NOVEL NEXT Episode LXXIX: The Royal Victory
The remaining members of Catching Heat awoke, their confusion palpable as they questioned the whereabouts of the Death Order Team. "Where did they go?" Giochi inquired. "I'm not sure; I just regained my sight," Hugh replied. "It's strange. Hiroki's Neon Burst blinded me, and I remember being hit and falling next to a member of Death Order. Now he's gone."
Hiroko addressed the team, "Alright, Catching Heat, prepare for the next two teams. You're free to return to the rest area." As they retreated to the rest area, it became apparent that Death Order hadn't returned with them.
"Congratulations on your victory," Kiyoshi remarked, "but what happened to the other team?"
"I don’t know; when our vision returned, they had disappeared," Hugh admitted.
Overhearing this exchange, Hoon speculated to his own team that Sensei Yuriko had cursed the fighting platform. Yeom chuckled at this notion, relishing in the thought of their opponents vanishing before their very eyes. Lionel overheard Faded Legacy's conversation and surmised that they were plotting something significant.
"Keep your laughter down, Yeom," Hoon warned. "Before we arouse suspicion, let’s allow fear to unsettle our adversaries while we work towards fulfilling Sensei Yuriko’s wishes."
Yeom pouted in response and muttered a dismissive “Whatever.”
An announcement echoed through the rest area: “Royal Gold and X-Fangs please prepare yourselves for the platform.” All members of Royal Gold and X-Fangs rose from their seats and exited towards the platform amidst a roar from an eager crowd.
Hiroko took up the microphone once more: “Due to chaos during our last match we will now conduct one-on-one fights until only one team remains standing; apologies folks but there will be no more four-on-four battles.”
The crowd reacted with disapproval, their boos echoing around the arena. The teams in the back room listened to Hiroko's announcement.
"This disrupts our plans," lamented Theo Burlow, a tall man with a narrow nose and thin lips, his blue eyes accentuated by fine eyebrows. His short curly black hair was braided, and he wore an orange gi adorned with a Golem logo.
Next to him stood Jasen Lee, her angular face framed by frizzy black hair tied back at knee-length. Her dark green eyes were striking against her metallic purple gi which sported an Amarok logo.
Behind Jasen was Eri Sugiru, her bulging yellow eyes contrasting her straight green hair worn in an asymmetrical style. She wore a brown gi embellished with a Cyclops logo.
Their leader Kyoko Fukumoto had pale grey eyes beneath bushy eyebrows and long curly brown hair styled in a side parting. He wore an Ocean Green gi featuring a Cerberus logo.
"We just need to adapt to the new circumstances," Kyoko reassured his team.
There was some tension between Royal Gold and X-Fangs on the fighting platform. Nuno taunted Mickey about not making it past the opening round last year, which only served to fuel Mickey's mockery and Tyson’s scorn towards Royal Gold Team who took offense at his remarks.
Cloven responded coolly, "I hope your fighting skills match your words." As he walked away from X-Fangs team they felt a shiver run down their spines.
Hiroko instructed both teams to choose their first fighter for the one-on-one battle. Cloven volunteered himself confidently for Royal Gold Team while Michi Inohae stepped up for X-Fangs amidst roaring cheers from the crowd. As they bowed respectfully before each other Michi lunged at Cloven but he vanished before her punch could land. He reappeared behind her, tripping her with an elbow to the back. "Wait, how?" Michi gasped in surprise.
With a forceful impact, Michi collided with the platform. "An impressive elbow from Cloven," Hiroko commented from the sidelines, her eyes following every move. Cloven retreated a few steps, his chest heaving with exertion. As Michi rose to her feet, bursaries and rips in her gi bore testament to the intensity of their battle.
"That was merely a warm-up hit," Michi taunted, brushing dust off her clothes as she prepared for another round. In response, Cloven merely cleared his throat and held his silence. She lunged at him once more but was met by an unexpected counterattack - Cloven's arm ignited with the fiery glow of Inferno Blaze before it connected with her gut.
Pain exploded through Michi's body as she crumpled onto her knees before him. "You still require more training," Cloven remarked coolly before delivering a vicious kick to the back of her head that sent her sprawling face-first into the tunnel area.
The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting Cloven's name as Michi disappeared into the tunnels. The referee rushed over to check on her condition and soon announced that she had succumbed to unconsciousness due to Cloven's brutal assault.
"Michi has fainted from Cloven’s wicked kick." Tamiko hurried over to attend to Michi while Mickey seethed with anger on the platform.
"You monster!" Mickey roared at Cloven who merely shrugged dismissively.
"We'll see about that this round," Mickey retorted defiantly, his white aura shifting into a light blue hue that matched his gi. Their fight resumed in earnest then; Mickey launched an onslaught of kicks and punches at Cloven but he skillfully evaded each one until Mickey finally managed to land a scratch on him.
In response, Mickey's light blue aura transformed him into Rion the Ice Giant. "I am Rion the Ice Giant!" he bellowed, his voice echoing around the arena. Cloven merely smirked, "So, this is what you've been hiding."
Mickey's special move, Ice Drops, caused a gigantic ice leg to descend on Cloven with crushing force. Cloven was left battered and bruised on the platform while Mickey laughed maniacally.
"Could this be the end for our champion?" Hiroko wondered aloud into her microphone as she watched the scene unfold.
Despite his injuries, Cloven rose once more. "Is that all you've got? I've fought stronger opponents than you," he taunted before dodging another attack from Mickey. He began to power up his Red Inferno aura but was sent tumbling across the platform by a powerful punch from Mickey.
"What an impressive hit from Mickey!" Hiroko exclaimed as the crowd cheered in response.
Cloven slowly picked himself up and prepared his Ultimate Move: Inferno Force Flame Blazer. A red light that transformed into a fire-like substance formed in his hands before he launched himself at Mickey. Despite Mickey's attempts to fend him off, Cloven managed to land a direct hit which resulted in a massive explosion.
"An impressive direct hit!" Hiroko shouted as Cloven landed gracefully on his feet and Mickey collapsed onto the platform unconscious.
The spectators gasped in shock at the sudden turn of events while Tamiko and Michi faded away along with their fainted teammate. Panic ensued as it became apparent that X-Fangs team had disappeared completely.
"I am pleased that their energy is being stored into the platform," Chancellor Tom commented smugly from his office where he watched alongside Sensei Yuriko.
"Yes, we are soon going to revive Sekel once again thanks to these fighters who unknowingly sacrificed their powers," Yuriko added with an evil chuckle.