Chapter 224: Quarterfinals (1)

The party returned to their quarters after the match against the Eastern Dominion. They were battered but victorious.

Ororo was the center of attention. Mirko had shifted into her humanoid form and was proudly introducing the white bunny to the others as "my newest junior." Kuro watched from the shadows with quiet approval, while Shiro welcomed her warmly, her golden eyes soft.

"You did good out there," Shiro said. "Kept us on our feet."

Ororo inclined her head. "I only did what was needed. Master’s party is strong. I’m honored to support them."

Garrett was sitting on a bench, nursing his shoulder wound. The Priestess from the Eastern Dominion had managed a lucky hit before Kuro took her down. "She hits hard," he grunted, wincing as he stretched. "But I’ll be fine by tomorrow."

Elise leaned against the wall, reviewing the match data on her glowing interface. "Their formation was stiff. Too predictable. Kaito leans on his speed way too much. If we ever face ’em again, we isolate him early."

Dillon was pacing, still buzzing with adrenaline. "Did you see Cloudy’s chain lightning though? Took out three at once! She’s getting stronger I swear."

Cloudy crackled proudly from Dillon’s shoulders, throwing tiny blue sparks.

Smithy was quiet. He stood near the door, thinking about the crowd during the match. The grey-robed figures had been there again. He hadn’t seen them leave.

Nathan noticed and pulled him aside. "So, Smithy. What’d you see?"

"Same Grey-robed figures," Smithy said in a low voice. "In the stands again. Left before the end. Same as always."

"Any trace?"

"Nothing yet. But they’re getting bold. They aren’t hiding as well as they used to."

Nathan nodded. "Keep watching them. But don’t let it get in your head. We’ve got the Quarterfinals next."

The holographic bracket updated on the wall.

Nathan stared at the screen as their next opponent locked in.

Central Federation vs. Western Federation.

Long Wei. The Martial Artist who had approached Nathan after the opening ceremony. The one who said he respected Nathan’s strategy, who saw something in him.

This wouldn’t be an easy fight.

The stadium was packed to the brim.

It was the Quarterfinals. Four matches today. The winners would advance to the Semifinals. High above, the referee’s orb-face lit up with a wildly excited emoji.

"Quarterfinal match! Central Federation versus Western Federation! Both teams have dominated their previous opponents! Only one will advance to the semifinals!"

The crowd roared, shaking the concrete.

Nathan’s team entered the arena. Long Wei’s team walked in from the opposite side.

Long Wei looked completely calm, his hands resting loose at his sides. He was tall and lean, packed with dense muscle like a fighter who had trained his own body into a living weapon. Behind him stood his squad: Zhang Feng, a Lancer holding a long spear; Liu Mei, a Sage with a staff of swirling elements; Chen Bo, a Shield Warrior carrying a massive tower shield; and Wang Shu, a Priest Healer holding a staff of white light.

The referee’s orb-face dropped to a neutral expression. "Teams, take your positions. The match begins in ten seconds."

Long Wei locked eyes with Nathan. "Been looking forward to this."

"Same here," Nathan said.

The horn blasted.

Long Wei didn’t rush in. He walked forward, his steps slow, balanced, and deliberate. His team fanned out behind him, forming a tight, protective diamond formation.

Nathan swept the field with [Hunter’s Insight]. Long Wei’s mana signature was heavy and dense. His physical stats were completely off the charts. But he had a glaring weakness—no ranged attacks.

"Keep him at a distance!" Nathan ordered. "Dillon, Cloudy—harass from the air! Elise—freeze the ground! Garrett—hold the line! Smithy—go for their healer! Mirko, Kuro, Shiro—wait for my signal!"

The party scattered.

Dillon and Cloudy unleashed a barrage of lightning from above. Long Wei didn’t even try to dodge. He simply raised his arms and took the strikes head-on. The blue electricity crackled violently across his skin, but a faint, hard aura flared around his body. The lightning grounded out harmlessly. He kept walking.

Elise ordered her Frost Golem forward. It slammed the ground, sending a wave of solid ice directly beneath Long Wei’s feet. Long Wei just took another step. His heavy boot shattered the thick ice into powder.

Garrett charged in, swinging Volcan in a brutal, heavy arc. Long Wei stepped into the swing and casually raised a bare hand.

Clang!

The heavy mace smashed against Long Wei’s open palm. A shockwave rippled out from the sheer force of the block, but the martial artist didn’t budge an inch. With a flick of his wrist, he pushed Garrett back.

"He’s too strong!" Garrett yelled, sliding across the stone.

Nathan analyzed the feedback from his skill. Long Wei’s body was reinforced with internal energy—his chi. He was burning it to push his physical stats past human limits. But it wasn’t an infinite pool. He would tire eventually.

"Keep wearing him down!" Nathan shouted. "Don’t let him reach the back line!"

Behind Long Wei, Liu Mei, the Western Federation’s Sage, went to work. She hurled rapid-fire bursts of lightning, ice shards, and slicing wind at Nathan’s party. Beside her, Wang Shu pumped healing magic into Long Wei, keeping the martial artist’s stamina topped off.

Ororo stepped up, raising her wooden staff. [Healing Field]. A warm wave of light washed over the party, instantly closing their minor cuts. As Liu Mei’s debuff spells rained down, Ororo triggered [Negate Ailment], catching and dissolving the enemy magic before it could touch her team.

"Keep their healer busy!" Long Wei shouted over his shoulder.

Zhang Feng, the Lancer, broke formation. He sprinted at Ororo, his spear thrusting straight for her heart.

Mirko smoothly stepped in his path. [Impenetrable Fortress] flared to life. The spear tip slammed into the golden wall and bounced off cleanly. "Hmph! You won’t touch our healer! This Knight protects her own!"

Instantly, Kuro slipped out of Zhang Feng’s shadow. [Shadow Lock]. Pitch-black chains snapped around the Lancer’s legs, rooting him to the floor.

Shiro didn’t wait. She activated [Dragonification]. Golden, scaled wings burst from her back, and she launched herself like a missile at Chen Bo, the Shield Warrior. She pulled her fist back and slammed it into his heavy tower shield with [Tyrant Dragon Fist]. The impact sounded like a cannon shot. The massive shield cracked straight down the middle.