Chapter 260 Finals [1]



"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final match of the Interacademy Tournament!" The announcer's voice boomed through the stadium, sparking thunderous applause from the audience.

The curtains slowly parted, revealing a grand circular platform surrounded by a high fence adorned with translucent crystals. 

"Today, we witness the climax of the tournament, the ultimate showdown between two of the region's most prestigious academies: Soreh Academy and Martial Star Academy. They will compete in a grueling test of strength, endurance, and skill to determine the ultimate victor."

The crowd cheered louder as the announcer continued to hype up the match.

"Each academy has sent their top 20 students to face off in this epic battle. Who will emerge victorious? Will it be the pride of Soreh Academy, or the honor and glory of Martial Star Academy? Only time will tell."

The audience erupted in thunderous cheers as the announcer turned to the students standing behind him.

"Now, let's meet the team leaders representing their respective academies in this historic match."

Ares stepped forward onto the platform, exuding confidence and determination. He addressed the audience with a clear voice that resonated throughout the stadium, "Greetings, everyone. My name is Ares, and I will be representing the Soreh Academy in this final match of the Interacademy Tournament. I hope that you enjoy the spectacle that is about to unfold before your very eyes." He spoke with a smile.

The crowd erupted in applause, impressed by Ares' impeccable delivery and charisma.

Hercules, representing Martial Star Academy, followed suit with a wide, self-assured grin. "Greetings, my name is Hercules, and I am proud to represent Martial Star Academy for this match. I look forward to showcasing our academy's skills and abilities."

As the two faced each other, the tension in the arena grew more palpable. All eyes were fixed on the platform, waiting for the ultimate battle between these two powerhouses of the Interacademy Tournament to commence.

Hercules couldn't resist taunting Ares, "Looks like I finally get to crush a little bug and show the world who's truly the strongest."

Unfazed, Ares merely smirked at Hercules and replied calmly, "We'll see about that."

The two men glared at each other, their tension-filled confrontation was a sight to behold, as the announcer continued to speak, heightening the suspense and anticipation of the crowd.

"And now, it's time to announce the team members participating in this match," the announcer declared, his voice booming over the stadium's speakers.

"Leading the Soreh Academy team is the formidable Ares, while the Martial Star Academy team is led by the legendary Hercules. All remaining students, please step forward and present yourselves," the announcer called out above the thunderous roar of the crowd.

One by one, the students from each academy stepped forward and introduced themselves. The atmosphere was electric, with both sides eager to showcase their skills and bring glory to their academy.

As each student spoke, the audience erupted into cheers, with some supporters waving banners and chanting for their favorite team.

Finally, all the students had introduced themselves, and the announcer raised his hand for silence.

The two teams stepped forward, facing each other in the center of the circular platform. The Soreh Academy students were dressed in their signature red and black uniforms, while the Martial Star Academy students wore the distinctive green and black attire of their academy.

The cheers of the spectators died down, replaced by a hushed silence that filled the arena. The students stood at attention, their eyes fixed on their opponents, waiting for the signal to start and be teleported into the maze. The anticipation was almost palpable, as they knew that their fate and the honor of their academy rested on their shoulders.

The staff members quickly made their way onto the stage, each one holding a wristwatch in their hand. The competitors looked on with confusion, wondering what the watches were for.

"This wristwatch will help you keep track of what's going on in the maze, including the location of your teammates and the number of eliminations that take place during the match," the announcer explained as they handed out the watches.

This final match was unlike any of the previous ones, as it was taking place in a magical space instead of a virtual reality world. The competitors would feel every blow and the pain of defeat would be a real and brutal experience, far different from the safety of a computer simulation.

The grand stage was set for the final battle, the culmination of the Interacademy Tournament.

"...Where is that woman?" Ares muttered, as he surveyed the arena in search of Maya, notorious for her penchant for adding unexpected twists to the matches. However, she was nowhere to be found.

"I hope she doesn't show up, I'm not sure I could handle any more surprises," one student murmured to another.

The other students, also searching for her, soon realized that they would have to follow the rules outlined in the instructions, with no uncertain twists.

They let out a collective sigh of relief, as the limited mana would allow them to use only a single skill throughout the whole match. In addition, they would not only face their opponents but also various monsters. Moreover, they had to search for weapons, making the match already tough enough for many of them.

"Alright! Good luck to both of the teams. And let the best team win!" The announcer's voice boomed through the arena as he stepped off the platform.

The fences surrounding the circular platform began to light up with translucent crystals, and a robotic female voice announced.

[Be prepared! You will be teleported into a magical space in 30 seconds!]

Erina turned to her teammates, her face determined. "Listen up, team," she said. "We've trained hard for this, and we know what we're capable of. This is going to be a tough match, but we're going to give it everything we've got."

The team Soreh Academy nodded in agreement, their eyes focused and determined.

"We need to quickly find our teammates and stick together," Erina continued. "Remember, the only way we can win is by taking down their students. Keep your eyes peeled for weapons or special items that could give us an advantage, and be careful of traps and monsters. We need to watch each other's backs and stay alive until the end."

With that, Erina gave them a confident nod, and the team's determination blazed in their eyes.

Ares, Ziona, and Claude exchanged skeptical glances as Erina delivered her speech. They knew that the reality of the match was far harsher than Erina's optimistic words.

"This match favors strength," Ziona murmured. "And every member of the Martial Star Academy team specializes in that."

Ares nodded in agreement. "Most of them will be eliminated as soon as the match begins, either by the Martial Star Academy students or by the monsters."

'...It would be a miracle if at least four of our team members could survive till the end.' Ares thought.

He had faith in Ziona and his own abilities, as they were both strong enough to face the students from Martial Star Academy with relative ease. While Erina and Claude's fighting styles would also give them an advantage in the match, as they could use sneak attacks on their opponents.

However, he couldn't say the same for the rest of their team. Apart from a few other students who also focused on strength, Ares had little hope for their chances of survival.

Even Erina was aware of the odds, but she still hoped that luck would be on their side and their team could unite and fight on equal terms with their opponents despite the challenges they faced.

[...3, 2, 1!]

BEEP!—

As the countdown reached its end, the students tensed up, preparing themselves for the battle to come. The crystal fence surrounding the platform lit up in a bright glow, signaling the start of the teleportation process that would take them to the magical space.

As the beeping sound started, one by one, the students disappeared from the platform and reappeared inside the maze. The teleportation process was quick, and within moments, everyone had arrived at their designated spot.

Before teleporting, Ziona turned to Ares and gave him a wink. "Let's meet inside," she said before vanishing.

Ares nodded in response, his mind focused on the task at hand. As soon as he was teleported, he found himself inside the maze, surrounded by towering walls that seemed to go on forever.

"...Alright, let's wrap this up quickly," Ares muttered, stretching his body and preparing for what was to come.

***

Both teams were transported into the maze, each member appearing in a different location. The sound of footsteps echoed through the corridors as they made their way through the twisting paths, searching for their teammates and trying to avoid the monsters that lurked around every corner.

As they began to navigate their way through the maze, they all knew that this would be a battle unlike any other. The fate of their academy rested on their shoulders, and they were ready to give it their all.

With the commencement of the final match of the tournament, the stage was set for an epic showdown.

But who would emerge victorious in the end? Only time would tell.

To be continued...

***

Reference Pics for Meira, Jessica, and Helena have been released! Check out the auxiliary chapter.