NOVEL NEXT Chapter 241: Champions of champions
[Echelon vs Phoenix Rising]
[Wembley Stadium]
[3 vs 3 Battle Rush]
[Echelon's Squad:]
>Lord Doom (Combat Mage).
>Reckless Storm (Blademaster).
>Captain Batman (Elementalist).
[Phoenix Rising's Squad:]
>Dain Ironvalor (Paladin).
>Caziel (Elementalist).
>Velura the Tempest (Elementalist).
…
[Echelon: 3 points]
[Phoenix Rising: 0 point]
"And here we go!" Eli Castor screamed. "The Battle Rush has begun! With Echelon u 3-0 after individual battles, Phoenix Rising needs a miracle to keep this final alive!"
The battle started, and the first clash between both Avatars sent a shockwave through the arena.
KABOOM!
Dain Ironvalor roared, activating Sanctified Bulwark, nullifying three skills in succession. But Lord Doom was unfazed.
The initial clash between both Avatars was fast-paced and filled with action.
Blood flew in the air like water as both Avatars chipped at each other's HP in an extremely fast-paced battle, advancing and retreating with mechanical precision like they were not humans but a bunch of goddamn robots.
Having lost 3 times against God Noah this season already, only one voice roared in Gabriel's head as he fought.
'Win! 'Win!' 'Win!'
Nothing else mattered.
Everything else was irrelevant.
All that mattered tonight was that he win. All that mattered was that he finally tore this knot apart in his heart that was threatening to tear him apart.
Gabriel fought like a mad man, his eyes blood-red with focus.
He gave his best. He gave beyond his best!
He fought God Noah man for man in by far the most exciting clash of the 4 encounters between both Avatars this season, forcing Noah to dig in and do far more than he had ever done this season.
The more Gabriel pushed him, the more Noah's competitive spirit also grew, and the more he was determined to get his revenge in the most dominant and assertive way possible.
The more Gabriel locked in, the more Noah also locked in.
Till, in his head, only one voice also rang.
'Win!' 'Win!' 'Win!'
It was a clash of willpower.
A clash of skill and f*cking grit.
Their HP percentage drained like a running tap.
At some point, to force himself on the advantage, Noah finally improvised, embracing his Versatile Avatar unique skill as he turned Aetherforge into a weapon of mass destruction, switching between weapon forms every few seconds.
At first, Gabriel was confounded, but locked in, Gabriel was learning and adapting at a terrific speed.
He adapted like a shapeshifter, giving it to back to Lord Doom just as he received.
Wembley Stadium was silent, tense, stunned, filled with anticipation.
At some point, the versatile Combat Mage whirled Aetherforge midair and casted Piercing Light Nova, forcing Dain Ironvalor to reposition. The two clashed again, sparks flying as Lord Doom switched to Sniper's Focus, his Aetherforge entering Rifle form as he fired from distance with pinpoint precision.
Dain Ironvalor closed the gap with Judgement Charge, slamming into Lord Doom, dropping him to 35% HP.
But Lord Doom smiled. Not the Avatar, but the controller behind.
Noah cast Overpower, a high level Berserker skill, Aetherforge erupting with a crimson surge.
CRACK!
Dain Ironvalor's shield shattered.
Then came Unstoppable Rage… a combo that Noah came with on the spot to counter this crazy version of Gabriel.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Noah's fingers flew across his keyboard in a mirage, his mouse moving with subtle, and precise patterns.
{Bullet Storm=}
{Force Push=}
{Sniper's Focus=}
A combo that comprised high level skills of the Gunner class, the Psychic class, and the Sharpshooter class.
BAM!
Dain Ironvalor fell.
"…!"
Shock, silence… and then the big screen lit up, indicating that Phoenix Rising just lost an Avatar!
Wembley Stadium was in a state of shock.
A few Phoenix Rising fans immediately broke down in tears, unable to bear witnessing the happenings on the big screen.
Lord Doom won with 7% HP remaining.
"WHAT A FIGHT!" Eli Castor raved. "What a climatic end to this clash!"
"And it's 4-f*cking 0 to Noah!"
"God Noah is built DIFFERENT!"
Caziel entered next, representing Phoenix Rising and he didn't waste time.
By chaining 3 low level Elementalist skills in rapid succession, Chain Lightning, Thunderfall, and Glacial Prison in quick order, not giving the Combat Mage any time to react, Lord Doom was caught, stunned, unable to activate anything.
Arcane Comet followed, a high level skill, and Noah was annihilated instantly.
It didn't matter though. He already did his job.
Caziel didn't win with 100% HP though. The Elementalist had only 88% HP remaining, and he was just as stunned as the spectators, till they played it back.
Expecting the tactic of his opponent as soon as he entered the arena, Clayton started inputing the keys for an Awakened level skill immediately, a Psychic skill.
The skill activated just as he died, hitting the unsuspecting Elementalist and taking away 12% HP from just one skill.
Noah didn't just do his job, he went far beyond.
He set the stage for his teammates.
As Lord Doom's Avatar faded into digital ash, Caziel raised his staff, electricity crackling in the air. But then…
CLINK!
A sword was unsheathed with a hiss, and stepping forward with a grin of quiet fury was Aria, the infamous Blademaster, her title now echoing like thunder in the most important game of the season: Sword Saint.
Vera Nacht could not help it, she chipped in. "She's not here to play games. Caziel may have taken out Lord Doom… but Aria? She's here to collect debts".
The battle began.
Caziel struck fast, Arc Lightning into Glacial Cage, trying to immobilize the Blademaster. But Aria was already gone.
A flicker.
A blur.
A horizontal flash of silver, then…
CLANG!
Her blade shaved the side of Caziel's robes, a hair's breadth away from splitting him in two.
Caziel activated Mana Pulse, knocking her back, and cast Voltaic Surge into the ground. Thunder erupted, but Aria leapt, flipping mid-air.
["Too slow."] She taunted in chat.
She crashed down with Skybreak Execution, her dual blades glowing red-hot.
The Elementalist was slashed into the air.
The crowd erupted.
But Caziel wasn't done. As he fell, he froze the air around himself and shattered it into Glacial Spikes, catching Aria by surprise.
She skid back, her HP dropping further.
Caziel played a good game, but now his time was going to an end. Desperate, he cast Heaven's Judgement, a devastating AOE nuke.
But Aria didn't dodge. Rather, she stepped into it, again.
["Checkmate."] She still had the time to type.
She activated Phantom Spiral, the Blademaster's signature evasive counter skill, spinning through the nuke and emerging behind him.
BAM!
She slashed through him.
It was a critical hit, and then Caziel's Avatar collapsed.
The big screen lit up again, indicating that Phoenix Rising just lost their 2nd Avatar in the 3 vs 3 battle rush.
Caziel played a good and desperate game though. Aria had just 14% HP remaining at the end of the bout.
And then, the final opponent.
Velura stepped forward grimly. Unlike Caziel, he was more composed, Phoenix Rising's calmer, more technical caster.
Aria, bleeding, panting, gripped her swords.
["You want this? Come take it."]
Velura wasted no time. Starting with a Fireball Mirage opening, he followed up with a Chain Ember to knock Aria off her feet.
At 14% HP, she barely had room to breathe/
She tried to retaliate with Spiral Wind Slash, but Velura teleports, then counters with Flame Tempest.
She dealt some damage, but not enough.
BOOM!
Aria's Avatar disappeared in smoke.
The big screen lit up again, this time indicating that Echelon also lost their 2nd Avatar, giving way to their final representative.
The arena reset.
Velura took a deep breath, only for the next Echelon player to appear in a burst of elemental wind.
Captain Batman appeared.
Standing in front of the oldest player in the English Pro Alliance this season, Velura's eyes blazed with fire. He had hopes of winning!
The final clash was a battle of attrition.
Velura opened with Volcanic Spear and Tempest Sphere, forcing Benjamin to go on the defensive. Benjamin kited him, using Storm Shield for breathing space, while setting up a trap with Chain Nova.
And then, after a clash that left millions of Warstar fans at the edge of their seats, Velura goes in one final time.
In a dramatic final trade, Thunderbolt Cage from Velura lands… but protecting himself with a Mana Shield, Benjamin throws out one last Fire Surge in retaliation at point-blank range.
There was no dodging it for Velura.
The Elementalist fell.
DING!
---<VICTORY>---
[Echelon: 6 points]
[Phoenix Rising: 0 point]
Echelon won the 3 vs 3 battle rush.
Phoenix Rising lost the final even before the team battle could begin. It was dominance in the highest level.
An imperious performance.
"That's it!" Eli Castor screamed. "IT'S OVER!!"
"Echelon are the new champions of the Warstar RPG Champions League! They're champions of champions! They've done it without needing the team battle!!"
"From nobodies to kings," Vera Nacht raved. "They swept Cyber Squad 6-0 in the semifinal, they destroyed Phoenix Rising 6-0 in the final!"
"What a club!"
"The reign of the phoenix has ended, and the Echelon era begins tonight!"