Chapter 86: The Phoenix and the Dragon

Chapter 86: The Phoenix and the Dragon

The head judge jumped to the air quickly, trying to announce the next fight, but she was swarmed by the audiences shouts. Fuck you, Rufus Emberheart! still echoed across the Integration City.

She didnt stop trying to calm the crowds, probably too afraid of what would happen to her if she let this continue, but she was helpless.

It took a few minutes for things to calm down.

The Sage turned to Jack with an amused smile, panting slightly. He had been shouting as fervently as everyone else. That was unwise, he commented, still smiling.

But fucking deserved.

But deserved, indeed. It is beautiful to see the entire planet unite against injusticeeven if its just to curse out loud.

Nothing brings people together like common enemies. Jack laughed. Man, I really hope I can kick that guys ass.

Its not impossible. Just highly improbable, the Sage replied, smiling with yellow teeth, and Jack laughed again. He then turned to Vivi.

Good luck, he said. Show that ass-kisser how hot you are.

She rolled her eyes with a smile. Thanks, she replied. All four other members of Flame River shot him dark looks.

Jeez, those guys are like her little brothers, he thought. Theyll become good friends with Brock.

The brorilla had participated in the chanting, unable to form words but joining in the fun nonetheless. After all, what Rufus had done was very un-bro-like.

He must have been steaming like mad behind his curtain.

If you find the opportunity, can you toss the Russian into the curtain? Jack asked Vivi. I want to see Rufuss face after this fiasco.

Me too But you know, Jack, I dont toss people around. She winked, a flame flashing in her open palm. I burn them.

She then closed her hand and jumped into the arena, landing in a thin cloud of sand. Alexander Petrovic was already there, waiting.

Took you long enough, he said in a thick Russian accent. I saw you chanting. It was deeply disgraceful.

Heh. I see you know where you stand, Petrovic. No wonder you couldnt find allies here; your tongue was busy between that guys hairy buttcheeks.

He frowned. Such a vulgar mouth It doesnt matter. The Ice Peak bows to no one. Prepare to die.

He really would kill her if given the chance. They were enemies. His only punishment would be disqualification, and with Rufus Emberheart here, he never intended to win the tournament, anyway.

The temperature dropped sharply. Alexander Petrovic unleashed his power, conjuring ice around his hands. Vivis entire body caught on fire like a torch. The temperature around her climbed, and hot air clashed with cold one in the middle of the arena, forming strong winds and making the air wave.

The people sitting behind Alexander hurried to put on coats. Those behind Vivi hurried to take them off.

Both of them attacked at the same time.

Embers appeared around Vivi, quickly flourishing into a million tiny flames that combined into a torrential river. The air froze where Alexanders ice gauntlets touched it, quickly spreading like a giant snowflake or a spiders net that shone with radiant white and blue light.

Vivi pushed her hands forward. The river frothed as it flowed, quickly expanding. She wasnt making three rivers this time, just a large one. From the spectator stands, it looked like the floodgates of Hell had opened wide, letting flame water pour out like a broken dam.

The flames burned and the river flowed, but there was no antithesis between them. To be fluid and ever-moving while maintaining a strong, burning heart: that was the path of the Flame River.

Get to the point, Edgar!

Before he could reply, the sound of roaring laughter filled the arena.

How perceptive of you, Miss Eragorn. Very well. I will entertain you.

Cracks spread over the ice until, with a violent snap, the entire dome exploded. Shrapnel rained everywhere. Vivi whipped them out of the airshe seemed proficient with her weapon.

When the white dust cleared, Alexander could be seen in full. Two massive, dragon-like ice wings spread from his back, though smaller than Vivis. He didnt wear armor; instead, the ice covered both his arms from hand to shoulder, and each held a sharp, freezing sword. His legs were covered in ice too, up to the knee.

More importantly, a long, sharp-tipped tail stretched behind him.

Why are they similar? Jack asked, looking between the two fighters. Is it a coincidence?

I think so, Edgar replied. Man, what luck.

Vivi laughed warmly. Hah. Great minds think alike.

Not quite, Alexander replied frigidly. I know what Im doing. You are just a girl out of your depth.

Well see about that. She grinned with battlelust, snapping her whip in the air. Come, Petrovic. Let me rid the world of your ass-kissing blight.

She, too, would kill him if given the chance. Neither of the two was playing around.

Alexanders wings flapped as he took to the air, darting at her with great speed. Though made of ice, his wings moved dexterously, like real ones. Then again, Vivis were made of fire, and they worked just fine.

The whip struck out, its tip carving shiny blue lines in the sky. Alexanders swords danced impossibly fast as he blocked and redirected the strikes, showcasing extreme skill. Using swords against a whip wasnt easy, but he made it work.

Their wings flapped as they embarked on an aerial battle. Vivi was darting around and Alexander was chasing her, defending all the while. Their speed made the arena seem small again.

Unfortunately, space was limited. Alexander caught up. His swords shone with cold light. Every swing froze the air, and his wings left ice where they passed. Vivis whip was less effective at this range. It melted and formed into large talons that covered her forearms and extended a foot beyond her fingers. She met Alexander in a frontal collision.

Both used twin weapons. Every clash sent sparks flying, and the air shimmered. Small explosions sounded out of nowhere from the wide and rapid temperature shifts.

However, Vivi was retreating. Her Dao was slightly weaker, she was less optimized for close combat, and she was also less proficient with her weapons than Alexander was with his. She could hold her own, but not for long. She reached the ground.

Jack could sense the conclusion looming closer. He didnt dare blink. Everything was happening so fast that most people only saw flashes of light.

Alexander lunged into an attack, and Vivis entire body flared. The hyper-condensed flames erupted with their full power for a single moment. She opened her mouth, and all that heat was condensed into a single, sun-like point between her teeth. Orange flames poured out of her throat, as hot as she could make them, merged with that sun-like point, and shot out of her mouth with the full force of a raging river. Her entire body shook from the pushback.

It all happened in the blink of an eye. Alexander saw her flames coalescing but resumed his attack, stabbing one of his swords deep into her side and leaving it there before flying back at top speed. Seeing the torrent of flames coming at his face, he crossed his wings before himself like a shield.

Vivis dragon breath fell on Alexander at full-force. His wings sizzled as they burned away. A scream filled the air as he struggled to repair them, hoping he could endure the onslaught. He was like a rock splitting a river, and orange glow came from where his wings met the flames.

Vivi ran out of steam first. Her dragon breath lessened, then dried up, and she was left panting and weak. Her wings and armor had disappeared as all flames she could muster had gone into the breath attack. The sword at her side had evaporated, but the grisly wound was still there, and she was bleeding profusely. It had struck a lung.

Opposite her, Alexander still stood. His once-majestic wings were now only a skeleton, and their membranes were paper-thin and transparent, but he had pulled through. Though his exposed back had received deep burns from the sheer temperature, and his tail had evaporated into a small stump, these werent enough to stop him.

Vivi took in the sight of her opponent still standing. She showed a heavily disappointed look for a moment before opening her mouth to resignand only incoherent sounds came out!

After all, one of her lungs had been pierced!