Chapter 56: Lugina Garden

Chapter 56: Lugina GardenThe streets were bustling as Kenny and Julian emerged from the beast master arena, having just registered for upcoming battles.

They had used their academic cards to sign up, eager to get as much experience as possible.

Julian grinned, glancing sideways at Kenny, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"You know, Kenny, you just signed up to face your worst nightmare."

Kenny rolled his eyes, shaking his head.

"Shut up, Julian. I need to fight more. Get stronger. Who knows, maybe I'll fight Mercury one day. I want to be ready."

The two continued on their way to the hotel, their steps growing slower as they noticed a commotion by the entrance. Students were gathered, their voices raised in arguments.

"What's going on?"

Julian frowned, watching as the crowd seemed to part. Suddenly, a girl rushed towards Kenny, her eyes wide.

"Kenny! Hurry! Lisa and Crystal need you!"

Kenny blinked, taken aback.

"What? What happened?"

"Just come!" she insisted, grabbing his wrist and pulling him forward.

Kenny and Julian exchanged a glance before hurrying after her.

As they reached the fountain in front of the hotel, Kenny saw Crystal, sitting on the fountain's edge, her face blank and her eyes staring into nothingness.

Her friends surrounded her, trying to get her to respond, shaking her gently, but she didn't react at all.

"Crystal?" Kenny called, his voice tinged with confusion.

Before he could step closer, Lisa turned towards him, her eyes blazing with fury. The glare she shot him was enough to make him freeze in place.

"What's... what's going on?!"

Kenny stammered, stepping back, intimidated by the anger in her gaze.

Lisa's lips curled into a scowl.

"You..." she hissed, her voice dripping.

She took a step closer, and Kenny instinctively moved back, almost bumping into Julian.

"Where were you? What are you doing all this time?!"

Kenny blinked, confused.

"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything."

"You didn't do anything?" Lisa's voice rose, her anger boiling over. "You think you're smart? You think I'm an idiot?"

Kenny swallowed, his eyes widening in fear. He had never seen Lisa this angry. He took a step back, his voice trembling.

"Lisa, I... I don't understand..."

"You think you can just do whatever you want, don't you? That celebrities can get as many girls as they wish?" Her voice was shaking, her eyes narrowing.

"They're rich, famous, so no one complains. That's why you could be so annoying. But guess what, Kenny? You're not a celebrity, you're not even average, you're just a piece of trash! The dirtiest piece of trash in the world! You have no value at all! You are a total disgrace, and a fucking worthless womanizer!"

Kenny's mouth opened and closed as he tried to find something, anything, to say in his defense. What was even happening?

But Lisa didn't give him a chance. She turned on her heel, her voice shaking with emotion as she yelled.

"Don't you dare come near me again! We're done!" With that, she stormed off, her footsteps echoing across the courtyard.

Kenny stared after her, stunned, speechless.

"Kenny."

The voice was quiet, almost lifeless.

He turned and found himself facing Crystal, her red-rimmed eyes meeting his.

She had a tired smile, a sad, almost resigned look on her face. She stood up slowly, taking a step toward him. Kenny didn't move, his feet rooted in place.

"Why do you keep playing games? Why do you want to humiliate us like that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

She held up a tablet, her fingers trembling. Kenny's eyes dropped to the screen, and his eyes widened in shock.

Word spread like wildfire, Eratz Pandora's name passing from one person to another, growing louder with each retelling.

It became the talk of the night, and then the next day, his reputation, his matches, the way he fought, all of it was dissected in hushed whispers, shocked voices, and excited speculation. Many students gathered in different corners of the academy, their eyes glued to screens. They watched the replays of Eratz's matches, witnessing the power he wielded with deft control.

No one could believe that. The outcast, the one expelled for cheating and aggression, was now shining under the brightest lights of Lugina.

As the news spread, testimonies began to surface. Some students claimed they had seen him in the forest, commanding monstrous creatures with a terrifying aura.

Others recounted the battles they had seen, how effortlessly he fought, how easily he seemed to win.

Soon, everything converged into one undeniable truth, a headline that brought everyone to a standstill.

Eratz's next match was tonight, at Lugina's Garden, one of the largest arenas in the city.

It would be his first match at the regional level, a part of the preseason matches that featured several other fighters.

Tickets sold out in minutes, and even the high-priced online tickets were gone as quickly as they appeared. Among those buying were Liora and Marcus, their expressions unreadable.

Back at Genova, the students were buzzing with excitement and tension.

They gathered wherever they could, in the hall, the dining area, or their rooms, their eyes glued to the screens, waiting for the match to start.

Kenny rushed through the crowded streets of Lugina, his heart pounding as he made his way

to the arena.

His eyes were wide, his breath coming in gasps. He had to see this for himself.

As he arrived, Kenny was struck by the sheer size and grandeur of the arena. Lugina's Garden was a massive structure, more magnificent than any other arena in the city.

The night sky was visible through the open ceiling, stars twinkling above as if watching over the event.

The stands were packed with people from Lugina and even from neighboring towns, eager to see the battles of their own prodigies.

Kenny moved through the crowded corridor, the muffled sounds of cheers and conversations growing louder with each step.

As he finally made his way into the public zone, he was greeted by a sight that took his breath

away.

The arena was vast, an open expanse with towering lights shining down, illuminating the

field below.

Vendors moved through the aisles, selling food and drinks, their voices blending with the

hum of the crowd.

The scent of grilled meat and sweet treats filled the air, a mixture of excitement and tension

palpable. Music played over the loudspeakers.

The lights were bright, illuminating the massive stadium.

Kenny stood there for a moment, catching his breath, his eyes scanning the crowd.

He spotted familiar faces, the academy staff sitting together, their expressions tense.

Eliza and Rowan were there, both looking worried, and even the director had joined, her eyes focused on the field below. Kenny could see some of the teachers too, like Melcin, who appeared visibly nervous.

The voice of the speaker suddenly echoed across the stadium, the noise of the crowd fading as

they listened.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Lugina's Garden! We are thrilled to kick off tonight's fixture, featuring some of the most talented up-and-coming beast masters."

As the speaker continued his introduction, Eratz was in the locker room. He stood before a

sink, splashing water on his face.

He paused for a moment, staring at his reflection in the mirror.

"Here we are," he whispered, his eyes narrowing as he took a deep breath.

He turned away, moving towards the door that led to the corridor. His footsteps echoed in the quiet space, his face tense, focused.

As he moved, he passed by other challengers, but Eratz barely noticed them, his ears tuned to the distant roar of the crowd. The sound reverberated through the walls, growing louder with every step he took, the energy in the air wrapping around him, charging him.

Back in the inn, Kian and Lila sat in the living room, the little screen displaying the scene at the arena. Their eyes were glued to the broadcast, their expressions a mix of disbelief and Sёarᴄh the NôᴠeFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

envy.

"There's no way," Kian muttered, his brows furrowed.

"He's... he's really going to fight here?" Lila's voice was barely a whisper, her eyes wide.

The speaker's voice carried across the stadium, his words reaching every corner, echoing through the massive space.

"Tonight, we have two rising stars competing for glory! Let's introduce the first challenger!"

In the hallway of the academy, Crystal stood among her classmates, her eyes glued to the screen set up in the common area.

Her heart raced, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. Eratz, the boy she had sacrificed to get close to her first love was standing on the edge of greatness.

Eratz moved up the stairs leading towards the arena. The noise of the crowd grew deafening, the light from the exit shining bright, almost blinding.

"A fighter who needs no introduction, a rising star with an undefeated streak of 495 matches

in the rookie division!"

In the club seating zone, Roger, Cassie, and Colin watched with excitement, their faces lighting up as the speaker continued.

"This young beast master has taken the rookie division by storm, earning himself the

nickname 'The Juggernaut'!"

Eliza shook her head, her eyes wide as she glanced at the director. The director's face was

unreadable, her eyes focused on the arena below.

Lisa sat in her bedroom, her friend Clara beside her, both staring at the TV. Lisa's hands were trembling, her face pale.

The name, the nickname, it all echoed in her mind, the reality of it sinking in.

Eratz was in the dark corridor, the light at the end drawing closer. He moved forward, each

step echoing, time seeming to slow down.

He could hear the roar of the crowd, feel the energy vibrating through the walls, seeping into

his skin.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the arena... ERATZ PANDORA!"

Eratz stepped into the light, the roar of the crowd washing over him.

He took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the massive arena, the faces of the thousands of spectators blurred by the bright lights. This was it, his moment. The moment he had been waiting for.