The Colosseum was still filled with an eerie silence after the previous match. Mon Tsukigiri had walked off the battlefield, victorious but leaving behind something far more terrifying—a power none of them had seen before. The lifeless body of Touwa Raijin had been taken away, but the image of his instant beheading still haunted everyone. The crowd, once full of energy, now whispered in fear.
Despite the lingering tension, the tournament had to continue.
Jun took a deep breath, steadying himself before raising his hand. "Next match! Sho Hikari of the Light Clan versus Kuki Kazan of the Volcano Clan!"
The crowd stirred, snapping out of their fear. Sho and Kuki locked eyes. Unlike the last match, this one wasn't about life and death—it was about pride, strength, and strategy.
Kuki grinned, rolling his shoulders. "I'm not gonna go easy on you, idiot."
Sho smirked, gripping his sword tightly. "That's my line."
Jun lowered his hand. "Begin!"
The moment the words left Jun's lips, Sho dashed forward with his Reverse Ring activated, his sword gleaming under the Colosseum lights. Kuki, however, slammed his foot into the ground, causing the surrounding rocks to explode into a thick smoke screen.
Sho stopped in his tracks, his vision now completely blocked. "Tch. Annoying," he muttered.
Suddenly, a massive rock came crashing down from above. Sho reversed its momentum in an instant, sending it hurtling back toward Kuki. But Kuki didn't flinch. He simply clenched his fist and smashed the rock into pieces with his bare hand.
The crowd erupted.
Sho narrowed his eyes. "So he can overpower my reversal if it's a direct attack, huh?"
Kuki placed his hand on the ground. "Erupt."
The earth trembled, and suddenly a small crack formed beneath Sho's feet. Lava erupted from the opening, the intense heat distorting the air.
Sho leaped back, his eyes sharp. "He's forcing me into a corner."
But Sho wasn't just dodging—he was waiting. Kuki suddenly rushed forward, using the lava as a distraction. His fists, coated in flame, aimed straight for Sho's chest.
Sho smirked. "Got you."
Just as Kuki closed in, Sho reversed the flow of lava, sending it straight toward Kuki instead.
Kuki's eyes widened. He quickly raised his hands, forming a defensive stone wall just in time to block the lava. But that wasn't his real plan.
While Sho was focused on the lava, Kuki sunk into the ground, burrowing like a beast.
Kyoko, watching from the stands, clenched her fists. "Sho, watch out!"
Sho's eyes darted around, but before he could react, a flaming fist erupted from below, aiming straight for his stomach.
But Sho was ready.
In an instant, he grabbed Kuki's arm and hurled him into the air. Kuki twisted mid-air, barely managing to land at the edge of the ring. He punched a hole into the ground to stabilize himself before he could fall out.
Kuki exhaled. "Damn… you're good."
Sho smiled. "You too."
But Kuki wasn't done yet. He clenched his fists, and the entire Colosseum began to heat up. The stones beneath them glowed, the air became thick with warmth, and sweat started to drip from everyone's foreheads.
Kyoko wiped her forehead. "What… is this heat?"
Kuki's body radiated power. He was gathering all the heat around him, concentrating it into a single, devastating attack.
Sho knew he couldn't let this continue. He focused all his energy into his Reverse Ring.
"Reverse Collapse."
In an instant, the entire heat wave reversed, all of Kuki's energy turning against him.
Kuki gasped, suddenly overwhelmed by his own extreme heat. His body trembled, sweat poured down his face, and his movements slowed. The Colosseum returned to normal, the unbearable heat disappearing as quickly as it had come.
Sho dashed forward. "You did well, Kuki."
With one swift push, he sent Kuki out of the ring.
Jun raised his hand. "Sho Hikari wins!"
The Colosseum erupted with cheers. Unlike the previous match, this was a battle of skill, strategy, and pure willpower.
Sho extended his hand toward Kuki, who was sitting on the ground, breathing heavily.
Kuki looked up, then grinned. "You're a good man, Sho."
Sho smiled back. "I know."
As they clasped hands, the crowd continued to roar, celebrating what was undoubtedly the most strategic match of the Clan War.
But in the back of Sho's mind, something still lingered.
Mon Tsukigiri.
He was waiting in the finals.