**Inside Team 113's Room – Night Before the Match**
"Our semi-final match is with Team 117," Gan Mu said. "Do we know their attributes?"
"Yes," Rudra replied. "Their captain, Drick, is at the 7th Chakra Gate and uses the Light element. The twin sisters, Kin and Min, are both peak 6th Chakra Gate Lightning users. Mouri, the ice user, is also at the 6th Gate, and Karo, their defender, uses the Fire element."
Rudra's expression turned serious. "Every one of them is a beast. We'll have to prepare and give 100%."
"Yes!" everyone echoed.
**Late Night Training**
Rudra trained alone through the night. He ran laps with a 50kg rock-filled bag on his back, followed by intense pushups with the bag still strapped on. He had been following this brutal routine for three straight days.
As dawn approached, he finally stopped. Breathing heavily, he walked to take a hot water bath, preparing for the battle ahead. His eyes burned with determination.
**Morning – Battle Arena: Semi-Finals Begin**
The referee's voice echoed: "Today, our semi-finals begin! Team vs Team format. No time limit. Victory by total knockout or surrender."
**Match 1: Team 103 vs Team 121**
Team 103's captain quickly defeated Team 121 using Lightning Ball attacks. Team 103 advanced to the finals.
The crowd cheered, the stands filled with students, teachers, and senior knights eager to see the strongest rise. The pressure in the air was thick.
**Match 2: Team 113 vs Team 117**
Both teams entered the battlefield with focus and determination.
* **Team 117 Formation:**
* Front: Drick, Karo
* Middle: Mouri
* Rear: Kin, Min
* **Team 113 Formation:**
* As usual, with Rudra, Gan Mu, Sesh Pam, Gouri, and Parshu
Everyone activated their Spiritual Armor. A flash of various elemental auras lit the stage — fire, lightning, water, earth, wind — clashing before even a single strike was thrown.
**Phase 1 – Mist and Ambush**
Mouri cast her signature technique: **Mist Valleys**, covering the entire arena in dense fog. The audience could no longer see the stage.
Gan Mu smirked, recalling Rudra's plan: "They'll use mist to hide. That's when we overwhelm Drick with clones. Once he's down, we take out one of the twins."
Sesh Pam summoned six Rocky Clones, while Gan Mu copied the move and created six Water Clones.
Drick placed his hand on the ground and activated **Light Web** — a technique that tracks enemy movements in mist or darkness. Suddenly, he sensed the entire Team 113... but also detected twelve more entities. Confused, he immediately triggered **Light Fist**, illuminating his surroundings.
His light energy flared across the arena, cutting through the mist, revealing silhouettes everywhere.
Suddenly, all twelve clones attacked with explosive **Tidal Sweeps** and **Rocky Fists**.
*BOOM!*
A deafening explosion rocked the arena. Light and water and stone clashed as the clones detonated on impact.
Drick collapsed under the pressure.
The crowd gasped. "Did the captain just fall in the first wave?" someone muttered.
Parshu used **Radiant Heal**, clearing a 10-meter area of the mist and aiding Gan and Sesh. Their forms shimmered under the holy light.
**Phase 2 – Rudra vs Karo**
Karo charged at Parshu with **Rapid Fire Kicks**, flames bursting from his fists. Rudra intercepted him with **Lightning Blades**, pushing him back.
They exchanged blows: Lightning Steps and Blades vs. Fire Shield.
Rudra's attacks were relentless, dashing side to side with blinding speed. Karo's **Flame Shield** held strong, but his footing was slipping.
Then Rudra appeared behind Karo using Lightning Steps, landing a devastating **Fire Fist** to his spine. Karo was launched into the air and then struck down with a **Lightning Slash**, crashing to the ground with a thunderous blast.
Gasps echoed from the crowd. Some seniors stood up to watch more clearly.
**Phase 3 – Gouri vs Kin & Min**
Gouri teleported silently between the twin sisters in the mist, slashing at them with **Wind Blades**. She targeted them alternately, preventing them from regrouping or aiding their team.
Kin and Min launched counterattacks, but Gouri's practiced movements let her predict and evade with elegance. Her slashes created shockwaves, cutting through the thick fog.
**Phase 4 – Parshu vs Mouri**
At the same time, Parshu fired **Lightning Arrows** toward the mist where Mouri stood. She countered with **Ice Spikes**, neutralizing each attack, but Parshu didn't let up, firing again and again. The ground near Mouri turned to frost while Parshu's arrows sparked violently.
**Final Phase – Mist Clears, Final Strikes**
As the mist finally disappeared, each warrior charged their strongest move:
* Gouri: **Wind Razors**, blades spinning like mini-cyclones
* Parshu: **Light Spear**, a glowing lance of piercing radiance
* Mouri: **Ice Moon Blade**, a crescent-shaped attack of frozen death
Mouri launched her attack at Parshu, thinking he was still aiming at her. But Parshu, at the last moment, threw his **Light Spear** at Kin instead.
Gouri's **Wind Razors** slammed into Min.
Caught completely off guard, both Kin and Min fainted as their Spiritual Armor shattered.
The crowd roared. "The twins are down!"
Mouri's Ice Blade raced toward Parshu — but Sesh Pam awakened just in time and blocked it with **Levitating Stones**, saving Parshu from a fatal hit.
Rudra used **Lightning Steps** to flash behind Mouri and struck her in the stomach with a **full-powered Fire Fist**.
She stumbled back, eyes wide with pain, but refused to fall. Gan Mu appeared like a wave behind her and unleashed a final **Tidal Sweep**, overwhelming her completely.
Mouri collapsed.
**Victory!**
The crowd erupted into cheers and chaos. Shouts of "Team 113!" filled the air.
Even the Dean stood from his seat, eyebrows raised. "Incredible teamwork… flawless execution," he whispered.
Master Sha Kun raised his voice above the crowd.
"Team 113 wins and advances to the finals!"
**Post-Battle**
Team 103's captain watched from the high balcony, arms crossed.
"Only
I can face them now," he muttered. His eyes glinted with lightning. "I must find a way to defeat them."
**To Be Continued...**