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...

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Had stopped cheering.

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They simply watched in complete silence.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhufrI1toS

...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlCEnovCcr

Oren smiled faintly.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGubt1OrL6

"Now I understand."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlXOW8suyf

Khaled looked at him.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN8LyEWylu

"Understand what?"

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxklHgGhEO5

Oren replied,

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ714giJTBwC

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

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGe46s4kNJD

"He's protecting her..."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CNaNgbKUu

"Because she's stronger than he is."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA6mNky8Uj

Khaled's eyes widened.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBAshSYU9s

...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYWLOjKtnI

At that very moment...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEDc0sRTq1

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

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RFyTstvcy

"It's over."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBJXXKNO2G

Khaled looked at him in confusion.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MPnwuzwSQ

"What is?"

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIadGt0iLj

"The match."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GuJbutP6y

"It ended..."

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"The moment the battlefield became wet."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jbt3ExjpE

Khaled remained silent.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vd3ulotCN

So Abdulrahman continued.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtW1OiIjXD

"Gran was never fighting."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw9mV1SZCC

"He was buying time."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr91YMtI28g

"And Lyria was never defending."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9v0RdYbSPn

"She was building a battlefield that suited her."

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"Even though Raid realized their strategy..."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyM4JnVYyA

"He realized it too late."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IrYBKLCbJ

Silence followed.

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Then Abdulrahman quietly added,

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORLqFVCszT

"Look at Fia's feet."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7a94e9CqH

Khaled lowered his gaze.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0JN05ihZD

Only then did he notice...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFo2p56YnR

Fia's movements had become much slower.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCSyjnGBvx

She could no longer move with the same explosive speed.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMjsykyyst

Every time she tried to accelerate...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS2YffgSSg

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

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And...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8S81txTOB

A fraction of a second...

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Was all Gran needed.

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...

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"FIA!"

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtMR6Utk2o

Raid shouted.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡte0X0P46VE

But she slipped once again.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOsEty7enY

At that exact instant...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyDUSx7FTF

Gran slammed his hammer into the ground.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2snQK04TN

A massive stone pillar burst upward.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGwKG8qlLg

Trapping Fia inside.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdQrCF9ao0

At the same moment...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTsdwirX7y

Lyria pointed her spear toward Raid.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoruiAsSUa

A powerful wave of water shot across the battlefield.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxCGGNgg6s

It crashed into the ground before him.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyylY2huqL

Then instantly froze...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23n7LwFsnf

Into a towering wall of ice.

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Completely cutting off his path.

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...

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Raid slowly raised both hands.

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Then laughed.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMue06VIrE

"I surrender."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFvxHVF73T

A small laugh echoed from inside the stone pillar.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhToBe3pW8k

Fia smiled bitterly.

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"They were one step ahead of us."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ygQ59vyl5

...

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The referee raised his hand.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgkF8w1SBS

Then announced loudly,

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPeJsnEsCx

"The winner..."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmcMotjrvW

"Mountain Fist!"

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvHZENwy67

The audience exploded into thunderous applause.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEaPqO8lpj

But what caught everyone's attention...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzZTBlSuCk

Was that Gran didn't celebrate.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgW2Hpxcm12

Instead...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHeuRYnYQT

He walked toward the stone pillar.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TZ08SsiwL

With a single swing of his hammer...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOk08mFFJ4

The stone shattered.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJgFBYBs1G

He extended his hand toward Fia.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5qB93O48T

She looked at it for a brief moment...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlRsL3LaQR

Then smiled and accepted it.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO88iUeAWXf

Gran helped her to her feet.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSHbwLs4ol

He then walked toward Raid.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKhsuJGdaf

Extended his hand once more.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp1xjsGIs8

Raid grinned.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeUmj8pTFh

"You've earned this victory."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM0ZFRym74

Gran chuckled.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl7EUNUHHY

"So have you."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgSLwvKivq

The two men shook hands firmly.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNTo3Mw0tA

Lyria and Fia exchanged respectful smiles.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAea2OHrJy

...

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Fia lowered her head.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PPsh2jsJG

"I'm sorry..."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcda7yTdm3z

Raid gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRhy7IpeM3

"Don't be."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMQ542LoTq

"Our goal hasn't changed."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZQrsoT7bk

"And it never will."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGzUlitjXL

"We'll become stronger."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SL5aD39T5

"And next time..."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E0ry1nGyq

"We'll win."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfS3h8ZKr0L

Fia looked at him.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXHWhfC7lS

Then smiled once again.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonyIOqsjTd

...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvp22qI1rea

The crowd erupted into even louder cheers.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu44l5LaxyM

People stood from their seats.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5B9bg7U0c

Many began chanting the names of both teams.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAXEDLmAC8

They hadn't witnessed enemies...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwp96NOPsx

They had witnessed true adventurers.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAeAY5hq1u

Even after defeat...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUDI3c0J6j

Neither team had lost its dignity.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxDaofiLqg

...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy1UkEZ8pN

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

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpKvbh4h9s

Several teams greeted them with respectful nods.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4IfBwiOzM

Even Elias applauded.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpSYrgVuey

Scarlet smiled warmly.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn37SFwYP4K

Oren closed his eyes in silent respect.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP1SEwYreB

Gran scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58Ooeu22QG

As though embarrassed by all the attention.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLqHxdK3Vs

...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1b9Jc8u8H

Khaled smiled.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1sfEKKmAV

"That was incredible."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mN7ZPKtHB

Gran returned the smile.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRYTNwnNcs

"We only protected what mattered most."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjCsm2RvL7

Abdulrahman quietly added,

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69jH5awyaB

"That's why you won."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsIafchcBp

Gran looked at him for a brief moment.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS3i1FHx6M

Then his smile grew even wider.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2fTkxxlGR

"I'll remember those words."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HbpAs8zmW

...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgliF8n3CU

The referee stepped back into the center of the arena.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX96qlIBY1W

He raised his hand once again.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pBt8De6jg

"The second match..."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmfw4tzO0z

"The team known as..."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtlSvNKpIf

"Shadow Dusk!"

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfzjhFWY9r

"Versus..."

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhmRxuHc7e

"Royal Sword!"

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLyVwE7Xbh

The atmosphere instantly changed.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAk3rVbVte

Kyle slowly stood up.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsWXsJtUOL

His cloak fluttered behind him.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyMKpKeW84

His expression remained calm.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTq2pow3Ob

Yet the moment he stepped toward the arena...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrteGRAIt7z

An overwhelming silence spread throughout the stadium.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c3KvqZlqJ

Khaled couldn't take his eyes off him.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSoNquYTU3

For some reason...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6axymTN1f

He felt that this battle...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsh3JV15umD

Would reveal something important.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ByhAvzhdL

Kyle walked toward the battlefield...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xqIyODEBO

Without saying a single word.

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsiOkpnoGd

To Be Continued...

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqScvG5W5jh

69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvW5CZHI9KA
69Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQAjMOZYVC

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