By now, Renzo and the other two mentors had already noticed that their lack of coordination earlier had nearly cost them the match.
So while the next battle between Country A and Country Y was still ongoing, they wasted no time selecting the next lineup.
"Ivy, Donald, and Fiona."
Renzo didn't even look up from his phone as he called the names.
From the opposing side, Lilian spoke next.
"Sarah, James, Billy."
They both turned to the third mentor, who was still deep in thought, weighing his options.
Meanwhile, the selected fighters naturally gathered together.
There was a brief silence—strangers forced into temporary teamwork.
Sarah was the first to break it.
"Let's not waste time. We should at least know what each of us can do. It'll make forming a strategy easier."
She looked around expectantly.
Fiona nodded slightly.
"I specialize in healing, close combat… and venom," she added, then clarified, "but venom is restricted in official matches."
They acknowledged that with understanding nods.
Donald stretched lazily before speaking.
"Chains and ice. Close combat too—obviously."
He dropped into a seat like none of this concerned him.
"Just combat," James said shortly.
"Blades," Billy added.
"With swords?" Sarah asked.
Billy shook his head. "Knives. Anything bigger… still working on it."
Sarah nodded, then added her own.
"Healing, combat, and sorcery."
All eyes turned to Ivy.
She didn't look up immediately. Then—
"Sand. Combat. Chains."
That was it.
Silence lingered for a second before Sarah exhaled.
"Alright… that's enough to work with."
She crouched slightly, drawing quick patterns on the ground as she spoke.
"We'll need balance. Fiona and I handle support and recovery. Donald and James take front pressure. Billy, you stay flexible—assist where needed."
Her eyes flicked to Ivy.
"And you…"
A pause.
"You don't follow. You disrupt."
Ivy didn't respond—but she didn't object either.
That was enough.
They refined it quickly—who would initiate, who would cover blind spots, fallback signals. Nothing overly complex, but just enough structure to avoid chaos.
By the time they were done, the ongoing match ended.
Country A won.
Cheers erupted across the stadium.
A new set of fighters from Country A stepped forward, basking in the crowd's energy.
Then Country H's team followed.
As they lined up—
Country A's expressions changed.
Their eyes locked onto Ivy.
She wasn't even looking at them. Calmly, she slipped on her headset, adjusting it like she was about to relax—not fight.
But they knew that move.
Their jaws clenched.
From the sidelines, Zoe frowned.
"What's wrong with them?"
Albert didn't take his eyes off Ivy.
"Dance fight."
Zoe blinked. "Dance… battle?"
"She fights with music."
That didn't help. But there was no time to question it.
The barrier lifted.
The match began.
For a brief moment—
No one moved.
Country A hesitated, exchanging glances.
Ivy took a single step forward.
They all stepped back.
That was when the crowd started murmuring.
Something wasn't right.
Finally, with visible resolve, Country A attacked.
Donald moved first.
Chains shot out instantly, sharp and precise, forcing two opponents back.
Ivy followed—not rushing, but flowing. Her movements were almost rhythmic, like she was following a beat no one else could hear.
Sand shifted beneath her feet, reacting to her steps.
James and Billy pressed from the sides while Fiona and Sarah maintained support.
For a moment—
Everything worked.
They were winning.
Clean.
Controlled.
Efficient.
Then Country A changed tactics.
Their formation broke—but not randomly.
All focus shifted to Ivy.
"Switch!" Sarah called—but it was already happening.
Three of them lunged at Ivy simultaneously.
She dodged the first.
Blocked the second.
The third—
Connected.
A sharp strike sent her off balance.
Donald's head snapped toward her.
"Ivy—"
Another hit.
Then another.
They weren't holding back anymore.
They knew her patterns.
Every movement she made—they countered.
Her chains were deflected.
Her footing disrupted.
Then—
A heavy blow.
She hit the ground.
Hard.
The sound echoed.
For a split second—
Everything paused.
The crowd.
The fighters.
Her team.
"She's down—!"
"Move!" Sarah snapped.
They surged forward to cover her before the next attack could land.
Donald's expression darkened—but he didn't rush blindly.
His fists clenched.
Waiting.
Watching.
Country A didn't stop.
They pressed forward, aiming to finish it.
But then—
Ivy moved.
Silence.
Complete silence.
Even the crowd felt it.
She slowly pushed herself up.
One arm hung at an unnatural angle.
Then the other.
Without a word—
She grabbed it.
And twisted.
A sharp crack.
Then another.
Fiona flinched despite herself.
She had seen it before.
It didn't make it any easier.
The sound of bone shifting back into place was quiet—but impossible to ignore.
Deliberate.
Controlled.
Unbothered.
Ivy rolled her shoulder once.
Then again.
Like nothing had happened.
Sarah exhaled shakily.
Billy took a step back.
"Damn..."
James muttered under his breath.
Donald… smiled.
Not surprised.
Not worried.
Just—
Certain.
Ivy lifted her head.
Her eyes met theirs.
She dragged her thumb across her lip, wiping away blood—then casually licked it.
That was enough.
Two of Country A's fighters dropped their weapons immediately.
"I'm out."
"Nope."
The rest hesitated—
Too long.
"Now," Donald said quietly.
Everything flipped.
Zoe repositioned.
Fiona supported.
James and Billy pressed.
But this time—
Ivy moved last.
And ended it.
The opposing captain barely had time to react before being slammed down and restrained.
The barrier dropped.
Victory.
The stadium erupted.
Cheers. Confusion. Excitement.
Fear.
.
.
Backstage
.
.
.
Albert carefully examined Ivy's arm.
"Still hurts?"
"No."
He sighed. "Of course not."
Nearby, Lilian watched her with narrowed eyes.
"So… that's three werewolves on your team now?"
Renzo didn't look up from his phone.
"Sort of."
She waited.
Nothing.
He scrolled.
Unbothered.
"…Right," she muttered, walking off.
The moment Albert stepped back, Lily launched herself at Ivy and Donald.
"Eiiiiii!!! That was so cool!! You both use chains like—like—ugh!! Teach me! Pleeeaaasssseeeeeee!"
Donald sighed, trying to peel her off.
"Kid—"
"No!"
She dragged both of them anyway.
Ivy didn't resist.
Donald gave up halfway.