The Crowd's Roar
The Jade Platform thrummed with tension as the Elimination Grand Final began.
Thousands of eyes focused on the floating arena. Every heartbeat echoed like thunder.
Li Wei watched from the sidelines, heart pounding. The system's warnings flickered constantly:
⚠ SYSTEM OVERLOAD IMMINENT
⚠ REALITY THREAD INSTABILITY DETECTED
⚠ RECOMMENDED: Host rest immediately
But rest wasn't an option.
Match One: Shen Ruo vs Meiyu
Shen Ruo stepped forward, her calm eyes meeting Meiyu's shimmering stare.
"Ready to finish this?" Meiyu asked softly.
Shen nodded. "No more running."
They began with a rapid dance of blades — ice and light, silence and song.
The air crackled as their powers collided, sending shockwaves that rippled through the crowd.
Unexpected Tactics
Meiyu shifted tactics, using illusionary doubles to confuse Shen.
Shen's crystal barrier shattered one clone, but more appeared.
The crowd gasped.
Meiyu smiled coldly.
"Your silence can't save you."
Shen pressed forward, unleashing a storm of shards.
One found Meiyu's side — a cut that bled starlight.
But Meiyu vanished before the final blow.
Sudden Defeat
Shen's eyes widened.
An unseen blade struck her from behind.
She fell.
The crowd was silent.
Meiyu lowered her weapon, breathing hard.
"I win."
Match Two: Yue vs Lotus
Next, Yue and Lotus faced off.
Both looked worn but determined.
Yue charged with a roar, ice shards flying.
Lotus countered with graceful spins, moonlight reflecting off her blade.
The two exchanged blows — faster and harder than anyone imagined.
The Hidden Power
Lotus's runes glowed bright.
She tapped into the Bound Flame shared with Li.
Her sword struck true, cutting deep into Yue's defense.
Yue stumbled.
Final Moments
But Yue roared, unleashing a Frozen Starfall — a blizzard of icy comets.
Lotus smiled softly, activating a shield of petals that absorbed the storm.
When the snow cleared, Lotus stood unscathed.
The crowd exploded.
Yue nodded, breathless.
"I yield."
The Shock: One Eliminated, One Advanced
The overseer's voice rang loud.
✅ Match 1 Winner: Meiyu
✅ Match 2 Winner: Lotus
Whispers swept the crowd.
Shen Ruo's defeat shocked many.
Scarlet's Match: A Glimpse
Before the next match, Scarlet appeared on the platform.
Her opponent was cloaked in shadow — name sealed.
The two stared.
Scarlet's coffin pulsed ominously.
"Let's finish this," she said quietly.
The System Glitches
Suddenly, the arena lights flickered.
The system emitted a harsh alarm:
⚠ CRITICAL SYSTEM GLITCH DETECTED
⚠ REALITY THREAD COLLAPSING
⚠ HOST AT RISK OF MEMORY ERASURE
The platform trembled.
Chaos Erupts
The crowd panicked.
Fighters staggered.
Li Wei's vision blurred.
The system voice echoed in his mind:
"Emergency Protocol Initiated: Memory Reset Imminent."
Cliffhanger Ending
Li gritted his teeth.
"No. Not yet."
His hand went to his chest.
The bonds were straining.
"Everyone, hold on."
Lightning split the sky.
The platform cracked.
Darkness swallowed the arena.