Chapter 229: The Finals.
Three days before the finals, Smithy called a meeting.
Nathan and the rest of the team gathered in their quarters. Smithy had spread a pile of digital papers across the main table—medical reports, security logs, and witness statements. His face was dead serious.
"I’ve been looking into the competitors who suddenly passed out," Smithy said, pointing to a file. "First one was a guy from the Southern Republic. They found him in his room during the Team Trials. No signs of a fight. He didn’t remember a thing. The referees just called it exhaustion."
He tapped another stack of reports. "Since then? Seven more. Fighters from the Eastern Dominion, Western Federation, and Northern Coalition. All found knocked out in their rooms. All waking up with zero memory. All written off as bad exhaustion."
Nathan frowned, leaning over the table. "Seven? How is this not all over the news?"
"The officials are covering it up," Smithy said flatly. "They don’t want a panic before the finals. But the pattern is obvious—someone is targeting the fighters."
Elise crossed her arms, studying the glowing reports. "Who? Those guys in the grey robes?"
"That’s my guess," Smithy nodded. "Those hidden crystals I found are still active. They’re sucking up magic power from the arena matches. But I think they’re doing something else, too. I think they’re draining the competitors directly. Taking something from them."
Garrett’s jaw tightened. "Taking what?"
"I don’t know yet. But it’s not just the mana. It’s something much deeper."
That afternoon, the holographic bracket updated on the wall.
Nathan stared at the screen as their final opponent locked in.
Central Federation vs. Free Territories.
Amara Okoye. The Spirit Hunter. The woman who had walked up to him after the opening ceremony and claimed her spirits were talking about him.
This match was going to be completely different from the others. Amara wasn’t just a heavy hitter. She was a diplomat. A negotiator. She had literally talked enemy summons into turning against their own masters. She earned her spot in the finals using deep strategy, not just raw muscle. Just like him.
"She’s dangerous," Nathan said, watching her profile picture on the screen. "But not like Kaito or Arthur. She doesn’t just hit hard. She reads people."
Elise nodded slowly. "Then we don’t give her anything to read. We stay totally unpredictable."
The party spent the next two days training hard.
𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞
Nathan worked strictly with his summons. Mirko practiced her [Gigantification], learning how to hold her massive size for longer periods without burning out. Kuro tested the absolute limits of her [Shadow Lock], trying to pin down different types of moving targets. Shiro pushed her [Dragonification], using her fiery wings to dive faster and turn sharper. Ororo focused on her timing, perfectly layering her [Healing Field] with [Negate Ailment] so no magic was wasted.
Nearby, Garrett sparred with Red, tightening their teamwork. The Mad-Sheep’s wool hardened like steel and softened like a cushion on Garrett’s exact commands, reacting without a second of hesitation. Dillon and Cloudy practiced fast aerial drops, weaving through the air like a single unit. Elise sat by the wall, re-watching Amara’s past matches to find any gaps in her defense. Smithy stayed on his datapad, tracking the crystal network.
That night, Nathan sat alone on the outside balcony. The city lights glowed below him. In the distance, the massive stadium was dark. The finals were tomorrow.
Elise walked out and sat down right beside him. She didn’t say anything at first.
"You ready for this?" she finally asked softly.
"I have to be."
She reached out and took his hand, her grip firm. "We’ve got your back. Whatever happens tomorrow."
Nathan looked at her. Her silver hair caught the faint starlight, and her icy blue eyes were warm.
"I know," Nathan said. "That’s what keeps me going."
She leaned her head against his shoulder. They just sat there in the quiet cold, watching the city below.
---
Across the compound, in the Free Territories’ quarters, Amara Okoye sat on the floor with her eyes closed.
Ghostly spirits swirled around her in the dark room. The clear, floating shapes whispered back and forth in languages older than the Towers. She just sat and listened.
"The Archer is strong," one spirit whispered. "But he carries something. Something very heavy."
"Something old," another spirit hissed. "Something that is not his."
Amara opened her eyes. "The Overlord’s power."
She had heard the old stories about that class. The Shepherd had it. The man who nearly destroyed everything. And now the Bunny King was carrying it around inside him.
She wondered if Nathan even knew what he really held. She wondered if he felt the weight of it.
Tomorrow, she was going to find out.
---
The morning of the finals finally hit.
The stadium was completely packed, louder than it had been all week. The massive screens flashed the final bracket. High above the dirt, the referee’s orb-face lit up with a wildly cheering emoji.
"This is it, folks! The Final Match! Central Federation versus Free Territories! Only one team walks out as the global champion!"
The crowd screamed, shaking the walls.
Nathan led his team out of the tunnel. Amara’s team walked out from the opposite side of the arena.
Amara looked totally relaxed, holding a carved staff made of pale bone and dark wood. Her squad fanned out behind her: Kwame, a Beast Tamer with a massive Shadow Lion pacing at his leg; Zara, a Shaman with faint ancestral spirits floating over her shoulders; Kofi, a Tribal Warrior holding a heavy spear and a hide shield; and Naledi, a Spirit Healer whose hands already glowed with soft, warm light.
The referee’s face went totally blank and neutral. "Teams, take your positions. The match begins in ten seconds."
Amara looked across the gap at Nathan. "The spirits told me about you."
"Yeah?" Nathan asked. "What’d they say?"
"They said you’re carrying a heavy burden. That you fight for a lot more than just yourself." She gave him a small, sad smile. "I get it, Nathan. I’m fighting for my people, too."
The orb-face flashed to a giant countdown.
Ten. Nine. Eight.
Nathan nocked an arrow. His party smoothly locked into formation. Garrett and Red took the front line. Dillon and Cloudy took to the air. Elise and her Frost Golem covered the left. Smithy and his Void Eel covered the right. Mirko, Kuro, and Shiro spread out around Nathan. Ororo stood safely in the back.
Three. Two. One.
The final match began.