The Western Tournament was a grand arena, bathed in the warm, golden light of the setting sun. The arena was surrounded by trees. They casted some shadows across the sandy floor. Excitement filled the air as a diverse crowd gathered, eagerly anticipating the battles that were about to unfold.

  The audience was a colorful variety of races. Some Magical creatures that were deemed harmless, humans and even some mechanical beings had come to witness the spectacle. Banners and flags of different colors and designs fluttered in the breeze from the crowd.

  A raised platform served as the stage for the tournament announcer who stood within the middle of the arena. She was a woman with her dark, smoky eyes framed by kohl-lined lids. Her jet-black hair cascaded down to her shoulders, contrasting with crimson streaks that ran through it. She wore a leather jacket, studded with silver accents.

  When the spotlights hit her, the announcer didn't hesitate to make her grand entrance. She struck a pose with one hand on her hip, and her eyes locked onto the audience with a smile placed on her face.

  After a few moments of basking in the spotlight, she leaned toward the microphone. With a commanding tone, she spoke loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, misfits and rebels, welcome to the Wild West’s most thrilling spectacle—the Western Practice Tournament!"

  Her words were met with a roar of excitement from the crowd. The announcer continued, "Prepare yourselves for an day packed with jaw-dropping battles, fierce rivalries, and moments that’ll leave you breathless. Our fighters are geared up to dazzle and amaze, and I'll be right here to guide you through every electrifying second of the action.”

  The crowd’s reaction was electric. A wave of cheers and applause swept through the arena, growing louder with each passing second.”

  The announcer boomed, "Alright, folks, let’s lay down the law—or should I say, the lack thereof! This here’s the Wild West, where we don't fuss over a heap of regulations. But there’s one rule we hold dear: no killin’."

  She paused for a moment, letting the crowd soak in her words, then her tone grew more serious. "We might let a bit of rough and tumble slide, but remember, our fighters are here to show off their grit and prowess. We want this to be a good ol’ challenge, not a deadly showdown to the death!"

  The crowd erupted into cheers, ready to witness fierce combat without crossing the line into bloodshed. It was a testament to the nature of the Western Practice Tournament, where strength, strategy, and skill were celebrated without the darkness of death looming over.

  Just then, a massive figure stepped onto the scene, casting a long shadow over the battered city. He towered over most of the other people. He wore an orange uniform with an emblem adorning it in the shape of a barrier marking his affiliation.

  "And now, to keep everything in line, we’ve got the Elite of the Western School of Barriers, the one and only Mr. Stronberg!"

  Mr. Stronberg nodded and spoke with authority. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. While we don't have many rules, I'm here to make sure this tournament is conducted fairly and that the barriers are respected. We have a dedicated medical team on standby for the fighters, and they'll be able to step in if things get too out of hand."

  The crowd could see the genuine concern in Mr. Stronberg's eyes, reassuring them that safety was a priority even in the midst of intense battles.

  With a final sweep of the cheering crowd, the announcer raised said, "Well, there you have it, folks! The Western Practice Tournament kicks off with no holds barred but under the watchful gaze of our fine overseer. Buckle up for a rip-roarin' day, ladies and gents. Our fighters are rarin' to show you just what they’re made of!"

  The announcer stepped to the center of the arena. The spotlights converged on her, casting her in a dramatic glow as music began playing in the background.

  "Let’s give a big, hearty welcome to our brave contestants!" she hollered with her arm sweeping wide. "They’ve journeyed from all corners of the city to show their mettle in the Wild West’s most prestigious tournament!"

  One by one, the contestants made their entrance onto the stage. Among them were Roselle, looking confident, Risebelle with a cold gaze foward, and Runebelle with the gloom etched on her face.

  They stood before 27 other contestants, each with their distinct presence, some familiar from past encounters, others entirely unknown to the audience. The diversity of skills and personalities on display promised an exhilarating tournament.

  The announcer continued, "Now, our fate rests in the hands of destiny itself. It’s time to unveil who’ll be squaring off in the first round of this grand showdown!"

  With a dramatic flourish, the electronic board nearby flickered to life, displaying the pairings for the first round of battles. The crowd's roars filled the arena as they eagerly awaited to see which matchups would set the stage.

  The announcer boomed through the arena as she unveiled the matchups for the first round of the tournament:

  "Alright, folks, buckle up and get ready! In our opening bout, we’re kickin’ things off with a family feud that'll set this place on fire! It’s a clash of the sisters, a showdown of epic proportions! Step right up and witness Roselle takin’ on Risebelle! This is gonna be one for the ages—don’t blink or you might miss the action!"

  The crowd erupted with cheers as the two sisters prepared to face each other. There was an air of excitement and curiosity about this family feud.

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  The announcer continued, “Next up, we’ve got a clash of powers that’ll have you on the edge of your seats! Runebelle is about to face off against Muiler G, an Elite Guard from the Maizen Kingdom! This one’s gonna be a flashy showdown, so don’t blink!"

  The audience fell into a hush.

  "And for our third bout," the announcer continued, "it’s Chalcon, the fierce warrior going head-to-head with Banito, the challenger who's ready to make a name for himself! This fight promises to be a battle of grit and tenacity!"

  The crowd’s energy surged, knowing they were in for a treat.

  "Brace yourselves for a clash of champions! Chala, the reigning champ of the Eastern Annual Tournament, will be up against the dynamic Vula! This is bound to be a match of epic proportions—don’t miss a moment!"

  The arena buzzed with anticipation for the Eastern champion versus the fierce challenger.

  "And now," the announcer took on a dramatic tone, "Prince Vuldo, the Elite Guard from the Maizen Kingdom, will face the mysterious Rawna! Expect sparks to fly as the powerful prince takes on Rawna, known for her destructive prowess!"

  Tension gripped the air upon hearing the powerful duel announced."For the remaining bouts, get ready for more action-packed thrills! In the sixth match, we’ve got Alder squaring off against Faelan! Then it’s Myra taking on Toren! And wrapping up the first round, Silas will go head-to-head with Kael!"

  The crowd roared with excitement. "Ladies and gentlemen, the first match of the tournament is about to commence! Roselle and Risebelle, please take your positions in the arena and get ready to dazzle us with your skills!"

  With the other contestants exiting the arena, the spotlight shone on Roselle and Risebelle, who stood across from each other, ready to face off.

  Meanwhile, Kintovar and her lab partner, Haras, arrived in the stands with popcorn in hand. They settled into their seats. Kintovar watched with a sense of pride and concern, knowing that her creations were about to engage in a challenging battle.

  Haras piped up. "Oh, this is going to be so interesting! It's such bad luck that Roselle and Risebelle have to fight each other right from the start."

  Kintovar raised one finger. "Sometimes, challenges like this can push them to discover new strengths and abilities. Let's see how they handle it."

  Juliana Kintovar approached the stands. Her youthful appearance was always surprising, given her apparent age. Many people knew her as one of the top 10 criminals in Jancito, and they kept their distance, despite her recent release, thanks to Dr. Kintovar's intervention.

  She took her seat next to Kintovar and Haras and gave a nonchalant salute to the group.

  "It's time to see how far your technology has come, Kintovar," Juliana remarked.

  Roselle and Risebelle, stood on opposite ends of the arena, ready to face each other in the first round of the tournament. Their shared history and the challenges they had overcome together hung in the air.

  Roselle took a deep breath and thought to herself, ‘Facing Risebelle right off the bat, huh? I had a feeling we would be drawn to fight against each other again in some way...’

  Her internal system buzzed, displaying a message: Current strength is higher than Risebelle’s. It was a reassuring thought but not one she could rely on entirely. ‘Strength alone won’t win this battle,’ she mused, ‘I’ll need strategy, and to understand her moves, just like iv’e tried to before.’

  Roselle looked over at Risebelle, who barely seemed to acknowledge her. The seriousness in her sister’s eyes was noticeable. Roselle’s resolve hardened. ‘This is more than just a match; it’s a test of everything iv’e learned from her and all of the abilities that iv’e picked up. I need to approach this with all the skill I have.’

  Roselle locked onto Risebelle’s stern face and shouted across the arena, “Risebelle! Don’t hold back! I want you to hit me with everything you’ve got!”

  Risebelle flickered with a hint of surprise before settling to a glare. She replied, “You’ve gotten pretty bold with your words these days, Roselle.”

  Roselle grinned. “Yeah, I guess I do like being bold!”

  Mr. Stronberg, the imposing figure from the Western School of Barriers raised his hands and cast a powerful barrier that enclosed around the battlefield. With the barrier firmly in place, he declared, "Let the battle begin."

  The moment Mr. Stronberg's command echoed through the arena, Roselle wasted no time. She lunged forward and attacked her older sister head-on. Risebelle was taken by surprise to see Roselle being the one to initiate close combat.

  Roselle threw a punch and Risebelle instinctively raised her leg to kick. Their attacks collided, and the impact sent a spark through the arena. The two sisters exchanged blow for blow with their fists and legs meeting in a fierce struggle.

  Risebelle’s eyes narrowed with focus. She raised her hands, and water began to swirl around her fists, coalescing into powerful, fluid appendages. She launched her water-enhanced fists toward Roselle with each blow coming faster and with greater impact.

  Roselle grimace. The water fists connected with her, sending shockwaves of force through her body. The strikes were more damaging than she anticipated. Reacting quickly, Roselle activated her yellow lightning. A surge of electric energy crackled around her boosting her speed and agility. She began to weave and dart around the arena, narrowly evading Risebelle’s next onslaught of water-infused strikes.

  Risebelle unleashed a barrage of water bullets from her hands. The fast-moving projectiles shot towards Roselle with deadly precision but Roselle deftly dodged the water bullets with impressive agility.

  “Trying out some new things, huh?” Roselle called out. “I never saw that move from you before, Risebelle!”

  Risebelle’s gaze remained unyielding. “You’re not the only one evolving, Roselle. If you want to keep up, you’ll need to push harder!”

  Roselle gritted her teeth and said to herself, ‘Push harder’ igniting a spark within. She glanced at her fists and focused on tapping into something new. Taking a deep breath, she dashed forward with renewed intensity.

  Risebelle, anticipating Roselle’s approach prepared to strike but Roselle slid gracefully beneath Risebelle’s outstretched fist, slipping behind her. Reacting swiftly, Roselle surrounded her foot with yellow lightning and sent a crackling surge of electricity into the ground.

  The electricity coiled around Risebelle’s legs, binding her and causing her to convulse with the shock. The advantage was now Roselle’s who pressed her attack. She bombarded Risebelle with a series of rapid blows. Each hit landed, and the lightning emitted around her fists added a small jolt behind her strikes.

  Risebelle grimaced. After taking several hits, she focused her energy outwards and unleashed a massive blue aura around herself. With a glare, she seized Roselle’s hand and stopped her assault. Roselle gave her a look of disbelief.

  Risebelle unleashed a powerful burst of water from her hands. The torrent surged toward Roselle, sending her flying through the air in a cascade. The force of the water blast crashed Roselle to the ground.

  Risebelle stood her ground, holding her chest with a fierce growl. Meanwhile, Roselle struggled to her feet, taking a few deep breaths to steady herself. Her eyes locked onto Risebelle’s with unwavering focus.

  As Roselle prepared for the next phase of the battle, a system message flickered briefly in view, displaying her current status:

  [[System message]]

  Lifeforce: 186%

  A moment of realization passed between both sisters. At the same time, they summoned their cannons. Roselle's cannon, massive in size, towered over her. Risebelle's cannon, though more moderately sized, still radiated power.

  Project Mage