Group 4 Battle Royale Begins
The arena of Group 4 trembled with restless energy.
Three hundred candidates stood packed within a massive circular battlefield, its stone tiles etched with past battles, cracks spreading like veins beneath their feet. High walls enclosed them, and above those walls, elders and sect disciples watched from floating platforms.
Flags fluttered. Trumpets blared. A senior overseeing the match raised his hand.
"Group 4 Battle Royale! Prepare yourselves. Only ten may remain standing."
A roar exploded through the arena, drowning even the echoes of the mountains beyond.
Vishwa inhaled slowly.
This was his moment.
He tightened his grip on his simple training gloves—nothing fancy, nothing enchanted—yet his eyes gleamed with calm determination. The shadow within him pulsed faintly, responding to his heartbeat.
Around him, dozens of students instantly rushed to form small groups.
"Oi! Join us!"
"We need a healer!"
"Wind types, over here!"
"Group of eight forming—quick!"
Vishwa stood alone, unbothered. He scanned the crowd, watching them scramble like flocks of birds avoiding predators.
Teamwork is good… but picking the wrong allies is worse than being alone.
He stepped quietly toward the center—yet before he took even two steps—
"HEY! YOU!"
He blinked. A voice rang clear and confidently.
A girl with fiery red hair, tied in a high ponytail, marched straight toward him. Her steps were bold, as if the battlefield was her backyard. She held a spear strapped to her back, glowing faintly with fire-element energy.
"I'm talking to you, shadow boy."
"…Shadow boy?" Vishwa tilted his head.
She grinned all too brightly. "Yep! You have that gloomy, mysterious aura. Looks cool. Anyway—name's Katira Velshane. Fire element. One of the strongest in my village. And you—"
She paused, arms crossing.
"You're alone. That's stupid. Want to join my team?"
Vishwa opened his mouth, ready to decline politely—
In the background her teammates called out.
"Katiraaa! Who're you recruiting now?!"
She ignored them completely, stepping close with a spark in her amber eyes.
"We already have four members:
Lioren Hart, light element—he's annoying but useful.
Shika Marelle, water element—she's quiet, but she hits hard.
Gorim Stoneback, land element—a walking rock wall. Literally.
And me—your resident fire genius."
She placed both hands on her hips.
"And you are…?"
"Vishwa," he replied simply. "Dark element."
Her eyes widened. "…Dark? For real?"
He nodded.
"Oh ho ho, now that's rare!" Katira leaned forward, studying him like a treasure she found on sale. "Okay, you're definitely joining us."
"I haven't agreed—"
"Too late. Come on!"
Before he could respond, she grabbed his wrist and dragged him straight to a group of three waiting students.
Lioren, the light element boy, flicked his silver hair dramatically.
"So that's the new guy. He looks like he reads sad poetry."
Shika bowed politely.
"Nice to meet you…"
Gorim cracked his knuckles.
"Hope you can keep up, kid."
Vishwa blinked. "…We're the same age."
Katira clapped her hands loudly, instantly claiming everyone's attention.
"Okay! Now that the dark guy is here, let's form a battle plan!"
Lioren sighed. "You say that like he magically fixes our lack of strategy."
"Because he will," Katira shot back. Then she turned to Vishwa. "Well? Any ideas?"
Vishwa paused. Five sets of eyes stared at him.
He exhaled once.
"Fine."
He stepped forward, pointing subtly across the battlefield.
"Everyone can do what they're good at. But if we want to survive a 300-person free-for-all, we need formation, clarity, and backups."
The team leaned in subconsciously.
"Katira, you're our main attacker. Your fire element has range and pressure."
Katira smirked. "Of course."
"If anyone goes after her, I'll intercept using Void Walk."
Lioren blinked. "Void what?"
"Void Walk," Vishwa repeated. "A spatial shift technique. Short distance. Fast. Good for ambushes."
All four stared at him with sparkling anime eyes.
"…COOOL," Shika whispered.
Vishwa continued.
"Gorim—you're defense. If someone slips past Katira or me, you raise land barriers immediately."
Gorim grinned. "Simple and easy."
"Lioren, Shika—your elements are flexible. You'll be our support. Use Light and Water to interrupt incoming attacks, or heal if things get messy."
Katira grinned like a child handed candy.
"I like this guy."
Before anyone could say more—
BOOOOOOM!!!
A huge explosion shook the arena. Dust and debris shot upward as dozens of fighters clashed in the distance.
Screams. Shouts. The ground trembled.
The elder raised his arm high.
"BEGIN!"
The battle royale officially started.
CHAOS UNLEASHED
Instantly, the arena became a torrent of clashing techniques.
Fireballs. Water whips. Lightning arcs. Earth spikes. Wind blades.
Everywhere, groups collided like storms.
Vishwa felt a surge of heat beside him—Katira had already jumped forward, flames spiraling around her spear.
"LET'S BURN THROUGH THIS!!!"
She charged straight at an approaching group of six fighters.
"Katira, wait—!"
Too late.
Four opponents hurled attacks at her at once.
But Vishwa was already moving.
"Void Walk."
Darkness rippled around him. The world blurred for a heartbeat.
He reappeared behind the first attacker and struck him in the neck, knocking him out instantly.
"Wha—?!"
Another lunged at Katira with a blade, but she parried with a fiery spin.
Vishwa grabbed the attacker's arm, twisted, and threw him aside.
"Sheesh!" Katira laughed. "Nice save!"
"You're reckless."
"And you're fast! Good combo!"
Their teamwork was instant—almost natural.
Katira blasted the third enemy with flames.
Vishwa teleported behind the fourth and knocked him out cold.
They were unstoppable.
But behind them—
"Gorim, watch out!" Lioren shouted.
Gorim raised a land pillar just in time to block an incoming lightning strike.
Shika retaliated with a water whip, slamming one enemy backward.
But the battlefield was too chaotic.
"Katira! Vishwa! Help!"
They turned just in time to see Shika surrounded by ten fighters.
Lioren was pushed backward, injured.
Gorim's barrier cracked under repeated blows.
"Let's go!" Katira yelled.
But before they reached them—
SHHHHIIING!
A huge wind blade struck the ground between Vishwa's team, forcing them apart.
"W-What?!" Katira gasped.
Another group of twenty had targeted their support members.
"Shika! Lioren! Move!" Vishwa warned.
But they were swallowed by the chaos.
Overwhelmed.
Too many attackers.
Too fast.
Within seconds—
Three of Vishwa's new teammates were eliminated.
Katira froze. "N-No way…"
The announcer's voice echoed:
"Candidates: Lioren Hart, eliminated!
Shika Marelle, eliminated!
Gorim Stoneback, eliminated!"
Vishwa exhaled slowly.
"…It's just us now."
Katira grit her teeth, eyes blazing.
"Two people against… all of them?"
Vishwa stepped forward, shadows swirling around him.
"We don't need numbers."
Katira let out a breathless laugh. "Heh… Guess we don't."
THE DUO FIGHTS BACK
Their movements synchronized perfectly.
Katira charged like a wildfire, spear glowing red-hot.
Vishwa slipped between shadows like a phantom.
"Fire Spiral!"
"Shadow Bind."
"Void Walk!"
Their attacks overlapped, merged, and covered each other's weaknesses.
One enemy tried to strike Katira from behind—
Vishwa appeared instantly and swept his leg, knocking the boy down.
Two fighters ambushed Vishwa from both sides—
Katira spun, unleashing a burst of flame that forced them back.
"You okay?" Katira shouted.
"I'm fine."
"Cool. Keep it that way!"
They were becoming a whirlwind of fire and darkness.
Candidates came in groups—
Groups collapsed.
Spectators gasped.
Elders leaned forward.
"That fire girl and the dark boy… they fight like they've trained together for years."
"Remarkable synergy for first-year students."
Even Joseph, watching from another group's waiting area, chuckled softly.
"That idiot. He really finds friends everywhere…"
THE FINAL STRETCH
Minutes passed like seconds.
Sweat dripped. Breaths grew heavier.
But Vishwa and Katira stood back-to-back, surrounded by fallen opponents.
Only around twenty fighters remained on the battlefield.
Katira wiped her forehead. "This is insane. I've never fought this long."
"Keep going," Vishwa replied calmly.
"You… you're not even tired, are you?"
"A little."
"LIAR!"
She laughed, fire blazing brighter.
"Let's crush the rest!"
They pushed forward through the chaos again.
More opponents fell. More teams collapsed.
Soon, only the strongest remained.
An announcement echoed through the arena:
"Last phase of Group 4 begins! Final survivors will be chosen soon!"
Vishwa looked at Katira.
"You ready?"
She grinned fiercely.
"Born ready."
Together—they dashed into the final clash.