Read Novel Full Chapter 1437 Just Secs
Chapter 1437 Just Secs
"Our one and only, the Ravensteins!"
The gates burst open, and Aurora, Kael, Ember, Caldor, and Nate stepped into the light. Their chins were raised, their auras fierce, battle intent radiating from every movement.
As both teams locked eyes across the stage, the noise in the coliseum faded to a tense silence. Millions held their breath as the moment crystallized.
Then, with a voice that shook the skies, the Stellaris roared…
"Now! Let the battle begin!"
A blinding flash of light erupted, flooding the entire coliseum in a brilliance so intense that the crowd instinctively raised their hands to shield their eyes.
When the glow finally dimmed, the vast sand filled arena was gone, replaced by an endless forest of towering, ancient trees that seemed to stretch into the horizon.
Dozens of holographic screens flared to life around the stands, each displaying live footage from within the simulated battlefield.
As the last of the cheers faded into murmurs, the Stellaris' booming voice returned, "Now, a quick recap of the rules!" he announced.
"Both teams have been transported to opposite ends of the forest. Within each base lies a small egg, your objective. Remember, teams cannot touch or move their own egg. The theme for today's match is Attack and Defend!
"Your goal is to retrieve the enemy's egg while protecting your own. Victory is achieved either by capturing the opposing egg… or by eliminating every member of the opposing team. And one more thing, no domains allowed! Only innate abilities and physical prowess may be used!"
The audience nodded and murmured in anticipation. But before the Stellaris could even finish his words, a collective gasp spread through the stands.
The screens flickered, and showed movement. Three figures were already on the move!
"Wait, what?!" someone shouted.
Only seconds had passed since the match began, yet three members of the Ravenstein team were already tearing through the forest, heading toward the Surnix Hold base. The boldness of such an assault left the spectators stunned. They focused on the figures. Aurora. Kael. Ember.
Their names flashed across the screens as their figures blurred into streaks of light, cutting through the forest like living comets. It didn't take long before they burst through the trees and into a wide clearing. The Surnix Hold's base.
Due to her explosive speed, Aurora landed first. Her scarlet eyes locked onto the stunned faces of the opposing team as they scrambled to react to their abrupt arrival.
"How did they get here so fast?!"
"Defend the egg!"
Weapons were drawn, mana flared, and a dozen defensive spells burst to life at once.
But Aurora didn't waste time. Her arm burst in roaring flame that coiled around her wrist, forming into a blazing gauntlet. With a stomp that split the ground beneath her, she drove her fist down.
A wave of fire exploded outward like a storm, engulfing the clearing in a raging blaze. The shockwave blasted through the trees, sending burning leaves spiraling into the air.
"WHOOOOAAAAA!"
"Ahhh! What an explosive start to the competition! As expected from the Ravensteins!" The Stellaris' voice boomed over the chaos, his excitement matching the roaring crowd.
…
"Hahaha!"
Sirius couldn't hold back and burst into laughter. The other leaders turned to glare at him, but he only grinned wider.
"That girl," he said proudly, "makes me so damn proud!" The other leaders took their cold eyes from him, clearly irritated. Though she said nothing, Sirius could feel the coldness radiating off from the leader of Surnix hold. She stared at the screen an icy gaze just as the cheers from the crowd changed. "Look! They're still alive!" The five members of Surnix hold burst out from the storm of blazing flames. They each exchanged looks, then nodded. Two separated from the group, shooting towards different directions. The other three turned towards the Ravenstein team with a serious expression. "Plan of action?" One of them asked. "Defense takes priority. Take downs only when opportunity presents. Understand?" "Yes, Captain." "Yes." Suddenly, the storm of blazing flames receded, revealing the aftermath of the attack. The forest had been burned black for hundreds of meters, smoke and ash rising into the clouds. Still, none of them could take their eyes off the three figures in the center of it all. Though the egg stood untouched at the middle of the clearing, yet their eyes were fixed directly on them. 'We're their target.' The leader of the Surnix hold team was a man of imposing build and hardened face, befitting a veteran soldier. He was almost a century old, each of them were. and the thought of competing seriously with children three times younger than them was nothing less than an insult. Especially when said children were staring at them like that. 'Like prey…' His eyes darkened. "We fight together." Their arms moved in unison, whirling out different signs. Mana flooded their bodies before condensing and hardening into a radiant armor that illuminated their surroundings. Brandishing their weapons, their eyes flickered back to the three only for their pulse to freeze. 'Two of them are… gone?' A shadow came over them. Their heads snapped up to see a broad sword wrapped in a bloody crimson energy slamming down on them. "Defend!" Before they could raise their weapons to meet the attack, a cold air washed over them. 'Another attack!?' Their gaze shot to the side, widening at the sight of another figure wrapped in chilling frost, piercing the air with her spear thrust. The attacks landed in unison, birthing a wave of force that blasted outwards, uprooting burnt trees and flattening the earth. 'They were pushed back?' Bursting out from the thick haze, the captain gasped at the result. Though the two had blocked, they had been pushed back. 'How?' From their reports, they had only just entered the grandmaster rank. How could they be so powerful? 'We can't lose.' It would seem the Ravenstein team was more than they expected. The scene of the banquet hadn't been a fluke. 'We need to buy time.'