Chapter 125: An Unexpected Place

Silvana won the game, Trici got a dragon statue, and Jena got a chance to spend time with Adam. Everyone was happy, moving on to where Hazel had gone earlier - the cosplay contest!

"Wow... They're so beautiful!" Trici muttered wide-eyed, looking around.

Men and girls had come here to show off their costumes and practiced moves. Most were parodying popular video game characters or Phantoms!

Many of the Phantoms had stand-out looks, clothes, fighting styles, and most importantly - abilities!

It didn't take Adam and the others long to find someone to cosplay Damien, even if it was a girl... To his surprise, Adam even found someone who cosplayed Erden, even though he was not in the Citadel but in Bastion Radon!

'I see... Regardless of where the Phantom is, if he's strong, killing monsters, performing feats to protect humanity, he'll be recognized even at the ends of the world. However, Second Rank Phantoms are less numerous than the others, so that's not surprising, right?' Adam pondered, looking for Alexia.

Soon, they saw her, standing next to a girl in a blood queen costume - a tight dress, scarlet wings behind her back, and a pattern of ever-flowing tears.

The girl had changed so drastically that Adam didn't even immediately realize who it was.

"Zera...?" Adam muttered, walking up to her. He still didn't fully believe it was her. Adam hadn't even assumed that Zera was into cosplay.

Zera turned around in surprise, but right after Adam, her gaze shifted to Jena. It only took them a moment to understand what was going on, and it seemed that lightning bolts of red and purple appeared between them, trying to suppress each other with a powerful discharge.

Adam got a strange look on his face. He hadn't expected this at all, or rather... he knew that such a clash was possible, but approaching Zera he was just glad to see her, nothing more.

Step.

Zera stepped forward, coming closer to Jena, almost right up to her.

"Hmm... A mere human, and you want to be the Naturalborn Phantom's girlfriend?" Zera muttered in a dangerous tone, "I hope you're not going to have sole rights to him?"

Jena gulped. She was a mere human, and Zera, a K1-Phantom. Moreover, like Adam and Alexia, Zera was also the Naturalborn One, otherwise she wouldn't have become the leader of one of the strongest K1-Squads under Crimson Path's patronage.

Sure, Zera wasn't as strong as Alexia. It was likely that Adam had already surpassed her. However, she was stronger than most K1-Phantoms, and for a valid reason.

Also, some of her abilities were specific, sometimes not very effective, and sometimes able to change the whole situation, like against Steel Knight. If it wasn't for her Second Nexus Trait, Adam wouldn't have been able to handle Steel Knight.

Zera couldn't show her maximum fighting potential like Alexia, who had all the traits adapted for a long battle, but she had her advantages.

Sure, it wasn't an absolute rule.

Owen had a shield, as well as Fred used a bow, while Ester and Alexia fought in close combat, risking getting injuries.

"Hmm...?" Adam raised an eyebrow as he and Alexia glanced over.

However, they didn't even blush as they realized they couldn't become a couple. Perhaps they could be a great fighting duo, battling against dangerous monsters, but not lovers.

Silvana removed her palms from Trici's ears.

"I missed something important, right?" Trici puffed up her cheeks, crossing her arms over her chest with a disgruntled face.

Adam frowned, glaring intently at Zera and Jena, for they were the ones who had started this.

Zera gulped, after her speech, it would be unfortunate to mess things up with Adam.

"Of course not!" Zera said spiritedly, smiling widely, "I was just practicing my character's lines. Would you like to hear it?"

Trici's eyes shone brightly.

"Sure!"

Adam smiled and walked over to Alexia.

"Hey, I didn't think you liked something like this. Did you come here for a particular thing?" Adam asked.

Alexia shook her head.

"Nah, I want to see the show though. It starts right now!"

At the same moment, on the main stage -

Wearing a battle outfit like a mechanical knight, a girl with gray hair and pale skin stepped forward.

Adam's eyes went wide, for it was Katrin. Moreover, another knight was coming to confront her - in dark armor and with long horns. It was Kody!