Chapter 122: Conqueror

Chapter 122: ConquerorThe crowd fell into an uneasy silence, the air thick with the tension and awe left behind by the final, devastating blow.

Dust and debris filled the arena, a dense cloud obscuring the battleground as everyone leaned forward, breath held, eyes fixed on the settling haze.

As the smoke lifted, the crowd's anticipation turned to stunned devastation.

Eratz stood alone in a massive crater, his figure steady and composed, while Gabriel lay unconscious at his feet, back in his normal form, motionless on the ground.

The announcer's voice broke the silence, carrying the finality of the outcome.

"The victor... Eratz Pandora!"

In the stands, Cassie, Roger, Colin, and Milo leapt to their feet, cheering with voices full of pride. Kaida and Catarina laughed, throwing their arms around each other in a burst of relief and excitement, while Zara and Ryder exchanged smiles, clapping for Eratz's victory.

Victoria, watching from her seat, let out a small sigh, murmuring to herself.

"That's... a problem. He's even better than I expected. We'll need to be ready for phase six."

Around them, however, the crowd remained largely quiet, faces drawn with sadness for Gabriel.

His courage and resilience had won their hearts, and seeing him defeated stirred a sense of sympathy.

In the Genova section, Crystal rolled her eyes, annoyed, as her peers exchanged looks of discomfort.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Eratz knelt down and grabbed Gabriel by the arm, hoisting him up as if he were nothing more than a bag.

Without a word, he turned and began walking off the battlefield, carrying Gabriel toward the infirmary.

A murmur spread through the crowd as they watched Eratz's unexpected gesture. Faces softened, expressions shifting from shock to appreciation as Eratz showed, in his own quiet way, a glimmer of respect.

The murmurs grew into applause, a ripple spreading across the stands until the arena erupted into an ovation.

Eratz, calm and unbothered, continued toward the infirmary, Gabriel over his shoulder, as the roar of admiration filled the stadium.

Eratz had qualified.

After ensuring Gabriel was handed over to the infirmary staff and spending a quick five minutes celebrating with Mercury, Eratz made his way back to the locker room. seaʀᴄh thё nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

As he stepped in, Catarina and Kaida greeted him with wide grins.

"You crushed it out there!" Catarina said, clapping him on the shoulder.

Kaida crossed her arms, smirking.

"Seriously, you made it look way too easy."

Eratz chuckled, settling onto the bench.

"It wasn't as easy as it looked. That child was good, really good. But he made a major rookie mistake." He leaned forward, his tone thoughtful. "He had that Phoenix form going, which could've kept him in the game longer with its healing. But he swapped out too early and lost his only real advantage."

Raya, who had been quietly listening nearby, stepped forward.

"Quite the strategic insight," she said with a smile, reaching forward to place her hand on a bench.

Her foot caught on a stray gym bag, causing her to stumble, but she regained her balance with a quick dip and a faint smile.

Kaida chuckled, shaking her head.

"You alright there?"

Raya shrugged, brushing it off.

"Guess my talents only kick in when the fight's on." She turned to Eratz. "But really, that aura you unleashed out there, it was impressive."

Eratz gave a small smile.

"Thanks. Took a lot of work to get it to that level."

As they continued talking, Eratz's gaze shifted across the room, landing on Sia standing quietly against the wall, arms folded, her eyes fixed on him with an unreadable intensity.

Her gaze held his, and there was something in her expression.

Sia's lips quirked into a small smile.

"Interesting fight," she finally said, her tone low and steady. "You handled that better than I expected."

Kaida, noticing the silent exchange, glanced between Sia and Eratz, her brow furrowing as something clicked.

"Wait... if you've both won..." Her eyes widened. "That means..."

Catarina's eyes lit up, realization dawning on her face.

"Oh, it's you two. The first semifinals... it's Eratz versus Sia."

The room fell silent, the weight of the impending battle settling over them. Eratz's usual grin sharpened, his gaze meeting Sia's.

Sia's smile widened, a glint of excitement sparking in her eyes.

"Looks like I've drawn the big challenge."

Eratz nodded.

"Yeah, looks like you're in for a tough time."

Sia waited a few seconds, but seeing that no other word came from his mouth, she frowned.

The others exchanged glances, a mix of excitement and tension filling the room.

The silence was finally broken by the voice of a staff member calling from the hallway.

"Raya and Kaida, you're up! Head to the arena!"

Catarina gave Kaida an encouraging nudge.

"Go show them what you're made of!"

Eratz nodded with a smile.

"Do your best, both of you."

Already heading toward the exit, Raya walked straight into a chair, barely managing to catch herself. She muttered a few words under her breath with a sheepish grin.

Kaida laughed, reaching out to guide her.

"Come on, let's go. Time to put on a show."

Kaida and Raya walked side by side down the hallway, a shared yet silent intensity building

between them.

Each step brought them closer to the roaring sounds of the crowd, the cheers growing louder, vibrating through the walls as they neared the arena entrance.

As they emerged into the open stadium, the crowd's energy surged, filling the air with a

palpable buzz.

The arena felt alive, humming with the thrill of the impending clash. Kaida and Raya took their positions, each grounding herself for what was about to unfold.

Kaida rolled her shoulders, her gaze narrowing as she sized up her opponent. Her hands

ignited with a flickering heat, flames dancing along her fingers.

Beside her, Raya tilted her head slightly, almost as if listening to the subtle shifts in Kaida's energy. Alert, she exhaled deeply, her posture growing still, composed.

The faintest hint of a smile crossed her lips, and she nodded, as if saying she was ready.

The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, heightening the crowd's anticipation.

"And now, the third match of the quarterfinals! The Blazing Tempest, Kaida, versus Raya Kobayashi, the Phantom Blade!"

The crowd erupted, their cheers rising to a fever pitch, the energy in the air thickening with

excitement.

Kaida's smirk grew, the flames around her hands sparking brighter as if feeding off the

crowd's enthusiasm.

She turned to Raya with a look that was both fierce and teasing.

"Ready to get serious?" Kaida called out, her voice carrying across the field.

Raya gave the slightest nod, her expression calm but unwavering.

"I would be honored."

The two fighters stood frozen, the arena seeming to hold its breath with them, sensing the

calm before the storm.

The air between them grew heavier, both of them sinking deeper into their focus, their surroundings fading as they honed in on each other alone.

Kaida's flames surged on her fingers, across from her, Raya lifted her chin slightly, taking in

the atmosphere, the sounds, the feel of the crowd.

The crowd quieted, a momentary stillness falling over the arena, both fighters frozen in

perfect concentration.

And then, with a surge of energy, Kaida's flames exploded forward, and Raya's aura emerged,

the battle igniting in an instant as the Blazing Tempest clashed against the The Phantom

Blade.