The countdown reached its conclusion. "Three... two... one... and the winner is Roselle!"

  The crowd cheered for Roselle's hard-fought victory, but she wore a contemplative look. Her gaze shifted to her cannon, which had returned to its original form once she reverted from her transformation.

  In a quiet moment of reflection, Roselle whispered to herself, "Thank you, my friend. We did it, together."

  Amidst the cheering crowd, Roselle felt a strange sensation. It was as if the world around her began to blur and fade, and she found herself looking down at her hands. Instead of the familiar sight of her cannon, she could swear she had seen a cuddly teddy bear in her grasp.

  For a brief moment, memories from her past life resurfaced. It was of a time when teddy bears were her most cherished companions. Roselle shook off the memory and smiled while exiting the arena.

  Roselle sat back with her sisters in the stands.

  "Roselle, you never cease to amaze me," Risebelle said with a warm smile. "You've grown so strong, and that battle was something else. You keep getting stronger, I…I’m genuinely impressed."

  Roselle blushed at her sister's praise. She replied, "Thanks, Risebelle. It’s all thanks to you. You and Runebelle have always supported me."

  Risebelle neutral face turned to a smile, which seemed playful. "Well, don't get too used to hearing my praises. It's not every day I show my softer side."

  Roselle chuckled, “You’re right; it's a rare sight. You're usually all seriousness."

  Risebelle nodded but turned her head. “You know, Roselle, I have to confess something… I'm a little jealous."

  Roselle raised an eyebrow. "Jealous? But why? You're incredibly strong."

  Risebelle face Roselle and looked serious. "I know, but the truth is, I can't keep up with you anymore, and not just you. Runebelle has been getting stronger too. I've seen it, and I can't deny it any longer. You both surpassed me, and now…well, I’m probably gonna get left in your dust.”

  Roselle shook her head. "That's not true, Risebelle. You're still stronger than me in many ways."

  Risebelle raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And what makes you say that?"

  Roselle leaned in closer. "Your strategic mind, Risebelle. You're a brilliant strategist. That's something I can learn from you. In our first-round match, I may have won, but it was because I managed to catch you off guard. Your ability to strategize is something I deeply respect."

  Risebelle blushed and closed her eyes with a soft chuckle. Roselle looked somewhat confused but found it cute. Risebelle said, "Tell me more."

  Roselle smiled and continued, "You always have a plan, even in the heat of battle. You know how to turn any situation to your advantage."

  Risebelle opened one eye, grinning. "Keep going."

  Roselle laughed. "Okay….You’re also the one who keeps us grounded and focused. You’re the glue that holds us together."

  Roselle moved closer and wrapped her arms around Risebelle in a warm hug. "I love you, Risebelle.”

  Risebelle's eyes widened in surprise and a blush appeared on her face. She quickly tried to compose herself. "H-Hey, I didn’t say to get all sentimental!”. Her serious demeanor returned, but there was a hint of warmth in her eyes. "Thank you, Roselle. I appreciate it."

  Roselle pulled back slightly, smiling at Risebelle. "You deserve it,"

  The next match was about to begin. The announcer boomed. "Well, howdy, Ladies and Gents! Get ready, ‘cause the next showdown’s ‘bout to light up the Grand Arena like a Fourth of July fireworks display!

  A spotlight went on MuilerG. “In the left corner, we’ve got the one and only Muiler G, a fighter so quick that she makes a lightning bolt look like it’s movin’ in slow motion!”

  A spotlight then went down own Chala. “And in the right corner, we’re lookin’ at the fierce and Champion Chala! This here warrior’s got a will of iron and a sword that crackles with thunder like a summer storm rollin’ in!”

  The announcer spun around and then said, “So, grab your seat and get ready to whoop and holler, ‘cause the action’s fixin’ to get hotter than a pepper patch!”

  Muiler G, known as Mui, approached Chala with a polite and confident smile. Her purple hair flowed down her back, and her attire exuded both elegance and combat readiness. She stood before Chala, her eyes locking onto Chala's with a sense of respect for her formidable opponent.

  Mui spoke softly. "Chala, it's a pleasure to meet you on the battlefield. I've heard quite a bit about your skills and your victory in last year's Eastern Annual Tournament. You're here to make a statement, aren't you?"

  Chala, dressed in her aqua-colored battle attire, looked at Mui with a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Oh, I'm always ready for a good fight, Mui. You look strong, and that makes it even more interesting. Let's give the audience a battle to remember!”

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  “Let the battle, Begin!”

  Upon Stronberg’s word, Muiler G and Chala drew their blades. Their weapons met in a resounding clash, sending sparks flying in all directions

  Muiler G and Chala engaged in a high-speed sword fight. Chala's blade moved with swiftness and finesse, while Mui's weapon showcased a unique combat style, combining speed and strength. The two warriors dodged, parried, and countered each other's strikes with incredible reflexes.

  Chala’s blade slashed through the air in a series of rapid strikes, pressuring Mui with a relentless assault. Her attacks were both ferocious and precise. She aimed to break through Mui's formidable defense.

  Mui, however met Chala's onslaught with expert precision. Her blade defelected Chala's attacks with a well-practiced ease.

  Mui's blade glowed with dark purple energy. She executed a powerful strike that sent Chala soaring into the air despite her sword blocking the attack. Chala's eyes widened upon being lifted off her feet.

  While Chala was suspended in mid-air, Mui wasted no time. She unleashed a barrage of needles from the sheaths on her shoulder pads. These needles shot through the air and homed in on Chala with deadly accuracy.

  Chala used her blade to deflect the incoming needles. While she swatted away the projectiles, it was a challenging task. The needles seemed to come from all directions, and she could only parry so many at a time.

  Mui, meanwhile, took advantage of Chala's predicament. She leaped into the air, aiming to meet Chala at the peak of her ascent Mui prepared to unleash a devastating slash, combining her blade and her mastery of thread and needle magic in a lethal combination.

  Chala had to make a split-second decision, choosing which threat to prioritize. She couldn't avoid both Mui's slash and the incoming needles.

  Roselle's eyes were wide with concern. "Chala can't dodge them all!”

  Risebelle, on the other hand, leaned forward with. "Damn, Mui is good…”

  Runebelle with usual gloom, focused intently on the match. She watched every move with a keen eye.

  The needles closed in and Mui's blade approached. This is when Chala's lightning energy surrounded her own sword. With a fierce thrust, Chala's blade met Mui's, causing a burst of sparks as their swords clashed. Chala twirled around with incredible speed, hitting each of Mui's hidden dark threads.

  With each twirl, Chala not only stopped the incoming needles but also disrupted Mui's control over them. The threads snapped one by one, rendering the needles powerless.

  Mui found herself plummeting to the ground. Chala, on the other hand, landed gracefully on the arena floor.

  The announcer boomed through the stadium, filled with excitement. “Folks, did y’all see that? Chala just put on a show that’d make a rodeo clown’s head spin! With each twirl, she not only knocked those needles right outta the air but also sent Mui’s whole strategy into a tailspin!”

  Mui got back on her feet and wore a smile. "You're impressive, Chala. It's clear why you're the Champion of the Eastern Tournament. Your certainly are beautiful with the way you wield your lightning power.”

  Chala waved off the compliment with one hand. "Oh, don't give me too much credit, Mui. I've still got a lot to learn. You're one of the four Elite Guards of the Western Kingdom, after all. This battle is a true challenge for me."

  Mui gave her a smile. “Accept the compliment, Chala. You're the first person who's managed to cut off my threads from my needles. It throws off my strategy immensely."

  Chala raised an eyebrow. "Really? I wouldn't have thought I'd be the one to disrupt your strategy so much."

  Mui's smile grew slightly. "Believe it. My threads are a crucial part of my combat style. Disabling them throws me off balance and forces me to rethink my approach on the fly."

  Chala shook her head. A smirk came to her. "If I managed to disrupt your threads, it’s only because you gave me the chance to do so. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of other tricks up your sleeve."

  Mui chuckled. "Well, they don’t call you the champion for nothing, do they?"

  Chala briefly closed her eyes and built up her energy from within. When she reopened them, a fierce glare replaced a smile that was normally kept on her face. Her blade seemed to hum with a vibrant, yellow aura that crackled with energy.

  Chala's attacks became more intense. Chala's slashes came with such power that they pushed Mui back step by step. The sheer strength behind each strike forced Mui to struggle. Mui soon found herself being knocked around the grand arena.

  The announcer exclaimed, “Well, Chala’s bringin’ the thunder! She’s cranked up the intensity to eleven! Mui’s gettin’ tossed around the Grand Arena like a ragdoll!”

  Chala’s Her yellow aura-infused blade danced with every clash of their blades. Mui made an effort to try counter-attacking, but Chala responded by moving swiftly and striking with sheer force. Each of Mui's strikes seemed to find nothing but air, while Chala's calculated movements landed precise hits.

  Chala's relentless assault caused the damage on Mui to stack up rapidly. Mui's usual smile faded from her face.

  Realizing the need for a change, Mui focused her energy and began to channel dark energy around her blade. Her sword glowed with a dark, menacing aura, signaling a shift in her combat style. Mui managed to match Chala's force in a clash of blades.

  Mui gritted her teeth. Her eyes narrowed in fierce concentration. For a brief moment, the two warriors seemed evenly matched. Their blades were locked in a struggle of strength; however, Chala remained cold and focused. She gave Mui a mean look while pressed forward.

  Despite Mui’s efforts, Chala's superior strength began to prevail. She forced Mui back step by step, pushing her towards the barrier that surrounded the arena.

  Chala took an unexpected step back, which momentarily threw Mui off balance. Seeing this as an opportunity, Mui thrust her sword forward and shouted, “Kyosa!”

  A dark wave surged from Mui’s blade, roaring toward Chala with relentless force. Chala, with a swift movement, channeled her lightning energy, unleashing a powerful wave of her own from her sword.

  The two forces collided in a dramatic clash. The dark wave and the lightning surge clashed. The ground trembled beneath the arena.

  In the end, Chala’s lightning wave overpowered Mui’s dark wave with a blinding flash. The lightning surged through Mui’s attack, striking her with a thunderous force. Mui was thrown back. Her body arcing through the air before crashing against the barrier behind her. Mui then fell onto the arena floor.

  Mui got up slowly. Once she made it to her feet and took a few breathes, she saw Chala charging toward her. Mui wore a smile. “My, My, My…You’re quite relentless…”

  Mui's soft smile didn't waver. She knew it was time to reveal her trump card. With a swift and practiced motion, she raised her blade and declared, "Overturn, Kyosa!"

  In an instant, Mui's blade had dark circles appearing in the middle, connected by a line of deep shadows. The blade's color shifted into greyish hue, and a tremendous surge of energy emanated from it.

  Chala's eyes widened. She could sense the incredible power that now radiated from Mui's weapon. Their blades met with an explosive burst of energy, creating a display of light and power that filled the arena.

  In the midst of their exchange, a bright flash erupted, temporarily blinding the spectators. When the light dissipated, it became clear that Chala had been wounded. A deep gash marred her shoulder, and Mui now stood on the opposite side of where she had been moments before.

  Mui chuckled. "Impressive, Chala. But the tides of battle have been turned.” Mui declared confidently, “From this point forward, I control the battlefield."