The announcer declared Muiler G the winner of the match. The crowd erupted in applause. The focus shifted then shifted to the next, featuring one of the sibling duo, Chalcon and Chala. The two stood side by side in their aqua-colored battle dresses with sheathed blades at the ready.

  Chala, the older and more experienced of the two, had an air of sweetness about her, but there was a hint of sadistic joy in her eyes.

  Chalcon, on the other hand wore a made-up face and had a short stature, contrasting with their sister's adult womanly figure.

  Chala, with a gentle smile placed a hand on Chalcon’s back. "You don't have to be so angry all the time, little brother. We're here to practice and have fun."

  Chalcon replied with a hint of annoyance. "I don't like people looking at you that way. I'll make sure no one dares to try doing something stupid."

  Chalcon strutted into the ring, and the announcer couldn’t help but notice the dress they wore. “Alrighty, folks! Let’s get this next match underway! Over in the left corner, we’ve got Chalcon, our brave young lady—”

  Chalcon’s face twisted in frustration. He stomped his foot and shouted, “I ain’t no girl! I’m a guy, a strong guy, and don’t y’all forget it!”

  The announcer was taken aback but also quick on the uptake. She chuckled and continued, “Well, I’ll be! My apologies, Chalcon. Didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers. And in the right corner, hailing all the way from the East, we’ve got Banito! This here warrior left his kingdom behind for the honor of fightin’ for the West. He’s here to prove he’s got what it takes to call himself one of us!”

  Banito, clad in heavy armor flexed for the crowd with a triumphant grin. His muscular physique was a stark contrast to Chalcon's appearance.

  While Banito flexed and showed off his impressive physique, a group of enthusiastic fangirls in the audience couldn't contain their excitement. They chatted amongst themselves with stars in their eyes:

  "Oh my goodness, look at those muscles! Banito is just...wow!"

  "He's so manly and strong. I can't take my eyes off him!"

  "I don't know what made him leave his kingdom, but I'm so glad he's here in the West."

  "I bet he's unbeatable in the ring. I hope he notices us!"

  Chalcon and Banito faced each other in the ring. Banito looked down at his opponent and began laughing. "Well, well, well! It looks like I've got a very easy opponent today. Chalcon, was it? I'm not sure if you realize, but you don't exactly look like a strong challenger to me. And the magical level I'm sensing from you... it's disappointingly weak. Like a baby girls. You sure you’re a dude?!"

  Banito's laughter echoed through the arena. He flaunted his muscles with a cocky grin. "You see these?" he taunted, kissing his biceps and striking another pose. "These are what a real man should have. If you were a man, Chalcon, you'd have some too!"

  Chalcon's glare could have pierced steel. He clenched his fists, trying to keep his cool. "Maybe you should've saved some of those brains for yourself instead of stuffing them into your muscles," he shot back,

  Banito roared with laughter. He turned to the crowd, gesturing grandiosely. "Did you hear that, folks? The little guy thinks he's funny! Come on, laugh with me!"

  The audience responded with cheers and laughter. Chalcon growled, but Chala placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

  "Now, now, Chalcon. Let's show Banito what you're truly made of when the match starts.” She then turned her attention to Banito.” Don't let appearances fool you, my brother is a force to be reckoned with."

  Banito looked curious. “Brother? Are you absolutely sure about that? What type o man wears a dress like that?"

  Chala gave him a grin. She spoke with unsettling confidence. "You shouldn't judge my brother by his appearance, Banito. You'll regret that."

  Chala’s smile held a sinister edge. Banito felt a flicker of unease despite his bravado. Chala turned and stepped out of the ring to let Chalcon and Banito face off.

  With Chala gone, Chalcon yelled out, "Hey, Stronberg! What are you waiting for? Let's get this shit started already!"

  Stronberg raised an eyebrow but nodded.”Let the next match begin!"

  Banito wasted no time. He swiftly drew his blade and released his sword magic. The crowd watched in awe as he invoked a powerful sword command, and suddenly, the ground beneath him quaked.

  "Release, Demolitioner - Level 3!"

  A massive wrecking ball materialized, suspended from his blade by a black chain. It swung with incredible force, creating shockwaves and destruction in its wake. The crowd gasped at the overwhelming power of Banito's sword magic.

  Chalcon reacted swiftly, unsheathing his blade and launching it at Banito; however, he easily knocked the blade aside with his own.

  But Chalcon wasn't finished yet. He summoned his own magical energy, forming a bluish ball of energy in his hands. With agility and precision, he manipulated the ball, making it dodge and weave through Banito, who attempted to knock it away. Then he shouted:

  "Manipulation Ball!"

  The ball of magical energy surged toward Banito, striking him squarely in the center of his chest. The impact sent Banito stumbling backward. The force made him briefly wear a look of surprise.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Banito shook off his shock and then grinned. “Wahahaha! Kid that was nothing!”

  Chalcon smirked. "Nothing, huh?" He swiftly moved to retrieve his blade, but Banito unleashed his enhanced wrecking ball at him which glowed with green energy. The ball sprouted menacing spikes that rained down upon Chalcon.

  When the spikes descended, one of them grazed Chalcon. Banito began to laugh in amusement, but then he felt something wrong.

  Banito muttered to himself, "I didn't enforce my attack, but it seems like it used double the amount of energy. Something's not right. I've mastered my sword magic this far..."

  He glanced around the arena, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Chalcon stood confidently with a smile on his lips. He managed to retrieve his blade.

  Banito pointed an accusatory finger at Chalcon. "You did something! What did you do?"

  Chalcon chuckled and twirled his blade."Oh, it's nothing too complex. The Manipulation Ball is just like it sounds. It's an attack that allows me to manipulate the energy you try to use. Each time you get hit by this technique, the energy you attempt to use will be doubled. So, from x2 to x4, and so on."

  Banito's eyes widened in disbelief. The audience murmured in excitement upon hearing of this ability.

  "Why does a scrawny kid like you have a technique like that,” asked Banito curiously.

  Chalcon shrugged nonchalantly. "Appearances can be deceiving, can't they?”

  Banito’s face twisted into one of irritation. With a roar, he charged at Chalcon, swinging the wrecking ball in a wild arc. "Doesn't matter! Muscles win in the end! You may have that trick, but it doesn’t compare to--"

  Chalcon cut him off mid-sentence. "You really like to hear yourself talk, don't you?" With a swift motion, Chalcon leapt into the air, somersaulting over Banito and slashed his back with his blade.

  Banito let out a growl of pain and spun around, eyes blazing with fury. "Why you—!"

  Chalcon was already on the move. He dashed across the arena. Banito in hot pursuit, swinging his weapon wildly. The ground shook with each impact, sending up plumes of dust and debris.

  "You think you can run forever, little man?" Banito shouted, trying to keep up as Chalcon weaved effortlessly through the wreckage.

  "You're just a clown in a dress, Chalcon! Can't even fight like a real man! You think this Manipulation is anything special?"

  Chalcon continued to evade him, but his own anger was rising.

  With a hint of annoyance, Banito continued, "You're nothing but a sideshow act! How pathetic!"

  Chalcon paused. His eyes he turned to face Banito directly with a glare. An intense, dragonic aura began to emanate from him, swirling around his body like a storm.

  Banito's eyes widened in shock. "A dragon? What kind of trick is this?"

  Chalcon’s blade was now enveloped in crackling lightning energy. "Now you've pissed me off. Go to hell, and take your muscles with you!"

  With a swift and powerful motion, Chalcon charged at Banito and struck with full force, unleashing a torrent of lightning that engulfed Banito in a violent, explosive storm.

  The crowd gasped. The arena was filled with smoke and the sound of thunder. When the smoke finally cleared, Banito stood in the center. His once-imposing armor had been reduced to tatters. He was left wearing only commoner’s clothes, and his muscular physique had vanished entirely.

  Banito tried to stand tall, still attempting to project confidence, but he quickly realized his muscles were gone. Panic and disbelief crossed his face.

  Chalcon smirked. "So, you were buffing up your muscles with magic? Lame."

  With a swift motion, Chalcon’s blade flashed through the air and Banito was knocked off his feet. Banito weakly responded, "I... I underestimated you.” Banito then lost consciousness.

  The announcer declared, "What an upset! The winner of this match is Chalcon!"

  The crowd erupted in cheers for Chalcon.

  As Chalcon stepped out of the ring, Chala entered, and gave him a high-five.

  The announcer boomed throughout the arena, “Ladies and gents, lend me your ears! I present to you, the reigning champion of the Eastern Annual Tournament, hailing from our very own Western Kingdom... Chala!”

  The crowd erupted into wild applause and cheers. They shook the rafters when acknowledging Chala's impressive status. The announcer went on, "Now, folks, Chala ain't just known for her jaw-droppin' combat skills; she's also got a sweet and charismatic way about her. Despite her strength on the battlefield, she carries herself with grace and humility, like a true Southern belle. Whenever Chala steps into the arena, it's always a treat for the crowd. Y'all better buckle up 'cause we're in for one heck of a show from her today!"

  The announcer turned her attention to the next contestant. "Alright, folks, let’s roll out the red carpet for our next challenger—Vula!"

  As Vula stepped into the ring. The announcer continued, "Now, Vula might be new to the tournament scene, but don’t let that fool ya. This gal’s already made waves with her fierce fighting style and relentless spirit. She’s here to show everyone she can go toe-to-toe with the best of 'em. Vula’s fixin’ to make her mark today!"

  Vula, a young and overgeared girl, stepped into the ring. Her attire was a blend of mismatched armor pieces. Various types of armor, some heavy and metallic, others lightweight and flexible, adorned her frame.

  Chala approached Vula with a friendly smile."Hey there, newcomer! I noticed you've got quite the assortment of armor…"

  Vula looked up at Chala nervously. "Oh, you noticed, huh? Yeah… dunno what I'm doing with all this gear. I just picked up what I could find, really..."

  Chala chuckled and began to examine Vula's armor. "No worries. We all start somewhere. Let me give you a few pointers. First, your armor should fit you snugly. You don't want it too tight or too loose."

  Vula nodded, absorbing the advice. "Okay, got it. What about all these different pieces?"

  Chala continued, pointing to various parts of Vula's armor. "See, you've got heavy and light armor. It's good to know the purpose of each. Heavy armor offers better protection but can slow you down. Light armor lets you move faster but sacrifices some defense. It's essential to strike a balance based on your fighting style."

  Vula's eyes brightened as she realized Chala was genuinely helping her. "That makes sense. What about these gauntlets and boots?"

  Chala explained, "Gauntlets protect your hands, and boots help you move more comfortably. But remember, you don't want to overburden yourself. Choose what suits your style best. And don't forget to maintain your gear. A well-maintained armor is a reliable one."

  Chala turned to Stronberg and asked, “Mind if we take five minutes before we start?”

  Stronberg gave a nod. “Sure thing.”

  The announcer shouted with suprise, “Hold on, folks! Looks like we’ve got a brief intermission. Where are Chala and Vula heading off to?”

  The crowd murmured in curiosity. Chala and Vula stepped out of the ring and into a quieter area. Chala began to help Vula with a suit of armor more fitting for a knight.

  Vula marveled at the transformation. “Wow, this feels incredibly light on me! I don’t know how to thank you enough.”

  Chala smiled warmly, adjusting the straps. “No need to thank me. It’s all about finding what works best for you. Everyone needs a helping hand now and then.”

  Vula looked up at Chala with admiration. “But, Chala, I’ve noticed you’re always in that dress when you fight. Why not wear armor yourself?”

  Chala’s smile turned thoughtful after adjusting the last strap. “Ah, well, I prefer non-restricted movement. Armor is great, but sometimes it can be too constricting. My dress is designed to be both functional and flexible. I rely on my agility and skill rather than heavy protection.”

  Vula nodded. “I see. So it’s more about how you move and use your strengths rather than just relying on armor.”

  Chala gave her a pat on the shoulder. “Exactly. Everyone has their own style. Find what suits you best and make it work. Now that that’s over with, are you ready to show the crowd what you’ve got?”

  Vula’s eyes sparkled with confidence. “Absolutely. Thanks to you, I feel like I can take on anything!”