The arena still trembled with the echoes of the previous battle. The spectators, unable to recover from the shockwave, were about to witness a new wave of chaos. This time, the wrath of the heavens and the fury of lightning would collide. This time, the sky and the storm would clash. The winner of this match would earn the right to advance to the quarterfinals.
"NEXT MATCH! AURORA VS. LIORA!"
Aurora walked forward with heavy and noble steps, as if she were a being descended from the heavens. Her silver armor reflected the light, gleaming like a small sun. With every step she took, the celestial energy around her intensified, and small star particles began to form in the air. Her golden eyes were locked on her opponent, exuding confidence and pride.
On the other side, Liora stood motionless, as if she were in the eye of a storm. Small lightning bolts sparked at her fingertips, and with every breath, the air around her turned into an electrically charged hurricane. The spectators noticed that their hairs were standing on end from the static charge in the air.
Aurora smiled confidently. "You're strong, Liora. But you will burn beneath my light and flames. The sun cannot be destroyed by a simple storm."
Liora tilted her head slightly. "Oh, really? Light shines, but even the brightest star can disappear in the heart of an angry storm."
The announcer raised his hand.
"BEGIN!"
Aurora shot forward like a falling star from the sky. Her movement was so fast that it left a trail of bright light behind her. Her swords were blazing with the fury of a celestial deity. Liora skillfully dodged the first strike, her movements as fast as a blur. But Aurora didn't hesitate. She spun through the air and struck with a shimmering energy arrow.
Liora raised her arms. "Storm Shield!"
An energy shield formed around her, made of wind and lightning, absorbing Aurora's attack. Shockwaves rippled through the arena, sparks flying everywhere.
The two warriors clashed like storms and stars. Aurora sliced through the air with her sword, while Liora's fists carried the power of thunder.
Suddenly, Liora lunged forward with a swift step. She moved like lightning, leaving no shadow behind. Aurora instinctively swung her sword, but Liora had already changed her position.
Aurora landed gracefully. "Not bad. But how long can you keep this up? Celestial Arrowstorm!"
Orbs made of bright star essence appeared around her and were hurled at Liora like a meteor shower. Liora raised her hands and, with a commanding gesture, invoked the power of the hurricane.
"Lightning Falls!"
Electric waves surged forward, crashing into Aurora's attack, turning the arena into a chaotic dance of light and storms.
Aurora narrowed her eyes. "Then I must increase the level. I need to crush her with my power... but why is she resisting so much? I must be stronger... My hands tremble with every strike... Why am I struggling so much? My speed, my light... Is it not enough?"
As she swung her sword, her vision began to darken through the glowing lights. With each strike, her chest grew heavier, and her breathing became labored. The light and energy were becoming not just a physical burden, but a mental one as well.
She rose into the air, and wings made of pure light appeared. The spectators held their breath. Lucy, who had just arrived next to Max, opened her eyes in awe.
"DIVINE ASCENT!"
A beam of pure celestial energy descended from the heavens. Liora had only seconds.
"This is no ordinary fight for me. She's not just an opponent... I must be the master of not just lightning, but the sky itself. Thunderclap Name!"
With a sudden electric explosion, she vanished. Where the light had been, she reappeared in an instant. Aurora barely had time to react as Liora suddenly appeared behind her.
"You're too slow." Liora raised her hand. "Chain Lightning!"
Electric tendrils wrapped around Aurora, and as her body convulsed, she gritted her teeth and swung her sword.
"Celestial Bow!"
A bow made of divine light forced Liora to retreat. Both fighters fell to the ground, their chests rising and falling.
"With so much power, why... why am I still not... falling?"
Her body felt like it was about to crack. The pain in her arms followed the dark thoughts in her mind. Liora's storm was invading every cell of her body. There was a void between the sky and her; but that void was suddenly growing larger.
Liora smirked. "Impressive. But you're hiding behind too much power."
Aurora's expression hardened. "You're overcompensating, too. Let's see if you can handle this."
She raised her sword. "FINAL JUDGEMENT!"
Celestial energy enveloped the arena in a way unlike any ordinary attack.
Liora's eyes lit up with understanding. She planted her feet firmly and took a deep breath.
"Behind your shining light, there's only a mask. I can feel the emptiness within it... No matter how strong you are, you still can't fill that void."
There was a coldness in Liora's eyes. She had grown in the storm, but seeing the fear inside Aurora had caused her pain. But pain wasn't weakness; she wielded it like a weapon.
"You're making the same mistake as Nova." She clenched her fist. "You don't know my true power."
With a roar that shook the entire arena, she shouted, "STORM EMPRESS!"
The skies shattered. The massive storm Liora summoned, in the form of a lightning dragon, descended upon the arena. Aurora gathered all her celestial power and formed a shield of stars.
Light and lightning created a chaotic rhapsody in the arena. The spectators thought the shockwaves would send them flying. Then, everything went silent.
"No matter how bright your light, the storm will always consume it. Everything has an end."
Energy like a hurricane swirled within her body, and as her feet pressed deeper into the earth, the winds around her intensified. The comfort in the midst of the lightning gave her strength. "A storm... always brings an end to everything."
When the dust cloud cleared, Aurora was kneeling, her sword impaled in the ground. Liora stood tall, her eyes still carrying the fury of the storm.
Aurora noticed her trembling hands. The shadows falling across her silver armor reflected the feeling of defeat growing inside her. "Did I... lose?" Her heart clenched with anger at her own pride. But she said nothing. She clenched her jaw, looking down and trying to steady her breath.
"WINNER... LIORA!"
"If I had been as strong as her... Even my light couldn't overcome her storm." Aurora couldn't hold back her tears. The conversation in her head made it hard to accept her defeat. "You're still so far away, aren't you, Lucy? No matter how hard I try, you're still so far from me... Every time I thought I was getting closer, I collapse... I know you're watching me. Maybe I've earned a little of your respect..." Aurora's tears flowed like rain. Her once proud and arrogant stance was nowhere to be found. "I did my best. I guess I'm too inadequate to compete with you."
Her mind spun, and every star's glimmer seemed to drift even farther away. As her faith in her own power waned, she couldn't help but admire Liora's determination.
The crowd went wild. Liora glanced at Aurora and whispered.
"Light shines, stars burn... But when the storm passes, only the sky remains."
Liora met her victory with calmness and turned away without celebrating for a single moment. Like a storm that comes and goes, so too was this victory. As she walked away, she threw a brief glance at Aurora. "You're still shining, but light is nothing without the sky," she whispered and walked away with heavy steps.