A restorative halo enveloped Trunks.
Green healing energy coursed through his limbs and body, instantly soothing the bruises, torn flesh, and even the faintly aching internal injuries left by the battle.
In mere moments, he was as good as new. Every trace of fatigue and pain vanished, leaving him full of energy once more.
He had lost this match.
Yet despite his defeat, Trunks felt neither frustration nor resentment.
Through his fierce clash with his opponent, he had recognized the shortcomings in his fighting and gained a new understanding of combat. That hard-earned growth was just as precious as victory, if not even rarer.
He shook his head, cast aside the jumble of thoughts in his mind, and returned to his place.
His friends and family came forward to offer quiet words of comfort, worried that the loss might leave him dispirited.
Trunks merely gave a wry smile, unbothered.
Seeing this, Son Gohan said no more and began repairing the battered Arena.
Shattered stone slabs slowly joined together, and the sunken ground leveled out. Within moments, the Arena returned to its original state, as though the fierce battle had never happened.
Next came the last of the three matches that would narrow the field from six to three.
The remaining contestants, Broly and Onyx, would face each other.
Above the competition grounds, the Announcer's rousing voice rang out once more, reaching every spectator's ears. "Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, this is the final match to decide our top three! Without further ado, let us give a grand welcome to Broly and Onyx, and look forward to this clash of titans!"
The moment he finished, thunderous applause and cheers erupted from the stands, each wave louder than the last.
The previous two matches had been filled with bone-crunching blows