Chapter 125: The Queen of Ice and the King of Beasts: Frost Empress vs. Apex PredatorThe opening ceremony was breathtaking.
The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the arena, and projector lights beamed across the stands in bright, shifting colors.
Fireworks burst into the sky, one after another, each explosion leaving streaks of glittering light against the horizon.
The crowd roared as fireworks lit up the stands, and each cheer added to the electricity in the air.
The floor glimmering under the intense lights, golden banners with intricate patterns draped around the stadium, catching the light with every gust of wind. Fans from every corner of the region packed the seats, their excitement palpable as they waited for the battles to begin.
In the stands, Crescent Moon's people sat together.
Victoria watched the arena with a calm expression, beside her, Zara seemed tense, her fingers gripping her seat tightly. Kaida sat in stoic silence, her gaze steady, while Ryder watched with a growing anxiety.
Nearby, Cassie and Roger sat with Colin, Milo, and Mercury. Cassie's face glowed with pride, occasionally exchanging amazed gazes with Mercury.
In another row, Genova Academy people sat together, although the director was noticeably absent.
Rowan gazed at the arena with a distant expression, lost in thought, while Lisa, seated nearby, staring ahead with no sign of emotion.
She was there in body, but her mind seemed far from the noise and lights.
Finally, the announcer's voice resonated on every corner of the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the grand semifinals! Today, we witness the culmination of strength, skill, and unbreakable spirit. These fighters have given everything in each round, and today, only four remain!"
The crowd erupted, their cheers echoing through the stands, their excitement spilling over as the announcer paused.
"Today is not just a battle, it is a legacy! A chance to prove to oneself, and to the world, that they are unstoppable! Today, two will advance for the greatest stage of Greenridge!"
Fireworks burst once more, painting the sky in vibrant colors as fans waved banners, cheered for their champions, and filled the arena with their voices.
"Let us honor the strength and spirit of these warriors! Today, we celebrate their resilience and their power!"
The crowd responded with a thunderous cheer, admiration filling the stadium as the fighters waited to step into the spotlight.
In the locker room, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The roars and cheers felt distant, like a world away. Eratz watched the screen as the fireworks burst outside, and though the ceremony was thrilling, he felt the weight of solitude within these walls.
There was something about the energy outside that couldn't be captured from the screen here.
Beside him, Raya nodded. Searᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"I can understand the clouds in your heart. The best world is out there," she murmured. "You share it with everyone. Being strong has a downside, everyone's outside together, and we're so far away."
Catarina, nearby, overheard and gave a soft sigh.
"She's right. It's different outside." She managed a small smile, her voice wistful as she added, "Is it even worth it? Maybe we are mistaken? Maybe you should all just forfeit. Go enjoy the day outside."
Eratz raised an eyebrow.
"Do you even believe in that miracle?"
Catarina let out a soft, resigned laugh.
"Nyaha... it wasn't wrong to try."
Just then, a staff member entered, his expression serious.
"Eratz, Sia, it's time."
Eratz and Sia looked up.
The crowd's cheers surged louder as the announcer began listing the challengers' merits, building the tension even further.
"Our first semifinalist," he proclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement, "With an undefeated streak! His run has been like none we've seen before, each opponent facing not only his skill but the near-impossible task of ending his reign. Every match, he's given us pure, unstoppable force and no opponent stood on their feet after losing!"
The crowd's applause was deafening, fans cheered Eratz's name.
"And his opponent, a master of ice! The Frost Empress herself, known for her unparalleled control of the field. Some say she's the best in the region, and many argue, in the entire country!"
The energy in the arena soared as the announcer continued, detailing how even the arena's shield had been reinforced especially for this semifinal to handle the power about to be unleashed.
Fans cheered, their voices blending into a rising wave of anticipation.
Mercury, seated beside Cassie, nudged Milo and Colin with a smile.
"Look, he's coming!"
The gates opened with a burst of pyrotechnics, flames shooting up from the ground like an alley of fire, framing Eratz's entrance. He stepped into the arena, the cheers intensifying. Dressed in a long white coat adorned with black and silver designs, he radiated an aura of calm power as he strode forward, his gaze fixed on the battlefield.
On the opposite side, Sia entered with equal grace, her calm demeanor unfazed by the roaring
crowd.
The announcer's voice took on an emotional tone, his words filled with a mix of pride and
reverence.
"Today, we witness two legends in the making, two figures who represent the pinnacle of their generation. And yet, one of them will fall today."
Eratz and Sia met in the center of the arena, the projectors illuminating them.
Fireworks burst again, lighting up their faces as the announcer called out their titles.
"The Apex Predator versus the Frost Empress!"
The crowd roared, the anticipation reaching its peak.
The noise gradually faded, silence thickening in the air. All eyes were on them as a single, piercing tone sounded, marking the start of the battle.
Sia wasted no time.
With a swift motion, she raised her hand, activating her field spell.
Instantly, a wave of frost surged across the arena floor, spreading like a tidal wave of ice.
The ground shimmered with icy crystals, a pale mist rising and thickening as the frost advanced, overtaking everything in its path.
Eratz's gaze flickered as he leapt into the air, dodging the freezing wave, his body cutting through the cold mist as he soared above the encroaching frost.
Without missing a beat, Sia unleashed sharp beams of ice, her eyes narrowing.
Each beam shot through the air with deadly precision, slicing toward Eratz. He twisted mid-
air, each movement as he avoided the crystalline attacks, his gaze never leaving her even as he evaded each blow.
Then, from the frost-covered ground, her summoned creatures emerged, arctic beasts crafted
from ice, beautiful yet deadly.
Their forms glistened under the arena lights, their bodies shifting with a predatory grace as
they rushed to Eratz, their piercing eyes fixed on him.
Sia's expression remained calm, observing his every move.
Eratz's expression hardened. With a powerful surge of energy, he entered his beastification with his three aces, his aura unfurling around him like a storm cloud.
His gaze sharpened, he dove forward with destructive force, his strikes landing with explosive impact as he tore through Sia's ice beasts one by one.
Sia's calm expression didn't falter, but her eyes narrowed slightly, watching with meticulous precision as Eratz tore through her creatures.
She took note of his moves, observing his powerful physicality, she also noticed how, each
time he struck, a faint layer of frost clung to him.
The chill crept over his body, slowing him down, even if only for a fraction of a second.
But despite the disorder of his attacks he kept his eyes on her, widely open, on every angle
there was a red on her.
Her lips pressed together slightly in a thoughtful line.
A single, precise thought crossed her mind: 'If I drop my guard once, it's over for me.'
Eratz stepped back momentarily, his breath steadying as he surveyed the ice clinging to his
limbs, its biting chill slowing his movements.
He clenched his jaw, his eyes focused as he quickly analyzed the situation.
His brute force was effective, but the frost threatened to sap his strength if he relied on it too
heavily.
Understanding the need for a new approach, he inhaled deeply, his aura intensifying as he created a dome of energy around him.
It swept through the air in a powerful gust, clearing the chill slightly and warming his form.
Sia remained poised, her gaze flicking across the field as she sensed the shift in his tactics.
Her calm demeanor didn't waver, but her stance grew subtly more defensive as she prepared
for what was to come.
Her creatures dissolved back into mist as she glided back, her eyes following the arcs of energy now surging toward her as Eratz launched a series of long-range attacks. Beams and sweeping arcs of energy shot through the air, and Sia moved with grace, her body
gliding across the frosted ground as she evaded his strikes. Each time she dodged, her movements were fluid, her body barely disturbing the mist that surrounded her. Eratz watched her closely, his gaze intense and unwavering, each attack aimed with precision.
He noted the way she moved, calculated and without a single wasted step. Her focus was
relentless, and he understood the caution in her movements, she wouldn't risk a single mistake, he had to force his way.
In a flash, he closed the distance, appearing directly in front of her.
His hand was open, aura concentrated within it, and he released a powerful beam of energy
point-blank toward her face.
The force of the blast shook the arena, the ground trembling as dust and debris filled the air in
a thick cloud.
The crowd held their breath, their eyes wide as they watched the smoke, waiting for a sign of
what had happened.
As the dust settled, Sia emerged from the haze, her form disheveled.
Her pristine clothes were torn, her hair loose and wild, yet her face was calm as ever, her icy
blue eyes meeting his gaze.
She lifted a hand, brushing a strand of hair away from her face, and for the first time, the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Did you think it would be that simple?" Her voice was low and quiet,
Eratz's gaze sharpened, his expression unreadable, though a slight narrowing of his eyes betrayed his surprise. He hadn't expected her to withstand such a direct hit.
Sia's calm expression returned, but the faint, glint in her eyes hinted at the depths of her
confidence.
With a single motion, she raised her hands once more, and the frost that covered the arena
grew thicker, spreading farther and rising like a dense mist, wrapping the battlefield in a bone-chilling fog.
The temperature dropped further, a biting cold settling over the arena as the ice intensified.
A low, resonant growl echoed from within the mist, deep and powerful, vibrating through the
air with a primal intensity.
In the stands, Mercury leaned forward, her expression hardening.
"Here it comes..."
Sia's eyes gleamed, her stance solid and unwavering as she looked at Eratz.
The determination in her gaze seemed to intensify, and her voice was steady.
"It's time to end this."
From within the mist, a massive creature began to materialize, its shape emerging slowly
through the freezing fog.
The creature's icy white form seemed to radiate power, its body covered in thick, crystalline
fur that glistened under the arena lights.
As it stepped forward, its massive paws left frost on the ground, each movement heavy with
controlled power.
Its fangs, sharp and glistening, were bared, and its eyes shone with an unnatural, piercing
coldness that sent a chill through everyone watching.
Nivalys let out a roar that echoed through the stadium, frost crystals forming in the air with each breath, the temperature plummeting further.