Headmaster Varos raised a hand, and the crowd gradually settled.
"The semifinals will not begin immediately," he declared, his voice once again cutting through the chatter like a blade. "Our duelists have earned rest."
There was a pause as murmurs of agreement rippled across the stands.
Varos continued, "Let it be known—the semifinals will take place at sunset. By then, the medics will have done their work, and the battlefield will be cleansed. This… is the calm before the storm."
Riku, exhaled slowly. His ribs still ached with every breath, but the Sage Art treatments had dulled the worst of it.
Inside the arena workers began raking the battlefield, smoothing stone and dirt, removing shattered debris. The sun hovered lower now, casting long, golden beams across the arena floor.
Ivy Lucaris hadn't moved from her vantage point. Her gaze lingered on Riku for a moment longer before she turned and disapeared.
Yohara Saret sat with one leg propped up, grinning as medics patched the gash on her calf. She winced, but waved off the pain. "I'm just getting warmed up."
Daz stood alone eyes half-lidded, posture perfectly still. He hadn't fought since round one, yet something about his presence said he hadn't rested at all.
Varos turned once more to the audience. "At sundown. These four will not hold back."
With that, he swept his cloak behind him and descended from the podium, leaving only anticipation in his wake.
The semifinals were coming.