducked, spun, landed a heavy blow to Valentine's ribs--making him grunt and stutter.

He returned with a shoulder-check, making her stumbling.

"You've gotten slow," she grinned, blood on her lip.
"You've gotten cocky," Valentine replied, exhaling and rolling his neck.

"I've been training every day since you bested me," Kali spat, feinting a jab before striking with her elbow.
"I've been rebuilding everyday, picking up the missing pieces" Valentine replied, catching her fist and stepping forward.
"And now?" He landed a blow to her chest. "I'm just about whole."

Their fists blurred.
Valentine's shoulder flared and his ribs started to crack while his knees tensed. His hits started to slow, as if he was running out of energy.
Kali's arms began bruising, with her footing weakening as each blow left her staggering back half a step more than before.

Meanwhile--

Latro screamed as he raised his sword--
The Sunbearer, burning hot and trailing embers in the air.
"RIKUSHI!!"

Brevis was right behind him, teeth clenched, fists clenched even harder, with his axe shimmering a feint glow of 'encaged' power.

Sana's plasma chains slithered through the air--three strands slicing toward Rikushi's legs and arms, summoning plasma-spikes from the ground where they landed, which barely missed Rikushi.

But Kaide intercepted Vim with a glowing, fierce swing of his sword, locking blades in mid-charge.
"You're not touching him," Kaide hissed.

Para, standing tall behind the frontline, raised both arms. His Light Magic sparked into twin beams, one aimed at Sana, the other flicking suppressive shots near Vim's side. Sana reeled slightly as her chains were grazed.

Rumoto, eyes glowing blue with an aura as cold as frost, slammed his axe to the ground between Brevis and Rikushi.
Brevis grunted.
"Big mistake."
"I don't make mistakes," Rumoto said, and lunged with an upward sweep of Glacial Tundra.

Now only Rikushi and Latro stood in each other's flames.

Latro's sword seethed in the air, glowing orange, ready to ignite. His eyes were wide with obsession and insanity.

"You embarrassed me," Latro seethed, "and now I'll burn you alive, in front of everyone, just like you did to me!"

Rikushi didn't flinch.
Their blades met.

CLANG.

The clash echoed through the arena.

Fire met fire--Rikushi's black Estoc blade, heat laced with purpose and fury, pressed against the wild heat of Latro's madness.

The pressure pushed sand beneath their feet outward.

Rikushi's eyes were calm and focused, but still carried the emotion of anger and seriousness.
"You're still so weak," Rikushi said tauntingly.

Latro screamed, as he was enraged. Flames burst from his blade as he shoved harder. But, Rikushi didn't budge.

Mid-fight, the arena became a kaleidoscope of motion and sound:

Kali's breath grew ragged, her strikes stopped hitting as hard, while Valentine's speed and stamina slowly diminished.

Kaide and Vim danced in deadly circles--parries and sparks flying with every clash.

Para, steady, still, and silent, channeled light through his fingertips, his cover fire forcing Sana behind her chains and into a defensive position.

Rumoto's ice met Brevis' raw strength, and the ground around them cracked with frost and fury.

And in the heart of it--Latro and Rikushi raged like twin suns, trying to claim the center of the universe to themself.

The crowd was in awe.
Even the announcer had gone quiet.

Rikushi pushed forward.
"You always thought strength was the center of 'power'" he said.
"But power without control... is just noise, and that's all you've been this whole time, an annoying b***h"

Latro's flame cracked and flared.
"SHUT UP, PEASANT!"

Rikushi raised his free hand. Fire swirled around it--controlled, sharp, deliberate, and bright.
A ring of flame danced in his palm.

"I'll show you real fire, just like you asked."

"As you're nothing without this artifact of a sword."