The following seven days flew by in a tense haze. Everyone focused on their intense training regimens, pushing their limits in preparation for the inevitable clash. Conversations were scarce, eyes met only with steely determination, and no one dared show weakness. James provided no guidance, watching the Awakened with a scrutinizing gaze as they honed their skills. Finally, the day arrived—it was time for the tournament.

  James's eyes scanned the faces of the Awakened, all ranging between the ages of 15 and 19. He would have preferred to wait until they were all at least eighteen, but the impending war demanded immediate action.

  "You will each come up and draw a name from this glass jar beside me," James said, his tone cold and unyielding. "The name you pull out will be your opponent for the first round of the tournament."

  Every Awakened stood in a tense line, their faces a mix of determination and dread. Vera, with her usual air of unshakeable confidence, stepped up to the jar first. She reached in without hesitation, pulling out a slip of paper. Her eyes flickered slightly as she read the name—an Earth Awakened. The moment the boy realized it was his name, his face drained of color. He clenched his fists, blinking rapidly to keep the tears from falling, fighting to maintain his crumbling composure.

  Next was Flint. Calm and deliberate, he dipped his hand into the jar and pulled out a name. He locked eyes with his chosen opponent, a Fire Awakened, who swallowed hard and quickly averted his gaze, knowing he stood little chance against Flint’s mastery of all elements.

  Shift approached the jar, his usual shyness cloaking his movements. He hesitated for a split second before drawing a slip of paper. When he saw the name, his eyes darted up, meeting the gaze of a Water Awakened. The two exchanged a brief, silent stare, the Water Awakened's expression shifting to one of uneasy anticipation.

  Mira stepped forward next, her hands trembling slightly as she picked her opponent. She unfolded the paper to reveal another Fire Awakened's name. She looked over at her opponent, who forced a weak smile that didn’t reach his eyes, fully aware of how unpredictable even Mira’s limited abilities could be.

  433 watched as each of them drew their opponents. Vera’s confident smirk, Flint’s calm determination, Shift’s shy focus, and even Mira’s nervous glance. He noticed the fear in the eyes of the elemental Awakened chosen to face them. They knew the reputation of the "Others" and what they were up against.

  Finally, it was 433’s turn to step forward. He reached into the jar, his expression unreadable as he picked up a slip of paper. When he opened it, he saw the name of a Wind Awakened staring back at him. The Wind Awakened looked at 433, a mix of fear and confusion on his face—he knew 433 didn’t have any known powers but had also seen his brutal combat abilities.

  433 simply nodded to himself, his face still void of any emotion, as he stepped back into the line. He knew that, unlike the others, he had to rely on his raw strength and skills to survive this fight. The tension in the room was suffocating, with each Awakened silently contemplating their upcoming battles, knowing that only the strongest would walk away alive.

  ***

  James called up Vera and the Earth Awakened to battle first. The tension in the air was palpable as everyone gathered in the observation room turned their eyes to the battlefield, sensing that this would be a swift and brutal match. The Earth Awakened stood on the opposite side, visibly shaking and trembling with fear.

  “Three, two… one, FIGHT!” James announced through the microphone, his voice echoing in the silent room.

  With lightning speed, Vera sprang forward, her voice cutting through the air like a knife. “Stop moving!” The moment the words left her lips, the Earth Awakened's body froze. His limbs became heavy, unresponsive to his frantic mind; he could only stand there, paralyzed by her command.

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  Mira, unable to bear the sight, instinctively covered her eyes, bracing herself for the violence that was about to unfold.

  Without a hint of hesitation, Vera closed the distance between them, a cold determination in her eyes. She tripped the Earth Awakened, sending him crashing to the ground, where he landed with a thud. In a single, fluid motion, Vera seized him, her grip firm as she twisted his neck with a sharp snap, ending his life in an instant.

  A heavy silence fell over the spectators as the match's reality settled in, the air thick with the weight of what had just transpired.

  “Fight over, Vera is the victor.”

  Next up was Flint. As he stepped forward, the medics swiftly cleaned the battlefield, ensuring no trace of the previous fight remained. Flint and his opponent, a Fire Awakened, faced each other, their eyes locked in a fierce stare, waiting for James’s signal.

  “Three, two, one… FIGHT!”

  With a burst of energy, both fighters unleashed torrents of fire toward each other. The flames collided in a brilliant display of light, creating a swirling vortex of heat and intensity. For a brief moment, the two forces struggled against each other, but it quickly became clear that Flint’s flames were unmatched.

  With a determined focus, he poured more power into his attack, and his fire surged forward, overwhelming the Fire Awakened’s flames. In a matter of seconds, Flint's fiery assault engulfed his opponent, reducing him to a pile of smoldering ashes before anyone could react.

  “Fight over, Flint is the victor.”

  Flint was instructed to go to the same place where Vera was waiting. He nodded silently, the weight of the last fight still heavy on his mind. As he walked over, he felt the stares of his peers on him, their expressions a mix of awe and fear. The arena was filled with uneasy tension, and each participant was acutely aware of the stakes.

  Vera sat with her back against the wall, her expression unreadable. She was almost completely covered in bandages, only her face and hands exposed, revealing the remnants of her earlier battle. Flint approached her cautiously, unsure of what to say.

  “Hey,” he finally managed, his voice low. He glanced at the ground before meeting her gaze. “How are you feeling?”

  Vera shrugged, a flicker of indifference crossing her features. “It doesn’t matter. I’m here to fight.” Her tone was flat, but Flint could sense an underlying intensity. She was ready.

  Flint remained silent for a moment, wrestling with his thoughts. “I’m… sorry about what happened. I didn’t mean to—”

  Vera interrupted him, her voice firm. “It’s done. I can handle myself. We all have to get stronger if we want to survive.” She looked him straight in the eye, her resolve evident.

  He nodded, “Yeah, I guess we do.”

  They fell into a quiet moment, the sounds of the arena fading as the next fight was announced. The air was thick with anticipation, and Flint couldn’t help but feel the weight of what lay ahead.

  “Just focus on your fight,” Vera said, breaking the silence again. “We can’t afford to show weakness. Not now.”

  With that, Flint turned his attention back to the arena, steeling himself for the next battle. He knew he had to be at his best.

  ***

  Shift stepped onto the battlefield, his expression serious but calm. His opponent, a Water Awakened, eyed him warily, fully aware of the power Shift possessed. “3, 2, 1… FIGHT!” James’s voice boomed.

  The Water Awakened immediately summoned a torrent of water, attempting to wash over Shift. But before the wave could reach him, Shift extended his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, he lifted the water into the air using his telekinesis. The liquid hovered momentarily, suspended in a shimmering bubble before he crushed it into a dense orb and sent the droplets flying back at his opponent with incredible force.

  The Water Awakened, taken aback, struggled to conjure a shield, but it was too late. The shards of water pierced through, leaving him vulnerable. Seizing the moment, Shift unleashed his telekinetic power, slamming the boy against the ground with a resounding thud. The fight was quick and brutal; the Water Awakened gasped in pain, his body unable to withstand the onslaught. Shift made a swift decision and used his telekinesis to snap the boy's neck, ending the fight.

  Mira was next. As she walked into the arena, her heart raced. She faced a Fire Awakened who appeared eager to showcase his strength. “3, 2, 1… FIGHT!”

  Mira took a deep breath, her mind racing as she activated her illusion abilities. She crafted a series of flickering images around her, creating the illusion of multiple versions of herself. The Fire Awakened looked confused, trying to determine which Mira was real.

  “Where are you?” he shouted, throwing flames at the closest illusion, only for it to vanish into thin air. Mira used this moment of distraction to create an illusion of herself standing behind him. The moment he turned, she made the illusion strike, causing him to panic.

  But she couldn’t hold the illusion for long; it flickered and disappeared just as he swung. Taking advantage of his momentary disorientation, she conjured another illusion of a blazing fire behind him. The Fire Awakened, believing it to be real, turned to escape, but Mira’s deception left him vulnerable.

  With determination, she decided it was time to end this. She used her ability to create an illusion of fire engulfing her, making it seem like she was about to burst into flames. The Fire Awakened, fearing the flames, hesitated just long enough for Mira to move in close.

  With one swift motion, she used the element of surprise to stab him with a concealed blade she had hidden in her sleeve. The boy’s eyes widened in shock as the life drained from him, ending the fight.