The second day of the Great Battle Arena had

 arrived—and the crowd was louder than ever.

Banners danced in the morning breeze. Colorful 

ribbons hung from the arena walls. The scent of

 roasted meat and sweet spice filled the air.

 Every seat was packed. Nobles, villagers, 

merchants, and travelers from distant kingdoms 

had come to witness history in the making.

The royal box was filled once again.

King Altherion sat tall in his golden armor, his

 hand resting on the hilt of his ceremonial 

sword.

Beside him, Queen vaelora watched with a

 serene smile.

Prince Kaelion ,as stern as ever, leaned forward

 with his eyes locked on the arena.

Prince Silas, playful and distracted, waved at

 cheering citizens.

And finally, Princess Elirya— with her former arena champion 

teammates eyes calm ready to enjoy today's battle.

Below, standing proudly in his traditional

 crimson robe, Grand Herald Magnus raised his

 hands and shouted into the magical orb that

 echoed across the entire kingdom.

> “Welcome back, brave people of Aetherion!

Today begins the Second Round of the Great Battle Arena!

Only four teams remain—

Only two will move on to the Final Match!”

The crowd roared.

> “Let the first match… BEGIN!

TEAM DEMON vs. TEAM IRONCLAW!”

---

Battle 1: Team Demon vs. Team Ironclaw

Team Ironclaw stomped into the arena, just like 

before—war hammers raised, cloaked in smoke

 and embers. The crowd welcomed them like 

heroes.

But when Team Demon entered… a silence 

swept the crowd.

The air turned cold. Shadows stretched longer.

The five warriors of Team Demon walked 

slowly, almost arrogantly. They were unchanged 

from before—horns, claws, dark armor that

 pulsed like it breathed. The center figure, their

 leader, had eyes like pits of fire and a massive 

sword trailing behind him, sparking with black 

flames.

> “FIGHT!”

Ironclaw struck first—loud, brutal, unified. Their

 leader leapt high and slammed his molten axe 

into the center of the battlefield, sending 

shockwaves of fire. His teammates followed, 

their strikes carving cracks into the stone floor.

But Team Demon… didn’t even flinch.

Instead, shadows coiled around their bodies, 

nullifying impact. One of the demons slipped 

through Ironclaw’s defenses like smoke, driving 

a clawed hand into an armored chest—sending 

a warrior flying.

Then another summoned black fire and

 launched it in waves.

Ironclaw’s strength met unrelenting darkness.

Hammer blows were absorbed. Fire met dark 

flame. One Ironclaw warrior managed to pin a 

demon to the wall, but that same demon split 

into mist, reappearing behind him—and struck.

One by one, Team Ironclaw fell.

Their leader, still standing, roared and charged, 

rage consuming him.

He reached the demon leader.

Their weapons clashed once—twice—on the

 third strike, the demon’s black-flamed sword

 shattered the molten axe in half and slashed 

across his chest.

Ironclaw’s leader fell.

> “Team Ironclaw is unable to battle!

VICTORY TO TEAM DEMON!”

---

The crowd erupted—but a tremor of fear swept 

through the stands. These demons weren’t just 

strong—they were monsters.

In the royal box, King Altherion face darkened.

> “These aren’t ordinary warriors. We must 

watch them carefully,"

Battle 2: Team Drakosoul vs. Team Stormshade

> “And now! The final match of the day!

TEAM DRAKOSOUL vs. TEAM STORMSHADE!”

From the left tunnel, Team Stormshade bolted

 out, faster than lightning. Their speed magic

 already active, they took positions with cocky

 grins. The crowd loved them—sleek, fast, 

unpredictable. Their leader flipped in mid-air 

and landed on one knee, bowing sarcastically to 

the royal box.

From the right tunnel—Drakosoul emerged.

Garrin, massive blade on his shoulder, gave the 

crowd a short nod.

Kaeli, calm as always, walked gracefully, her 

white-blue cloak fluttering.

Lior, cheerful yet focused, raised his hands in

 greeting.

Master Tenzin, the wise coach, followed, arms 

crossed.

And finally—Raikuro.

Masked, silent, his cloak trailing behind him,

 lightning flickering faintly around his boots.

The crowd fell quiet. Whispers ran like wind.

> “Who is he?”

“Is that… the masked one from yesterday?”

“He’s terrifying.”

> “FIGHT!”

---

Stormshade struck first—of course.

Their speed magic surged. Three warriors 

vanished into blurs. Raikuro barely moved—but

 Garrin blocked the first blow with a swing of his 

blade that cracked the arena floor. Kaeli raised

 an ice wall that split into sharp shards and flew

 toward the second Stormshade fighter.

But Stormshade was agile—they weaved

 between ice and blade, hitting from all angles.

Lior had his hands full keeping his team healed.

Raikuro didn’t fight. Not yet.

He stood perfectly still, eyes behind his mask

 tracking every movement.

Then one of the Stormshade warriors tried to

 strike Kaeli from behind.

In a flash, Raikuro moved.

Lightning streaked the air—he appeared in front 

of Kaeli, blade blocking the strike.

> CRACK!

The impact echoed. Stormshade’s warrior flew back.

Now Raikuro joined the fight.

Speed met speed.

Lightning danced with wind.

He clashed with Stormshade’s leader—blades 

meeting, sparks flying. Every strike Raikuro

 made was precise. Kaeli froze their feet. Garrin 

smashed through their guard. Lior’s healing 

light glowed brighter and brighter.

Team Stormshade tried everything—wind 

cloaks, illusions, double-speed bursts—but

 Team Drakosoul was unshakable.

In the final moment, Raikuro launched upward

 and spun in midair—electricity coiling around 

his sword—and slammed it into the ground.

A thunderclap echoed.

The final Stormshade warrior dropped.

> “STORMSHADE IS UNABLE TO BATTLE!

VICTORY TO TEAM DRAKOSOUL!”

The crowd lost control. Cheers. Gasps. Roars.

In the royal box, Princess Elirya stood up.

Prince Kael scowled.

King Altherion n looked… intrigued.

> “Now we know,” he muttered. “They’re the

 real threat to Team Demon.”

---

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Grand 

Herald raised his arms once more.

> “Tomorrow—the final match!

TEAM DRAKOSOUL… vs TEAM DEMON!”

The arena thundered with applause, excitement, and dread.

Tomorrow, everything would be decided.