The day of the Semi-finals had finally arrived.
The first match was between The Grand Party and Karvek. Both teams had fought their way through the tournament and now stood only one step away from the Grand Finals.
The first bout featured Orin against Azhar.
The battle immediately turned into an intense close-quarters fight. Orin continuously enhanced his physical abilities with magic while attacking relentlessly with his spear. Azhar, however, matched him every step of the way, using his daggers and wind element to weave through each attack with incredible speed. Neither fighter was willing to back down, and after sixteen exhausting minutes of trading blows, Azhar managed to edge out a narrow victory.
The second bout saw Lilo the newest member of the Grand Party step onto the battlefield against Samira.
The moment the fight began, Samira summoned the Death of Deserts, a gigantic scorpion that immediately took control of the battlefield. Rather than confronting it head-on, Lilo calmly analyzed its movements while defending himself. After patiently waiting for an opening, he cut off the scorpion's tail, greatly weakening the summon. From that point onward, the momentum completely shifted in his favor, allowing him to dominate the remainder of the fight and claim victory after ten minutes.
The third bout featured Junith against Damar.
It was a fierce exchange from beginning to end. Junith continuously pressured her opponent with her spear while enhancing herself with magic, whereas Damar responded with heavy broadsword swings engulfed in flames. Neither side gave an inch until, after thirteen hard-fought minutes, Damar finally dropped to one knee and admitted defeat, giving The Grand Party the lead.
The fourth bout saw Cyrus face Zarit. The battle between the two captains.
The battlefield gradually became covered in sand as Zarit attempted to control the flow of the battle with his twin chakrams. Cyrus, however, refused to let the battlefield become his opponent's advantage. He repeatedly used his wind element to scatter the incoming sand while alternating between his different elemental attacks. The battle lasted an incredible twenty-five minutes before Cyrus finally secured the victory through patience and consistency.
The fifth bout featured Darek against Ryzek.
Ryzek constantly disappeared behind mirage illusions, launching arrows from unexpected directions while hiding his true position. Even so, Darek remained composed throughout the fight. Rather than panicking, he steadily adapted to the illusions, reading Ryzek's movements one step at a time. Eventually, he found the real target and landed the decisive strike using his sword, ending the match.
And just like that, The Grand Party defeated Karvek 4-1.
Although the scoreline suggested a dominant victory, the reality was quite different. Every single bout had been fiercely contested, and on another day, several of those matches could easily have ended differently.
Soon after, the second Semi-final began.
This time, it was Hands of Karma against Ravento.
The opening bout featured Livia from Ravento against Sarika from Hands of Karma.
Sarika fought aggressively from the very beginning, using her speed and halberd to constantly pressure her opponent. Livia, however, refused to be overwhelmed. Relying on her incredible endurance along with healing magic, she slowly wore Sarika down. Sarika's overly aggressive approach eventually exhausted her, forcing her to surrender after eighteen minutes.
The second bout saw Brihav take on Thiago who was a jaguar beastkind who mastered in nature magic and archery.
Nature magic spread across the battlefield as both fighters transformed the arena into a sea of greenery. Thiago continuously attacked from range while Brihav calmly advanced through every obstacle. After nine minutes of tactical exchanges, Brihav eventually broke through and claimed the victory.
The third bout featured Hunter with his twin machetes and shadow element up against Grauven.
Neither fighter showed any intention of retreating. Hunter's relentless attacks with his dual machetes clashed head-on against Grauven's overwhelming power. The battle became increasingly brutal until both fighters landed decisive blows almost simultaneously. Neither could continue, resulting in the tournament's first draw of the Semi-finals after eleven minutes.
The fourth bout saw Sarenya face Aritana a wolf beastkind using spear and ice.
It became one of the fastest battles of the tournament. Both fighters relied heavily on speed, constantly changing positions and refusing to stay in one place for even a second. The audience struggled to keep up with their movements, but after thirteen minutes of relentless exchanges, Sarenya finally found the opening she needed and secured the victory.
The fifth and final bout featured Arveth against Davi.
Davi constantly attempted to create unpredictable attack patterns with his whip while enhancing his physical abilities through magic. However, Arveth remained calm throughout the battle. Time after time, he accurately read Davi's intentions, countering every move before launching his own precise attacks. After roughly nine minutes, Arveth claimed the decisive victory.
And with that, Hands of Karma defeated Ravento 3-1.
The Semi-finals had officially come to an end.
A single day of rest was announced before the Finals of the Grand Tournament.
Excitement spread throughout the city as posters and banners filled every street. Everywhere people looked, conversations revolved around the same topic.
The Grand Finals.
Only two teams remained.
The Grand Party and Hands of Karma.
One final battle would decide which team would be crowned the strongest in the world.
The Rising Heroes, despite their elimination, had gained countless insights by watching the experienced teams fight. Every battle had taught them something new, strengthening their determination to improve. Like everyone else, they eagerly awaited the final match.
---
Somewhere in the darkness...
Vorath spoke quietly. "Zalthar... everything has fallen into place. The preparations are complete. All that remains now is to test the waters. What shall we do?"
Silence lingered for a few moments.
Then Vorath slowly smiled. "Good. If that is the case... let's see how well your creations are truly prepared."
As a sinister plan continued to take shape in the shadows, the rest of the world remained blissfully unaware, celebrating the Carnival and anticipating the Grand Tournament Finals.