The air inside the colosseum buzzed with anticipation. The battlefield, now stripped of its previous chaotic biomes, had been replaced with a circular stone arena reinforced with enchantments to withstand the intensity of the upcoming battles. The announcer's voice echoed throughout the stands, introducing the first match of the third round.
"Garrik the Iron Wall versus Velra the Arcane Storm!"
A roar erupted from the audience as both combatants stepped forward.
Garrik was a towering figure, clad in a suit of dark, heavy armor etched with defensive runes. His imposing frame was further accentuated by the massive tower shield strapped to his left arm, its surface reinforced with layered steel and a faint magical glow. A seasoned warrior, he had made a name for himself not just as an unmovable wall but as a relentless force when given the chance to counterattack. His bald head gleamed under the arena lights, and his thick beard barely concealed the battle-hardened expression beneath. In his right hand, he wielded a warhammer, its head dense enough to crush stone.
He walked with slow, deliberate steps, his shield raised, his stance unbreakable.
Across from him stood Velra, a stark contrast in both size and demeanor. She was lean and wiry, with sharp, piercing green eyes filled with confidence. Long silver hair, braided to avoid obstruction in battle, shimmered slightly, as if charged with residual static. She wore a sleek, dark-blue combat tunic reinforced with enchanted cloth, allowing her to remain swift without sacrificing protection.
In her hands, she carried no weapon—she didn't need one. Velra's power came from the crackling blue energy dancing between her fingertips, lightning coiling around her forearms like living serpents. Runes along her boots glowed faintly, marking them as enchanted to enhance her speed.
Velra smirked as she eyed her opponent.
"Slow. Predictable. Heavy armor? Perfect target for lightning."
Garrik simply exhaled through his nose, unmoved.
"BEGIN!"
The battle erupted instantly.
Velra was the first to move. The moment the fight started, she kicked off the ground, vanishing in a blur of speed. Sparks crackled behind her as her enchanted boots propelled her forward.
A sharp CRACK split the air as a bolt of lightning shot from her palm, streaking toward Garrik. The attack struck his shield, causing a brief explosion of blue light and a deafening thunderclap that shook the arena. Dust scattered from the impact, but Garrik remained rooted in place, shield raised.
Velra's eyes narrowed.
"He didn't even flinch? Fine."
She darted around him, sending another series of rapid lightning bolts from different angles. The attacks crackled and struck his armor, making the metal glow faintly with residual energy. Yet, Garrik did not move. He merely rotated his shield, absorbing the strikes, letting her expend her energy.
The crowd murmured—was he really planning to just endure it?
Then, he moved.
With a grunt, Garrik stomped forward, his sheer bulk making the ground tremble. Velra darted back, keeping her distance. She knew better than to let him close the gap. But Garrik wasn't just advancing—he was forcing her into a rhythm, predicting her movements.
Another lightning bolt surged toward him. This time, he twisted his shield, deflecting it to the side, where it struck the ground with a loud explosion. Sparks and dust flew into the air, momentarily obscuring Velra's vision.
That was all he needed.
Like a battering ram, Garrik lunged forward with surprising speed, his shield raised. Before Velra could react, he slammed it down like a falling boulder. She barely managed to dodge, rolling to the side as the impact cracked the stone beneath where she had stood.
"Close. Too close."
For the first time, she felt the pressure of his overwhelming presence. He wasn't just a wall—he was a moving fortress.
Velra didn't hesitate. Instead of retreating further, she planted her feet firmly. Her hands surged with energy, and within a breath, she condensed it into a single, humming sphere of blue lightning.
A deafening boom followed as she launched it forward.
Garrik braced, but the moment the ball struck his shield, it detonated into a web of electric tendrils that wrapped around his armor. His body locked up, his muscles spasming as the electricity coursed through him.
Velra grinned, capitalizing on the opening.
She dashed in, her hand crackling as she coated it in concentrated lightning. She moved with such speed that she seemed to flicker, appearing at Garrik's exposed side.
A direct hit to his ribs.
The impact sent a shockwave through his body, and for the first time, he staggered. The crowd gasped—he was faltering!
Velra's eyes glowed with excitement.
"One more hit, and I'll take him down."
She charged again, ready to finish it.
But Garrik's stagger had been a trap.
Just as she came within range, his arm shot out with monstrous speed. His warhammer swung in a brutal arc, aimed not at her, but at the ground beneath her feet.
The impact sent stone shards flying, disrupting her footing. Before she could react, Garrik's shield followed through, slamming into her midsection with bone-crushing force.
Velra's body was sent flying backward. She skidded across the arena floor, sparks flying from her enchanted boots as they tried to slow her down. She gasped, struggling to breathe—the impact had nearly knocked the wind out of her.
Velra forced herself to stand. She clenched her fists, lightning still sparking. She wasn't done.
But then, she stumbled.
Her vision blurred, her knees buckling. Her body was still reeling from the force of that last blow.
She grit her teeth, trying to push past the pain. But deep down, she knew.
The referee stepped forward.
"Velra is unable to continue! Garrik the Iron Wall wins!"
The crowd erupted.
Garrik lowered his shield, his face unreadable. He glanced at Velra as she finally steadied herself.
"You're fast," he rumbled. "But storms don't break walls."
Velra huffed, glaring up at him. But despite her frustration, she smirked.
"I'll give you that one."
As she turned to leave the arena, she silently vowed—next time, she'd shatter that wall.
Garrik, victorious, raised his warhammer to the sky.
The first match was decided.
Match 1: Winner – Garrik "The Iron Wall"