Chapter 190: Team Battle: Golden Cosmos vs Stellar Vanguard(2)"Let the battle... begin!"
Thyra moved first. She extended her hand, and her field spell erupting like a toxic storm.
Green and purple, swirling energy engulfed her side of the arena, spreading rapidly as vines of poisonous energy snaked across the ground.
Her beasts, the stone scorpion and venomous serpent, materialized, moving with precision, their bodies glowing faintly within the haze.
Mercury responded calmly, her water marks glowing as her field spell expanding in kind.
A cool mist rolled across the battlefield, meeting the poisonous haze in a visual clash of green and blue.
Jets of water erupted from the ground, slicing through the poison and creating clear pockets amidst the chaos.
For a moment, the two spells seemed to battle for dominance, the energy between them crackling.
Thyra smirked as her toxic aura surged forward, her voice cool and calculated.
Thyra's scorpion raised its claws, firing concentrated rays of toxic energy that sliced through the mist like sharp beams.
Her serpent slithered through the poisonous haze, its strikes swift and elusive, each attack aimed at exploiting Mercury's movement.
Mercury dodged with measured precision, her movements fluid and controlled.
She raised a hand, and a torrent of water spiraled upward, intercepting the toxic rays mid- flight. seaʀᴄh thё Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
With a sharp twist, she redirected the water into a wave, forcing the serpent to retreat momentarily.
Rather than reacting to Thyra's pressure, Mercury remained focused. Her field spell expanded further, the mist growing denser as the battlefield shifted in her favor.
The water on the ground began pooling into reflective surfaces, amplifying her control.
Thyra, noticing the shift, clicked her tongue. Her beasts intensified their attacks, the scorpion launching precise energy spikes while the serpent darted forward with venom-laden fangs.
Mercury countered with strategic positioning, her water forming barriers and jets around the field to parry and redirect the attacks.
But Thyra's poison wasn't easy to avoid.
Their speed was a dangerous weapon.
A ray grazed Mercury's side, and the venom began to take hold. The crowd gasped as Mercury staggered slightly, her breathing quickening.
Thyra smiled coldly.
"Game over."
Mercury's glowing marks flared brighter. Without hesitation, she activated her beastification with water.
The mist around her thickened, washing over her body and cleansing the poison from her system. Her hair moved like liquid, her movements growing faster and more fluid.
"Second that," Mercury said, her voice steady as water spiraled around her like a shield.
Thyra's aura surged as she directed her scorpion to slam the ground, sending waves of poisonous energy rippling outward.
Her serpent followed with precise strikes, using the haze to conceal its movements.
The audience watched in awe as Mercury countered with her own burst of energy.
The battlefield was a chaotic blend of water and poison, each fighter's field spell battling for dominance.
Mercury, however, remained calm. She used the reflective pools she'd created to anticipate and intercept Thyra's attacks, the scorpion's energy spikes deflected by sudden jets of water.
Thyra's composure wavered as Mercury's field spell began to overtake hers.
The toxic haze thinned under the relentless mist, and the scorpion stumbled as its footing was washed away.
Desperate, Thyra commanded her beasts to charge. The scorpion lunged, claws glowing with toxic energy, while the serpent darted toward Mercury with deadly precision.
Mercury activated her Zephyraquiel Beastification, her semi-transparent wings unfurling as wind and water swirled around her in a dazzling display.
She dodged the serpent's strike with ease, her wings propelling her upward as she unleashed a devastating hurricane, shredding the poison in its path.
Thyra's beasts faltered under the onslaught, their movements slowing as the battlefield shifted entirely to Mercury's control.
With a final, spectacular move, Mercury gathered a large amount of water to summon a towering tidal wave that crashed down on Thyra and her beasts with overwhelming force before erupting like a gigantic geyser.
When the water cleared, Thyra lay on the ground, her aura extinguished and her beasts defeated.
The arena was silent for a heartbeat, and then, the crowd erupted into deafening cheers. The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, charged with excitement. "Incredible! A stunning upset! The Water Goddess of Golden Cosmos claims victory! Thyra Voss, a continental-ranked fighter, has fallen to a national ranked fighter!"
The roar of the crowd swelled as Mercury straightened, her breathing steady despite the grueling battle.
Her glowing water marks faded as she stepped back, the faintest of smiles tugging at her lips.
At the Golden Cosmos bench, her teammates jumped to their feet, clapping and cheering.
"Now that's how you make a big impression! And against a continental ranked girl!" Kaida shouted with a grin, pumping her fist.
Catarina whistled, leaning back casually.
"Knew she had it in the bag, nya."
Eratz clenched his fist.
"Great, the best case scenario is reachable."
The giant screen above the arena lit up, the scoreboard updating with a loud chime:
[Golden Cosmos 1 - 0 Stellar Vanguard]
Across the battlefield, the Stellar Vanguard bench sat in stunned silence.
Thyra had been their second strongest fighter, their insurance for the 1v1. Yet, Mercury had
completely overwhelmed her.
Vale Emberhart leaned back in his seat, his brow furrowed deeply.
"This... wasn't supposed to happen."
Lucien Skye crossed his arms, his icy gaze locked on Mercury as she returned to her bench.
"I thought the danger was just the Pharaoh and that shiki... shimi... well, the blind swordswoman. If she's this strong, how deep does their roster go?"
Aeron Solaris remained outwardly composed, but his golden eyes betrayed a bit of unease.
"She's not even their strongest. If Mercury can do that to Thyra, what happens when we face Eratz or Raya? This changes everything. We must change our strategy."
The Stellar Vanguard fighters exchanged uneasy glances, their earlier confidence beginning to crack under the realization of Golden Cosmos's true strength.
Mercury returned to the Golden Cosmos bench, her teammates greeting her with enthusiasm.
"That was insane!" Milo exclaimed, his wide eyes sparkling with admiration. "You wiped the
floor with her!"
"That was so amazing, you're really strong," Colin added softly, her small smile showing her
pride.
Kaida gave Mercury a playful nudge.
"Great job, sis. That was legendary."
Mercury shook her head, though a faint blush crept up her cheeks.
"She was strong. She was just unlucky to face the almighty me."
Eratz smirked, leaning back with a teasing glint in his eyes. "Almighty, huh? Careful, or that crown might get too heavy for your head."
Mercury shot him a playful glare, crossing her arms.
"You're just jealous I turned your high level league into a fraud, little Pharaoh."
"Eh, wait my turn," he quipped with a grin. "I'll show you what domination is."
"Deal." Mercury grinned.
She took her seat, letting the adrenaline fade as she drank some water. Her focus shifted
immediately to the next battle.
The screen above flickered again, highlighting the next match.
[3v3: Kobayashi Raya - Catarina - Milo Ambrosius vs. Cassian Drell - Lyric Aven - Soren
Tylis]
The team stood up, each preparing in their own way. Catarina stretched with a lazy smirk, her black cat ears twitching.
"Alright, time for Miss Fortune to make her grand show. Try to keep up, little mini Boss."
Milo gulped audibly, his hands trembling slightly.
"I... I fear no man. Only Father."
Raya placed a steady hand on his shoulder, her calm voice cutting through his nerves.
"Good, I'm delighted to fight alongside you again in this life. We're here for you, so don't
panic."
The three fighters made their way toward the battlefield. As they approached the glowing arch that marked the entrance, the roaring crowd greeted them with cheers and chants.
On the opposite side, Cassian Drell and his teammates from Stellar Vanguard stepped
forward.
Cassian, tall but visibly tense, forced a strained smile. Lyric Aven moved with cautious
precision, her usual grace laced with unease. Soren Tylis cracked his knuckles, the sound sharp
in the quiet, but his clenched jaw betrayed his growing apprehension.
Facing Golden Cosmos's second ace was clearly weighing on them.
The two teams met at the center of the battlefield, the tension between them palpable.
The announcer's voice echoed once more, igniting the crowd's excitement.
"And now, we move to the team battle! A 3v3 clash of wits, strategy, and raw power! Let the
fighters take their positions!"
Raya, Catarina, and Milo took their stances, ready for the chaos. Milo inhaled deeply,
steadying himself.
The crowd's roar grew louder as the lights dimmed slightly, and the stage transformed into a
dynamic battlefield. The announcer's final words rang out:
"Let the 3v3 battle... begin!"