bookpub Chapter 234: Blood and Glory
Chapter 234: Blood and Glory
Chapter 234: Blood and GloryUnder the roar of the world, the battlefield lay quiet for a moment. Smoke curled upward from the smoldering crater, and the faint glow of embers illuminated the battered figures at its center.
Colin stood shakily, her body trembling as Milo supported her. Her clothes were torn, reduced to barely enough fabric to cover her modesty. Her skin was marred with burns, her hair singed, but her spirit held firm. Milo's small hands glowed with healing energy, his face etched with worry as he tried to keep her conscious.
"Colin, it's over, just a little more," Milo said, his voice cracking, fearing to waste everything by letting her down now.
In the crater, Eratz and Kaida stood battered but victorious. Kaida's face was a mask of blood, streaked across her face and chin, while Eratz's nose and mouth dripped crimson. Despite their battered state, their eyes burned with an indomitable fire. They turned to each other, their movements quick and sharp.
Their hands slapped together in a firm, loud clap, their gazes fixing on the crowd as they grinned through their pain.
"Hell yeah," Kaida exclaimed.,
"Damn right," Eratz replied.
Above, the announcer's voice cracked as he struggled to contain his emotion. His words echoed through the arena, trembling with disbelief and awe.
"Ladies and gentlemen..." he began, his voice rising, "the miracle has been achieved! Golden Cosmos has done it! They are the winners of this night of legends!"
The announcement sent a shockwave through the crowd.
The arena erupted.
Rylas and Braun sat frozen on their bench, their expressions pale and disbelieving. Rylas's mouth hung open slightly, his eyes darting between the crater and the scoreboard. Braun could only clench his fists, his knuckles trembling. Neither could process the reality that they, the top agency, had been bested.
Zara's knees buckled as the weight of the victory struck her. She fainted, collapsing into the arms of a nearby staff member, her emotions overwhelming her. Ryder fell to his knees, his hands covering his face as tears streamed freely.
"They... they really did it," he whispered.
Catarina's hands shot to her head in disbelief.
"No way... no fucking way!" she exclaimed, spinning around before grabbing Raya and lifting her off the ground like the humblest bag she ever grabbed. "Raya! We won!"
Raya's mouth opened with joy, but her breath was crushed out of her by Catarina's exuberant embrace. She managed a faint laugh, her arms flailing slightly.
"We... really... did," she murmured, her voice shaky.
Mercury jumped from her seat, a wild grin on her face, but her celebration was cut short by a sharp gasp of pain as she clutched her ribs.
"Ah! Damn it... we did it! We did it!!!" she shouted, still laughing through the pain.
The staff of Golden Cosmos erupted in pandemonium. Some screamed, others jumped into each other's arms, while a few simply sat down, stunned and overwhelmed. Relief and exhilaration spread like wildfire as they celebrated the impossible.
Victoria remained standing at the edge of the arena, her hands gripping the railing. Her chest rose and fell heavily, her breath unsteady. She was pushed beyond her limit, and tears welled in her eyes.
For a long moment, she said nothing, her gaze fixed on the victorious team on the battlefield, but also on those who fought and made this result possible on the sideline.
The emotions swirled within her: disbelief, awe, and a deep, profound relief.
She thought of so many reasons why she had retired, the belief that her time had passed, that she couldn't do it anymore, and only hope for the new generation to carry the mantle.
And now, before her, that hope was realized. The new generation had proven itself, with Eratz standing as the crown jewel of that future.
"They did it," she whispered, her voice trembling. "The future is here."
She clapped a slow and deliberate applause, her face shining with pride and joy. "Thank you..." she shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. "Thank you so much everyone..."
Her gaze shifted to Tamara, who stood silent, her hands hanging limply at her sides. Tamara's eyes scanned the battlefield, her expression unreadable. The two locked eyes briefly. Victoria nodded, almost as an apology, but Tamara didn't react, only raising her eyebrows, then looked away, hiding a smile.
In the Infinite Twilight section, the air was thick with tension and disbelief. Leonidas sat rigid, his face pale. He seemed completely lost,
She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she tried to control her respiration.
Her reflection stared back at her from the mirror. Sweat glistened on her brow, and her
expression was marred by exhaustion.
A sense of unease crept over her, despite the damages received, it wasn't her first battle, she
should have been able to endure it, especially now that it was over.
But then, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her, and her stomach churned violently.
Her breath hitched as she stumbled toward the sink, gripping its edges tightly.
Without warning, she doubled over and retched, the sound echoing in the empty space.
She clutched her stomach, a cold sweat breaking out across her skin as the nausea overwhelmed her.
Her gaze shifted to the sink as she rinsed her mouth, her fingers trembling.
The room felt heavier now, a quiet moment filled with uncertainty. Mercury straightened, her eyes lingering on her reflection for a moment longer.
With a sigh, she pushed herself away from the sink and exited the bathroom, her steps slower than usual as she rejoined the emptying halls of the arena.