GEORGE'S POV
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.
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I don't understand.
Everything was going perfectly fine.
So why a sudden attack?
Where's he from?
And what "supreme one" is this idiot talking about?
…Yeah, I'm probably already boring you.
So let's rewind.
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.
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Thanks to Ivy, Nathan could fight again. So on our second day off, we trained with the other two teams from Country H.
Now we finally had a solid plan.
Semifinals.
Same noisy crowd. Same lousy opponents.
You're probably wondering how this tournament works, so I'll keep it short.
Round one—three battles per country. Two group fights, one with a maximum of three fighters.
Round two—same thing.
Six countries entered this year. Two got eliminated.
Now we're down to four.
Back at the Wait-Out
Renzo was… well, Renzo. Saying things that sounded like motivation but weren't.
Ivy and Albert were huddled in a corner again, whispering like the weirdos they are.
Lily and Fiona stood ready, already focused.
Zoe stood behind me. Silent. Watching.
Donald… flirting. Of course.
Guess Ivy isn't his mate after all.
And Nathan…
Nowhere to be found.
"So for the first round I chose… hmm… hmm…"
"Renzo, we don't have all day," Lilian snapped.
Renzo blew her a kiss.
I resisted the urge to drag him out myself.
"I choose… Nathan, Albert, Fiona. Fiona, if someone tries anything funny—poison them."
"Renzo!"
"What?" he shrugged.
I rubbed my face.
"You'll get us eliminated."
"So? It's self-defense."
A collective groan followed as he walked off—to smoke. Again.
I watched them head out.
Country A stood ready.
Ten fighters.
"…Renzo," I muttered. "That's ten."
"I know. Lilian's handling it."
Only then did I notice she and the other mentor were gone.
They came back soon after.
Annoyed.
"They registered ten. We weren't informed."
"No worries," Renzo said lazily. "Country H isn't weak."
He slung an arm over her shoulder like nothing mattered.
I exhaled slowly.
Well he wasn't wrong.
They'll finish quickly anyway.
Albert. Fiona. Nathan.
Fast. Efficient.
Reliable.
Still…
Something felt off.
Not the battle.
Not Sarah.
(Not talking about that.)
Not even Ivy—
…Okay, maybe a little Ivy.
But this?
This was different.
My flames flickered.
Just for a second.
Not from lack of control—
Like something pushed back.
I frowned.
"Boss!"
I blinked.
Zoe was staring at me.
"You zoned out."
"…What?"
I turned to the field.
The fight was already over.
Injured fighters being carried out.
I missed everything.
"…I'm fine, just thinking" I said.
"About what?"
"No need to worry your pretty head, spider."
I gave her a small smile and walked off.
My turn.
Alongside Sarah and the other team leader.
Battle of heads.
My favorite.
"So, Sarah. Ready?"
"I'm always ready. Look, about Daniel—"
"It's fine," I cut in gently. "Bad choices happen. You should apologize to Ivy, not me."
I smiled.
"Daniel wouldn't dare challenge me."
Yeah, I sounded arrogant but I didn't care.
Not when she smiled like that.
On the field
The barrier lifted.
My fists ignited instantly.
No time for games.
I moved.
One step—
I was already across the field.
First opponent down.
Fast.
Clean.
Efficient.
A faint grin tugged at my lips.
I could already hear Lily screaming.
Silly kid.
Then—
My flames flickered again.
Stronger this time.
I stopped.
A portal opened.
Right in the center of the field.
The crowd cheered.
Idiots.
They thought it was part of the match.
I glanced at Sarah.
She shook her head.
The other captains too.
Not them.
I looked toward the stands.
My team looked confused.
Even Ivy.
Even Zoe.
That unease?
It doubled.
Then he stepped out.
Tall.
Too tall.
Seven feet, maybe more.
Skin—
Not light.
Not pale.
White.
Like something unfinished.
His arms… covered in blades.
Not held.
Embedded.
His eyes were hollow.
Empty.
I let out a low whistle.
"…What the hell are you?"
The crowd quieted.
Slowly.
Like something was pressing down on them.
"I seek my queen."
His voice rasped.
Wrong.
Everything about it was wrong.
I extinguished my flames.
Not relaxed.
Just… watching.
"Who is this 'queen'?" someone asked.
The man sniffed.
Long.
Too long.
Then he smiled.
"You're hiding her."
Two more portals opened with two figures stepping out, numbers carved into their skin.
7, 5
I noted it silently.
"What are you talking about?" I asked. "A name would help."
The first man didn't respond.
He just tilted his head.
Then—
He raised his hand.
Something shifted.
The air—
No.
Pressure.
And then—
He released it.
The wave hit the crowd.
Invisible.
But devastating.
Screams.
Real ones.
Not cheers.
People dropped.
Some slammed into the barrier.
Others just… collapsed.
Everything broke.
Panic.
And just like that—
This wasn't a tournament anymore.