Chapter 234: Blood and Glory

Chapter 234: Blood and GloryUnder the roar of the world, the battlefield lay quiet for a moment. Smoke curled upward from the smoldering crater, and the faint glow of embers illuminated the battered figures at its center.

Colin stood shakily, her body trembling as Milo supported her. Her clothes were torn, reduced to barely enough fabric to cover her modesty. Her skin was marred with burns, her hair singed, but her spirit held firm. Milo's small hands glowed with healing energy, his face etched with worry as he tried to keep her conscious.

"Colin, it's over, just a little more," Milo said, his voice cracking, fearing to waste everything by letting her down now.

In the crater, Eratz and Kaida stood battered but victorious. Kaida's face was a mask of blood, streaked across her face and chin, while Eratz's nose and mouth dripped crimson. Despite their battered state, their eyes burned with an indomitable fire. They turned to each other, their movements quick and sharp.

Their hands slapped together in a firm, loud clap, their gazes fixing on the crowd as they grinned through their pain.

"Hell yeah," Kaida exclaimed.,

"Damn right," Eratz replied.

Above, the announcer's voice cracked as he struggled to contain his emotion. His words echoed through the arena, trembling with disbelief and awe.

"Ladies and gentlemen..." he began, his voice rising, "the miracle has been achieved! Golden Cosmos has done it! They are the winners of this night of legends!"

The announcement sent a shockwave through the crowd.

The arena erupted.

Rylas and Braun sat frozen on their bench, their expressions pale and disbelieving. Rylas's mouth hung open slightly, his eyes darting between the crater and the scoreboard. Braun could only clench his fists, his knuckles trembling. Neither could process the reality that they, the top agency, had been bested.

Zara's knees buckled as the weight of the victory struck her. She fainted, collapsing into the arms of a nearby staff member, her emotions overwhelming her. Ryder fell to his knees, his hands covering his face as tears streamed freely.

"They... they really did it," he whispered.

Catarina's hands shot to her head in disbelief.

"No way... no fucking way!" she exclaimed, spinning around before grabbing Raya and lifting her off the ground like the humblest bag she ever grabbed. "Raya! We won!"

Raya's mouth opened with joy, but her breath was crushed out of her by Catarina's exuberant embrace. She managed a faint laugh, her arms flailing slightly.

"We... really... did," she murmured, her voice shaky.

Mercury jumped from her seat, a wild grin on her face, but her celebration was cut short by a sharp gasp of pain as she clutched her ribs.

"Ah! Damn it... we did it! We did it!!!" she shouted, still laughing through the pain.

The staff of Golden Cosmos erupted in pandemonium. Some screamed, others jumped into each other's arms, while a few simply sat down, stunned and overwhelmed. Relief and exhilaration spread like wildfire as they celebrated the impossible.

Victoria remained standing at the edge of the arena, her hands gripping the railing. Her chest rose and fell heavily, her breath unsteady. She was pushed beyond her limit, and tears welled in her eyes.

For a long moment, she said nothing, her gaze fixed on the victorious team on the battlefield, but also on those who fought and made this result possible on the sideline.

The emotions swirled within her: disbelief, awe, and a deep, profound relief.

She thought of so many reasons why she had retired, the belief that her time had passed, that she couldn't do it anymore, and only hope for the new generation to carry the mantle.

And now, before her, that hope was realized. The new generation had proven itself, with Eratz standing as the crown jewel of that future.

"They did it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The future is here."

She clapped a slow and deliberate applause, her face shining with pride and joy. "Thank you..." she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. "Thank you so much everyone..."

Her gaze shifted to Tamara, who stood silent, her hands hanging limply at her sides. Tamara's eyes scanned the battlefield, her expression unreadable. The two locked eyes briefly. Victoria nodded, almost as an apology, but Tamara didn't react, only raising her eyebrows, then looked away, hiding a smile.

In the Infinite Twilight section, the air was thick with tension and disbelief. Leonidas sat rigid, his face pale. He seemed completely lost, searching for some explanation for what he had just witnessed.

Next to him, a sudden noise drew his attention. Kallistra's hands clapped together, each sound sharp and animated. She stood, her expression euphoric, her body nearly vibrating with

excitement.

"Magnificent!" she declared, her voice ringing out above the murmurs of her stunned teammates. She turned, her eyes alight with amusement. "Congratulations, Cosmos! Truly, well done! Oh, Tamara..." She smirked. "Looks like your team wasn't quite ready for this, huh? That's for always ruining my plans, you oldy!"

The rest of Infinite Twilight's team sat frozen, unable to muster a response to her energy.

The impact of Golden Cosmos's victory was immediate and monumental.

Across the globe, social media exploded with reactions to the upset of the century. Fans debated the win, splitting between praising Golden Cosmos's brilliance and criticizing World Star's missteps.

World Star's key errors became a hot topic: placing Tamara in the 1v1 instead of Fredrin or Rylas, and Braun's absence in the decisive 4v4.

These decisions, seen as either arrogance or overconfidence, sparked heated discussions. Yet, for most, these details faded next to Golden Cosmos's incredible display of skill and heart. The rising agency transformed overnight. From special to reference, Golden Cosmos now stood as a major force in the competitive scene, their victory heralding a new era and cementing their stars as the future of the sport.

As the crowd continued to roar, the members of Golden Cosmos began to gather in the center of the battlefield.

The team, battered and bruised, embraced one another with unfiltered joy. At the heart of it was Eratz, the hero of the 4v4, standing tall despite his injuries.

On his back, Colin clung to him, her small frame leaning heavily against him as tiredness finally sent her to the world of dreams. Her singed clothes and burn marks told the story of her bravery, but now, in the safety of her team, she could rest.

Mercury was the first to reach Eratz, her face lighting up with a mixture of pride and relief.

She threw her arms around him, her ribs attacking her, but ignored in the moment.

"You did it," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "You really did it."

Milo followed, his small arms wrapping tightly around Eratz's leg, tears streaming down his

cheeks.

Catarina was next, bounding over with a feline grace that ended in a fierce hug for Kaida, Catarina's head bumping into Kaida's face, making her let out a yelp of pain.

"I can't believe it! We actually won!" Catarina exclaimed, her tail flicking wildly as she clung

to Kaida.

Ryder and Raya joined the huddle, their faces flushed with excitement. Ryder slapped Eratz on

the arm, grinning ear to ear.

"You're a legend, my guy," he said, his voice brimming with pride.

Raya stood beside him, her usually calm demeanor softened by a small, genuine smile. She

reached out, her hand brushing Colin's hair gently.

Victoria finally made her way to the group, her composure faltering as she wiped at the tears

streaming down her face.

Her voice trembled as she spoke.

"You've done it. You've made history. I couldn't be prouder of all of you."

Her gaze swept over the team, taking in their battered yet triumphant faces. "Thank you for proving that the future of Golden Cosmos is brighter than I ever dared to hope. You're all...

oh..."

Before she could say more, a figure approached, cutting through the celebration like a blade through silk. Tamara.

Her expression unreadable as she stopped just short of the group. The atmosphere shifted, the celebratory chatter fading into an uneasy silence.

Victoria's tears halted as she turned to face her old friend, her back straightening

instinctively.

Tamara's eyes flicked over each member of Golden Cosmos, her gaze lingering on her.

"You know," she began. "everyone's been calling this the Night of Stars. I came here expecting to be entertained, maybe even a little injured too. But now?"

She crossed her arms, a wry smile forming.

"I feel robbed. Don't get me wrong," she said, her eyes scanning the group. "You played me perfectly. Every move. Every setup. I'll give it to you, genius, really. Especially you." Her gaze settled on Ryder. "The mascot who had the played the beast master just to make me waste a

point, you're very brillant."

Before Ryder could respond, Catarina stepped forward, her arms flailing dramatically.

"Hey! Ryder's not just a mascot! He's OUR mascot!"

Everyone groaned and shot her tired looks. Tamara laughed, a genuine sound that broke the

tension.

"Don't worry," she said, her tone lighter now. "It's a shame, but I know we'll get our real match one day, Eratz." Her eyes locked onto his. "No teams, no restraints. Just you and me. All

out. And now I have a huge grudge against you."

Eratz grinned, his crimson eyes glinting.

"Looking forward to it."

Tamara's smile softened for a moment, almost genuine, before she tilted her head slightly.

"You know, you're really good. Too good, in fact. Maybe you should consider joining my

agency. Just a thought."

Victoria's voice cut through the air.

"Tamara."

Tamara raised a hand as if to ward off the inevitable reprimand.

"Girl, come on, you already have the water girl, the fire girl, and that blue dragon girl. You

don't need him."

Her tone was teasing, but there was a flicker of sincerity in her eyes as she glanced back at

Victoria.

The two locked eyes for a beat before they both burst into laughter, the sound ringing out amidst the fading fireworks.

Tamara turned on her heel, her back now to the team.

"Well, I lost. And I'm not a liar." She glanced over her shoulder at Eratz. "You know what's

left now."

Eratz's eyes widened slightly as he realized. He nodded, his expression turning serious.

Tamara's voice dropped to a murmur, audible only to those nearest. "Backstage. You'll get what you've been waiting for." With that, she strode off, disappearing into the shadows of the

arena.

The team stood in silence, the weight of her words settling over them. Fireworks continued to burst overhead, casting fleeting light on their faces.

"This is it," Kaida finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The moment we've been

waiting for."

Eratz glanced at Mercury, who nodded. Catarina's usual playfulness was replaced by a rare seriousness. Ryder's hands clenched into fists, his excitement barely contained, while Milo still processed the monumental battle they'd just survived.

Above them, the fireworks reached their crescendo, painting the night in a symphony of

colors.

A little later, the arena had started to empty.

The public filed out slowly, their conversations a mixture of awe and exhaustion after the

unforgettable battle.

The fireworks had faded, leaving only faint traces of smoke drifting across the night sky. The energy of the night lingered, but the spectacle had concluded.

Backstage, the Golden Cosmos team was scattered. Most of them were in the infirmary, resting and receiving treatment for their injuries.

Eratz had left with Victoria to retrieve the orb, the prize they had fought so hard to obtain.

Meanwhile, Mercury stood alone in the bathroom, her hand pressed against the wall as she steadied herself.

Her other hand gingerly held her ribs, the sharp ache from her earlier injuries refusing to

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She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she tried to control her respiration.

Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror. Sweat glistened on her brow, and her

expression was marred by exhaustion.

A sense of unease crept over her, despite the damages received, it wasn't her first battle, she

should have been able to endure it, especially now that it was over.

But then, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her, and her stomach churned violently.

Her breath hitched as she stumbled toward the sink, gripping its edges tightly.

Without warning, she doubled over and retched, the sound echoing in the empty space.

She clutched her stomach, a cold sweat breaking out across her skin as the nausea overwhelmed her.

Her gaze shifted to the sink as she rinsed her mouth, her fingers trembling.

The room felt heavier now, a quiet moment filled with uncertainty. Mercury straightened, her eyes lingering on her reflection for a moment longer.

With a sigh, she pushed herself away from the sink and exited the bathroom, her steps slower than usual as she rejoined the emptying halls of the arena.