Chapter 118: Old Scores Settled
Ryan decided he’d had enough.
The water girl was good — Mid Core Realm with A-Rank Water Manipulation meant her attacks were relentless, her defenses fluid, her control over the battlefield precise. He’d been fighting conservatively, managing his mana, playing support for Arthur.
Not anymore.
The Blood Lily Flower pulsed inside his shadow storage. He reached into it and pulled. A crimson flower emerged — petals dark red, veins glowing faintly, warm in his palm.
The water girl’s eyes narrowed. "What is—"
Ryan smiled.
The Blood Lily wrapped around his right hand, thin branches extending from the stem like living vines. They grew rapidly — crackle, crackle — spreading across his ice armor, weaving between the joints and plates.
He charged.
The water girl raised a wall of water. The Blood Lily’s branches pierced through it — squelch, squelch — the plant absorbing moisture from everything it touched. The wall collapsed.
"What—"
Ryan closed the distance and drove his ice-armored fist into her guard. Boom. She staggered. He hit her again — bam — and the Blood Lily’s branches extended toward her, wrapping around her arms, her waist, draining the moisture from her skin.
"Aaaah—" she screamed, her water manipulation weakening as the Blood Lily fed on her element.
Ryan didn’t let up. Ice fist after ice fist — bam, bam, bam — each impact driving her backward across the water. The Blood Lily grew thicker, heavier, draining more. Her water tendrils wilted before they could form. Her defensive barriers cracked and collapsed.
"Nnngh— stop— ahhh—"
Ryan grabbed her by the throat with his Blood Lily-covered hand. The plant’s branches squeezed, draining moisture directly from her skin.
He threw her.
She hit a stone platform and didn’t get up. Her bracelet flashed blue.
"Elysian Lumière Academy — one eliminated."
Ryan stood on the water surface, breathing hard. His ice armor was cracked in a dozen places. But the Blood Lily coiled contentedly around his arm, petals shimmering.
Meanwhile, Lucian was giving Bastien the beating of his life.
Crack. Bam. Boom. Crack.
Bastien couldn’t keep up. Every spell he cast was met with overwhelming force. Every lightning bolt was deflected or overpowered. Every attempt to create distance was shut down by Light Steps and Phantom Walk.
And Lucian looked like he’d barely spent mana.
Bastien was exhausted. His shoulders heaved. Sweat poured down his face. His mana reserves were crashing after multiple spell castings — Lightning Ball, Lightning Bolt, Thunder Clap, Chain Lightning — each one absorbed, deflected, or overpowered by Lucian’s absurd mana output.
"How— pant — how do you have this much mana—you insignificant bastard," Bastien gasped between exchanges.
Lucian didn’t answer. He swung the Moon Shattering Blade. Bastien raised his arms to block.
Clang.
The impact sent Bastien skidding across the water. His boots carved two furrows in the surface before he stopped.
Lucian was already on top of him. A kick to the ribs — crack — sent Bastien flying.
Bastien hit the water near France’s crystal platform, his body skipping across the surface like a stone. He crashed into the edge of the platform and lay there, groaning.
The France healer — the young woman with A-Rank Healing Light — rushed to his side. Green light gathered in her palms. "Hold still, I’ll—"
Light Steps.
Lucian appeared in front of her.
His knee drove into her stomach.
"Oooff—" The healer’s eyes went wide. Air rushed out of her lungs. She doubled over, mouth open in a silent scream.
Lucian grabbed her by the hair and knocked her out cold with a single punch to the temple. Crack. Her body went limp. Her bracelet flashed blue.
"Elysian Lumière Academy — two eliminated."
Bastien pushed himself up on shaking arms. Blood ran from his nose, his mouth, a dozen cuts across his body. His lightning crackled weakly between his fingers — barely a spark.
"You— cough — you son of a—"
Lucian kicked him in the stomach.
Crack.
"Uuuurgh—"
Bastien doubled over and flew backward off the platform, hitting the water with a splash. His bracelet flashed blue before he even stopped moving.
"Elysian Lumière Academy — three eliminated."
In the stands, Rose and Clara were on their feet. Clara was cheering screaming Lucian’s name. Rose was clapping with a wide grin.
Julian sat several rows back, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
Wow, Julian thought, swallowing hard. This dude is really terrifying. I better stop messing with him or I might be next.
Lucian turned toward France’s crystal. Valérie and Arthur were still clashing in the distance — Arthur’s enhanced movements visible even from here — but the crystal was unguarded.
Lucian raised his hand.
"Light Blade."
A blade of concentrated light formed and flew across the water. It hit the crystal.
Chime.
Cracks spread across the surface. Blue light spilled through. The crystal shattered into fragments that dissolved into the evening air.
"Match over," the referee announced. "European All-Star Academy wins."
The stadium exploded. The EASA section roared. Ryan raised his fist. Iris pumped her fist from the crystal defense platform. Nadia exhaled a long breath of relief.
Valérie disengaged from Arthur and floated on the water’s surface, her light constructs dissolving. She looked at the shattered crystal fragments, then at Arthur.
She sighed.
"It seems you have quite the strong allies with you." A faint smile crossed her lips. "Hope to see you in the national team in the next intercontinental competition."
Arthur rolled his shoulders, wiping blood from a cut above his eye. He smirked.
"Don’t worry. You’ll see me."
Valérie laughed softly and walked back toward her team’s tunnel.
The finals were announced.
Chinese Vanguard Institute versus European All-Star Academy in one week time.
The crowd buzzed with excitement. The two most dominant academies in the tournament. The two strongest teams. China’s undefeated record against EASA’s near-flawless performance. It was the matchup everyone wanted.
The team returned to the hotel in high spirits.
Lucian’s hotel room. Night.
Clara’s head rested on his bare chest. Her blonde hair spread across his skin like silk. Her finger traced lazy circles around his collarbone, following the lines of muscle.
"You did good today," she murmured. "Giving that Bastien bastard a beating. I’ve wanted to watch someone wipe that smirk off that bastard’s face. I didn’t expect he went to the France academy. Now, I’ve had my revenge."
Lucian smiled, his eyes closed. "Maybe I should have gone harder."
Clara pinched his side. "Ow. Come on, I’m exhausted. We better rest because "captain" Arthur is going to really go hard on us tomorrow."
Lucian laughed.
A few moments later, her breathing slowed as she fell asleep with her arm draped across his stomach, her warm weight pressing him into the mattress.
Lucian stared at her for a moment as he smiled, So beautiful.
Let me check my system rewards so far into the tournament.