Chapter 14: The Final Test
Night had fallen, casting long shadows across the hall as the remaining candidates sat in anticipation. Luna, Muscle, and Pedro waited near the main entrance, the tension thick in the air.
"Will Dagda make it through?" Luna asked, her eyes fixed on the door.
Muscle leaned back with a confident grin. "Yeah. He's not the type to fail."
At that moment, the doors creaked open. Dagda strolled in with Edward at his side, yawning dramatically.
"Muscle!" he called out.
"Dagda!" Muscle stood up as Dagda marched over and threw a playful punch into his arm.
"Been a long time since I got to punch you," Dagda smirked.
"Ahh! Idiot! That hurts!" Muscle groaned, rubbing his arm.
Edward smiled slightly. "Good. All candidates have officially passed Phase Three. Now, it's time for Phase Four one-on-one battles."
"One-on-one?" Muscle said, cracking his knuckles. "Just as expected. This is the most important phase of all. Lose here, and you're out. So push past your limits."
As the hall lights brightened, the crowd began to cheer. All around the arena, seats were filled with Predators elite warriors watching their future comrades. In the center sat the Guild Owners, their gazes sharp and calculating.
"Congratulations!" the crowd roared.
Edward raised his hand. "Let the final phase begin! The first battle: Luna vs. Pedro."
Pedro turned to Luna, eyes wide. "Me and Luna? What?"
But Luna was already walking toward the cage. No weapons only fists. Pedro swallowed his nerves and followed.
The cage locked behind them.
"Fight!" Edward declared.
Pedro charged first, leaping in with a powerful kick, but Luna smoothly dodged and landed a swift punch. Blood splattered. Without hesitation, she kicked again, driving him back.
"Sorry," she whispered and struck again, her hand glowing with moonlight. "Moon Punch!"
Pedro barely dodged, spinning and landing a desperate kick to Luna's side. One of his eyes was swollen shut, but he stood tall.
"I have to win... for my sister," he muttered. "She's in the hospital. I need to become a Predator."
He clenched his fists and lunged forward, but Luna rolled and slammed a full-powered Moon Punch into his chest. Pedro collapsed.
"The winner is Luna!" Edward announced.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Dagda stood up. "Good job, Pedro. You didn't give up."
"Yeah," Muscle added. "You've got guts."
Pedro was carried off as the next matches began. Fighters clashed using their Essentia some fierce, others raw.
Edward stepped forward again. "Next match: Dagda vs. Muscle."
The hall fell silent for a moment.
"You and me, huh?" Muscle said.
Dagda grinned. "You're going down."
They stepped into the cage. The bell rang.
Muscle wasted no time, slamming a punch into Dagda's chest. Dagda flew back but quickly rebounded, kicking Muscle square in the jaw. Muscle grabbed him mid-air.
"Sorry, buddy," he muttered and hurled Dagda to the ground.
Dagda groaned, getting to his feet. He cracked his neck. "Alright... no more playing around."
He unleashed a surge of light an explosion of energy that shattered nearby windows and made the crowd shield their eyes.
Gasps echoed around the arena.
Luna looked on, wide-eyed. Edward and the Guild Owners leaned forward.
Dagda floated slightly above the ground, energy swirling around him like a storm.
Then, he rocketed forward.
"You're not the only one who can punch hard," he shouted.
The cage shook as Dagda's fist met the ground beside Muscle, a crater forming beneath them. Muscle stood firm.
"Thought I'd lose, huh?" he smirked.
The battle was far from over.