Stikwel Guilford vs. Midlo Fruijui – The Dark Flame vs. The Silver Strings
In the tournament waiting room, Hobi leaned back with a dreamy sigh, his pink hair shining under the lights. His poetic musings were suddenly interrupted as a chorus of excited squeals filled the room.
Midlo Fruijui had arrived.
With a confident smirk, the silver-ranked String Mana user flipped his black hair and winked at a group of admirers. His very presence seemed to charm the audience, drawing in attention like a magnet.
Hobi pouted dramatically, clutching his chest as if he had been struck. "Ah, the tragedy of love unbalanced. A heartthrob unworthy stands before me, stealing the affections of the blind-hearted masses!"
"You're just jealous," one of the other fighters muttered, rolling their eyes.
Meanwhile, Stikwel Guilford remained silent in the corner, his black-and-white hair covering his eyes. The Dark Flame Mana user had no interest in popularity. His fingers tapped rhythmically on his leg, matching the silent tune in his mind.
Then, the announcer called their names.
"Stikwel Guilford vs. Midlo Fruijui! Step into the arena!"
The Battle Begins
As the two stepped forward, Midlo gave a playful bow. "Try not to fall in love with me, alright?" he teased.
Stikwel didn't respond. Instead, he let out a quiet breath—and then, in a low voice, he started singing.
It was eerie. Haunting. A slow, dark melody that sent shivers through the audience. His Dark Flame Mana flickered to life, spiraling around his body in a hypnotic dance.
Midlo raised an eyebrow. "Huh. So you're one of those guys."
He flicked his fingers. Thin, silver strings extended from his hands, shimmering like threads of moonlight. In an instant, they shot forward, aiming to wrap around Stikwel's limbs and restrict his movement.
But Stikwel vanished.
A shadowy afterimage remained where he had been standing.
BOOM!
Black flames erupted behind Midlo, forcing him to leap back just in time to dodge a burning strike. The crowd gasped as Stikwel reappeared, his voice still humming that eerie tune. His eyes, barely visible beneath his hair, glowed with something unreadable.
Midlo clicked his tongue. "Alright, this might actually be interesting."
Dark Flame vs. Silver Strings – The Battle Heats Up
Midlo adjusted his stance, twirling his fingers as his String Mana extended once more. This time, they moved like invisible threads in the air, weaving an intricate web around the battlefield.
Stikwel remained silent, his black and white hair still covering his eyes. His voice, however, continued to hum—low, haunting, like a song echoing in an empty void.
Then—SNAP.
Midlo yanked his fingers. The strings tightened instantly, shooting toward Stikwel from all directions. They glowed silver, razor-sharp, meant to slice and bind in one swift motion.
But he was already gone.
BOOM!
A sudden explosion of Dark Flame Mana engulfed the battlefield, forcing Midlo to backflip out of range. The ground where Stikwel had been standing was now charred black.
From behind the fire, Stikwel sang louder—his voice deepening, his mana twisting into burning black tendrils that lashed out like whips. The melody, eerie yet mesmerizing, sent a chill through the audience.
Midlo narrowed his eyes. His flames react to his voice?
Realizing this, he quickly plucked his strings, forming a defensive barrier of shimmering threads in front of him. The Dark Flames clashed against the barrier, but instead of burning through, they were caught—entangled like struggling beasts within Midlo's silver threads.
The audience gasped.
Hobi, watching from the waiting room, sighed dramatically. "Ah, love and battle, both a game of entanglements. But to be trapped in strings, rather than the bonds of love? Tragic!"
"Can you shut up for five seconds?" Keiran muttered.
—
Midlo's Counterattack
"Not bad," Midlo said with a grin. He pulled his hands apart, tightening the strings further. The Dark Flames trembled, struggling against his mana. "But if your fire dances to your voice—"
He suddenly plucked his strings in a rapid rhythm.
The vibration sent a soundwave across the battlefield. It wasn't just noise—it disrupted mana flow.
Stikwel's song wavered. His flames flickered.
Midlo didn't hesitate. He yanked the threads, launching them forward at blinding speed.
The silver strings wrapped around Stikwel's arms and legs, tightening instantly.
The crowd held their breath.
—
But Stikwel Just Smiled.
Underneath his hair, his lips curled.
And then—he began to sing again.
A new melody.
A faster one.
The moment his voice changed, his mana ignited in an instant.
BOOM!
The Dark Flames surged, hotter and wilder than before, snapping Midlo's strings like burnt paper.
Midlo's eyes widened. "What—?!"
Before he could react, Stikwel was already behind him.
A whisper of a song. A burning palm.
A direct hit to the back.
—
The Finale
Midlo crashed onto the arena floor, rolling from the force of the explosion. Smoke rose from his coat, his mana strings in tatters.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Stikwel stood tall, his voice slowly fading as the flames around him died down. His hair still covered his eyes, but there was no mistaking it—he had won.
Midlo groaned, pushing himself up slightly. He let out a weak chuckle.
"Man… girls love a winner," he muttered.
Hobi, now dramatically leaning against the wall in the waiting room, gasped, offended. "Excuse me?! Love transcends mere victories, you simpleton!"
"Shut up, Hobi," Keiran and Nirvan said in unison.