The morning air was heavy with tension. The tournament had entered its most dangerous stage, and only four teams remained. Gargar had fought their way through ruthless opponents, proving their skill and endurance. But the road ahead was uncertain. With every match, the competition grew fiercer, the strategies more brutal.
The Grand Arena was alive with the roar of the crowd, banners waving, anticipation thick in the air. Today, the semifinals would determine who advanced to the final match. Two victories away from glory two battles that would test them beyond anything they had faced before.
Orgar and Gorgar stood near the entrance tunnel, their hearts pounding. Their opponents for this round had been revealed.
Kaela's team.
The twins exchanged a glance. They had expected to face Borak soon, but this changed everything.
Kaela emerged from the opposite corridor, her green eyes locked onto them. She gave a small smirk but said nothing. Her silence was more unsettling than any taunt.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena.
"Let the first semifinal match… BEGIN!"
The Semifinal: Speed vs. Strategy
The moment the whistle blew, Kaela's team surged forward like a tidal wave. Their movements were fast—almost too fast. It was clear they weren't just playing Skullball. They were executing a strategy.
Gargar tried to counter, but Kaela was already two steps ahead. She darted through the defense with inhuman precision, weaving past players like a shadow. In the blink of an eye, she launched the skull toward the goal.
Slam!
The skull hit the net. Kaela's team scored first.
Orgar clenched his jaw. This wasn't just a match it was a test. Kaela's team was unlike any they had faced. They didn't rely on brute force like the mountain warriors, nor reckless aggression like the southern clans. They played with deception, precision, and unpredictable speed.
Gorgar spat into the dirt. "They're trying to throw us off balance. We need to disrupt their rhythm."
The second round began, and Gargar adjusted. They slowed the game down, cutting off Kaela's speed advantage by forcing long passes and careful positioning. Orgar intercepted a key throw, launching the skull across the field to Gorgar. With a powerful strike, the twins equalized the score.
But Kaela didn't flinch.
The next minutes were a brutal back-and-forth. Gargar fought to control the pace, while Kaela's team weaved around them like a ghostly wind. It was skill against strategy, instinct against calculation.
Then, in a flash of movement, Kaela broke through. She faked a pass, then pivoted, sending the skull soaring straight toward the goal.
Orgar lunged
Barely stopped it.
The skull bounced back into play. The crowd gasped. Gorgar seized the moment, launching a counterattack. A rapid exchange of passes, a fake out, and Gargar scored again.
The arena exploded with cheers.
The final play came down to seconds. Kaela's team threw everything into a last desperate charge, but Orgar and Gorgar worked in perfect sync, shutting down every attempt. The whistle blew.
Victory.
Kaela's team was out.
Orgar turned toward Kaela, expecting anger, frustration something. But she simply nodded, her expression unreadable.
"You played well," she said. But there was something else in her tone. Something hidden.
Before Orgar could respond, she turned and disappeared into the tunnel.
The celebration was short lived. The final match was ahead.
And Borak was waiting.
A Meeting in the Dark
That night, the central plaza was quieter than usual. The remaining teams only two now had been given separate areas to prepare. Gargar had earned their place in the final, but something still felt wrong.
Orgar couldn't shake the tension in his chest. Kaela's words haunted him.
Then, in the shadows of an alley, he saw her.
Kaela stood with her back to the wall, arms crossed. Her usual confidence was gone.
"You need to listen to me," she said quietly. "Tomorrow's match… It's not what you think."
Orgar's muscles tensed. "What do you mean?"
She exhaled sharply. "Borak's team isn't playing to win. They're playing to destroy you."
Gorgar, who had just arrived, scoffed. "That's nothing new. We've beaten them before."
Kaela shook her head. "Not like this. Borak… He has connections. People backing him. They want him to win at any cost."
Orgar frowned. "Are you saying the match is rigged?"
She hesitated. "Not exactly. But Borak's team has been given… certain freedoms. No penalties. No fouls called against them. If you don't stop them early, they'll grind you down until you can't stand."
Gorgar clenched his fists. "Let them try."
Kaela sighed. "You don't get it. This isn't just a game anymore. It's a message. If Borak wins, he becomes a symbol—for the powerful, for those who want to control Skullball. But if you win…"
She met Orgar's gaze. "You prove it's still about skill. About heart. About the game."
Silence.
Then Kaela turned to leave. Before she disappeared into the night, she said one last thing.
"Watch your backs."
The Final Battle Approaches
The next morning, the sun rose over Morath, bathing the city in golden light. But for Gargar, the warmth did little to ease the storm brewing in their hearts.
The final match was set. Gargar vs. Borak.
The stakes had never been higher. This was no longer just about winning it was about defending the spirit of the game itself.
As they stepped onto the field, the crowd roared louder than ever before. The tension was suffocating.
Across the arena, Borak stood with his team, a smirk on his face.
The referee raised his hand. The skull was placed at the center.
Everything came down to this.
The final match… had begun.
End of Chapter 8