The final day of the Great Battle Arena had

 arrived—and the air around Aetherion buzzed

with anticipation. The arena was packed far 

beyond capacity, every seat taken, every wall

 crowded with eager spectators who had 

traveled across kingdoms to witness the grand

 finale.

Trumpets echoed through the skies.

Streamers danced in the wind.

The energy was electric.

In the royal balcony, the Aetherion royal family

 took their seats with great honor.

King Altherion stood tall, commanding 

presence radiating from his golden armor.

Beside him, Queen  smiled gracefully 

to the cheering crowd.

Prince first crossed his arms, gaze intense.

Prince second ,however, wore a deep scowl—the 

wound of past humiliation still fresh.

And Princess Elirya, elegant as ever, stood with

 her former Great Arena teammates.

Down below, the booming voice of Grand 

Herald Magnus echoed through the magical 

sound crystals:

> “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WARRIORS AND

 SPECTATORS!

THE TIME HAS COME—THE GRAND FINALE

 OF THE GREAT BATTLE ARENA!”

The crowd erupted.

> “Please welcome the first of our finalists…

From the shadows of the unknown… the

 terrors of the abyss…

Give it up for—TEAM DEMON!”

From the tunnel emerged five figures, cloaked

 in black and crimson armor.

First came their Healer: Vezrix, robed in tattered 

cloth, his hands constantly glowing with eerie

 green light.

Next, their Coach: Morzak, a horned demon 

sorcerer who observed all with a calculating 

grin.

Then their two warriors:

Xerath, a berserker wielding dual curved blades

 infused with flame,

and Tarnak, a towering brute who controlled 

shadow chains.

Finally, the arena shook as their Captain 

stepped forward—Azor, the Black Flame King.

With black fire swirling around him and a blade 

as long as a man was tall, his presence alone

 silenced the crowd.

> “And now!” the announcer shouted. “Please 

welcome their final challenger—

THE HEROES FROM DRAGON VILLAGE!

TEAM DRAKOSOUL!”

Cheers rang out wildly.

From the tunnel strode Miss Lior, the

 kind-hearted healer with radiant golden light

 trailing her hands.

Master Tenzin, the team’s wise coach, followed

 in calm silence.

Then Kaeli, focused and graceful, mist curling

 from her fingers.

Garrin, proud and powerful, carried his massive

 blade with ease.

And last—a masked warrior cloaked in 

lightning.

> “Their Captain—Mr. Raikuro!”

The crowd leaned forward.

A strange silence fell as Raikuro raised his head 

ever so slightly. His mask reflected the sun, and 

his lightning hummed quietly beneath his boots.

---

The Final Battle Begins

> “LET THE FINAL BATTLE… BEGIN!”

All six combatants burst forward.

Kaeli was first to strike—spears of ice launching 

toward Tarnak, who roared and shattered them 

with shadow chains. Garrin followed with an 

earthquake stomp, lifting jagged stones from

 beneath Azor’s feet.

But Azor was faster—he leapt and launched a

 wave of black fire toward Kaeli, who barely

 dodged.

Raikuro clashed blades with Xerath—sparks and

 lightning dancing in every direction. Every slash 

Raikuro made left crackling lines of light 

behind. His sword moved like a storm itself.

Garrin charged Tarnak while Kaeli froze the field 

to slow Xerath down.

Tarnak swung chains, Garrin blocked.

Kaeli trapped Xerath in ice—he shattered it.

Xerath attacked Lior—Raikuro intercepted him in

 a flash, blade against blade.

The battlefield became a whirlwind of clashing 

elements—fire, ice, earth, and lightning erupting 

in every direction.

Then—

> “Everyone, now!” Master Tenzin shouted from

 the sideline.

Kaeli and Garrin poured all their magic into one

 final, massive attack.

Kaeli summoned a blizzard storm—sharp, 

freezing shards spinning in a giant vortex.

Garrin slammed his blade into the ground, 

creating a massive earth surge that cracked the

 arena open and surged toward their opponents.

Xerath and Tarnak retaliated with full power—

flames and shadows twisted into monstrous 

waves.

> BOOOOOOM!

The impact shook the very foundations of the

 arena. A thunderous explosion of frost, fire, 

rock, and smoke clouded the entire battlefield.

When the dust settled…

All four—Kaeli, Garrin, Xerath, and Tarnak—lay 

unconscious on the ground.

The announcer hesitated, then declared:

> “ALL FOUR WARRIORS ARE UNABLE TO

 BATTLE!

Only the captains remain—Azor and Raikuro!”

---

The Final Duel: Lightning vs Black Flame

The crowd screamed with excitement.

Azor smiled darkly.

Raikuro readied his blade, lightning sparking 

along the edge.

They clashed—again and again. Sword met 

sword. Sparks flew. Dust rose.

Azor’s blade surged with black fire.

Raikuro’s lightning crackled louder with each

 strike.

Neither held back. Every blow was a battle of 

wills—honor versus destruction.

Then, Azor stepped back and raised both hands.

> “You’ve forced my hand,” he growled.

He began chanting in an ancient demonic 

tongue.

A magic circle formed beneath his feet.

Suddenly—a demonic serpent rose from the

 ground. A massive black-scaled creature, its 

eyes glowing with malevolence.

It roared and lunged straight toward Raikuro.

Raikuro leapt into the air, dodging with blinding 

speed.

But Azor was waiting—he struck from the side.

> SLASH!

Raikuro staggered.

His mask cracked.

Everyone watched in horror as, piece by piece, 

the mask shattered—and finally fell.

Gasps rippled through the arena.

The silent masked warrior… was none other than—

> “That’s… the cursed boy…” someone 

whispered.

> “He’s… Bhaila?!”

> “It can’t be…”

In the royal balcony, Queen covered

 her mouth.

King Altherion’s expression turned grim.

Second  Prince face twisted in rage.

But Princess Elirya’s eyes sparkled with relief.

> “I knew it… you will return.”

A heavy silence spread across the crowd.

Then someone shouted:

> “He’s cursed!”

“Kill him!”

“The illness will return!”

The chants grew louder. Fear replaced awe.

Raikuro stood still, blood dripping from his

 cheek.

Azor raised his sword again.

The serpent prepared to strike.

But then—

The sky went dark.

A storm surged from nowhere.

Lightning struck the ground around Raikuro.

Thunder roared as black clouds swirled above.

Then—a bright beam of light shot into the sky

 from Raikuro’s body.

> ROOOOOOOOAAAAARRRR!

The roar shook the entire kingdom.

From the clouds, a massive winged figure

 emerged—a legendary dragon, wreathed in

 lightning, its eyes glowing with ancient power.

Everyone stared, frozen in awe.

The dragon descended, surrounding Raikuro in 

brilliant light.

> “Aaaaaaaaah!” Raikuro’s voice cried from 

within the storm.

The light intensified.

Then—silence.

When the light faded—

What stood in the center of the arena… was not

 Raikuro.

It was a being fused with the dragon—a tall, 

glowing figure with horns, wings, and lightning 

coursing through every limb.

> A half-dragon, half-human warrior.

The crowd was speechless.

Raikuro raised his sword.

BOOM!

A thunderstrike rained from the sky and 

exploded across the battlefield—blinding light 

and howling winds.

When the dust cleared…

Azor and the serpent were down.

Motionless.

> “TEAM DEMON IS UNABLE TO BATTLE!

THE WINNER—TEAM DRAKOSOUL!!!”

The crowd was stunned-

Kaeli, Garrin, Lior—all rushed toward Raikuro 

with smiles.

But just as they reached him, his body glowed 

again.

The dragon energy faded.

Raikuro collapsed.

Unconscious.

> “RAIKURO!”

Lior began healing him frantically.

Master Tenzin watched quietly from the

 sideline, arms crossed, hiding a proud smile.

In the royal balcony, King Altherion stood.

> “The warrior has collapsed. As king, I declare—

The final ceremony to honor the champions 

will be held…

TOMORROW.”