Bernard's stunning victory in the tournament swiftly earned him a legion of adoring spectators and fervent fans. In stark contrast, Maxwell faced a storm of boos and biting criticism from the disgruntled crowd after his crushing defeat at Bernard's hands.

The crowd's disdain only stoked the fire of Maxwell's simmering rage, pushing him to swear vengeance against Bernard for the humiliating loss. Yet, despite the hostility and threats from his embittered rival, Bernard remained calm and unshaken, reveling in the afterglow of his easy-won triumph. His poise and undeniable skill had won him the admiration of many in the arena.

Maxwell stormed out of the arena, his pride bruised and fury barely contained, but not before offering a sharp warning to his teammate, Nicholas. His voice, laced with venom, cut through the tense air as he advised Nicholas to show no mercy in the upcoming fight. His words lingered, heavy with the bitterness of his own defeat.

As Maxwell disappeared into the shadows of the arena's exit, the next match was called. The sound echoed through the arena, heightening the anticipation and signaling the next clash of wills.

The referee stood somberly in the center of the arena platform, his eyes fixed on Bernard, awaiting the victor's decision. Would he fight in the upcoming round or pass the opportunity to another contender?

Bernard, however, seemed to have lost interest after his victory. With a casual wave to the referee, he signaled his preference to step aside, relinquishing his place in the next round. The crowd murmured in surprise, sensing that Bernard's boredom had overtaken his desire for further combat - for now.

Respecting Bernard's choice, the referee signaled for the next contenders to take the stage. Nicholas entered the arena with grace, his composure unshaken, eyes gleaming with anticipation for the next challenge. Not far behind, Bethany boldly strode into the ring, her presence radiating confidence as she sought to prove herself a formidable opponent.

The arena, once buzzing with murmurs, fell into a tense silence as the two fighters squared off, their focus unwavering. With a sharp signal from the referee, the match began, and a surge of excitement electrified the crowd, their energy palpable as they awaited the clash of skill and will.

Nicholas, standing at the beta stage of the saint realm's hierarchy, regarded Bethany with a trace of disdain. She was at the extreme stage, a level beneath him, and in his eyes, hardly worth his time. He saw no challenge in facing her, but the desire to avenge Maxwell's defeat burned within him.

To Nicholas, Bethany was nothing more than a stepping stone on his path to redemption. His expression remained cold and impassive as he addressed her, his voice laced with a quiet arrogance, weighing his superiority.

NICHOLAS: "You are just a mere extreme of the saint realm's hierarchy. I would spare you now; if you choose to surrender," he warned her.

BETHANY: "Heh, such arrogance. Darling, you should know better than to underestimate your opponent." Bethany replied with a teasing, yet confident smile.

NICHOLAS: "Humph, then don't blame me for going all out. You chose this!"

As Nicholas spoke, a sudden torrent of oppressive azure flames erupted from the arena floor, twisting and surging toward Bethany with the deadly precision of a pack of predatory vipers. The crowd gasped in awe and fear, their eyes wide as they recognized the technique - Nicholas' infamous 'Burning Vipers.' It was one of his most feared trump cards, a lethal and destructive force that could overwhelm any opponent caught in its path.

The flames writhed and coiled with terrifying speed, their heat palpable, as they bore down on Bethany, promising nothing short of devastation.

Nicholas' sudden and overpowering attack caught Bethany off guard, leaving her momentarily dazed and scrambling to regain her bearings. She had warned him not to underestimate her, but even she hadn't expected him to go all out at her so early in the match. Realizing she stood no chance of surviving the 'Burning Vipers' head-on, Bethany swiftly shifted her approach.

Strategically, she summoned her fiery powers, channeling her sonic flames to execute her signature move - 'Sonic X: Rush.' In an instant, her form became a blur of speed and agility, the arena resonating with her power as she effortlessly dodged Nicholas' fiery onslaught. She closed the distance between them with darting grace, her movements fluid and lethal, ready to strike.

The crowd erupted in thunderous excitement as they witnessed someone other than Fiona wield the legendary Sonic Flame technique with such mastery.

<<Fiona's extensive use of this technique in wars and battles had made her a revered figure among humans, earning her a vast following of admirers across nations. It was the humans who had first honored her with the title of 'Sonic Star,' a name solidified after her daring rescue of American troops during a war against the Russian Empire.>>

As Bethany skillfully countered Nicholas' relentless attacks with her own command of the Sonic Flame, the audience couldn't help but draw comparisons to Fiona's heroic exploits. In that moment, Bethany's fluid movements and fiery resolve rekindled memories of Fiona's legendary deeds, her presence in the ring echoing the valor and prestige of the onlookers' iconic warrior.

Seated calmly in the bleachers with her crew, Fiona watched with a serene smile as her rival, Bethany, masterfully utilized the Sonic Flame technique against Nicholas in the arena below. Her eyes followed each precise movement, a quiet recognition of Bethany's skill flashing across her face.

Despite their rivalry, Fiona seemed at ease, watching with a silent admiration as Bethany fought with the very technique that actually made her herself a legend.

Wreathed in cyan sky flames, Bethany faded from her spot with ghostly speed, leaving behind a projected image just as Nicholas' devastating attack collided with her position. She circled around him with lightning-fast precision, hoping to distract him with her fiery illusion. In a blur of motion, she darted behind him, unleashing a fierce roundhouse kick aimed at his head.

But Nicholas was far more formidable than she had anticipated. With astonishing ease, he caught her leg mid-strike, halting her momentum with one arm-without even sparing her a glance. The arena fell into stunned silence. The spectators including Fiona, watched in disbelief, unable to comprehend the breathtaking reflexes Nicholas had just displayed.

Even Bernard, who had been observing from the sidelines with detached interest, found himself taken aback by the sheer mastery and precision Nicholas had just demonstrated.

(*Damn it! How did he see through my moves?*) Bethany's mind raced in disbelief as she tried to comprehend how Nicholas had so effortlessly countered her attack. But before she could regain her composure, Nicholas turned to face her, and what she saw left her even more bewildered. His right eye glowed with an unnatural intensity, unlike its counterpart. While both eyes gleamed with the vibrant blue of his beta flame, the right eye burned fiercer, its light almost blinding. Embedded within the radiance was a distinct X symbol, which pulsated with amplified power, and mystery.

Upon witnessing Nicholas' glowing eye, a female spectator in the crowd suddenly let out an excited shout, her voice cutting through the tense silence as she recognized the technique.

ONLOOKER: "Reignaeggai? Heaven's glory; It's the legendary Flame Reignaeggai!" she exclaimed, Her eyes widened with awe, as though she had just uncovered a well-kept secret.

<<The Flame Reignaeggai was a signature technique of the Sunaro family, a bane to those who relied on speed and agility in combat. This ability allowed its user to easily predict and anticipate an opponent's movements, making it a nightmare for anyone dependent on swift tactics. Beyond its predictive prowess, the Flame Reignaeggai also temporarily enhanced the user's power, making them significantly stronger than their peers.>>

As the female spectator's excited cry rang out, the rest of the crowd quickly followed suit, chanting "Reignaeggai" in unison, their voices growing louder with each repetition.

Nicholas, who had effortlessly thwarted Bethany's attack, tightened his grip on her leg. A sickening crack echoed through the arena as bone met his crushing force, sending a jolt of agony through Bethany. She let out a piercing scream, instinctively pulling back and retreating a safe distance from him, her body trembling from the shock.

With cold disdain, Nicholas fixed his gaze at her, his voice dripping with superiority as he reminded her of his earlier warnings.

NICHOLAS: "You were warned; silly girl! But your delusion illusioned you into thinking that you could stand a chance against me. Now, it's too late to turn back. There'll be more to this torture.
"[Casts his gaze toward Bernard's direction.] As for you; sneaky bastard, you were wise to step down when your luck called for it! Had it not been so, your humiliating defeat by my hands would have been inevitable." Nicholas also addressed Bernard who was glaring back at him with a gloomy expression.

Hobbled by her injured leg, Bethany gritted her teeth and assumed a defensive stance, her eyes wary as they locked onto Nicholas. The reality had set in - her opponent was far more formidable than she had anticipated. With her leg fractured from Nicholas' merciless grip, Bethany knew her chances of victory were fading. Yet, her resolve remained unbroken. With fierce determination burning in her eyes, she launched herself at Nicholas once more, closing the distance to engage him in close-quarters combat, ready to fight with every ounce of strength she had left.

Bethany surged forward, launching a Superman punch with her fist rocketing through the air like a missile. But Nicholas, ever too quick, deflected the blow with a casual flick of his wrist. Refusing to back down, she immediately followed with a swift clearing kick from a low, stooped angle, hoping to catch him off guard. Yet again, Nicholas was a step ahead, effortlessly dodging with a slight hop, his movements fluid and precise.

Frustration mounting at his effortless counters, Bethany summoned her cyan sky flame, igniting her body in a fierce, blazing aura. With a furious battle cry, she unleashed a rapid barrage of flaming kicks, each one a blur of motion aimed at any chink in Nicholas' defense. The sheer speed and intensity of her attack left the crowd breathless, her kicks striking from every possible angle. It was a desperate gamble, fueled by the realization that breaking through Nicholas' ironclad guard was her only chance for victory.

Despite Bethany's impressive barrage of flaming kicks, the power of the Flame Reignaeggai surged within Nicholas, enabling him to effortlessly anticipate and counter her every move. He blocked and deflected each strike with near-perfect precision, his movements fluid and unyielding. With a sharp shift in his stance, Nicholas used his body weight to shove Bethany back, throwing her off balance.

Sensing her vulnerability, he seized the moment and unleashed a brutal onslaught of blows, each one landing with devastating accuracy. His fists slammed into her face and body, the sound of each impact reverberating throughout the arena as Bethany struggled to keep up. In a final, crushing move, Nicholas delivered a powerful forward kick to her abdomen, the force of it so intense that Bethany was nearly sent flying out of the ring.

Bethany struggled to her feet, her body battered and blood trickling down her face, yet her spirit remained unbroken. Though she knew her chances of defeating Nicholas were slim, she refused to back down. Spitting a mouthful of blood onto the arena floor, she locked eyes with him, defiantly motioning for him to finish what he had started. Nicholas sneered at her resolve, a mix of contempt and amusement flickering in his eyes. With a cold scoff, he decided to end the battle, preparing to deliver the final, crushing blow.

Nicholas's eyes ignited with fierce resolve as he summoned the full force of his azure beta flames. His hands crackled with intense blue energy as he prepared to unleash a devastating technique that left no room for mercy. The flames around him swirled and coalesced, forming the shape of a majestic, blazing dragon that twisted and writhed in the air, its graceful movements a stark contrast to the deadly intent behind them. This was the fearsome 'Dragon Flame' technique, a move that had sent terror through the hearts of countless opponents.

With a swift, calculated spin, Nicholas directed the dragon toward Bethany. Its fiery maw opened wide in a thunderous roar as it surged forward, flames roaring with scorching heat.