Awakening Domination System: But I'm a Slave?-Chapter 284: Tournament [6]

E;ina entered the ring with visible confidence, golden essence already flickering around her fists.

Thomas Grey took position looking determined despite the deficit.

"BEGIN!"

Thomas immediately raised stone walls, trying to control space and limit Elina’s mobility—

Elina’s golden-coated fist punched straight through the first wall. Stone shattered like glass.

Thomas’s eyes widened.

Elina charged through the debris. Her golden coating was brighter, more refined than standard blue essence enhancement. Each movement cracked the arena floor beneath her feet.

Thomas tried to trap her with earth bindings rising from the ground.

She tore through them. Simply overpowered the constructs with raw physical strength.

Thomas switched tactics, creating distance, launching earth spikes—

Elina dodged the first few, then started punching them apart mid-flight. Each spike shattered against her golden-coated fists.

The crowd was mesmerized. This wasn’t technical skill, this was overwhelming physical dominance.

Thomas was running out of options. His essence reserves depleted while Elina looked barely winded.

Then he done a final desperate attack, multiple earth pillars converging from all sides...

Elina leaped straight up, clearing the trap, then came down with both fists driving toward Thomas.

He threw up a desperate earth shield.

Her fists shattered it and struck the ground beside him. The impact cratered the arena floor, sending Thomas tumbling from the shockwave alone.

He landed hard, groaning, unable to stand.

"WINNER... ELINA GLIMOR!"

Silver Crown: 2 | Bronze Shield: 0

Bronze Shield needed a win desperately. They deployed Vincent Cross, a fighter they’d held back, completely fresh, no injuries.

Vincent entered looking confident. Water affinity, fluid movements, clearly skilled.

Damien assessed the situation immediately.

"BEGIN!"

Vincent attacked with water whips, multiple tendrils striking from different angles—

Damien’s fire evaporated some, but Vincent adjusted instantly, using the steam as cover, changing attack patterns.

He’s good. Adaptable.

They traded attacks. Damien’s fire met Vincent’s water in spectacular clashes of essence. Steam filled the arena, obscuring vision.

Vincent used it expertly, striking from unexpected angles, keeping Damien on defensive.

Damien tried to create distance, establish fire zones.

Vincent countered with water barriers, negating the advantage.

The fight stretched. Two minutes. Three. Both fighters showing skill, neither gaining clear advantage.

Then Vincent landed a solid hit, water tendril wrapping Damien’s arm, yanking him off balance, following with a pressurized water blast to the ribs.

Damien gasped, essence disrupted, hurt. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Vincent pressed the advantage.

That’s when Damien made a decision.

He raised his hand.

"I yield."

The crowd gasped in surprise.

"WINNER... VINCENT CROSS! Bronze Shield secures their first victory!"

Silver Crown: 2 | Bronze Shield: 1

Bronze Shield erupted in celebration. They’d actually won one!

But in the Champions’ Room, Alaric nodded approvingly. "Smart. He was taking damage. Not worth it."

"We’re still up two to one," Verelia agreed. "One more win ends it."

Bronze Shield deployed another fresh fighter, defensive earth specialist.

Kieran entered looking completely relaxed, wind already swirling.

"BEGIN!"

This fight was methodical. Sarcus. his earth defense was strong, multiple layers, constantly regenerating.

But Kieran’s wind was persistent. Cutting, eroding, never stopping.

Sarcus couldn’t attack effectively while maintaining such heavy defense. And the defense was slowly crumbling under constant assault.

After five minutes of grinding attrition, Kieran’s concentrated wind beam finally punched through all layers and struck Marcus directly.

Sarcus went down.

"WINNER... KIERAN DRAVERIS! SILVER CROWN WINS THREE TO ONE!"

FINAL SCORE: Silver Crown: 3 | Bronze Shield: 1

The crowd roared approval. Another dominant showing from Silver Crown, despite the one loss.

Professor Vash’s voice boomed. "SILVER CROWN ADVANCES TO THE FINALS! They will face the winner of our final Round Two match, IRON TALON versus BRONZE SHIELD!"

The champions returned to their room, mostly uninjured, ready for whatever came next.

And matches proceeded. Iron Talon and Bronze Shield fought with determination, both trying to prove they could challenge Silver Crown.

The score was close.

Iron Talon: 2 | Bronze Shield: 2

Professor Vash’s voice rang out.

"Next fight! From Iron Talon, CALEB DUSKWOOD! From Bronze Shield, GARRETT STEELWIND!"

The crowd’s energy shifted. They’d seen Garrett demolish opponents before, his body path strength was formidable.

Garrett entered the ring with swagger, his muscular frame radiating confidence. Blue essence coating already visible around his arms and torso like a second skin. He rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, and grinned at the crowd.

Caleb walked in from the opposite side. Golden brown hair catching the arena lights, blue eyes half-lidded in that deceptively lazy way. His hands stayed in his pockets until he reached the center, then dropped casually to his sides.

Garrett’s grin widened when he saw his opponent. He spread his arms mockingly. "Well, well. If it isn’t my future brother-in-law."

Caleb’s expression didn’t change. Didn’t react at all.

"What, no greeting?" Garrett’s voice carried to the front rows, playing to the crowd. "Family should be friendly, right? Especially since your sister and I are getting so... close."

A few uncomfortable murmurs rippled through spectators who caught the implication.

Caleb remained perfectly still. Only his eyes moved, tracking Garrett’s positioning, weight distribution.

"She didn’t mention?" Garrett continued, circling slowly. "That’s disappointing. We had such a memorable evening together a few months back. Very... educational for her."

Caleb’s breathing stayed even. Controlled. But fire essence began manifesting, not around his hands like most fire mages, but at his feet. Small flames licking at his boots, barely visible.

"And the best part, " Garrett stopped circling, planted his feet, essence coating intensifying, "When you tried to do something about it, I broke you. Made you look weak. Made everyone think you were just a jealous brother making up stories."

The flames at Caleb’s feet grew slightly brighter.

"Your own father believed me over you," Garrett said with mock sympathy. "Chose me for his daughter. Must’ve hurt. Knowing you couldn’t protect her. Couldn’t prove anything. Couldn’t do shit."

One small flame traveled up Caleb’s leg, wrapping around his shin like a serpent.

"So when she becomes my wife—and oh, she will—I want you to remember this moment. Remember that you tried. And remember that you failed. Again."

Professor Vash’s amplified voice cut through. "Competitors, BEGIN!"