The deafening roar of the crowd still echoed in the arena as Bright stood in the center, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His clothes were torn, body bruised, but his spirit... unbreakable.
"Gourav Dutta! Gourav Dutta! Bright! Bright!"
The chants thundered through the air, vibrating through the very ground he stood on.
From the stands, a particular group of people clapped the loudest — Rahul, his mom, dad, and little sister, all waving proudly. Beside them, Bright's own two mothers stood, tears glistening in their eyes, their hands clasped tightly in pride. His big sister too was there, holding up a handmade banner:
"Our Bright — Our Champion!"
Even on a giant TV broadcast far away, his father watched silently, pride swelling in his chest.
And from the highest shadowy corner of the arena, Ansur smiled to himself, arms crossed.
And there... hidden from all eyes, a mysterious figure observed Bright quietly, his presence invisible to the world — but his attention solely locked on the young boy.
---
Bright staggered a bit, his legs trembling — not from fear, but sheer exhaustion.
Kunal Yadav, the rich and arrogant opponent he had just defeated, lay unconscious on the ground, sparks still crackling from Bright's devastating Thunder Tackle.
Bright's attack had shattered Kunal's proud defense completely, thunder roaring from his body like a storm unleashed.
The announcer's voice boomed:
"With an overwhelming victory, Gourav Dutta advances to the Quarterfinals!!"
The crowd went wild once again.
---
As Bright limped toward the resting area, Rahul rushed toward him first, wrapping his friend in a fierce hug.
"YOU DID IT, BRO!!" Rahul shouted, laughing.
Bright smiled weakly, "He was strong... but not enough."
Rahul's parents came forward too — his father, a tall man with warm eyes, patted Bright's shoulder firmly.
"Thunder Steps... your movement was unbelievable," he praised.
"Just like a true warrior," Rahul's mom added kindly, her eyes shining.
Rahul's little sister, barely reaching Bright's waist, shyly offered him a handmade flower bracelet.
"For victory!" she said sweetly.
Bright knelt down, smiling warmly, and accepted it.
---
As the celebrations cooled down, Rahul's father sat with Bright and began explaining about their family:
"We come from a clan that honors the Phoenix... a legendary contract beast," he said.
Bright listened, fascinated.
"Phoenix contracts," Rahul's father explained, "aren't limited to our family alone. It's a worldwide legacy — families from many regions attempt it. A true Phoenix contract can unlock transformation rates up to 90% or even beyond. Our ancestors once recorded a Legendary Summoner who achieved a 99% synchronization with his Phoenix — almost becoming one with it."
Bright's eyes widened with wonder.
Rahul's mom added with a proud smile:
"In this world, many clans exist. Some are even stronger than the Phoenix Clan. But kindness, honesty, and loyalty — those are our family's true legacy."
Rahul grinned at Bright.
"And you're family too, bro. Always were."
Bright's heart warmed at those words.
---
Journey Through Battles
The next two days were a whirlwind of challenges.
Bright faced opponent after opponent — warriors stronger, smarter, more brutal than the last.
Each fight left new wounds, new scars, but also new lessons.
Sometimes he won narrowly.
Sometimes he overwhelmed his enemies with sheer will and lightning-fast strikes.
Each victory pushed him further —
Round of 64...
Round of 32...
Round of 16...
Quarterfinals Qualified!
His reputation grew like wildfire.
Whispers filled the academy corridors:
"Have you seen Bright fight?"
"He moves like lightning itself!"
"That boy's gonna be a monster soon!"
---
After his final match, Suddenly, the giant screen in the middle of the arena lights up brightly.
The announcer's electrifying voice echoes through the entire stadium—
> "Ladies and Gentlemen!!"
"After countless battles, fierce struggles, and moments of glory... we finally have our TOP 4 warriors!!"
"Get ready for the SEMI-FINALS!!"
"First up... representing the blazing flames of the Phoenix — the prodigy himself — RAHUL VERMA!!"
"Facing him, emerging from the shadows with his terrifying beast summons — LEON BLACKMANE!!"
"And in our second semi-final match... the thunder that shook the entire arena — the unstoppable GOURAV DUTTA!!"
"Challenging him, the queen of frost and the frozen battlefield — the elegant yet deadly RINA FROST , known to all as ICE IMPRESS!!"
"These four will battle for a place in the GRAND FINAL... Who will rise?! Who will fall?!"
"Get ready for a showdown like never before!!!"
The crowd erupts into deafening cheers, chanting names and waving flags.
Bright (Gourav) and Rahul exchange a smile filled with excitement and silent promises.
Both thinking the same thing:
> "Let's meet in the final... no matter what."
"Attention, fighters!
Due to the intensity of battles, all qualified fighters will receive a 2-day break before the Semi-Finals! Use your time wisely!"
A thunderous applause followed.
Bright, battered but not broken, exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of fatigue on his shoulders.
That night, Bright sat under the night sky in the academy garden.
His muscles screamed in protest. His knuckles were bruised. His legs felt heavy like lead.
Both his moms found him there.
One of them placed a warm bowl of soup in his hands. The other tucked a blanket around his shoulders.
"No more training tonight," one said sternly.
"Rest, my bright moon," the other whispered.
Bright smiled softly, sipping the soup.
Deep inside, he thought about Ansur's words — about flow, about control, about trust.
He knew... tomorrow's battles would be even fiercer.
---
Meanwhile, the mysterious figure still watched from afar, hidden in the folds of space itself.
No one could sense him.
No one could even guess he was there.
"So this is the boy... the spark of destiny..."
He whispered into the wind.
"Soon, you'll face storms greater than you can imagine."
---
The next day, Bright resumed gentle training.
He practiced expanding his Aura Field, reaching further, pushing harder.
He sharpened his martial arts stances, perfecting every punch and kick.
While he was meditating, Rahul found him.
The two sat together, their backs against the academy wall.
"You ready, Bright?" Rahul asked, tossing a small stone in the air.
Bright chuckled tiredly.
"I was born ready."
Rahul nodded seriously.
"We promised, right? To reach the top together."
Bright's smile softened.
"Yeah. Together."
They bumped fists — a silent vow shared between brothers.
---
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, other clans prepared.
Other Summoners sharpened their blades.
The real war... was yet to come.
---
As the sun set behind the crimson clouds, Bright stood atop the academy walls, wind tugging at his clothes.
His eyes burned with resolve, and a tiny smile played on his lips.
He clenched his fists, lightning flickering gently around him.
The next battle... would decide everything.
And with the fire of a thousand dreams burning in his heart, he whispered into the coming night:
"I will become the strongest man in the world for sure."
.
.
.
.
.
To be continued...