"Now for the next match," the announcers continued as the arena was cleared from the previous spectacular battle.
"The next match will be... Aoi Raitoningu from Spirit East," S.E.I.D. announced.
"Don't remember seeing her," Mashū observed, scanning the competitor area.
"Versus Sans Kemuri from Spirit North," S.E.I.D. concluded.
"Didn't see him either," Romaji added.
"Are both guardians ready?" Migan called out to the new competitors.
"Yup," Aoi replied confidently.
"Begin this already," Sans said with obvious impatience.
"Ready, set, FIGHT!" Migan announced.
As the new battle commenced, Mashū and Romaji carefully carried their exhausted teammate away from the arena.
**The Medical Wing**
*Knock, knock.*
"Come in!" came the voice from within the medical facility.
"Hey, Doc, can you help him? He's pretty beat up and depleted all his energy," Mashū said as they entered with Yoku barely conscious between them.
"Yeah, sit him over there," the nurse instructed, gesturing toward an examination bed.
"Alright, there you go, buddy," Romaji said gently as they helped Yoku settle onto the medical table.
"I'm OK, I swear," Yoku mumbled weakly before his eyes closed and he fell into an exhausted sleep.
"S.E.I.D., analyze the damage, please," the nurse requested.
"At once, Mrs. Mari. Results in thirty seconds," the AI replied as a scanning beam emerged from the wall unit.
"I never knew her name, but now I know," Anjero observed from his own medical bed where he'd been recovering.
"Anjero, what's up, buddy? How are you feeling?" Mashū asked with concern.
"I'm OK. What happened to Yoku? I know the Ultimate Tag didn't do this," Anjero replied, noting his teammate's obvious injuries.
"Oh yeah, no one told you, huh?" Romaji said.
"Tell me what?"
"Aado chose to skip that this year. Wasn't bringing in enough revenue, I guess. Yoku just happened to be up first," Romaji explained.
"Did he win?" Anjero asked with concern.
"Yeah, I guess you can say that," Mashū replied carefully.
"Meaning?"
"We couldn't really see it at all. He fought the illusionist from the race," Mashū explained.
"Wow, the odds," Anjero said, impressed by the coincidence.
"Speaking of which, where is he? He was beaten up pretty badly also," Mashū wondered.
"The other schools have their own nurses with different rooms here," Mrs. Mari explained as she reviewed the scanning results.
"Oh, OK, that makes sense," Mashū nodded.
"Results are in, Mrs. Mari," S.E.I.D. announced.
"OK, let's see... Geez, he got you bad," she said, reviewing the data with obvious concern.
"Is it bad?" Romaji asked nervously.
"Well, fractured bicep," Mrs. Mari began.
"Of course," Romaji muttered.
"And two broken ribs," she continued.
"Oh my goodness... geez, dude, what did you go through?" Anjero asked with sympathy.
"No worries, he'll be OK after taking this shot," Mrs. Mari assured them, preparing a syringe with glowing liquid.
"What's in that?" Mashū asked curiously.
"Oh, just medical wisp essence. It should help him heal. He'll be out for the day, though. Can one of you turn him over?" she requested.
"Wait... what are you talking about?" Romaji asked with growing confusion.
"I have to enter it in his 'back side' since he's so damaged," Mrs. Mari explained matter-of-factly.
"OK," Mashū said, unable to suppress his laughter.
Anjero smirked. "Let's get this done."
As they began to reposition the unconscious Yoku, he suddenly stirred.
"Huh... why am I laid out like this?" Yoku asked groggily.
"Just stay still, baby. This won't hurt one bit," Mrs. Mari said in her most soothing medical voice.
"What won't hurt? Is that a needle? Why am I laid out... nope, I refuse!" Yoku exclaimed, suddenly wide awake and attempting to escape.
"Yoku, you gotta sit still to get better, man," Romaji said, laughing under his breath.
"Why are you laughing?! I refuse!" Yoku protested, trying to flee the medical table.
"Somebody catch him!" Mrs. Mari called out.
Romaji and Mashū managed to corner and restrain their panicking teammate.
"Let me go!" Yoku struggled.
"Hold him down!" Mrs. Mari instructed.
Despite Yoku's protests, she successfully administered the injection. "Geez, that was way harder than it should've been. Oh yeah, Anjero, I figured out what that poison was."
"What was it?" Anjero asked with interest.
"It's a spirit energy-infused poison made for paralyzing people while rotting the skin of its victims," she explained seriously.
"So you're saying it was someone with a poison spirit that shot at Shinkei and me?" Anjero asked.
"Maybe so, but it also could have been a poisonous animal. Some animals now have spirit energy in them nowadays. But be on the lookout," she warned.
"Will do! Mrs. Mari, take care of Yoku, please," Anjero said as he prepared to leave.
"Of course."
"Romaji, Mashū, let's get back to the stadium," Anjero suggested.
"Sure," Mashū agreed.
"Don't boss me around, bum boy," Romaji protested, though he followed anyway.
As they returned to the stadium, the crowd was erupting in celebration.
"Wow! Down goes Sans! The winner is Aoi!" the announcers declared.
"Anjero, you're OK!" Shinkei called out with relief as he spotted his brother.
"Yeah, I'm cool. What all happened?" Anjero asked.
"Dude, you won't believe this. That girl who just won has the same powers as your mom," Kamira explained excitedly.
"Huh? Is that even possible?" Anjero asked with surprise.
"But get this—it's blue instead," Shinkei added.
"But Mom's is yellow. It's not possible," Anjero protested.
"Technically, since it's not part of the Original Seven, it can make different variations of that spirit," Kamira explained.
"Oh yeah, we did learn that in class sometime ago. Honestly, I just forgot," Mashū admitted.
"You all ready for the next match?! S.E.I.D., pick the next contestants, please!" Migan announced with enthusiasm.
"Why is Ms. Sutarion doing this now?" Anjero wondered.
"Aado wanted to sit up there with all the other school commanders," Kamira explained.
"Seems to me that she's enjoying this now," Romaji observed.
"The next match will be Anjero Sutanrì from Spirit South versus Devanga Matin from Spirit North," S.E.I.D. announced.
"OK, now! These picks are so rigged!" Anjero exclaimed, unable to believe the coincidence.
"Can both contestants step in, please?" Migan called out.
"Sorry, I have to include him first," Rafaeru said apologetically as he escorted Devanga to the ring.
"That's fine," Migan replied.
"Well, well, well, so we meet again, waterboy! So grateful for the stupid AI to let me fight you again," Devanga said with obvious satisfaction.
"Wish I didn't have to, but fate is a bitch," Anjero replied honestly.
"Well, it won't go as smoothly for you this time around. Shadowboy isn't here to help you this time," Devanga taunted.
"Why is there a criminal here?!" a spectator shouted from the stands.
"Shut the hell up, fool, before I end up killing you also," Devanga snarled back.
"So you plan on killing me? Isn't that against the rules?" Anjero asked.
"So? I don't care about rules," Devanga replied with dismissive arrogance.
"I'm gonna disqualify you," Migan warned.
"No, I don't want it this way," Anjero said firmly.
"You sure, Anjero? You just healed," Migan asked with concern.
"I'm feeling better than ever, actually," Anjero assured her.
"OK, well... Ready! Get set! FIGHT!"
**The Battle Begins**
"LANDSLIDE BLITZ!" Devanga immediately launched his signature attack, the arena floor erupting in a cascade of stone and earth.
The massive attack barely missed Anjero as he dove to the side with enhanced reflexes. "Wooo, that almost hit me! I guess it's my turn!"
Instead of using his water abilities, Anjero rushed directly at Devanga, engaging him in hand-to-hand combat. Their fists flew in practiced combinations as they tested each other's martial skills.
"What?! No water this time around?" Devanga asked with surprise as he blocked a series of punches.
"I don't feel the need to use it yet," Anjero replied, landing a solid jab to Devanga's ribs while dodging a haymaker aimed at his head.
"So you're looking down on me, huh?" Devanga snarled.
"Of course not," Anjero said, but his actions suggested otherwise.
Suddenly, Anjero leaped back and called out, "GEYSER BEAM!" A powerful column of water struck Devanga directly, washing him toward the edge of the ring. Only his quick activation of partial Rock Armor saved him from an immediate ring-out.
"I won't be taken out that easily. I've been fighting my entire life!" Devanga roared with desperate fury.
"Well, I don't plan on losing just yet. I guess I might as well even the playing field," Anjero replied, his spirit energy beginning to flare around him.
"HEAT ROCK ARMOR!" Devanga's body became encased in molten stone that radiated dangerous heat.
"VAPOR FIST!" Anjero countered, his hands wreathed in superheated bubbles.
The two combatants exchanged blow after blow, neither gaining a clear advantage. When Anjero attempted a kick to Devanga's chest, his foot became trapped in the molten armor.
"Hahaha, gotcha! Now feel the rocks start crushing your leg," Devanga taunted as his armor began to contract around Anjero's trapped limb.
"Huh... what's with everyone and trying to get rid of my leg?" Anjero observed with surprising calm.
"And Anjero is caught in Devanga's armor! Can he get out?" the announcers called out.
"Errr... let me go," Anjero struggled against the crushing force.
"Never! The only way you're getting out of this is if you chop off your leg right now," Devanga declared.
"Never!" Anjero replied, then deliberately drove his fist into Devanga's chest armor, allowing his arm to become trapped as well.
"Damn, guess you're out of luck," Devanga said with satisfaction.
"Who said that? I let you catch my arm so I can do this! VAPOR BULLETS!" Anjero announced.
"AHHH! What are you doing?" Devanga screamed as concentrated water attacks struck him from inside his own armor.
"What do you think I'm doing? You better let me go because I have energy to spare," Anjero said grimly, continuing his internal assault.
"OK! ENOUGH!" Devanga finally exploded his armor outward, blasting Anjero away but leaving himself soaking wet and gasping for breath.
"Woah!" Anjero exclaimed as he landed hard but managed to keep his footing.
"Why won't you just go down?" Devanga panted desperately.
"I told you this before, didn't I?" Anjero replied.
"I still don't understand what drives you," Devanga said with genuine confusion.
"I didn't either till I fought you back then and found out it was you that kidnapped my brother. So I guess you can say my drive and resolve comes from you," Anjero explained.
"I don't get you... that makes no sense," Devanga protested.
"Just realized that, so I want to thank you for that. So thank you, Devanga," Anjero said with sincere gratitude.
"Shut the hell up!" Devanga screamed, driving his fist into Anjero's face with enough force to stagger him. "Why would you thank me? I've done nothing but hurt and kill people all my life!"
"And you don't have to anymore," Anjero said, wiping blood from his nose. "You go to school now. I mean, yeah, you are chained up and all, but you're technically free now from all the hurt and despair from your life."
"LANDSLIDE BLITZ!" Devanga launched another desperate attack.
"Anjero, watch out!" Shinkei called from the stands.
"It's OK," Anjero said calmly.
Incredibly, the rocks stopped just inches from Anjero's face as Devanga began to cry, his emotional walls finally crumbling.
"I... I... I'm not free," Devanga sobbed. "GIGA-DRILL IMPACT!"
His most powerful technique manifested as a massive spiraling drill of compressed earth and stone.
"Woah! Devanga, don't do this! Let's just both give up!" Anjero pleaded.
"No! I'm winning this no matter what so I can officially be free!" Devanga declared through his tears.
"Well, I'm not losing this then! AALTO GEYSER BEAM!" Anjero replied, channeling more power than he'd ever used before.
Devanga charged forward with his drill attack while Anjero's massive water beam met him head-on. For moments, they struggled against each other, but slowly Devanga began to push through the attack with his enormous stone drill.
"Shit, this isn't working! Guess I gotta push out more energy!" Anjero gasped.
"Your little beam can't stop my drill!" Devanga roared triumphantly.
"You're right!" Anjero suddenly agreed, then dodged to the side at the last possible moment.
"What? I can't stop!" Devanga exclaimed as his momentum carried him toward the ring's edge.
He managed to halt just before going out of bounds, but his position left him completely vulnerable.
"Sorry, man, but I won this!" Anjero said, delivering a gentle but decisive kick that sent Devanga tumbling out of the ring.
"And the winner is Anjero Sutanrì!" the announcers declared.
"Hey, man, you OK?" Anjero asked, immediately moving to check on his defeated opponent.
"Get away from me!" Devanga said, but without real hostility.
"Yo, you don't hear that? They're cheering for you," Anjero pointed out.
Indeed, the crowd was calling out appreciation for both fighters.
"Wow! Amazing fight, you two!"
"Devanga! Amazing job!" called out the same spectator who had earlier called him a criminal.
For the first time in years, Devanga smiled—a genuine expression of happiness at being accepted rather than feared.
"I won't lose next time, Anjero," he said, extending his hand.
"I look forward to our next match, Devanga," Anjero replied, accepting the handshake.
"You two, that's what I call a show! Go take a break for today. The next round is tomorrow," Migan announced.
"Will do!" Anjero replied.
"What did you all think? Amazing, huh?" Migan asked the crowd.
"YEAH! WOW! REMATCH!" came the enthusiastic response.
"Huh... I'm tired," Anjero admitted, the full weight of the battle finally hitting him.
"Anjero, amazing job! You deserve the rest," Hajime said, appearing beside the ring.
"Oh, Mr. Aado, I thought you were spectating with the other commanders?" Anjero asked.
"I was, but I had to come down and say congrats to you," Hajime replied with obvious pride.
"Oh, OK, thanks. I think I'll go back up to the stands," Anjero said.
"Sounds good!" Hajime agreed.
As Anjero walked away from the arena floor, he reflected on what had just happened. The fight had been about more than winning or losing—it had been about showing Devanga that redemption was possible, that his past didn't have to define his future.
For the first time since being kidnapped and forced into Tenki's service, Devanga had experienced genuine acceptance and appreciation from others. It was a small step, but perhaps the beginning of a much longer journey toward healing.
And for Anjero, the victory represented something equally important: the understanding that sometimes the greatest triumph wasn't defeating your enemy, but helping them find a reason to stop being your enemy at all.
The tournament would continue tomorrow, but tonight, two former enemies had found something more valuable than victory—they had found the possibility of redemption.