"Time for the last semi-finals match! I call contenders TOKA AND KUAI!" Bindo said.

The two felines jumped in the fighting zone. While Kuai seemed all cool and relaxed, Toka was clearly eager to make him pay for his cheap ways of winning until now. However, Koji and Toka's other friends were worried about his still-damaged ribs and hoped he will win. They were ready to bet Kuai will target them specifically.

Introductions aside, Toka and Kuai wasted no time and started the battle with back and forth attacks, showing no signs of stopping. The crowd grimaced in pain as both competitors dropped the most vicious attacks a feline could.

"My goodness! Someone is looking to be more ruthless than ever!" Kuai taunted as he blocked and dodged all of Toka's attacks.

"Whatever, asshole!" Toka retorted back. Despite driving his anger within each attack, Kuai continued to dodge every attack he could muster.

"Come on, Toka, is that how you're thanking me?"

"Thank you for what?" Toka asked with a confused look.

"For a strong warrior, you sure are foolish in every way I was told." Kuai sneered methodically as he flipped over the snow leopard, delivering a spinning heel kick across his face. The attack only fueled Toka as he spun around to get a hold of the cheetah. Kuai waved out of the way and tripped Toka, pinning his body on the ground with his foot.

"Ah, little Toka, you shouldn't have played with the big boys. You're just a worthless trash like you were back in your village."

"Keep it together, Toka! He's trying to get in your head!" Koji nervously said.

Toka whipped Kuai's foot off his chest and scrambled to confront his adversary. "Really? You sure seem to fear me! How are you planning on defeating the Phoenix Warrior?"

"Oh, you want to know? I plan on winning by doing this!" Kuai replied, rushing at Toka with tremendos speed.

The snow leopard went to block Kuai's attack, but wasn't prepared for what he had in mind. The cheetah used his Fleetfoot technique to shift to Toka's left side and jabbed his fist into the leopard's midsection. A great deal of pain shot up Toka's spine as he collapsed down on one leg.

The damage done by Arsenal returned to Toka as he felt his arms burning with pain. Before he could recuperate, Kuai went in and roundhouse kicked the downed toka, knocking him to the ground. Of course, he wasn't done and managed to get back up, but he could feel his body being almost paralyzed.

"He knows for my injuries! I can't keep going like this if he continues striking my sides!" Toka though.

"Oh, little kitty hurt?" Kuai laughed. The cheetah took a great pleasure as Toka cringed in pain while barely keeping himself standing after being knocked down. He shook off the attack and charged at Kuai again.

Again, the cheetah went for Toka's sides, but he predicted it and rolled out of harm's way. Kuai jumped to the sky and built momentum for a diving attack. Toka lifted his arms and braced himself for Kuai's attack, but the cheetah used his Fleetfoot technique to get away at the last second. He clearly wanted to mock Toka's inability to follow his speed in his current condition.

"Pathetic, you'll always be pathetic, little Toka. I feel sorry for young Koji. He could have gotten a stronger friend, but he winded up with a useless pack of fur like you. I also feel pity for your three other friends as your weakness will rub off to them." Kuai kept taunting.

"That tears it! He's dead!"

Unleashing the most ferocious roar he could muster, Toka madly soared after Kuai, ignoring the mind screaming at his body as it deteriorates from his previous injuries. Kuai smirked as he jumped sideways, targeting Toka's weakened sides. Toka cried out in pain as his paralysis came back to his arms, his body collapsing on the earth with a loud tud.

"TOKA!" Koji screamed in horror as his other friends were looking in shock as well.

Toka's crashing brought everyone in the arena on their feet as the Phoenix Warrior was laying lifeless on the ground. Koji couldn't take it anymore and was about to rush to his friend, only to be held back by Karasu and Shen.

"Let me go! I've gotta stop him or Toka will become paralyzed!"

"Wait, Koji! Look!" Karasu said and pointed at the fighting zone.

To everyone's astonishment, Toka stood up from the ground. However, the damage was already done as he shakily held himself up. Kuai too was surprised by his resistance, but quickly shrugged it off.

"You should have remained on the ground, kitty!" He charged at full speed and finished Toka off by uppercuting him right in the jaw, sending him to crash down.

Bindo went to look for him and gave his decision. "Contender Toka is no longer able to continue! The winner of this match is KUAI!"

Koji ignored the chorus of boos from the audience and quickly rushed at his best friend's side followed by Shen and Karasu. "Toka! Toka! Are you alright?" But the snow leopard had passed out from the pain. The medical team quickly rushed him to the infirmary and hoped that he wouldn't get paralyzed.

"Hey! You, the looser!" Kuai suddenly called and Koji turned around. "I got something to tell you! A real warrior doesn't waste his time crying for the others! Also, a failure stays a failure! We never change!"

That was the drop that broke the barrage! Koji tried to rush and kick the cheetah's ass, but was held back by his raven friend. "No, Koji. Do not worry: you will have the chance to beat him tomorrow, but don't give an excuse to disqualify you, okay?"

So, the beetle could only watch as his best friend was taken away while Kuai simply walked away, not having received any damage from his match. Koji looked down at his fts and hardened it as he felt a fire burn inside himself.

"I will kill this bastard..."

Did this chapter pis you off? 'Cause it sure did for me and yet, I'm the one who wrote it. Who do you think is gonna win the final? One thing's for sure: it will be an extreme battle.