[GRAND ARENA - SEMIFINALS - 10:47 AM]
The energy in the stadium was different today.
It wasn't just anticipation—it was hunger. 50,000 people filling every seat, every standing space, every available inch, all waiting to witness history.
The semifinals. Only four competitors remained.
And the first match was the one everyone had been waiting for since the brackets were announced:
Alex Carter vs Maya Park.
The Ghost Hunter versus the Dancing Flame.
The controversial Iron-ranked necromancer versus the elite Silver-ranked summoner.
The underdog who shouldn't have made it this far versus the favorite who had dominated every match.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer roared, his voice amplified to shake the stadium, "WELCOME TO THE SEMIFINALS! Today, four become two! Tomorrow, two become ONE! And our first battle is..."
Dramatic pause.
"THE GHOST HUNTER VERSUS THE DANCING FLAME! ALEX CARTER VERSUS MAYA PARK!"
The crowd's roar was physically painful.
Giant screens around the stadium showed highlights of both competitors' previous matches:
· Alex using thirty reanimations to overwhelm Thomas Rider
· Maya revealing five tails to dominate Rebecca Wright
· Alex dramatically defeating The Reaper
· Maya destroying opponents with elegant fire combos
The commentators were practically vibrating with excitement:
"This is the match everyone's been waiting for! Two of the tournament's most impressive competitors, both hiding real power, finally facing each other without restrictions!"
"Absolutely, though I must note—Carter is still under the judges' five-reanimation restriction. That could be a deciding factor."
"But let's not forget—Maya has been hiding her full nine tails until now. If she reveals all of them..."
"Then we'll have a LEGENDARY battle on our hands!"
---
[ENTRANCE TUNNEL]
Alex stood in the tunnel, checking his equipment one last time.
[Current Status]
· Level: 23 (24 after Seraph battle—EXP gain finally processed)
· HP: 880/880 (fully healed thanks to Emily)
· MP: 440/440 (completely rested)
· Souls: 251.3/1000 (unchanged—can't harvest in tournament)
[Grim - Current Latent Form]
· Height: 1 meter
· HP: 650/650 (fully healed)
· MP: 360/360
· Available forms: Latent, Intermediate (1.5m), Awakened (2.5m)
[Inventory]
· Rank Concealment Ring (equipped)
· Soul Dominion Necklace (equipped, hidden)
· 2 health potions
· 1 mana potion
· [Aura Suppression] - DEACTIVATED (no point hiding anymore)
"Ready?" a voice asked behind him.
Alex turned. Maya stood there, her fox—Akari—in medium form beside her, showing only three tails.
"As ready as I can be," Alex said.
Maya smiled—but it wasn't her usual casual smile. This one was different. Colder. More... competitive.
"Good. Because out there, we're not teammates. Not friends. Just competitors." She stepped closer. "No dirty tricks, Carter. Clean fight. Show me what you're hiding. Show me your true strength."
"You sure you want that?" Alex asked. "Because once I start showing real power..."
"I want it," Maya said firmly. "If I'm going to lose, I want to lose to your best. Not to someone pretending."
Alex studied her face. She meant it. Completely.
"Alright then." He extended his hand. "Good luck."
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Maya shook it. "Good luck. You'll need it."
They both turned toward their respective tunnels, walking toward the arena.
Toward the battle that would decide which of them would reach the finals.
---
[MAIN ARENA - SEMIFINAL 1 - 11:00 AM]
The sun was at its highest, bathing the arena in bright, merciless light.
Alex emerged from his tunnel, Grim at his side in meter-and-a-half form—starting directly in Intermediate this time. No point starting small.
The crowd roared at the sight of him.
"AND HERE HE COMES! ALEX CARTER! The tournament's most controversial competitor! The necromancer who defied all expectations! The underdog who kept winning when no one believed he could!"
From the opposite tunnel, Maya emerged.
And her fox...
Akari had grown. Not to medium form. To full form.
The size of a large horse, white-silver fur gleaming like silk, and behind her—flowing like flames made of pure light—were all nine tails.
All. Nine. Of. Them.
Each tail was different—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, white, black—representing different aspects of fire and elemental magic.
[Akari - Nine-Tailed Fox]
Form: Full (all tails revealed)
Level: 52
HP: 3,200/3,200
Known skills: [Flame Dance], [Illusion Step], [Fox Fire], [Nine-Tails Inferno], [Elemental Dominion], [Phoenix Rebirth]
The crowd went completely silent for exactly two seconds.
Then exploded.
"NINE TAILS!"
"SHE WAS HIDING THAT THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT!"
"THAT'S LEVEL 50+!"
"HOW IS THAT SILVER CLASSIFICATION?!"
The commentators struggled for words:
"I... NINE COMPLETE TAILS! Maya Park has been holding back her companion's full form for every previous match! This is... this is Gold-rank power, possibly Platinum!"
"Absolutely incredible! And look at Carter's reaction—he looks completely calm! Either he's incredibly confident or completely insane!"
Alex observed Akari, calculating quickly.
Level 52. Nine tails means nine different skill sets. Maya's probably been training with this form for years. Massive experience.
Grim in Intermediate Form is apparent level 50. We're matched in number but...
He looked at Maya. She was smiling at him—not maliciously, but with genuine respect.
"Bring it on then," Alex called across the arena. "Because I don't plan on losing."
"Good," Maya responded. "Neither do I."
The referee—the same burn-scarred man from the Quarterfinals—stood between them.
"Competitors. This is the semifinal. Rules remain unchanged. Victory by knockout, surrender, or my decision. Ready?"
"Ready," Maya said.
"Ready," Alex said.
The referee raised his hand.
The crowd quieted.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
"BEGIN!"
---
Neither moved for three full seconds.
Both studying each other. Calculating. Waiting for the other to make the first mistake.
Then Maya smiled. "Ladies first, I guess. Akari, [Illusion Step]!"
The fox blurred—and suddenly there were three Akaris, each identical, each moving independently.
"Grim, [Soul Sight]," Alex ordered calmly.
[MP: 420/440]
Grim's vision shifted—seeing through illusions, perceiving the real soul.
One of the Akaris was slightly brighter than the others. That was the real one.
"Center," Grim reported.
"Impressive," Maya said. "But what about this? [Flame Dance]!"
All three Akaris—real and illusions—began spinning in a coordinated pattern. Flames burst from their tails, creating a whirlwind of fire that expanded outward in a wave.
[AOE Attack - 10m Radius]
"[Shadow Step]!"
Alex teleported ten meters back, dodging the edge of the whirlwind.
[MP: 400/440]
Grim didn't have Shadow Step, but he had speed. He ran to the side, escaping the radius just before the flames reached him.
"Fast!" Maya sounded impressed. "But you can't dodge forever! Akari, [Fox Fire]!"
Twelve orbs of fire materialized around Akari—each the size of a basketball, burning with different colors representing different elements.
They launched forward as homing projectiles, curving and twisting in the air, tracking both Alex and Grim.
"Split!" Alex ordered.
He ran left, Grim ran right, forcing the orbs to divide.
Six chased him. Six chased Grim.
Alex used [Shadow Step] again, dodging three.
[MP: 380/440]
The other three hit him.
IMPACT.
Pain exploded—fire, ice, and something that felt like pure electricity, all at once.
[Alex HP: 680/880]
Grim had to cut his from the air, scythe spinning in a defensive pattern, destroying five but taking one directly to the chest.
[Grim HP: 580/650]
"And both competitors take early damage!" the commentator shouted. "Maya is pressing aggressively!"
Maya didn't stop. "[Elemental Dominion]!"
Akari's nine tails blazed—each channeling a different element—and converged on a single point.
Then they exploded outward as a multicolored energy laser aimed directly at Grim.
"Block!"
Grim raised his scythe horizontally—
The laser hit him.
BOOM.
The sheer force sent Grim sliding backward five meters, feet carving furrows in the earth.
[Grim HP: 480/650]
"Damn!" Alex gritted his teeth. Maya's not playing. This is full power from the start.
"Your turn!" Maya shouted. "Show me what you've got!"
Fine. If she wanted power...
"Grim, [Aura of Death]—maximum radius!"
[MP: 360/440]
Crimson energy exploded from Grim in a massive pulse. Within a fifteen-meter radius, the temperature plummeted, the air grew heavy with pure death pressure, even the ground darkened slightly.
The nearest spectators felt a chill run down their spines.
"What... what is that feeling?" someone whispered.
"Death," another responded. "We're feeling real death."
Akari hesitated—only for half a second, but it was enough.
"Now! [Reaper's Strike]!"
Grim closed the distance in a burst of speed, scythe spinning with full force—
CLANG.
Maya blocked—not with Akari directly, but with a flame shield that materialized just in time.
The scythe cut through the shield but lost most of its momentum.
"Nice!" Maya counterattacked. "Akari, three-hit combo!"
Fire tail whipped like a lash—Grim ducked.
Ice tail fired frozen projectiles—Grim deflected with scythe.
Lightning tail launched a chain of electricity—Grim sidestepped—
The fourth tail, the green one Alex hadn't been tracking, shot forward like a spear of compressed wind.
It hit Grim directly in the stomach.
[Grim HP: 380/650]
"And Maya is dominating this exchange!" the commentator shouted. "Carter needs to change strategy quickly!"
They were right. Alex needed to even the field.
"[Reanimate]! Five targets!"
[MP: 260/440]
[Cost: 20 MP × 5]
Around the edges of the arena, remains from previous matches glowed. Five minor skeletons rose—the permitted limit under his restrictions.
"And there's Carter's necromancy!" the commentators reacted. "Five reanimations—the maximum allowed!"
The five skeletons charged toward Akari, attacking from different angles.
Maya barely blinked. "Akari, [Ring of Fire]!"
Red tail spun in a full circle. Flames exploded outward in a wave, vaporizing the five skeletons instantly.
"No effect!" the commentator shouted. "Carter's reanimations were destroyed in seconds!"
Alex cursed internally. Five isn't enough. I need...
But he couldn't use more. The restrictions.
"Time to get serious!" Maya declared. "Akari, [Flame Fox Dance]—full version!"
---
[Flame Fox Dance] wasn't just an attack—it was art.
Akari began to move—not running, but dancing. Each step perfectly choreographed, each movement flowing into the next.
And with each step, flames erupted from her tails in increasingly complex patterns.
First a circle of fire.
Then a spiral of fire.
Then a vortex of fire that filled half the arena.
"[Flame Fox Dance] is creating a complete denial zone!" the commentator shouted. "Carter and his companion are being forced back!"
Alex and Grim retreated toward the arena edge, the heat becoming unbearable.
[Alex HP: 620/880] (ambient heat damage)
[Grim HP: 340/650] (ambient heat damage)
"We have to break the pattern!" Alex looked at Grim. "Full Intermediate Form! No restrictions!"
"Sure? That... reveals... much."
"We have no choice!"
Grim blazed with crimson light. His armor expanded, becoming thicker, more complete. His scythe grew from a meter and a half to two meters. The red lights in his sockets became so bright they were almost blinding.
[Grim - Intermediate Form (Maximum Power)]
Level: 60 (apparent—no more suppression)
HP: 340/850
All skills available
The crowd reacted:
"THAT'S INTERMEDIATE FORM?!"
"LEVEL 60!"
"HOW IS THAT E-RANK?!"
But Alex had no time to worry about crowd reactions.
"[Soul Harvest]!"
Grim's scythe blazed, cutting through the fire vortex, absorbing the elemental energy instead of being repelled by it.
[Grim MP: +120]
[Grim MP: 360/360 → MAX + 120 overflow = Temporarily boosted]
"Impossible!" Maya looked genuinely surprised. "Your companion can absorb elemental magic!"
"Surprise," Alex said. "Counterattack! [Death's Grasp]!"
Grim extended his free hand. Crimson energy shot forward like spectral tentacles, seeking to grab Akari.
"Not so fast! [Illusion Step]—evasion mode!"
Akari blurred into nine different copies—one for each tail—all scattering in different directions.
The energy tentacles grabbed three... which dissolved into smoke.
Illusions.
The other six Akaris converged on Grim from different angles.
"Grim, spinning defense!"
Grim spun his scythe in a full circle, the blade cutting through five more—all illusions.
The last one, the real one, connected.
Three tails struck simultaneously—fire, ice, and lightning.
IMPACT.
Grim was launched backward, crashing into the arena wall.
[Grim HP: 240/850]
"And Grim is severely injured!" the commentator shouted. "Maya is dominating even against Carter's full power!"
Alex ran to Grim, checking damage.
Bad. This looks bad. Grim's at 28% HP. Maya's still almost fresh. Akari's at full health.
I need... I need to change the entire paradigm of this fight.
He looked at Grim. "How much more can you give?"
"Everything," Grim said without hesitation. "Until... the end."
"Good." Alex made his decision. "Then we do the move we practiced. The risky one."
"Blood... Bond?"
"Blood Bond," Alex confirmed.
He cut his palm with his knife. Blood dripped to the ground.
[Blood Weapon] + [Blood Bond]—Combined Activation
[MP: 160/440] (100 MP for Blood Bond, 50 MP for Blood Weapon)
[Special cost: Shares HP between Alex and Grim]
[NEW COMBINED SKILL UNLOCKED: Blood-Forged Bond]
Effect: Combined HP in single pool. Damage split between both. Buffs shared. Duration: 3 minutes.
[Alex + Grim Combined HP: 860/1,730]
Alex's blood glowed crimson, then flowed toward Grim like liquid streams, fusing with the skeleton.
Grim grew—not physically, but in presence. His death aura mixed with Alex's life force, creating something new. Something more powerful.
The crowd murmured in confusion:
"What... what is that?"
"Is he linking his own life with his companion?"
"THAT'S BLOOD MAGIC!"
Maya looked impressed. "Blood Bond. I haven't seen that in years. Who taught you?"
"A friend," Alex said.
"Well then." Maya smiled—not friendly anymore, but with fierce warrior respect. "If you're going to risk everything, then I will too! Akari, [Nine-Tails Inferno]!"
