Chapter 204: Everybody Loves Eratz

Chapter 204: Everybody Loves EratzEratz and the others' daily routines were evolving at an impressive pace.

Every morning began with grueling training sessions at the agency gym, thee afternoons were reserved for battles with Victoria, and in between, they enjoyed snippets of normalcy, sharing meals and laughter as a team.

The first weeks were rough.

Only Eratz, Mercury, and Raya managed to hold their own against Victoria.

Catarina and Kaida were quickly overwhelmed, while Ryder often was one-shot.

Colin and Milo, after their initial battles, were redirected to more basic training. Victoria took a hands-on approach with them, giving them literally a tutorial about the fundamentals and building them back up inch by inch.

As weeks turned into months, their progress became visible.

Mercury and Kaida, after a succession of victories, earned promotions to the continental tier. Catarina and Ryder remained on the national tier, but as the strongest figures in the division.

Meanwhile, Eratz and Raya dominated their league.

Eratz refined his approach, shifting from overwhelming his opponents with power and numbers to mastering a focused, adaptable style that relied on using the right beast for the right situation.

The change elevated his battles into displays of artistry and precision.

The Pharaoh was living up to his name.

Everything was perfect in every sense, except for one thing.

One morning, Mercury left with Cassie and Roger to meet Victoria and a lawyer.

Eratz, left in charge of Colin, walked her to school and quickly realized the consequences of her growing fame.

At the school gates, a swarm of students surrounded Colin, cheering her name.

"Colin, you're amazing!" one student shouted.

"Can I sit with you at lunch?" another asked eagerly.

"What's Eratz really like?" a young boy added.

Overwhelmed, Colin called Eratz in desperation. Coming quickly, he attempted to create a reason to make her skip school, but was recognized immediately.

"It's him! The Pharaoh!" someone screamed, and chaos erupted.

The crowd surged, teachers frantically trying to restore order. A group of female teachers

formed a barrier around Eratz to shield him from the students but quickly fell victim to their own fan impulses.

"It's really you! The Pharaoh!" one teacher gasped, eyes sparkling.

Another leaned closer.

"Mr. Eratz, if we get you out safely, could we get a selfie? Or maybe an autograph?"

Eratz groaned, face buried in his hands.

"I wish I was back at the agency already..."

Later, at the agency, during training, the aces experimented with team combinations.

Each time, Eratz's team emerged victorious, sparking a wave of competitive energy. Kaida grinned, her fiery spirit ignited.

"Let's try a duo, Eratz. My fire and your fire. Full offense!"

Ryder raised a hand, grinning.

"No way. Bro combo next. I've got some ideas. Trust me."

Mercury crossed her arms, smirking.

"Water and lightning. You know that'll be unbeatable."

Catarina's eyes gleamed mischievously.

"Nya~! Shadow-themed performance, anyone? Imagine the drama, the beast and the Beast."

Milo jumped up, bursting with energy. "Father-and-son magical duo! Colorful and epic.

Picture the poses!"

When Raya opened her mouth to suggest her team, the room responded in unison.

"No. Absolutely not."

Kaida shook her head firmly.

"We already know the result. We want a fair fight."

Eratz watched the chaos unfold, rubbing his temples.

"This is getting out of hand... I wish Victoria's training could start soon."

In the afternoon, Eratz faced Victoria once more. The battle was fierce, and slowly getting even, showcasing how much he had grown.

Despite this, the battle ended as usual, Victoria laughing after annihilating Eratz physically and mentally.

On the ground, his face buried in dirt, he groaned.

"I wish I was home already..."

As Eratz prepared for bed, a shy knock came at his door. Colin thanked him for helping at school and hesitantly asked, "There's an event... a family thing. Would you go with me?"

Eratz smiled.

"Of course. I'd be honored."

He hugged her briefly, Colin smiled warmly, but after a few seconds she flinched and bolted.

"G-goodnight!"

Just as he settled back in, another knock came, Roger, awkwardly requesting, "Just keep an eye on Colin at school. You know... boys."

After Roger left, Milo appeared, terrified by a creepy image he saw on internet called cat.jpg.

Sighing, Eratz read him a story and sent him to bed.

Finally, when peace seemed within reach, another soft knock.

Groaning, Eratz opened the door to find Cassie grinning mischievously in the hallway.

"Ah, Eratz, just the man I needed," she said, slipping past him into the room. "Mercury's

been doing so well lately, hasn't she?"

Eratz crossed his arms, already wary. "Yes... it's very good, right?"

She turned with a smile.

"You know what? I think she might need a little... extra push tonight. You know, to feel completely free, like before."

"Aunt..." Eratz began.

"Look," she said, leaning closer. "I gave her two cups of ginger juice. Do you know what that

means?"

Eratz groaned, running a hand down his face.

"Please, no. Whatever you're implying, just... no."

Cassie leaned even closer, laughing.

"I trust you, equestrian chief. Do your job."

She punctuated her sentence with a wink and a pat on his arm before he started ushering her

back to her room.

"Goodnight," he muttered as he closed the door behind her.

Returning to his bed, he sighed.

"Please, let me just get some sleep..."

But a soft knock echoed once again, making Eratz freeze.

He instantly knew who it was. He gulped, feeling an odd mixture of despair and concern.

"Who... is there?" he asked hesitantly, already suspecting the answer.

"It's me," Mercury's voice replied from the other side.

Eratz exhaled, standing to unlock the door. As he opened it, he saw Mercury standing there,

her expression unusually guarded.

"Come in," he said quickly, stepping aside. Once she entered, he shut the door and asked

cautiously, "What's going on? Is something wrong?"

Mercury looked hesitantly at the side, then answered.

"I... I lost control of one of my beasts."

Eratz's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"You? But you can handle a calamity beast like it's nothing. What kind of beast did you lose

control of?"

She stepped aside slightly, gesturing for him to follow.

"Come with me. I'll explain."

Still taken aback, Eratz nodded and followed her to her room. As soon as they entered,

Mercury closed the door behind them, the sharp click of the lock making Eratz pause.

He slowly turned to face her.

"... Wha... What... Where's the beast?"

Before he could process further, Mercury was suddenly in front of him. She placed a finger gently on his lips, silencing him. Her expression softened, her voice a mere whisper.

"Me."

Her lips curled into a dangerous smile as the lights dimmed, leaving them in a quiet, haunting

darkness.

The next morning, Eratz sat groaning at the agency's restaurant. Raya studied him Searᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

thoughtfully.

"You shine brighter every day," Raya observed. "But at the same time, you feel like a man

flying too close to the sun."

Ryder frowned.

"Yeah, bro, you okay? You're looking... not very juicy."

Eratz sighed.

"The easiest my battles become, the more tired I become. It feel like an overused orange."

Zara watched him for a moment, her expression shifting from calm to concerned. She leaned forward, folding her hands on the table.

"Eratz," she began carefully, "you're pushing yourself too hard. Even the strongest need to

take a step back sometimes."

Eratz looked at her, slightly caught off guard by the sincerity in her tone.

"... I don't like hearing I'm the strongest anymore," he replied in a sigh.

Zara shook her head.

"We already talked about this upcoming event at Genova," she began, glancing around the

table. "None of you planned on going because it seemed... unnecessary. But hear me out. It's a low-level open fighting event, nothing taxing. If you participate, you're prevented from taking on other challenges for the duration. Think of it as enforced rest."

Ryder nodded slowly. "She's got a point. One week of no major battles might actually do you some good."

Eratz leaned back in his chair, thinking. The idea of returning to Grushia was another big

trouble.

"I don't know... Is that really allowed?" he murmured.

Zara's tone softened.

"I understand your concern, but relax. It's okay. The event is expected to be highly popular. If

a big name like you participate, the league won't complain, and it's a safe way to stay visible. This will become the event of winter."

Eratz hesitated, his thoughts drifting to Kian and Lila. The two could benefit greatly from the

exposure to attract big agencies.

Finally, he nodded.

"Fine, we'll go."

Days later, Genova's director confirmed Golden Cosmos would participate, soon followed by

Infinite Twilight.

The news spread quickly, turning all eyes to Grushia as a gathering point of powerhouses.

The announcement shocked many with the list of notable guests and competitors, drawing worldwide attention to the upcoming event.

At Infinite Twilight, Kallistra dropped her glass after seeing the names expected. Leonidas

looked up, surprised by her reaction. "What's going on?"

Kallistra, hands trembling, smiled wide.

"We're going to Grushia... Now."