The tension in the air was thick, the smell of burnt ozone and the lingering chill of frost still hanging in the glade. The four warriors—Kei, Ignis, Superman, and Wonder Woman—were eyeing each other, each gauging the other's abilities with new respect. Their powers, honed through years of battles, were on full display, and they knew that when it came to the fate of the multiverse, their strength would be tested like never before.

But before anyone could speak, a voice interrupted the moment.

"I'm in."

The Flash, grinning from ear to ear, zipped to the front, practically bouncing on his feet. His eyes sparkled with a mix of excitement and curiosity. "I've been training with some new tricks, and I want to see how they measure up. Plus, who wouldn't want a shot at being the fastest in the multiverse, huh?"

Superman raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "You sure you're ready for this? It's not just about speed, Flash. You're dealing with some heavy hitters."

Flash, undeterred, cracked his knuckles. "I've been holding back for too long. Time to test my new abilities." He pointed a finger at the others, "This time, it's a free-for-all. Everyone for themselves."

Kei and Ignis exchanged a quick look, their smiles widening. "Sounds fun," Ignis said, a flame flickering at the tips of her fingers.

Kei nodded, her frost blade shimmering in the dimming light. "Let's see what you've got, Flash. But don't blink—you might miss it."

Wonder Woman grinned, her stance shifting. "It's been a while since I've had a proper free-for-all. Let's see how you all handle this."

Superman stood tall, cracking his neck. "Alright, then. I'll give you all a head start. But no promises I won't finish it in one blow."

The Battle Begins

"Three... two... one..."

Without waiting for the signal, Flash was already gone, a blur of red and gold zipping around the group at lightning speed. Kei and Ignis, though fast in their own right, barely had time to react as Flash zipped past them, leaving nothing but afterimages behind.

Wonder Woman, using her Amazonian reflexes, spun around, lasso in hand, trying to catch the blur. Superman shot into the sky with incredible speed, hoping to get the high ground.

But Flash wasn't going to make it that easy.

As Wonder Woman swung her lasso, Flash darted behind her in a flash, tapping her on the back and sending her off-balance for just a moment. He zoomed past Superman, barely missing the Man of Steel's heat vision. Flash slowed down just for a second, enough to taunt, "Hey, big guy! You're slow today!"

Superman smiled, flying after him. "I'm just warming up, Flash!"

Meanwhile, Ignis and Kei had teamed up briefly, both aware that they needed to use their combined strength to take down the other heroes.

Ignis raised her arms, flames exploding from her hands in a wave of fire aimed straight for Wonder Woman, who quickly blocked with her shield. Kei then sent a blast of icy energy at Wonder Woman's feet, freezing the ground beneath her. The Amazon struggled to maintain her footing, her shield shuddering under the combined assault of heat and cold.

"Nice trick," Wonder Woman muttered, her eyes narrowing as she deflected the flames and broke free from the ice with a powerful lunge. "But you'll need more than that to take me down."

The battle raged on. Kei dashed across the field, summoning ice shields to deflect incoming attacks from Superman, while Ignis used her fiery bursts to disrupt the battlefield, forcing the heroes to split up and think on their feet. Flash zipped back and forth, getting in quick jabs and outmaneuvering the others with his speed.

Kei's Power Unleashed

Kei was finding her rhythm, moving fluidly with her frost blade, each strike sending out waves of freezing energy. She faced off with Superman, who attempted to land a blow, but her ice shield absorbed the impact. With a snap of her fingers, the ice shifted into jagged spikes that shot out in all directions. Superman was forced to fly upward to avoid being hit, impressed with her newfound power.

"Impressive," he called down. "You've come a long way, Kei."

Kei smirked, her breath coming in misty clouds. "You haven't seen anything yet."

She gathered energy in her blade, her frost aura crackling with more intensity. In an instant, she launched herself into the air, her blade glowing bright as she swung it down with all her might toward Superman. The ice collided with his chest, freezing his suit momentarily. For the first time, he faltered, his movement slowed by the cold.

But Superman, ever resilient, broke free with a burst of heat vision, shattering the ice and launching himself back into the air.

Ignis Takes Flight

On the other side of the battlefield, Ignis was beginning to feel the true extent of her power. Her flames now roared with the intensity of a star, surging outward with destructive force.

She targeted Flash next, hoping to catch him off-guard. Flash, as fast as ever, dodged most of her fiery attacks, but she anticipated his movements, pushing her flames in unpredictable ways.

"You're not as fast as you think, Flash!" Ignis shouted as a wave of fire surged in his direction, forcing him to retreat and try to circle around her.

But Flash was faster than ever, his new abilities allowing him to vibrate through the air, phasing through the fire. Ignis smirked. "Nice move. But can you dodge this?"

With a flick of her hand, she unleashed a massive explosion of fire that engulfed the area. Flash barely avoided it, his aura flashing as he reappeared behind her. He gave her a quick tap, "Gotcha!"

The Unexpected Ending

The sparring match was at a fever pitch. Wonder Woman clashed with Kei, Superman was locked in a high-speed chase with Flash, and Ignis was raining down fiery destruction upon everyone who came too close. Each fighter was fully engaged, their powers swirling together in a dazzling array of light and energy.

But then, as the chaos reached its peak, Batman called out from the sidelines, his voice sharp and commanding. "Enough!"

Everyone stopped mid-strike, the intensity of their powers still crackling in the air. Batman approached, his gaze steady.

"We've tested our strength. But the real battle is still to come. If we don't work together, none of this will matter."

Superman landed next to Batman, nodding in agreement. "He's right. This sparring was to test our abilities, but the true enemy is out there. And if we don't prepare, we'll fail."

Kei and Ignis exchanged a look, their faces now serious. They were ready for the next phase.

"Alright," Kei said, her frost blade glowing faintly. "Let's get serious then."

"I'm in," Ignis agreed, her flames dimming slightly as she refocused.

Flash, panting but grinning, gave them a thumbs-up. "You guys are incredible. But I'm not done yet. Let's get ready to kick some serious butt."

Wonder Woman stepped forward, her stance firm. "We're all in this together. Let's make sure we're ready for whatever's coming next."

As the group gathered, ready for what awaited them, they knew that the battle ahead would require more than just strength—it would take unity, strategy, and the bonds they had forged in the heat of combat.

To Be Continued...