Title: Shadow of the Eternal Flame - Chapter 18 : Beginning of the Tournament

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..............................

The referee stepped into the center of the arena.

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He slowly raised his staff toward the sky.

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The blue crystal at its tip began to glow brighter and brighter.

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Moments later...

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Gigantic magic circles spread across the entire arena.

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They rose high above the audience.

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Then merged together...

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Forming a transparent dome that completely covered the battlefield.

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Its surface shimmered for a brief moment...

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Before disappearing as if it had never existed.

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The referee smiled.

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His calm voice echoed throughout the arena.

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"This magical barrier..."

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"Was created to protect the audience."

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"Any attack that leaves the battlefield..."

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"Will be completely absorbed by the barrier."

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Everyone looked up in admiration.

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Some children even reached out toward the invisible dome from outside, laughing as they did.

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The referee smiled once again.

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Then continued,

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"And now..."

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"Let the first match begin."

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The crowd erupted with excitement.

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The entire stadium trembled from the cheers.

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The announcer raised his voice enthusiastically.

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"The first match!"

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"Mountain Fist..."

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"versus..."

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"Dawn Hunters!"

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Thunderous applause echoed across the arena.

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Both teams stepped forward toward the battlefield.

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Gran stood firmly in front of Lyria.

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Like an immovable stone wall.

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Behind him...

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Lyria gripped her crystal spear with both hands.

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Yet...

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She showed no intention of attacking.

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On the opposite side...

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Raid spun both of his short spears with incredible speed.

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While Fia calmly stretched her body.

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Her eyes were focused on the ground...

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Far more than on her opponents.

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Watching from the competitors' seats...

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Khaled quietly said,

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"Strange..."

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"The girl on Gran's team doesn't look ready to fight."

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Elias, who happened to overhear him, smiled faintly without taking his eyes off the arena.

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"Sometimes..."

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"The most dangerous person..."

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"Is the one who doesn't move."

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Khaled glanced at him.

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But Elias had already fallen silent once more.

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The referee raised his hand.

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Then shouted,

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"Begin!"

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Fia disappeared.

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Instantly.

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The audience gasped.

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Gran turned around immediately.

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She wasn't behind him.

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Nor above him.

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Nor in front of him.

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She was moving so fast...

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Even the dust seemed too slow to follow her.

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Raid smiled.

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Then charged directly toward Lyria.

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But...

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Gran took only a single step.

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Planted his massive hammer in front of him.

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Raid's attack crashed into it.

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The impact threw him several meters backward.

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The audience stared in disbelief.

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Someone in the crowd shouted,

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"He didn't even attack!"

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Another replied,

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"He's only defending!"

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While every eye was fixed on Gran...

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Lyria remained perfectly still.

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She neither moved...

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Nor raised her spear.

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Fia smiled.

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"So..."

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"She's not a fighter."

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Suddenly...

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She slipped.

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Completely unexpectedly.

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Her balance faltered.

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She looked down in surprise.

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A thin layer of water...

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Almost impossible to notice...

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Now covered the ground beneath her feet.

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For the first time...

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Lyria smiled.

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She lowered her spear ever so slightly.

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The water quietly spread farther and farther.

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Slowly...

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Until most of the battlefield had become soaked.

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One of the commentators exclaimed,

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"She never attacked..."

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"She changed the battlefield itself!"

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The audience finally noticed it.

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Every step had become more difficult.

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Every dash required far greater effort.

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Raid leaped forward, trying to avoid the wet ground.

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But the instant he landed...

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His footing slipped.

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It lasted only a fraction of a second.

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Yet...

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That single moment was enough.

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Gran moved.

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For the very first time.

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He lifted his hammer...

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And slammed it into the ground beside Raid.

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Not at him.

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The stone exploded apart.

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Shattered rocks burst into the air.

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Forcing Raid away from Lyria.

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Gran calmly returned to his position in front of her.

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Then smiled.

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"No one..."

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"Gets through."

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Lyria's lips curved into a faint smile.

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Without even looking at him, she quietly replied,

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"I knew that."

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Gran remained standing before her.

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Like an unbreakable wall.

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Raid smiled.

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"So..."

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"I'll stop aiming for her."

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"I'll break the wall first."

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He dashed forward with all his speed.

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Both spears spun wildly in his hands.

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They collided with Gran's hammer.

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A deafening metallic clang echoed throughout the arena.

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Sparks flew in every direction.

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Yet...

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Gran didn't move an inch.

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His smile never faded.

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...

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Someone in the audience shouted,

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"Doesn't this man feel pain?"

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Another replied,

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"He's like a boulder."

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...

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While Raid continued his relentless assault...

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Lyria quietly planted the tip of her spear into the ground.

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Once...

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Then a second time...

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Then a third.

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No one noticed.

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Until water began flowing from different parts of the battlefield.

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As though the arena itself had become a spring.

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The entire ground slowly transformed into a slippery field.

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The water spread farther and farther.

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Every charge became more dangerous.

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...

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Fia leaped into the air, attempting to strike Lyria from above.

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But the moment she landed...

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Her foot slipped.

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Her balance wavered for only an instant.

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That single instant...

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Was enough.

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Gran moved.

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His hammer spun in a full arc.

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Then slammed into the ground.

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A massive stone pillar erupted upward.

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Forcing Fia to leap backward.

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...

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Raid smiled.

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"A clever strategy."

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"But it won't be enough."

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He thrust one of his spears into the ground.

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The stone beneath the arena cracked apart.

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Natural pathways of solid rock rose above the flooded floor.

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The audience erupted in excitement.

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The battle had become a contest of minds...

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Rather than brute strength.

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...

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Elias watched carefully.

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"Smart."

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"He's creating terrain that favors him."

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Scarlet nodded.

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"The problem..."

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"Is that his opponents expected him to do exactly that."

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...

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At that very moment...

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Lyria smiled.

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She slowly closed her eyes.

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Then whispered words no one could hear.

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The water began to tremble.

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Moments later...

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It froze.

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But not completely.

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Only scattered patches turned into ice.

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Each patch differed from the next.

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No one could tell...

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Where their footing would hold...

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And where they would slip.

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...

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Raid jumped once more.

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But his foot landed on one of the frozen patches.

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He lost his balance.

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At that exact instant...

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Fia vanished.

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She reappeared directly behind Lyria.

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Her dagger shot forward.

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But...

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Gran was already there.

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He stepped between them.

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Receiving the stab with his own shoulder.

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The blade pierced through his armor.

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A drop of blood fell onto the ground.

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Gran simply smiled.

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As though he hadn't felt a thing.

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"Finished?"

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Fia's eyes widened.

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She immediately retreated.

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...

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For the first time...

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Lyria raised her voice.

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"Gran!"

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He looked back at her.

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She frowned.

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"I told you..."

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"Don't take their attacks for my sake."

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Gran smiled warmly.

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"If you get hurt..."

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"Our strategy ends."

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Then he calmly lifted his hammer once again.

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As though nothing had happened.

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Silence fell over the arena.

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Even the audience...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYllQNVVoH

Had stopped cheering.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfb88FDOg3K

They simply watched in complete silence.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDkhTostH8

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyxtNGV163

Oren smiled faintly.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuvSX3dPMJ

"Now I understand."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwF0RzPIq7

Khaled looked at him.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbZ5vl2c51

"Understand what?"

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlStG6PZkjj

Oren replied,

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6zegC1T32

"He isn't protecting her because she's weak."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVz0CeJAUP

"He's protecting her..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYomJT0iSL

"Because she's stronger than he is."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MVFBAxmU2

Khaled's eyes widened.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWnMjdKrKb

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKipmww7n5o

At that very moment...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIMIcCR25n

Abdulrahman spoke for the first time since the battle had begun.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG20suNkf9H

"It's over."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJS7VdPJjEP

Khaled looked at him in confusion.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRuR7ovAMP

"What is?"

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEju3yEnZxv

"The match."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1YInxNm75

"It ended..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpO743VOzWd

"The moment the battlefield became wet."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwn01YrlY4

Khaled remained silent.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwtjWqjbkg

So Abdulrahman continued.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡds7Jd7jH4P

"Gran was never fighting."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRzkyWmKHq

"He was buying time."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5stTPuNSH

"And Lyria was never defending."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawonnoSEKa

"She was building a battlefield that suited her."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqT4HiskIx1

"Even though Raid realized their strategy..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcywDdFOZK

"He realized it too late."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOH0jafzH0

Silence followed.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNHp4gRe5u

Then Abdulrahman quietly added,

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiYcNYJm3p

"Look at Fia's feet."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XQJfjVSio

Khaled lowered his gaze.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh5YISsjKa

Only then did he notice...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuBARTtJp3

Fia's movements had become much slower.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzl8no6f2N

She could no longer move with the same explosive speed.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jAdMIOg28

Every time she tried to accelerate...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WtNFUoJy5

She needed the smallest fraction of a second to regain her footing.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzzPZcOqaZ

And...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUXQLXpL8D

A fraction of a second...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XVDsuhDBu

Was all Gran needed.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7aEjlJwVm

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TADYKk3O2

"FIA!"

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKwZAHyY89

Raid shouted.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0nHDkkjF7

But she slipped once again.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAdtiAK4vO

At that exact instant...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsg6cIOqLRC

Gran slammed his hammer into the ground.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm7uBazzt8

A massive stone pillar burst upward.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdx228keVYJ

Trapping Fia inside.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKrzel2Cp5

At the same moment...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08fOl3eGMq

Lyria pointed her spear toward Raid.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfGyfGzpzy

A powerful wave of water shot across the battlefield.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnHCIKNQJB

It crashed into the ground before him.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzScCNkeZS

Then instantly froze...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIqJWR3Nu7

Into a towering wall of ice.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRYdPEjEUN

Completely cutting off his path.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJEDSC9yW4

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7agLid0ksr

Raid slowly raised both hands.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4pT72MK3R

Then laughed.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRs1kzmLPD

"I surrender."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnF6VIZFzJ

A small laugh echoed from inside the stone pillar.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeeixbYR1r

Fia smiled bitterly.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsHJHz6126

"They were one step ahead of us."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBZtKqQ77B

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQjd7y268w

The referee raised his hand.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJnhtcr2lf

Then announced loudly,

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVkzB0CPWE

"The winner..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIinEN1cCHG

"Mountain Fist!"

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICgpjmcEkS

The audience exploded into thunderous applause.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCFUdp7mGT

But what caught everyone's attention...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzixcTd1tp7

Was that Gran didn't celebrate.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRumvUSkTD

Instead...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AUQp8Bf50

He walked toward the stone pillar.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xzf43aS8R

With a single swing of his hammer...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiezPB5lHh

The stone shattered.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSmjRM12Sm

He extended his hand toward Fia.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnptgN4NCfL

She looked at it for a brief moment...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4H95UNBBd

Then smiled and accepted it.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qWm5GrElW

Gran helped her to her feet.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQCkoqvCzP

He then walked toward Raid.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiILoOIE0lk

Extended his hand once more.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp9F8IVJX1

Raid grinned.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlz7TFYh378

"You've earned this victory."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJU40SEBjH

Gran chuckled.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAnOEYWNZ6

"So have you."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5Hjou2SsR

The two men shook hands firmly.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE45ZOdEFZO

Lyria and Fia exchanged respectful smiles.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqppvdCUnWY

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyclY1MBmM

Fia lowered her head.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVJ0YoPEVY

"I'm sorry..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fgDyggTVX

Raid gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5n1m6z8BM

"Don't be."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHYS9zjEYR

"Our goal hasn't changed."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpk7miSvgay

"And it never will."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sWDWczRRL

"We'll become stronger."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZbOnMCCBG

"And next time..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj551lZv1k3

"We'll win."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yL00CAKyU

Fia looked at him.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIWzuvaxE7

Then smiled once again.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHbyXo9ylf

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLuAJ9mlNe

The crowd erupted into even louder cheers.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCbO3gpvvz

People stood from their seats.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23zOgIVh91

Many began chanting the names of both teams.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWAvyRqQOn

They hadn't witnessed enemies...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMyedjYkfj

They had witnessed true adventurers.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7KeO5stHp

Even after defeat...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqLPFHyzNJ

Neither team had lost its dignity.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLgOkgZ8no

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR30N8IbhaV

As Gran and Lyria returned to the competitors' area...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasIUBPahtQ

Several teams greeted them with respectful nods.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXuZjnYhoK

Even Elias applauded.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXcKJJhFig

Scarlet smiled warmly.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnlev9DA0D

Oren closed his eyes in silent respect.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDeCz2Dj4c

Gran scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Mpvq0TrOO

As though embarrassed by all the attention.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEInLbBEmh

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5c7xIn3ID4

Khaled smiled.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxC03odeov

"That was incredible."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXK2aty6tK

Gran returned the smile.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXqLr08E5A

"We only protected what mattered most."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaLLqaIukM

Abdulrahman quietly added,

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9II03NDSCL

"That's why you won."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqokLYYxs8

Gran looked at him for a brief moment.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJkzUNpQ6U

Then his smile grew even wider.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Hlruw9C3r

"I'll remember those words."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtYKJZoOKG

...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUc7VkFiMB

The referee stepped back into the center of the arena.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JdBN2lpIQ

He raised his hand once again.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KtnvQmZGZ

"The second match..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa029jmU8JG

"The team known as..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvPdtS7KWO

"Shadow Dusk!"

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdHyj7XRV3

"Versus..."

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLxrtOzBIV

"Royal Sword!"

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnLKpH089M

The atmosphere instantly changed.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZOeJDvTDM

Kyle slowly stood up.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoCQC0vUKx

His cloak fluttered behind him.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VjTY9ONwd

His expression remained calm.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZPS3ievTV

Yet the moment he stepped toward the arena...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4m8i0y5Zj

An overwhelming silence spread throughout the stadium.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy0ba2C2W4

Khaled couldn't take his eyes off him.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwmvfUIRbp

For some reason...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQmjVjVsHg

He felt that this battle...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVTbY0jARN

Would reveal something important.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5ekmbjDRv

Kyle walked toward the battlefield...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwYJDi67bP

Without saying a single word.

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl4YRhuODV

To Be Continued...

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQpX2j3pZg

14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bOwt9kw4n
14Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zhNylFujg

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