BATTLE BATTLE BATTLE

Kiren's arms are bearing the brunt of the hammer strikes, leaving them badly bruised. Deep in thought, he reflects within himself, questioning whether these actions truly align with the ideals of a hero. He wonders why others fail to recognize the true enemy. Amidst the intense beating, Kiren notices the desperation and survival instinct in the Donkey warrior's eyes.

Thinking of his loved ones, family, and friends, Kiren makes a decision. He reaches out and firmly grasps the donkey warrior's wrist, halting the relentless attacks. Expressing regret, he acknowledges their shared plight, both fighting for survival. Summoning his strength, Kiren exerts pressure on the donkey warrior's wrist, forcing him to let go and retreat in pain.

Apologizing once more, Kiren picks up his hammer and delivers several blows to the donkey warrior's head, culminating in a final, decisive strike that ends his life. The gruesome encounter leaves Kiren's face splattered with blood. As Cain approaches, questioning if this is Kiren's first kill, Kiren can only nod tearfully in response.

Victorious, the team revels in their win as Mikey roars and the crowd cheers. Team Bulls, with Kiren and his companions, heads back to the locker room to clean off the blood from their bodies. While they rest, they hear Eleon announcing the next battle, featuring an Elephant warrior and Megan, the Horse warrior. This piques Kiren's interest, prompting him to hastily freshen up and join Ragnar to witness the upcoming duel.

Eleon proceeds to introduce a warrior hailing from the elephant clan, a heavily armored figure wielding an enormous sword, who strides confidently into the arena. Following this, Eleon presents a member of the Horse clan, Megan, who makes her entrance into the battleground. Kiren's eyes widen in surprise at the sight of Megan's presence. Eleon goes on to declare that the outcome of this match will be determined by the warrior who successfully eliminates the most zombies within a ten-minute timeframe.

Displaying his bravado, the elephant warrior steps up, asserting his refusal to be bested by a woman, inciting cheers from the audience. A gate opens at the far end of the arena, releasing a staggering horde of 150 zombies into the enclosure. With a determined stance, the elephant warrior wields his massive sword, which unexpectedly extends into an even longer blade upon a forceful swing. The extended sword shatters into ten separate blades mid-swing, hurtling into the mass of zombies and effectively dispatching numerous among them.

Transitioning seamlessly, he switches to a different sword, deftly eradicating three advancing zombies with a single swing. Activating a button on his blade-less hilt, the ten previously launched blades return to him, expertly killing additional zombies in their trajectory before reattaching to the hilt. Setting aside his second sword, he firmly grips the colossal blade with both hands, positioning it towards the approaching zombie horde. Methodically, he releases the blades one by one, each precisely aimed, creating a lethal path through the mass.

Upon expending his final blade, another button press prompts the hilt to hover above him through magnetic manipulation. Illuminated by an incandescent glow, the hilt rotates, causing the blades to orbit around him. Engaging the horde, he charges forward, the swirling blades becoming instruments of death for the encroaching zombies. Employing a dual-sword technique, he neutralizes the zombies that manage to breach the blade's perimeter.

As the battle rages on, the arena clock reads eight minutes and ten seconds when the elephant warrior eliminates the last zombie. Megan shifts her gaze to the screen, revealing a kill count of 150 zombies and a timer displaying the elapsed time. The crowd erupts in cheers, and the elephant warrior wears a triumphant smile as he deftly catches the returning blades within his hilt. Volk signals, prompting his team to enter and swiftly clear the arena of zombie remains. Catching Luka's confident glance, Megan readies herself for the upcoming challenge.

Following a thorough cleanup, a second gate opens, releasing another batch of 150 zombies into the arena. Megan takes out a staff pole and spins it skillfully in her left hand before securely catching it. With a focused expression, she shuts her eyes and delves into the realm of her recurring dreams. Gripping the staff as if it were the enchanted firearm from her previous dreams , she envisions herself wielding it with magical prowess. Swiftly, she fires the upper segment of the staff, unleashing a wave of destruction that claims the lives of numerous zombies. This section of the staff is subsequently propelled into the arena's wall at the far end.

Transitioning fluidly, Megan draws a dagger, mirroring the weapon she has often wielded within her dreamscapes. Her eyes snap open, charged with resolve. Employing her imagination's training, the magnetic properties of her footwear activate, lifting her from the ground. The upper segment of the staff exerts magnetic force, pulling the lower half held in Megan's grasp. This synchronized motion propels her forward as she assumes a stance with her dagger, seamlessly sliding from side to side. With each graceful movement, zombies fall to her blade.

Kiren observes in astonishment as Megan executes this dance of death, propelled forward while carving through the undead with both flair and speed. Ragnar admires the impressive weaponry of the Horse clan, praising their versatility. Megan effectively eliminates a significant portion of the zombie horde and reaches the arena's far end, reuniting the separated staff components.

Adjusting the angle of the staff slightly, Megan triggers its forceful recoil, propelling herself into a circular slide around the perimeter. This elegant rotation proves lethal as she dispatches the remaining zombies using her dagger. With a seamless motion, she rejoins the staff components and retrieves them from the wall. Glancing at the screen, she registers a kill count of 150 zombies and a timer displaying two minutes and fourteen seconds. The crowd's cheers escalate, accompanied by Luka's standing ovation. Kiren is left agape, witnessing Megan's remarkable transformation from their initial encounter. The elephant warrior, shaken by Megan's prowess, vehemently refuses to concede defeat.

Just as Eleon is poised to declare Megan the victor, the elephant warrior interjects with a demand for a death match, driven by his conviction that he cannot live on if defeated by a woman. Eleon turns to Volk, who concurs, prompting a chorus of cheers from the audience. While the zombie debris is cleared by the riders, Megan twirls her staff as she locks eyes with the elephant warrior, who readies himself with a massive sword and an air of vengeance. As the cleanup concludes, the battle commences, leaving Kiren pondering whether Megan can bring herself to end another human's life.

With a mighty swing, the elephant warrior propels his enormous sword, sending its ten accompanying blades hurtling toward Megan. Employing her magnetic shoes, Megan nimbly evades these projectiles. The ensuing duel intensifies as Megan successfully blocks a sword strike from the elephant warrior, resulting in a symphony of clashing weapons reverberating across the arena. The mesmerized audience watches in awe as this captivating battle unfolds before them.

Decisively, Megan divides her staff into two segments, wielding them both to gain a distinct advantage. She launches a barrage of powerful strikes against the elephant warrior, causing blood to splatter and fragments of his armor to dislodge. Concurrently, the elephant warrior drops magnetic balls onto the arena floor. He reacts with disbelief, throwing a sword toward Megan, who gracefully sidesteps the projectile and counterattacks with a swift double blow from her staffs.

The elephant warrior activates a button on his hilt, propelling it above him to generate a protective magnetic barrier. In a confident tone, he declares Megan's imminent demise. Another button press, this time on his wrist, illuminates the magnetic balls around the arena. The ten blades previously in the air align with the magnetic walls formed by the balls, bouncing erratically from one surface to another. These blades veer unpredictably, the magnetic barrier safeguarding the elephant warrior from their path.

Amidst this intricate dance of weaponry, Megan showcases her prowess, using her staffs to repel the flying blades with remarkable speed and precision. The elephant warrior watches in astonishment as Megan skillfully defends herself. However, some blades manage to inflict wounds on Megan's side, shoulder, cheek, back, and thigh. Noticing the pattern of blade movement, Megan deflects their trajectory focusing around the elephant warrior's side of the arena, leaving no blades on her side.

Taking a moment to wipe blood from her cheek, Megan reattaches her staff and seizes an opportunity. She shoots the upper section of her staff at the rotating hilt above the elephant warrior. Yet, the magnetic barrier resists, immobilizing the staff in place. The elephant warrior's incredulous laughter echoes as he acknowledges Megan's formidable strength. Surrendering to his fate, he employs his sword to cleave the spinning hilt in two. This action unleashes the flying blades upon him, reducing him to pieces.

With her victory secured, Megan retrieves her staff, her gaze firm as Eleon announces her as the winner, met with an uproarious cheer from the crowd. Locking eyes with Kiren, Megan radiates determination. Kiren raises his fist in congratulation, acknowledging her triumph. Volk and Jarvis rise, applauding Megan's accomplishment. Jarvis admits to being intrigued by Megan's prowess, while Volk acknowledges Luka's effective training through his nod of approval.

Eleon's voice resonates through the arena as he introduces the highly anticipated main event fight—a rider poised against a mysterious adversary. The excitement intensifies as the spotlight falls on Volk, the chosen rider. The crowd erupts into deafening cheers as Volk wields his chainsaw sword and leaps energetically into the battle arena. Eleon then tosses his microphone to Volk, who catches it with practiced ease.

Amid the mounting suspense, Volk takes the opportunity to reveal the identity of his enigmatic opponent. He proclaims that the mystery fighter is none other than the collective force of all the beast masters. A collective gasp sweeps through the spectators as each beast master rises and joins the fray, armed and ready. Kiren's surprise is palpable, and Megan takes a seat beside him, both observing the unfolding spectacle.

Volk sets the rules for the battle, stating that the confrontation will persist for a grueling 30 minutes. Should any beast master endure, they'll retain their coveted status. However, should one manage to vanquish Volk, they will ascend to become the new leader of the Riders. The Donkey Beast master, donned in a metal helmet resembling a donkey's head and sporting formidable metal claws, eagerly expresses his intention to be the one to take down Volk. With a firm grip on a massive spear blade, Ragnar exchanges a significant glance with Volk, while the Elephant beast master, gripping an imposing shuriken, anticipates the realization of a new era under a new leadership. Luka, with a nonchalant demeanor, holds a slender sword adorned with an ornate orb at its hilt.

At Volk's signal, the microphone is cast aside, and he assumes a poised stance. The Donkey Master, Elephant Master, and Ragnar form an alliance, uniting their efforts. Ragnar's hushed words reveal a shared strategy designed to serve their hidden agenda. He directs an expectant gaze towards Luka, but Luka nonchalantly lies down, choosing to spectate rather than participate. He pays tribute to Volk's leadership, stating that he has no intention of fighting him.

Volk's smile is tinged with pride as he confronts the combined forces of the three beast masters, fully embracing the challenge that lies ahead. The Elephant Master hurls his massive shuriken toward Volk, who expertly launches it skyward with a precise strike from his weapon. In a swift sequence, a descending ball captures Volk's attention. Gazing upward, he witnesses the shuriken split into four blades, descending magnetically from the ball's influence. Reacting quickly, Volk rolls forward to evade the deadly blades, only to find himself locked in a clash with Ragnar. The sheer strength of Ragnar's attack propels Volk backwards, taking him aback with its force.

Recovering his footing, Volk sidesteps a vicious claw attack from the Donkey Master and immediately engages in a frenetic weapon exchange, the resonance of clashing steel echoing throughout the arena. As his chainsaw sword roars to life, Volk becomes further exhilarated by the intensity of the battle. The Elephant Master enters the fray, wielding dual blades, and assails Volk, who counters by aiming his chainsaw blade at the trio of beast masters, unleashing a torrent of fire from his chainsaw blade. Ragnar intervenes by striking the ground, raising an earthen wall that absorbs the fire blast. As the barrier crumbles beneath the flames, the beast masters are enveloped in fire.

In a whirlwind of action, the Donkey Master seizes Volk's weapon with his metal claw. Volk's chainsaw blade retaliates, grinding against the claw's resistance. Seizing the opportunity, Ragnar thrusts his spear. With swift agility, Volk evades by letting go of his weapon and counterattacks with a powerful kick and spinning strike to Ragnar's head. Narrowly escaping a quartet of descending blades from the Elephant Master, Volk attempts to summon his weapon magnetically, yet the Donkey Master obstructs its return.

Suddenly, the Elephant Master slashes Volk across the chest, taking him aback. Dodging further attacks, Volk retaliates with a forceful overhand blow that sends the Elephant Master sliding across the arena. Ragnar's mighty spear strike barely misses Volk, sundering the ground. The Donkey Master's metal claws relinquish their hold on Volk's weapon, and it returns to Volk's grasp, clashing anew with Ragnar's weapon.

Volk's chainsaw blade spins even faster, flames licking its edges while magnetic forces prevent the fire from reaching him. Flames surge forth from Volk's chainsaw blade, enveloping Ragnar's upper body in a fiery embrace. Despite Ragnar's determination and resilience, the flames overtake him, but suddenly he punches Volk through the flames will sheer willpower that sends Volk rolling away.

Undeterred, Ragnar gazes at Kiren, attributing his strength of the Nor as flames envelop his upper body. As Volk regains his footing, he swats aside a flying shuriken from the Elephant Master, but the ball's return causes the blades to surge back. Displaying his proficiency, Volk manages to repel the blades and kick the ball away. The Elephant Master wields two blades, lunging with a downward strike as Volk's chainsaw blade spins with heightened speed. In a crescendo of clashes, Volk's weapon triumphs, severing the Elephant Master's blades and head.

Spotting a glowing ball on the fallen master's body, Volk deflects the incoming shards and leaps away with minor cuts throughout his body. However, a swift spear hurtles toward him, and with his chainsaw spinning faster than ever, Volk parries the blow away from his chest but sustains a deep cut on his shoulder. As Volk grapples with his injury, the Donkey Master springs into action, his metal-clad helmet mouth agape. The clashing of metallic teeth creates a spark, igniting a torrent of gas expelled from his mouth—a colossal fire blast headed straight for Volk.

Reacting swiftly, Volk generates his own fire blast as a shield, but the Donkey Master's assault proves overpowering, overwhelming Volk's defense. The resulting inferno engulfs Volk, searing his hair, hands, chest, feet, knees, and cheeks. The flames consume the Donkey Master's face, extinguishing his life.

Ragnar takes advantage, hammering Volk into the ground. Despite Volk's suffering and a bloody, broken nose, he manages a retaliatory swing that cuts across Ragnar's chest. Astonishingly, Ragnar persists in combat despite the severe burns on his upper body. Ragnar forcefully steps onto Volk's weapon-bearing arm, aiming to incapacitate it. He follows this with a barrage of punches, each strike resonating with the force to tremble the ground slightly. In his diminished state of consciousness, Volk observes Ragnar's arm retracting for a formidable punch. However, just before the punch lands, Luka intervenes, swiftly severing Ragnar's arm.

Luka apologies to Ragnar as he thrusts his blade into Ragnar's body repeatedly, a relentless onslaught, and also saying that he won't allow Volk to die.

Kiren springs from his seat, intent on leaping into the arena, but Megan restrains him, firmly holding him back. Despite this, Kiren's voice rings out, calling Ragnar's name and expressing his fervent desire for Ragnar's survival. These words, as though a lifeline, reach Ragnar, infusing him with a surge of willpower. With a powerful yell that generates a sonic boom, Ragnar's forceful exclamation ruptures Luka's eardrums.

In response, Luka anticipates Ragnar's other arm in motion, reacting quickly to sever it as well. However, this act proves to be a diversion, as Ragnar capitalizes on Luka's focus, stomping his foot onto Volk's body. The impact is monumental, causing the ground beneath them to shatter. As a result, earth walls emerge from both sides, colliding and engulfing them all within a crushing embrace.

The walls of earth eventually splinter, revealing a scene of devastation. Luka bears the brunt of the impact, his injuries extensive from shielding Volk. Ragnar lies lifeless on the ground, an enigmatic smile etched onto his features. Kiren's anguish is palpable, his cries echoing with emotional turmoil upon witnessing Ragnar's lifeless form.

The entire crowd is seized by shock as the battle's duration reaches its culmination of 30 minutes. In a commanding tone, Eleon urges all within the arena to cease their actions. A multitude of Riders pour into the arena, their mission clear: to render assistance to both Volk and Luka.