A Timely Rescue

Hana's vision blurred as she stumbled, fatigue threatening to overwhelm her. The relentless pursuit from In-su and his Assassins left her barely holding on. Just as she felt her legs giving way, a familiar figure burst into view.

"Soo-jin!" Hana gasped, relief flooding through her.

"I've got your back, Hana. Let's show them what we're made of," Soo-jin slid to a stop beside her, eyes blazing with determination," Soo-jin slid to a stop beside her, eyes blazing with determination.

The two Fighters stood shoulder to shoulder, facing the advancing trio from Aerial. In-su's eyes narrowed, recognizing the challenge before him. The Assassins fanned out, looking for an opening.

"We need to buy time," Soo-jin muttered. "Just a little longer."

Hana nodded, drawing on her last reserves of strength. Together, they charged at In-su, forcing him to split his attention between the two formidable opponents.

In-su reacted quickly, summoning a barrier to block their path. Hana struck at the barrier, her blade clanging against the shimmering energy. Soo-jin flanked, swinging her weapon with precision, aiming to disrupt In-su's concentration.

"Her Fighter teammate's arrival is a game-changer! The synergy between the two is crucial now. Can they turn the tide against Aerial?" Dong-yul's voice echoed in the stadium.

"Aerial's Mage is formidable, but with two Fighters coordinating their attacks, he has his work cut out for him. This is going to be intense," Soo-min added.

Hana dodged a spell cast by In-su, rolling to the side and coming up with a powerful strike aimed at one of the Assassins. The Assassin parried, but the force of the blow sent him staggering. Soo-jin took advantage of the moment, landing a solid hit on the other Assassin, who fell back with a grunt.

"Keep pushing!" Soo-jin yelled, her voice filled with determination.

In-su retaliated with a blast of arcane energy, forcing the Fighters to dodge. He followed up with a quick incantation, sending bolts of lightning arcing towards them. Hana and Soo-jin split, dodging the lethal strikes with practised ease.

"Look at that coordination! They two are in perfect sync, dodging and attacking with precision. This is a masterclass in teamwork," Dong-yul's commentary was filled with excitement.

Soo-min's voice was tense. "But can they hold out? In-su and the Assassins are relentless. It's going to come down to who makes the first mistake."

Hana's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel her energy waning, but the presence of Soo-jin beside her kept her going. They exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. This was their moment to stand strong.

In-su, sensing the determination in his opponents, changed tactics. He signalled the Assassins, who shifted their focus to isolate Hana. Soo-jin noticed the manoeuvre and moved to intercept, but In-su blocked her path with another barrier.

"Stay sharp!" Hana shouted, deflecting a flurry of attacks from the Assassins. Her movements were slower now, each strike taking more effort.

Soo-jin, meanwhile, hammered at the barrier, trying to break through. In-su smirked, casting another spell to fortify it, but his confidence was premature. With a mighty roar, Soo-jin shattered the barrier, charging through with renewed vigour.

"The Fighter through! This could be the turning point Team Fire needs!" Dong-yul's voice was ecstatic.

"The two Fighters are not giving up. They're fighting with everything they have. This is incredible!" Soo-min's excitement matched his.

Hana felt a surge of hope as Soo-jin joined her again. Together, they launched a fierce offensive, forcing the Assassins on the defensive. In-su, realizing the danger, tried to cast a spell to immobilize them, but Hana was ready. She leapt, dodging the spell and closing the distance between her and In-su.

With a powerful strike, Hana forced In-su to retreat, buying Soo-jin the time she needed to deal with one of the Assassins. A swift, decisive blow and the Assassin crumpled to the ground. A big cut through his front had the game-deciding that he no longer

[Team Fire: Enemy Elimination!]

"One down!" Soo-jin shouted, her eyes blazing.

The remaining Assassin, seeing his comrade fall, hesitated. Hana seized the moment, delivering a quick strike that incapacitated him. Now, it was just In-su against the two Fighters.

[Team Fire: Enemy Elimination!]

"The two Fighters have turned the tables! It's now only the Mage of Aerial left who has to defend against them. What a comeback!" Dong-yul's voice was filled with admiration.

"Can you believe this? From the brink of defeat, the two Fighters have fought back with everything they've got. Are we sure that Aerial is the best to win right now!?" Soo-min's voice was breathless.

In-su, breathing heavily, knew he was in trouble. But he wasn't done yet. With a determined glare, he readied another spell, preparing for one final stand against the relentless Fighters of Team Fire.

In-su's breath came in ragged gasps as he retreated, glancing over his shoulder at the relentless pursuit from Hana and Soo-jin. The turn of events was unexpected, and now, as he fled, his mind raced with the possibilities. Where was Team Fire's Mage, Sang-hee? She hadn't returned to support her teammates, and the uncertainty gnawed at him.

Could she be pursuing Chin-hwa? The idea seemed preposterous; Chin-hwa's speed was unmatched. Just then, a notification echoed through the arena, halting everyone in their tracks.

[An artefact has been located. Reminding all players.]

In-su's heart sank. The final artefact had been found, and the score was now tied at 3:3. The entire match hinged on this last discovery. In an instant, he activated his comms, directing a frantic message to the only teammate he had left.

"Chin-hwa! The last artefact has been found. It's the decider. You need to get it before they do!"

Chin-hwa, who had been strategically avoiding the limelight, immediately grasped the urgency. He still carried the artefact he had stolen from Team Fire, intending to secure it at Aerial's base. But now, with the match on the line, he had to adapt quickly. His focus shifted to Sang-hee, who had the final artefact. It was a race now—a race to Team Fire's base.

In-su continued his retreat, his mind a flurry of calculations and concerns. Hana and Soo-jin were still hot on his trail, their determination palpable. In-su knew he couldn't outfight them, so his only option was to outmanoeuvre them. He cast a series of spells to slow them down—barriers, illusions, and bursts of lightning aimed to deter their progress.

Meanwhile, Chin-hwa moved with blinding speed, the landscape blurring around him as he homed in on Sang-hee. She was a Mage, not built for speed, but she was resourceful and determined. Chin-hwa's comm crackled to life with In-su's urgent voice.

"Chin-hwa, whatever you do, stop Sang-hee. If she reaches their base, it's over."

Chin-hwa didn't need the reminder. He knew the stakes. Pushing himself to his limits, he spotted Sang-hee in the distance, the final artefact glowing faintly in her grasp. She, too, had seen him, and the chase was on.

Sang-hee's mind raced. She knew she couldn't match Chin-hwa's speed, but she had to try. Every second counted. As she sprinted towards Team Fire's base, she cast spells to slow him down—gusts of wind, blinding flashes of light, anything to buy her more time. But Chin-hwa was relentless, dodging and weaving through her defences with ease.

"This is it, everyone! The final stretch. Marksman versus Mage, in a race against time, and the winner will decide the match!" Dong-yul's voice filled the arena.

"Team Fire has the final artefact, but can she make it to the base? The Marksman of Aerial is closing in fast. This could go either way!" Soo-min's excitement was palpable.

Hana and Soo-jin, still in pursuit of In-su, heard the comms update and realized the critical situation. They exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between them. They had to trust Sang-hee to reach the base. Their task now was to prevent In-su from turning back and helping Chin-hwa.

In-su, aware of the dire situation, attempted one last desperate move. He conjured a powerful spell, sending a shockwave of energy towards Hana and Soo-jin, hoping to slow them down enough to make a difference. But the Fighters were prepared. They dodged and pressed on, determined to keep him at bay.

Sang-hee's breaths came in short gasps as she pushed herself harder. The base was in sight, but so was Chin-hwa, rapidly closing the distance. She summoned all her remaining energy, casting a final spell—a barrier of fire—to block Chin-hwa's path. It flared up brightly, forcing him to skid to a halt.

But Chin-hwa was undeterred. With a swift motion, he leapt over the flames, his eyes locked on Sang-hee. The base was just ahead, and every second mattered. Sang-hee could feel the pressure mounting, the weight of her team's hopes resting on her shoulders.

"This is it! The Mage is so close, but the Marksman is right behind her. Who will make it first?" Dong-yul's commentary was electrifying.

"It's going to come down to the wire! Both players are giving it everything they've got!" Soo-min's voice trembled with anticipation.