The forest became more chaotic with each passing second as the race neared its climax. The ground shook, trees fell, and competitors fought fiercely to secure their place at the finish line.
Dan vs. Brik
Brik charged at Dan, his massive fists smashing through trees and leaving deep craters in the ground. Each punch carried immense force, tearing apart the battlefield.
Dan barely dodged, his eyes widening. "Woah, woah!" he muttered to himself. (I didn't know this guy would be this dangerous!)
Before he could react, Brik suddenly appeared right in front of him.
"Hey, what are you thinking about?" Brik taunted before delivering a devastating punch.
Dan barely had time to raise his defenses before the impact sent him flying off a tree and slamming into the ground with a loud crash.
"Damn it…" Dan groaned. (Good thing I used my 'Bang' to block. If it's strong for attack, it should work for defense too… but that still hurt!)
Brik chuckled as he cracked his knuckles. "Heh. You're a disappointment for a Lightning Nation boy. I thought you'd be stronger."
Dan coughed but smirked. "Well, we all get disappointed from time to time."
Brik grinned, stepping forward. "Well, it's time to finish this—"
Before he could complete his sentence, Dan vanished.
A sudden burst of blue lightning tore through the air, followed by a thunderous boom.
Dan reappeared right in front of Brik, his fist surging with lightning.
His punch landed directly into Brik's stomach, sending the brute blasting backward, crashing through trees.
Brik gasped, his vision shaking. "W-What the hell?"
Dan smirked, lightning crackling around his body. (Yes! It worked! Using a lot of 'Bang' on my feet to propel me at light speed—mixed with a strong lightning punch—it worked like magic!)
He clenched his fists, stepping forward. "Alright, let's go."
Esther in the Forest
Esther sprinted through the dense forest, dodging branches and leaping over fallen logs. Her mind raced as fast as her feet.
"Damn it, I can't believe Steven finished so fast!" she muttered. "More and more people are reaching the finish line—I have to hurry!"
As she ran, her instincts suddenly flared—
She dodged just in time as a powerful kick charged with lightning nearly struck her.
"What the heck?!" she gasped, turning quickly—only to see a smirking figure standing in her path.
Rebecca, a Knight Exam Candidate from the Lightning Nation's 16th Branch, cracked her knuckles, electricity sparking around her body.
"What's wrong? Can't react fast enough?" Rebecca taunted.
Esther sighed, stepping back cautiously. "Come on, Becca… should we really be fighting right now? You know people are already finishing the race. Let's focus on that."
Rebecca scoffed. "Shut up, little girl. I'll finish the race, but one of my main goals is to crush you in this exam."
Esther's eye twitched. (Little girl?! I'm only two years younger than her!)
She sighed again. "Rebecca, I don't have time for—"
Before she could finish, Rebecca charged forward, her fist crackling with lightning.
But just before she could land the hit—
A girl with massive dark blue gauntlets smashed Rebecca into the ground.
At the same time, another girl with the same ability delivered a powerful kick to Esther, sending her rolling.
"Ugh!" Esther groaned as she stumbled back.
The two girls stood confidently, their dark blue armor-like gauntlets resembling scorpion claws.
Amber smirked. "Nice, sis. We got 'em."
Rose grinned, pressing her foot on Rebecca's back. "We'll crush them just like I envisioned."
Rebecca growled.
Electricity exploded from her body, blasting Rose off her.
Rebecca stood up, wiping her mouth. "Stupid bitch… do you even know who you're messing with?"
Esther groaned as she got up. "Be careful, Becca… they have Scorpion Chi, like one of my knights."
Rebecca scoffed. "And? I've seen another like that from the Fire Branch. These two don't look like they can fully control their powers yet… but I still wouldn't mind recruiting them. The Lightning Nation missed out on one before."
Rose clicked her tongue. "Tch. They're tougher than we thought."
Amber cracked her knuckles. "We were prepared for that."
The sisters charged forward.
Rebecca gritted her teeth. "Shit, they're actually fast!"
Rose's fist landed cleanly on Rebecca's jaw.
"Damn it, she got Rebecca!" Esther gasped.
Amber smirked. "Hey, keep watching me."
Amber unleashed a flurry of fast attacks, forcing Esther on the defensive.
Esther managed to dodge most of them—until—
Amber's tail lashed out, slamming Esther hard and sending her tumbling back.
Rebecca wiped her mouth, glancing at Esther. "Wow, these girls are really good."
Esther groaned as she got up. "Yeah… which is why I think we should work together."
Rebecca scoffed. "Huh? Hell no! Why would I work with someone I want to beat?"
Esther clenched her fists. "Just listen! If we work together and use surprise moves, we'll take them off guard. It'll give us the advantage." She crossed her arms. "Besides, we'll still be working together when we become knights."
Rebecca hesitated before sighing. "Fine. Alright. What's the plan?"
The two whispered their strategy as the sisters frowned.
Amber tilted her head. "What the hell are they doing? Talking in the middle of a fight?"
Rose clicked her tongue. "Idiots. Quick, Amber—let's strike while their guard is down."
They charged at full speed, fists clenched.
But just as they were about to land their attack—
Esther smirked. "Made you come here first."
She raised an air shield, blocking their attacks before blasting them far back.
Rebecca leaped into the air, her fists surging with lightning.
"Lightning Double Fist Sky Punch!"
She came crashing down, punching both of them into the ground.
Rebecca smirked. "Nice."
Esther grinned. "Time to turn the tables."
Dan vs. Brik (Final Moments)
Dan and Brik clashed again—Dan delivering powerful lightning punches, dodging Brik's heavy blows.
Brik growled. (Shit, when did this kid get so fast?!)
Dan smirked. "There's more where that came from!"
He launched himself with lightning, landing on a tree.
Brik scowled. "I'm gonna break you, kid."
He charged again—
Dan dodged, attempting a strike—
But—
Brik's elbow slammed into Dan's ribs, sending him crashing down.
Dan groaned. (Damn it… didn't see that coming!)
Brik grabbed his leg. "No way."
He smashed Dan into the ground repeatedly.
Dan gasped for air. (Shit… I used 'Bang' to block, but it wasn't strong enough… my body feels stiff… I can't move!)
Brik chuckled. "Nice match, kid. Bye now."
Dan struggled. "Like—"
Brik smashed his face into the ground.
Dan's vision blurred.
(Damn it… I can't move… I can't lose… I have to do something!)
Brik turned away—unaware of the small sparks of lightning flickering in Dan's eyes.
Esther & Rebecca vs. Rose & Amber (Final Clash)
Rose groaned, pushing herself up from the ground while Amber clutched her side, bruises forming from the impact of their opponents' attacks.
Amber gritted her teeth. "Damn it… they got us good."
Rose spat to the side, glaring at Rebecca and Esther, who stood confidently a few feet away. "We're not losing to them."
Amber cracked her knuckles, her gauntlets glowing with dark energy. "Yeah. We're not done yet."
The two sisters charged once more, their movements swift and aggressive.
Rebecca smirked, rolling her shoulders. "Round two?"
Esther nodded, air swirling around her. "Let's finish this."
Amber lunged at Esther, her gauntlets aimed for a crushing blow, but Esther spun at the last second, narrowly dodging. Using her momentum, she unleashed a powerful wind-infused palm strike, sending Amber skidding backward.
Rose, meanwhile, aimed a rapid barrage of fist strikes at Rebecca, but the Lightning Nation warrior dodged with ease, her body flickering with electricity.
Rebecca suddenly countered—vanishing in a burst of lightning before appearing behind Rose.
Rose's eyes widened. "Wha—?"
Rebecca's fist slammed into the side of Rose's face, sending her spiraling through the air.
Amber gritted her teeth. "Rose!"
She turned, eyes burning with rage as she swung her gauntlet at Esther.
But Esther was ready.
She dodged swiftly, then raised both hands, gathering a powerful burst of air pressure.
"Harsh Air Blast 2!"
The shockwave erupted, hitting Amber head-on.
Amber screamed as she was blasted through multiple trees, her body crashing through the forest.
Esther exhaled, watching as Amber's form disappeared into the distance. "That should keep her down for a while."
Rebecca turned to Rose, who lay groaning on the ground.
Rose weakly raised a trembling fist. "D-Damn you…"
Rebecca narrowed her eyes. "You're not worth my time."
With one final lightning-powered kick, Rebecca knocked Rose completely unconscious.
The battlefield went silent.
Esther wiped sweat from her forehead. "Phew… We finally got them."
Rebecca crossed her arms. "Like I said—mostly me."
Esther rolled her eyes. "Sure, whatever."
Rebecca turned away. "Come on. The race isn't over yet."
Esther sighed. (But I'm so tired…)
She forced a smile. "Alright, let's go."
The two ran off, leaving the defeated sisters behind.
Meanwhile…
At the finish line, more competitors began crossing over.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"BOY OH BOY! THE ENTERTAINING RACE IS COMING TO A CLOSE!"
Suddenly—
A figure leaped down from above, landing with perfect precision.
As he touched the ground, ice particles rained down from the sky, glistening under the sunlight.
The crowd gasped.
"WHAT A SHOW! LOOK AT THAT ICY FINISH!!"
The boy stood tall, smirking. His white coat fluttered in the cold breeze.
He raised a single hand, summoning floating ice shards around him.
"Finally done," he muttered to himself. "Guess using my ice to propel myself higher and higher was a good strategy."
The announcer screamed in excitement.
"HE HAS DONE IT!! THE STYLISH—ASHHHHHHHH!!"
Ash simply smirked, hands in his pockets.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest…
Dan's body twitched.
Sparks flickered in his eyes.
Brik, unaware, walked away, thinking the fight was over.
But something was changing inside Dan.
Something powerful.