Chapter 48: The Juggernaut

Chapter 48: The JuggernautThe moment Eratz stepped into the arena, the cheers of the public were deafening.

The massive screens displayed his image, capturing perfectly his appearance.

He was dressed in a sleek black outfit, with crimson lines running along the seams. Fingerless gloves covered his hands. The arena spotlights reflected off his long ponytail, his red eyes glowing.

Genova's students exchanged glances. There was something oddly familiar about him, a nagging feeling in the back of their minds. It wasn't until the name "Eratz Pandora" flashed across the screen that they realized why.

"Wait, is that... him?" A girl whispered, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Another boy leaned forward, squinting at the screen, then back at the figure in the arena.

"It can't be... Eratz Pandora? The one who was expelled from the academy for cheating and aggression?"

Aya shook her head slowly, the initial excitement draining from her face.

"It's really him."

The shock spread through the group, replacing the earlier cheer. The students fell silent, unable to believe that it was really Eratz, the student whose name had become synonymous with scandal at Genova Academy.

Opposite Eratz, another gate opened, and a young boy stepped forward. He seemed younger than Eratz, surrounded by an aura contrasting with him.

The boy, wearing a determined grin, approached the center of the arena and gave a quick bow to Eratz.

"I'm impressed to face one of the top beast masters in the circuit. Quite an honor." Eratz simply nodded.

"Yeah."

The boy laughed, shaking his head.

"Come on, man. You should be a bit more humble, say something nice too."

Eratz smirked.

"We're not in a playground, this is an arena. If you want me to be nice, give me a good challenge."

The boy chuckled, shaking his head again.

"That's the Juggernaut for you."

He turned to the corner, preparing for the upcoming battle.

From the stands, Genova's students watched in silence, disbelief painted across their faces.

"What is he even doing here?" Max muttered. "He was expelled. There's no way he belongs here."

Frederica, the second girl nodded, her gaze locked on Eratz.

"Right? I mean, they called him a top beast master. How can that be?"

The students continued to watch, skeptics. They remembered the stories, the accusations, to them, Eratz should be too weak to stand in the arena, let alone deserving to receive compliments from his opponent.

The battle was about to begin. The young boy took a deep breath and summoned his beast, a massive creature that stood over fifteen feet tall.

It was covered in thick green scales, each one glistening in the spotlight. Its eyes glowed yellow, and smoke came out from its nostrils as it let out a roar that reverberated through the

arena.

The boy grinned, giving a proud nod. "I'll go directly with my ace, the Verdrix."

The crowd cheered as the wyvern stomped its foot, shaking the ground beneath it. Its wings unfurled, casting a shadow over Eratz as it loomed above him. Eratz, however, simply smiled. "Ah?"

Without warning, the Verdrix lunged forward, its massive claws striking the ground where Eratz had been standing.

The earth shattered, chunks of rock flying into the air. But Eratz was already gone. He reappeared a few feet away, still smiling.

"... Guess I'll need the big guns."

The ground beneath him seemed to darken, his shadow expanding and taking shape.

From the darkness, a pair of glowing eyes emerged, followed by a sleek black figure, the Thunder Lycaon. The beast's electric mane stood on end as it growled at the wyvern, lightning crackling around its paws.

The arena held its breath for a moment before the beasts charged at each other, the clash sending a shockwave that rattled the walls of the stadium.

The Verdrix swung its tail, aiming for the Lycaon, but the smaller beast ducked, dodging beneath the massive appendage and countering with a slash of lightning that struck Verdrix's side. The wyvern let out a roar of pain, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

The two monsters continued their fierce battle, lightning and wind tearing across the arena floor. The Verdrix's thunderous roars shook the stands, but the Lycaon moved with deadly precision, evading attacks and retaliating with lightning-quick strikes.

The boy watched the battle unfold, his heart pounding. He knew the hardest part was still ahead, Eratz would eventually join the battle himself. But to his surprise, Eratz remained still, watching calmly.

The boy's eyes met Eratz's, and he saw the challenging smile on Eratz's face. It was as if Eratz was daring him to come to him.

The boy gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure. He covered himself in lightning, his body crackling with energy.

With a roar, he rushed forward, his speed blinding. The arena trembled as he made contact, only to find himself stopped by a shimmering shield of light that surrounded Eratz.

The boy grinned, despite the shock.

"You might regret underestimating me," he said, his voice strained.

Eratz's smile widened, his brow furrowing.

"Don't say it, do it."

The boy vanished, moving at lightning speed, striking from multiple angles. Each time, his attacks were met by the same impenetrable shield, his blows unable to reach Eratz.

Up in the stands, the Genova students watched in awe.

"Look at his speed," Frederica said, her voice filled with disbelief. "This is what real pros are like."

Cole, the second boy, nodded, his eyes wide.

"It's just like when Kenny fought in the tournament... The pros are on a completely different level. There's no way Eratz wins."

But Eratz remained calm, his eyes never leaving the battle between the Thunder Lycaon and

the wyvern.

He watched as the two monsters clashed, their roars echoing through the arena. The boy's wyvern was strong, almost managing to overpower the Lycaon, Eratz's smile faltered.

"Great... He's strong too. Time to use 'that'."

A spark of light appeared at Eratz's side, drawing gasps from the crowd. The energy grew, a sphere of blinding light that pulsed with power.

"Is that...?" someone in the crowd whispered, their voice filled with awe.

The boy's eyes widened in realization. He tried to jump back, but it was too late. Instead of falling, his body floated, suspended in the air, his eyes wide with fear.

"S-shit... He tricked me!"

The light grew brighter, the energy intensifying. And then, with a deafening roar, a massive

beam of light shot forward, engulfing the boy and his wyvern.

The beam was immense, a column of energy that tore across the arena, dying in the protection shield deployed to keep the spectators safe.

The sound was deafening, the force so powerful that the entire stadium seemed to quake.

The audience shielded their eyes, the brightness too much to bear. The roar of the crowd was drowned out by the sheer power of the attack, the light filling every corner of the arena. When the beam finally subsided, a faint glow lingered next to Eratz, slowly fading away. Eratz stood with his arms still crossed, his gaze fixed on the other side of the arena.

The boy lay unconscious, his body battered and bruised. His wyvern, stunned and disoriented,

struggled to rise.

Eratz's gaze shifted to the wyvern, his eyes narrowing. A pulse of light shot from him, striking the wyvern and stunning it further.

The Thunder Lycaon moved in a blur, unleashing a rapid combination of electric strikes.

The attacks hit their mark, the wyvern letting out one final roar before collapsing, its form Sёarᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

dissolving as it returned to the boy's shadow.

The crowd erupted in cheers once again.

"That's the Juggernaut for you!" someone yelled, their voice barely audible over the

deafening applause.

"He actually used 'that' monster!"

"It's so rare to see it in action!"

The Genova students sat in stunned silence, their disbelief evident in their wide eyes and slack

jaws. Aya turned to Max, her voice barely a whisper.

"How is he that strong?"

Max shook his head, unable to answer. They had heard the stories, they had believed the

accusations, but seeing Eratz now, there was no denying his power. He was on a completely different level, more than anyone they saw till now.

Eratz gave a calm wave to the cheering crowd, his expression calm. As he walked out of the arena, the students could only watch, petrified, as they were forced to accept the truth. Eratz was no longer the student they had once known, he was a monster of the arena. Later, Eratz left the arena, as he stepped outside, he noticed a familiar car waiting for him.

He approached it, opening the door and sliding inside. Victoria sat in the driver's seat, her lips curling into a smile as she looked at him.

"Well done, Eratz," she said, her voice warm. "Another win, let's go to the next arena... hm? You seem... off. What's bothering you?"

Eratz sighed, leaning back against the seat.

"I'm not satisfied with the way my battles are going. I want the first monster I summon to

finish off weaker opponents, and I want to handle the final part myself. But it never goes that

way."

Victoria nodded, her expression thoughtful.

"I understand, but the higher you climb, the stronger your opponents will be. It won't always

be that easy. You already have three wonderful monsters..."

She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly, then smiled.

"Wait, what do you mean by that?"

"My goal isn't just three monsters, I want a pack. And the more I train, the less I improve. The

forest isn't enough anymore. I know there are stronger opponents out there, I need to get

stronger."

Victoria's lips curled into a smile, her eyes gleaming.

"That's the spirit of a true warrior." She glanced out the window, then back at him.

"If you feel like you're not improving, maybe it's time to travel a bit. Explore the region, or

even beyond. Pro beast masters do that all the time, and it allows them to participate in many different tournaments."

Eratz's eyes lit up at the suggestion, a spark of excitement in his expression.

"You and Mercury are the strongest beast masters in our agency. You should both do it,"

Victoria continued. "Mercury refused before because Milo was in school, but now that it's the holidays, maybe a trip with Ryder and Adrian too would be good for all of you."

Eratz felt a rush of excitement at the thought of having a new hunting zone. "I'm in. Let's do

it."

Victoria's smile widened.

"That's what I like to hear."

As they drove away, a car passed them, heading in the opposite direction. Inside, Eratz's

parents sat, their expressions tense.

His mother dialed Cassie's number again, her frustration growing when there was no answer.