Aetheric Chronicles: Reborn As An Extra

The announcer's voice boomed across the arena as the thirty remaining contestants assembled, eyes sharp and breaths steady after the chaotic battle royale.

"Congratulations to our thirty qualifiers!" the announcer proclaimed, letting the crowd's cheers echo before continuing. "This next round will take the form of a tournament, but with a twist to ensure a fair chance for all!"
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The contestants and the audience listened intently as he explained.

"Each contestant will participate in

four

matches, and here's how it works:

every competitor may challenge up to two others of their choice!

Each person must fight a total of four matches, so two of your fights may come from others who have challenged you!"

A few murmurs arose among the contestants; this rule added a new layer of strategy, allowing them to choose opponents who could either boost their chances or provide worthy challenges.

"Victory in these battles is crucial," the announcer continued, his voice growing with intensity. "To advance, contestants must achieve

three wins.

If fewer than eight competitors achieve this, the top eight with the highest win counts will proceed to the next stage!"

With a dramatic pause, he added, "And to make things even more interesting, contestants will declare the names of those they wish to challenge

now!

"

A hush fell over the arena as the contestants digested this announcement.

"Once all challenges are submitted, we'll sort the matches to ensure each contestant faces four fights—and not a single one more." The announcer looked around, his eyes glinting with the thrill of competition. "Any draws will not count toward your three wins, so be sure to finish strong!"

As the contestants lined up to declare their challenges, the announcer continued with one final note.

"The winners of each match will be determined by ring-out, surrender, or a complete inability to continue. Remember: No killing or deliberate injuring is allowed. This round tests not only your strength but also your adaptability and strategic foresight!"

After a short break to record each participant's chosen challenges, the announcer returned, raising his hand for silence. The arena fell quiet as he called out the sorted matchups, ensuring each contestant would face exactly four opponents, as planned.

With anticipation crackling through the air, the first match began, setting the stage for the intense series of battles that would determine who would move on to the final stages.

The anticipation grew as the tournament began in earnest. Four smaller arenas were set up within the grand Royal Arena, allowing multiple matches to occur simultaneously.

Adrian, already focused, kept his attention on the second ring, where his name was scheduled for the fourth match. The sight of his opponent brought a slight smile to his face; he'd chosen to challenge a well-regarded young Awakener—Howen, a powerful earth-elemental mage and a favorite to advance. Went by the title, The Brainy Browler.

Though it was disadvantageous for Howen to fight against him.

Howen was already at the center of the ring, cracking his knuckles and shifting his stance in a way that revealed the intensity of his offensive style.

Known for his relentless earth attacks and aggressive technique, Howen had a reputation as a fierce, straightforward fighter. But beyond that, Adrian respected him; he knew Howen fought with integrity, preferring skill over underhanded tricks.

As Adrian stepped into the ring, Howen greeted him with a confident grin. "I heard you're a slippery one, Adrian," he said, with a glint of challenge in his eye. "Let's see if you're as quick as they say."

The announcer's voice boomed: "Fourth match in the second ring—Adrian versus Howen! Let the battle… begin!"

Howen wasted no time.

With a fluid motion, he slammed his hand down on the ground, sending out a tremor that pulsed through the ring. In an instant, thick, jagged earth spikes shot up from the ground, targeting Adrian's position with pinpoint accuracy. They were fast, deadly, and far taller than many expected, forcing Adrian to weave and duck as he dashed to the side.

Adrian reacted instinctively, his body slipping between the towering spikes, feet light and movements precise. Training against quick, shifting targets paid off now, as he managed to evade each strike by a hair's breadth. But as he dodged, he kept his gaze steady, tracking Rowan's subtle movements.

Rowan was using the spikes not just to attack but to camouflage his own presence, shifting behind the earthen constructs to throw off Adrian's line of sight. Adrian narrowed his eyes, spotting Howen's subtle shifts as he pressed forward.

'Smart move,' Adrian thought, adjusting his stance. Howen was blending into his own terrain, making each spike serve as both a weapon and a cover.

Howen emerged from behind a spike, his hands moving in a practiced arc. The earth pulsed again, this time sending a cluster of smaller, faster spikes shooting forward from multiple angles. Each one was aimed with unnerving precision.

Adrian calculated his next move in a heartbeat.

He leaned back, narrowly dodging the first set of spikes, and dropped low to avoid the next wave. Then, using his momentum, he rolled forward, popping up closer to Rowan.

Howen smirked, seeming pleased with Adrian's agility. "Not bad, but you're going to have to do better than that," he taunted, slamming his fist into the ground again.

This time, the earth beneath Adrian's feet shifted, unsteady and unpredictable, a ploy to destabilize him and keep him off-balance.

But Adrian anticipated this and sprang up, twisting mid-air to clear the fractured ground as more spikes erupted beneath him. As he landed, he kept his weight light, pivoting and dodging to stay just out of reach of Howen's relentless attacks. Yet Howen was persistent, firing off spike after spike with no sign of slowing down.

Adrian realized he needed to change his approach. Dodging alone would only wear him down before other fights. He kept his movements close to the spikes, forcing Howen to adjust his own positioning constantly. This way, Adrian could observe the rhythm and timing of Howen's attacks, preparing for an opening.

After another barrage of spikes, Adrian saw his chance—a slight pause in Howen's offensive pattern.

Without hesitation, Adrian dashed forward, closing the gap between them. He aimed low, sweeping his leg at Howen's ankle to throw him off balance, but Howen anticipated it, slamming his foot down to anchor himself with an earth-reinforced stance. The ground seemed to respond to Howen's will, keeping him rooted even as Adrian attempted to destabilize him.

"Nice try," Howen said with a grin, and the ground between them cracked. Large chunks of earth lifted up around him, forming into crude, powerful fists that barreled forward, one after the other, like battering rams.

Adrian backpedaled, narrowly evading the earth fists, but he could feel the pressure mounting. Howen's earth constructs were forceful, unpredictable, and draining to avoid for long.

Adrian shifted tactics.

As the earth fists came barreling down again, he darted sideways, then circled around, forcing Howen to adjust his angle. Adrian moved fluidly, blending evasion with subtle positioning, inching closer to Howen's defenses. Finally, Howen faltered, thrown off by Howen's sudden proximity.

Taking the opportunity, Adrian feinted to the left, making Rowan lunge forward to catch him, only to find Adrian sidestepping and landing a light but decisive palm strike on his shoulder. Rowan stumbled slightly, thrown off balance just enough to interrupt his concentration, and Adrian moved back to a safe distance.

Howen straightened up, his grin widening with newfound respect. "Not bad at all, Adrian," he said, breathing heavily. "Guess I'll have to turn it up a notch."

He summoned his energy again, and the ground rumbled beneath Adrian's feet. It was clear that Howen was preparing for a final, powerful attack—a last attempt to overwhelm Adrian with sheer force.

But Adrian was ready.

As Howen unleashed his attack, sending a massive wave of earth spiraling toward him, Adrian's focus sharpened. He timed his movements perfectly, stepping around each strike in a smooth, flowing motion that carried him through the onslaught. The audience watched in awe as Adrian danced around the barrage, slipping through Howen's attacks like fluid water.

Then, just as Howen overextended himself, Adrian stepped in close, dropping low to sweep his leg out, this time with perfect precision. Rowan's stance gave way, and he fell back, landing hard on the ground.

The crowd held its breath as Howen looked up, surprised but grinning, as the announcer's voice declared, "Adrian is the winner!"

Adrian extended a hand to Howen, who accepted it with a nod of respect.

"Well played," Howen said, catching his breath as he stood up. "I'll have to train twice as hard if I want to keep up with you next time."

Adrian gave a nod in return, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "You made me work for it. Let's have a meal sometime after this ends."

"Alright, and since I lost, it will be on me." Howen smiled as he left the ring. "I will take you to an awesome place."

With his first match complete, Adrian left the ring, feeling both accomplished and more prepared for the matches ahead.