The battle between Elric and Aldruid raged on, shaking the very foundations of the arena. The crowd roared in exhilaration, swept up in the ferocious spectacle of water and brute force clashing in pure combat. Thunderous growls from Ginkuma reverberated through the battlefield, each roar sending a tremor through the hearts of the spectators. Meanwhile, mist shockwaves erupted from Nessie's power, filling the air with an eerie, shifting haze.
The bandit announcer, fueled by the intensity of the moment, shouted over the chaos, his voice injecting even more life into the fight.
Elric wiped sweat and blood from his brow, his sharp eyes locked onto his opponent. "Before the sun rises, one shall fall."
Aldruid's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "And one shall stay standing."
A sharp whistle cut through the air. Ginkuma materialized beside Aldruid, responding instantly to his master's call. The third level of Aldruid's Quas Blood awakened—a partial fusion. Though his physique remained human-like, his head had fully transformed into Ginkuma's, with feral, piercing eyes and razor-sharp teeth. His form had grown bulkier, his hands now adorned with elongated, lethal claws, and patches of thick, dark fur covered half of his body.
Elric did not hesitate. A swirling lance of water formed in his grasp, pulsating with raw energy. With a swift motion, he hurled it at Aldruid. The latter dodged effortlessly, his movements a blur as he closed the distance.
Both warriors charged, their battle instincts overriding everything else.
Fists met claws. Water flail clashed against sharpened talons. The brutal exchange of blows sent shockwaves rippling outward, the sheer force of their attacks shaking the very ground beneath them. Elric landed glancing slashes upon Aldruid's body, water energy searing into his opponent's flesh. In turn, Aldruid's claws raked across Elric's arm, leaving shallow but painful gashes in their wake.
Their eyes locked in mutual determination.
Then, with a sudden burst of speed, they lunged simultaneously.
Their collision detonated a powerful explosion of force, dust and debris erupting in every direction. The crowd shielded their eyes, gasping in awe as the battlefield transformed into a chaotic storm of power.
Elric was the first to regain his footing. His hands moved swiftly, summoning another attack.
Unleashing a spiraling torrent of water that surged toward Aldruid with crushing force.
Aldruid did not waver. The spirit bear bellowed, slamming its massive paws into the ground. An ethereal barrier materialized, absorbing the full impact of the water blast. Yet, before Aldruid could react, Elric was already flanking him, moving with inhuman speed.
Elric roared, summoning a massive, serpentine hydra composed entirely of water. The attack surged toward Aldruid, its jaws snapping hungrily.
Aldruid clenched his fists. He leapt forward, spectral claws glowing with golden energy as they sliced through the hydra. The water construct shattered into mist, blinding the battlefield momentarily.
Then, from within the fog, Aldruid struck.
Elric barely had time to react as Aldruid's fist, glowing with sheer power, rocketed toward him. He instinctively summoned a water shield, but the impact was overwhelming. The barrier shattered, sending Elric hurtling backward across the arena floor.
Pain flared through his body. Yet, as he skidded to a stop, he forced himself up, breathing heavily. He could feel Nessie's power still coursing through him.
Aldruid advanced, his golden aura flickering violently. "This is the end."
Elric gritted his teeth. "Not yet."
A surge of energy pulsed through him. His fusion with Nessie deepened—scales formed along his arms, his hands elongating into webbed, clawed extremities. His eyes glowed with an eerie blue, his power reaching its peak.
Without hesitation, he lunged.
Their final clash began.
Elric slashed forward, water energy coiling around his claws like razor-sharp tendrils. Aldruid met him mid-air, his claws burning in ethereal glow. When their blows connected, another shockwave erupted, splitting the ground beneath them. The battlefield became a warzone, dust and energy flying in all directions as they exchanged relentless attacks.
The strain was evident on both warriors. Their bodies bore countless wounds, their breath ragged, yet neither yielded.
Aldruid smirked. "You're at your limit, Elric."
Elric exhaled sharply. "Let's find out."
Aldruid charged forward, gathering all his remaining strength into one final attack. His claws radiated overwhelming force, a finishing blow aimed straight for Elric's heart.
Elric's instincts screamed at him. He barely had time to react.
A massive surge of water erupted beneath his feet, launching him forward at impossible speed. He twisted mid-air, barely avoiding the fatal strike. Before Aldruid could react, Elric's claws slashed across his chest, shattering his golden aura.
Aldruid gasped. "What—"
Elric didn't stop. He spun, summoning a spiraling vortex of water.
The battlefield was consumed by the raging torrent. Aldruid were engulfed, lifted from the ground as the storm swallowed them whole. The force of the attack was overwhelming.
Then, silence.
As the vortex dissipated, Aldruid collapsed to his knees, drenched and gasping for breath. Ginkuma flickered before vanishing into the ether.
Elric, barely able to stand, clenched his fists. "It's over."
The crowd erupted in a thunderous roar.
Aldruid looked up, his breath labored, yet he smirked. "Heh… You really got me."
Elric let out a heavy exhale before dropping to one knee. "Yeah… just barely."
The battle was over. But the echoes of their clash would be remembered forever.
Elric had won the fourth fight!
The crowd cheered even though their champion was defeated. "The fight is one of the best tonight," one bandit said, shaking his head in admiration. Another grunted in agreement, gulping down his drink. "Haven't seen a battle like that in years." Others in the audience muttered among themselves, recounting the highlights of the match. Even some of Stallion's men nodded in approval, impressed by Elric's resilience.
Meanwhile, tension was growing in the slums of the fort. Hidden in the shadowed alleys and abandoned buildings, the townsfolk were secretly preparing for their uprising. Their weapons were crude—rusted swords, sharpened farming tools, wooden spears bound with metal scraps—but their resolve was unwavering. Their leader, Marlo Rook, a former blacksmith turned rebel, sat in a dimly lit cellar beneath an old tavern, discussing plans with his two most trusted individuals.
One of which was Cricket, who had been instrumental in rallying support against the bandits. He was admired by Marlo as he was able to complete his mission, and that is to bring someone who can face-off the Stallion and his champions.
"We need to strike when they least expect it," he whispered, his fingers tracing a rough map of the fort spread across the table. "If we take them by surprise first, they'll be weakened before the real fight begins."
Beside him sat Rhea, a battle-hardened woman who had once fought in mercenary bands before the bandits took over. She crossed her arms and nodded. "Their morale is high now, but they are mostly all in the same area now. I agree with Cricket."
Marlo leaned forward, his expression grim. "We don't have much time. If Stallion catches wind of our plans, he'll slaughter us before we even get a chance to fight."
Cricket smirked. "We will just wait for the informant. If Stallion is half-way on his battle - then we strike"
The three nodded with each other in approval.
"For Gessa" Marlo spoke.
"For Gessa" Cricket and Rhea answered.