Risebelle began gathering an overwhelming amount of water and acid energy, forming a colossal sphere above her.

  "CASCADE OF DESTRUCTION!" Her cry echoed through the arena.

  The colossal sphere of energy she had formed above her surged forward, hurtling toward Roselle with immense force. The air crackled with anticipation as the sphere collided with the ground near Roselle, erupting into a devastating torrent of water and acid.

  Roselle was caught in the midst of the deluge, was forced to confront the raging torrent of acid and water. She summoned her power to shield herself, creating a barrier of violet lightning. It absorbed the initial impact of the Cascade of Destruction, but the relentless torrent continued to pummel her defenses.

  Roselle struggled to maintain her footing.

  “Nothing you do could have prepared you for this moment!” Risebelle shouted loudly. “I’ve been planning this from the start of the fight!”

  Roselle’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How can that be possible?” she thought, straining against the overwhelming force of the attack.

  Risebelle continued, “I always intended to end this fight by using not one but two Cascades of Destruction!”

  Roselle exclaimed, “What?!”

  With Roselle entangled in the throes of the first sphere, Risebelle summoned another enormous sphere of water and acid.

  The second Cascade of Destruction hung in the air like a foreboding storm, ready to descend. The sheer size of the sphere cast a shadow over the arena.

  Roselle, despite the overwhelming pressure, drew upon the full extent of her powers. ‘I have to risk it all to win it all,' she thought 'That’s the only way. Either this works, or I lose the fight.'

  Roselle pushed her magical energy back up from 400% to 600%, just as she had done before. Her body began to overload with energy, and a mini explosion erupted around her.

  “Noooo!” she shouted as more detonations occurred. The intensity of the power within her threatening to consume her. Yet, she refused to care. She managed to reach 600%, her lightning shifting to an eerie green hue.

  Roselle's magic began to drain gradually. With the full force of her being, she called at the top of her lungs, “Thunderclap, SUUUURGE!!!”

  A powerful burst of green lightning erupted from her, forming a rapidly spinning fan of crackling electricity. The Thunderclap Surge homed in on its target with lethal precision.

  The tendrils of lightning, sharp as daggers, cut through the air with a sizzling hiss. They struck the first Cascade of Destruction with pinpoint accuracy, delivering jarring jolts of electricity upon impact. The power of the Thunderclap Surge was such that it cleaved through the oncoming attack, tearing the Cascade of Destruction apart.

  Risebelle's eyes widened in shock. The green lightning tore through the water and acid sphere with blistering intensity. The moment the Thunderclap Surge made contact, a blinding explosion engulfed the entire arena. The combined force of the two massive energies created a violent eruption of light and sound, sending shockwaves through the arena.

  The explosion was so powerful that the protective barrier created by Stronberg, high above the arena, trembled. A visible crack appeared in the barrier from the ferocity of the clash.

  Stronberg, overseeing the spectacle from his elevated vantage point, narrowed his eyes with a flicker of concern.

  The announcer’s boomed through the arena. “Well, I gotta say, folks that was some power! We’ve seen some fierce battles in our time, but that right there was a spectacle of raw, unbridled energy! The Thunderclap Surge and Cascade of Destruction—what a clash!”

  [System Message]

  Magic: 0%

  The smoke and debris brought from the explosion began to settle. Roselle stood at the center. Her usual child-like form had returned, looking pale and exhausted. The yellow lines that now appeared on her face were the only remnants of the immense power she had unleashed.

  Roselle dropped to one knee, breathing heavily. Her eyes were barely open, but remained locked on the area where Risebelle should be.

  As the smoke and debris finally cleared, the devastation of the battlefield came into full view. Risebelle, battered and bloodied emerged. Her clothes were torn, her body marked with burns and cuts, and a thin trail of blood dripped from her mouth. Despite the brutal damage she had sustained, she staggered forward with a fierce gaze.

  The announcer’s rang out, "Well, I’ll be darned! I can hardly believe it, folks! Risebelle is still standing tall! What a display of sheer grit and resilience! This is the kind of toughness that makes the Wild West legendary!”

  Roselle looked up with wide eyes filled with disbelief. Risebelle’s eyes locked onto Roselle. She spoke strained and said, “You’ve really pushed me to my limits, Roselle….”

  Roselle, though weakened, managed a faint smile. “You really are something else, Rise…”

  Risebelle’s gaze hardened, despite her battered condition. “I still have the second Cascade of Destruction ready,” she said. “You might have stopped one, but what will you do about the second one?”

  Roselle’s eyes widened. “You... can’t be serious,” she gasped, trying to muster whatever strength she had left. “I’ve got no magic left to deal with it...”

  Risebelle’s hands trembled while trying to maintain control over the massive sphere of energy. With gritted teeth, she began to direct the second Cascade of Destruction down toward Roselle, preparing to bring it crashing down like a meteor.

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  Roselle, despite her exhaustion and the void of magical energy summoned every ounce of her remaining strength. She charged toward Risebelle. “I’ll have to do this the old-fashioned way!” she screamed.

  Roselle threw herself at Risebelle. Her fist connected with Risebelle’s face in a desperate bid to prevent the sphere from reaching its target. The impact was forceful, but the sphere of energy was still descending.

  The resulting explosion was cataclysmic. The second Cascade of Destruction erupted with tremendous force, engulfing both combatants in a blinding flash of light and energy. The arena was consumed by a maelstrom of water, acid, and lightning. The sheer power of the explosion created a deafening roar.

  As the dust and smoke began to settle, the once-intense battlefield lay in silence. Amidst the wreckage, Risebelle’s body began to shift, reverting to her normal child-like appearance. Her battle dress torn and tattered around her. She collapsed to the ground. Risebelle lay unconscious. Her breathing was shallow but steady.

  A red countdown meter flickered to life above the arena, ticking down from 60 seconds.

  The announcer sliced through the tense silence, brimming with awe. ”Ladies and gentlemen, what a showdown we’ve just witnessed! An unbelievable display of power, grit, and pure will from both fighters. The countdown’s ticking away, and here’s the scoop—both Risebelle and Roselle are down for the count!"

  She let the weight of the moment hang in the air before her tone became more dramatic. "Now, will either of them muster the strength to claw their way back after such a devastating blow?!”

  The countdown continued. At the 30-second mark, neither Risebelle nor Roselle showed any signs of movement. Runebelle, in the crowd, had her hands clasped together with a somber look. Her eyes were closed as if silently praying.

  By the 45-second mark, a stirring sight began to unfold. Roselle’s eyes flickered open. Despite her exhaustion and the severe toll her body had taken, she managed to push herself up onto her knees. The crowd, sensing the spark of hope, erupted in cheers, shouting:

  “Roselle! Roselle! Roselle!”

  Even though Roselle's strength was almost depleted, the deafening cheers reached her. Summoning the last of her willpower, she forced herself upward. Her body shook and trembled with the effort, but she gradually managed to stand.

  The countdown was at 59 seconds when Roselle made it to her feet. The arena erupted with a astonished gasps and roaring cheers.

  The countdown hit zero, and the arena was filled with a loud, resounding cheer for Roselle. The announcer shouted, "Unbelievable, folks! With just a second to spare, Roselle emerges victorious! What an extraordinary display of resilience and courage! This is the spirit of competition at its finest. This was an absolute barnburner of a finish!”

  Roselle's smile was one of triumph. “I did it…!"

  The reality of her victory began to set in, and a shocked look crossed her. “Wait, I …beat Risebelle...?"

  Roselle began to fall from exhaustion. She was suddenly caught by an unexpected savior. It was Muiler G, an Elite Guard of the Western Kingdom.

  With a smirk on her face, Muiler held Roselle gently and said, "You put on quite a show out there, Roselle. Looks like you gave it your all. Let's get you patched up and ready for the next round." She then carried Roselle to safety.

  Kintovar was quick to react, hopping into the arena to confront Muiler. "What are you doing with my creation, Muiler? She's not here for you to toy with."

  "She's in good hands," Muiler replied with a slight smile. "I've taken a liking to this girl, and I was simply going to get her healed up. Relax, Dr.Kintovar."

  After a tense staredown between Kintovar and Mui, Kintovar finally nodded and said, "Very well." She decided to trust Mui's intentions, though she still watched the situation with a cautious eye.

  Mui, with a hint of amusement, said, "Don't worry, Dr. Kintovar. I have no intentions of causing harm to them. In fact, my interests lie in quite the opposite direction."

  In a small ward, Roselle and Risebelle found themselves with Princess Anitina, who had prepared a meal for them. Anitina, dressed in her scientist clothes, shyly presented the food that was specially designed for beings like them. She smiled and said, "I know you might not be hungry or have no need for food, but if you eat this, it will help restore your energy, much like how humans need to eat."

  Roselle nodded appreciatively and explained, "Thank you, Anitina. We do need to eat, but unlike humans, we only need to do it once a day." She looked over at Risebelle, who agreed with a slight nod.

  After Princess Anitina left the room, she blushed slightly when she caught Roselle's gaze before departing. Roselle watched her go with a touch of confusion but didn't dwell on it too long.

  Risebelle began eating the food provided. She turned her attention back to her sister and asked with a serious tone, "What's the deal with you and Anitina, Roselle?"

  Roselle hesitated for a moment before responding, "It's nothing, Risebelle. Just…a friendship. I've told you before, there's nothing more to it. We only talked and became friends…"

  Risebelle lowered her gaze. "Roselle, you're not gonna tell me the real story, are you?" Risebelle took another bite of her food and simply replied, "Well, whatever. By the way, Runebelle's up next. She's facing that Muiler G, 'Mui' woman. I've got a bad feeling about her."

  "Why do you think Mui might be bad,” Roselle questioned.

  Risebelle left a silence for a minute, and then she simply said, "Intuition."

  "Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for the next heart-pounding showdown in the tournament?" The announcer echoed through the arena with commanding energy, stirring the crowd into a frenzy of cheers. "Buckle up and prepare yourselves, ‘cause we’re about to dive into an electrifying clash between our next two contenders! Let’s get this rodeo rolling!"

  As Runebelle entered the arena, the crowd observed a petite, childlike figure with a combination of blue and pink hair, mirroring the features of Roselle and Risebelle. The sadness that clung to her face couldn't be ignored.

  "Now, folks, get ready for this electrifying face-off!" the announcer rang out with a dramatic flair. "On one side of the arena, we’ve got the melancholic Runebelle, a creation of the brilliant Dr. Kintovar! She’s got an aura of sorrow that’ll tug at your heartstrings."

  She pivoted to the other side with excitement. "And on the flip side, meet the stunning and Muiler G, or as we call her, Mui! She’s one of the renowned Elite Guards of the Western Kingdom—a powerhouse of both battle prowess and undeniable charm. This is gonna be one for the books, folks!"

  Mui approached Runebelle and spoke with a gentle yet inquisitive tone. "Hey there, little one," she began, looking at Runebelle with concern. "You seem so sad. Can you tell me what's been weighing on your heart? How much sadness have you had to bear in your life?"

  Runebelle looked up at Mui. "More than you can imagine.”

  Mui nodded with her eyes closed momentarily. "Noone should be content with sadness. Finding your source of happiness is a significant step in healing your heart."

  Runebelle's responded. "I do have a source of happiness… My sisters, Roselle and Risebelle, are my joy. But even with them, I understand that sadness is a part of life. As long as sadness exists in this world, it's something I have to bear."

  Mui looked at Runebelle with a warm smile. “You know, people often view darkness as something to fear or despise, associating it with evil, but… isn’t it fascinating how beauty can emerge from it?”

  She took a step closer. “The world often tells us that darkness is the source of all evil. Yet, who decided that was the absolute truth? Sometimes, it’s within that darkness that we discover our truest selves, and perhaps, even find a new form of beauty.”

  Mui’s smile grew slightly. “Just as the night sky can be breathtakingly beautiful, so can the darkness within us.”

  Runebelle nodded slowly, absorbing Mui’s words. With a deep sigh, she summoned her small cannon and prepared to face off with Mui.

  Mui unsheathed her blade with a fluid motion. She met Runebelle’s gaze sharply. “Show me… Show me the beauty of the sadness within you.”