Chapter 193: Threads of Glory and Doubt

Chapter 193: Threads of Glory and DoubtThe Golden Cosmos team gathered in the private locker room to celebrate their victory. The room was lively, with tables in the center set up with bottles of water, juice, and a few small trays of snacks. Staff members buzzed around, clapping and cheering, offering handshakes and congratulations to the team.

Kaida laughed boisterously, slapping Ryder on the back as they recounted their fights.

"Did you see that? I went toe-to-toe with a continental-ranked fighter for several seconds! That beast is amazing!" Kaida exclaimed, her voice brimming with triumphant pride. "Nobody could touch us out there!"

Ryder grinned and leaned back, crossing his arms.

"You're right. We crushed it. Nobody's going to forget this anytime soon. I mean, look at us. We're on fire! I'm so ready for our next battle!" He mimicked one of his sneak attacks, drawing a loud laugh from Kaida.

Across the room, Colin and Milo sat quietly, their expressions thoughtful.

Colin fidgeted with her pendant, her voice low.

"When I fought with Eratz, Kaida, and Ryder... I did nothing. I didn't even understand what was happening. Everything moved so fast. Eratz just told me to use my beastification with any fire beast, so I did... but that's all I could do. On my own... I felt completely outclassed."

Milo shifted in his seat, his usual energy drained.

"I know... For me, it was Catarina and Raya. I couldn't even see their moves. They were just... everywhere. I felt so useless, like I didn't belong out there with them."

Colin sighed, her fingers tightening around the pendant.

"They make it look so easy, but... it's not. I can barely keep up with practice, let alone that level."

Milo gave a weak smile, but determination flickered in his eyes.

"It's so hard," he admitted. "But Eratz said we're doing better than they were at our stage, so... maybe it's fine. I don't know. I'll trust him."

Zara's voice broke through the mixed atmosphere. She leaned casually against a table, her confident smirk drawing attention.

"You know what's funny? You didn't even use our strongest beasts."

Kaida paused mid-drink, her hand tightening around the bottle. For a moment, she was silent, her sharp gaze darting away as she drank nervously.

She had been the only one to unleash her calamity beast, and the weight of that choice sat heavily on her. Her grip on the bottle tightened as she cleared her throat.

Eratz, at first oblivious, chuckled lightly as Zara's words hung in the air. Then, as realization dawned, his expression shifted. His eyes went wide, and he froze in place.

He had forgotten something crucial: his three aces were still in Ferindale.

He had commanded them to keep hunting and grow stronger outside, by themselves. He even told Mercury before that they were still training, but the truth was far less organized.

He hadn't even used them during their calamity hunt, choosing instead to rely on Raijinara and Cinderblaze, and over time, he had simply forgotten about them. Now, those powerful creatures were still rampaging in Ferindale.

Both Kaida and Eratz sat in stunned silence, their eyes wide as they became invisible to the celebrating room. Meanwhile, the rest of the team and staff erupted in laughter, oblivious to their sudden tension.

Mercury, seated near the window, abruptly stood as her phone buzzed. Answering it, her expression quickly shifted to a frown. She turned away from the group, speaking in hushed tones. When she hung up, her demeanor was tense.

"I have something to take care of," she announced, her tone clipped. "I'll head out first."

Catarina blinked in surprise, her ears twitching playfully.

"So soon, nya~? We just started celebrating!"

Mercury offered a small, tight smile before leaving. Victoria, watching from the corner, furrowed her brows. Her usual calm demeanor gave way to a flicker of concern as her gaze lingered on the door Mercury had exited.

The Golden Cosmos' crushing victory sent shockwaves through the competitive circuit. Agencies and competitors alike analyzed their performance with both awe and unease. Their dominance and spectacular display highlighted their team's overwhelming power.

Eratz, Raya, Mercury, and Catarina especially left a lasting impression, giving the sense that this was a group of powerhouses.

Discussions about Mercury, Kaida, and Catarina's potential rank-up quickly began circulating among the arena's elite.

While some saw Golden Cosmos as an inspiring benchmark to aim for, others viewed them as an intimidating force, nearly untouchable in their current form.

The Pharaoh was still undefeated, the Shinigami was still mysterious, the Goddess of Ocean always made her wins look easy. The murmurs of their rising status spread rapidly, solidifying their reputation as a serious threat to other teams and agencies.

At Genova Academy, the students had settled into the rhythm of their new academic year. The once quiet halls were now alive with chatter and excitement as preparations for the winter tournament began.

Posters lined the walls. Groups of students could be seen strategizing in corners or practicing their techniques on the training grounds.

The tournament was a time for everyone to show their potential. The air buzzed with nervous energy.

Kian and Lila had already risen to prominence. Their skills and confidence made them the top picks to win, and their popularity soared.

However, many students weren't ready to roll over. They trained harder than ever, determined to give the siblings a run for their money.

During these preparations, Kenny began appearing more frequently. His presence sent ripples Sёarch* The nôᴠel Fire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

of unease through the academy.

Treated as a scarecrow, he remained isolated from his peers, but there was something different about him now. He walked the halls with a strange and unshakable confidence.

His sharp gaze and composed demeanor were a far cry from the broken figure many remembered after the finals. Most of his peers didn't care about him and often wondered why he was still at the academy.

When the tournament finally began, the matchups were printed and pinned to the announcement board in the main hall. Students crowded around to see who they would face.

The atmosphere grew heavier with each pairing.

In the teachers' area, Rowan stared at the board, his expression troubled. He glanced at the other teachers and asked quietly.

"Is this serious?" His voice cracked slightly as he added.

"It's too big to be a coincidence."

Among the students, reactions ranged from shock to unease. Lisa's hands trembled as she stared at the board. Her breath caught in her throat.

Her eyes widened as the reality of the matchup sank in. Kenny was going to face Kian.