Chapter 222: Maximum The Hormones: World Star VS Gold Cosmos
Chapter 222: Maximum The Hormones: World Star VS Gold Cosmos
(previous chapter is at the end of volume 2)
The atmosphere in the arena was electric, the anticipation so thick it seemed to hum in the air. As the lights dimmed and a spotlight illuminated the entryway, the roars of the crowd surged like a tidal wave.
Golden Cosmos emerged first, their figures framed against the bright glow of the stadium lights.
Catarina walked with her usual feline grace, her black ears twitching at the overwhelming noise. She flicked her tail, trying to mask the awe on her face.
Ryder, just behind her, tried to smile to the audience but couldn't hide the tension in his steps. The sheer magnitude of the moment was impossible to ignore.
Catarina leaned closer to Ryder, her voice barely audible over the crowd.
"I'm starting to feel less juicy..."
Ryder nodded, his expression replaced by something much more serious.
"Yeah. These aren't just beast masters, they're the peak. I've watched their matches and... They're terrifying. Especially that big one."
On the other side of the arena, the World Star team entered with a confidence that was almost unnerving. The crowd's cheers seemed to split into awe and hushed murmurs.
At the front was Tamara, her long coat swaying with each step. Behind her, the rest of the team followed, their auras radiating calm dominance.
Arvad, enjoyed the show, his eyes narrowing as they scanned Golden Cosmos.
"So, the Pharaoh..." he growled. "Been waiting for this one. Too bad it's against ma'am. Makes it... complicated."
Rylas, walking lazily beside him, sighed.
"Complicated? Ah... Looks like bullying to me. He had a winning streak." He glanced at Tamara with a half-lidded gaze. "Why would you end it, ma'am?"
Tamara didn't even look back.
"Winning streaks against puppets mean nothing," she said, her voice cold. "And I'm sure he feels the same."
The rest of the World Star team remained indifferent, even as the crowd screamed their names, they moved as if the noise didn't exist. The large man cracked his neck and let out a low growl.
"Let's get this over with."
Golden Cosmos stood in a line opposite World Star, their eyes locking briefly before shifting to the massive holographic screen above the arena. The tension in the air was palpable as the crowd hushed in anticipation. This was the moment they'd been waiting for: the match-ups. The screen flickered for a moment, a little pause that only heightened the suspense.
Names began to appear for each match and for a moment, there was stunned silence, followed by an explosion of reactions.
Golden Cosmos:
1v1: Ryder Crow
3V3: Kobayashi Raya - Mercury Banks - Catarina
4v4: Eratz Pandora - Kaida - Milo Ambrosius - Colin Alondra
World Star:
1v1: Tamara Regalia
3v3: Rylas Aurelius - Braun Gonawan - Elara Solvain
4v4: Arvad Magna - Morgiana Aeternis - Isolde Fredrin - Victor Moses
The crowd erupted, murmurs spreading like wildfire through the stands.
Fans, commentators, and even the teams themselves were visibly troubled by the unexpected results.
Everyone had come expecting the ultimate showdown: Eratz versus Tamara. This twist felt almost sacrilegious.
On the World Star side, there were mixed reactions.
Arvad leaned back slightly, an amused smirk playing on his lips.
"Well, well," he rumbled. "Guess you'll miss the chance to play with the Pharaoh." He turned to Tamara with a sly grin. "You're ok, ma'am?"
Rylas gave a lazy shrug, scratching his neck.
"I'd hardly blame him," he drawled. "Let the guy keep his winning streak... Ma'am just bumped into his life to end it... wait... so that means you're gonna lose?"
Victor Moses sighed audibly, his tall frame slouching slightly as he pinched the bridge of his
nose.
"Well, guess it won't be that annoying," he muttered. "Sorry for you, Tamara."
Tamara remained still, her expression unreadable as she stared across the arena. Her gaze settled momentarily on Victoria in the Golden Cosmos staff zone.
Tamara's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, though a vein visibly throbbed on her temple. She understood now, she had been played.
Victoria, sitting calmly amidst the Cosmos staff, returned the gaze with an unreadable expression of her own. Zara, however, nodded, her arms crossed, with satisfaction.
"As expected," Zara said. "They were so consumed by the Queen-versus-Pharaoh narrative that they sent their strongest for the 1v1. We, on the other hand, concentrated our power where it would bring the most points."
Victoria sighed and glanced toward Ryder, who stood among his teammates with an air of resignation.
"It's unfortunate for Ryder, but necessary. We are not ready for taking Tamara in a one-on- one."
On the Golden Cosmos side, the atmosphere was lighter, though no less tense. Catarina grinned mischievously as she patted Ryder on the back.
"You're a hero," she teased, her tail swishing behind her. "Taking one for the team, we will remember your name."
Kaida gave him a sympathetic shrug but couldn't hold back a smirk.
"On the bright side, you're the underdog, so you have zero pressure."
Even Mercury placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Ryder, don't take it personally. Someone had to do it. Sorry it had to be you."
Ryder rolled his eyes dramatically, pulling away from their exaggerated condolences.
"Say that again after the massacre, you'll see how forgiving I'll be."
As the matchups displayed on the screens rotated back to the live feed, the murmurs in the crowd began to rise again as the announcer's voice boomed through the coliseum.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer called, "the stage is set! Golden Cosmos versus
World Star begins now!"
The stadium roared.
"Prepare for an explosive clash between two titans! For the first battle, representing Golden Cosmos, the courageous beast master with a heart of gold, the unyielding Furry Paladin,
Ryder Crow!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd, their voices swelling like a wave. Ryder stepped onto the battlefield, his shoulders squared, though a faint tremor revealed his nerves.
He raised a hand to the crowd, offering a brave smile that barely masked his apprehension.
"And his opponent," the announcer continued, "the pride of World Star, a legend among beast masters, the indomitable conqueror, the Queen of the battlefield... Ladies and gentlemen... Tamara Regalia!"
The stadium erupted with deafening cheers, applause echoing like thunder. Tamara's entrance was commanding, her presence capturing every gaze in the arena.
She strode onto the battlefield with confidence, her long coat trailing behind her like a
banner.
Her sharp eyes flicked briefly toward Ryder, then drifted to the ground, a hint of disappointment shadowing her face.
Her gaze shifted to the sidelines where Eratz stood, his expression unreadable. Tamara's jaw
tightened, her irritation faint but evident.
Ryder swallowed hard, his mind racing. "This is it. Everyone doubts me, but I've got nothing to lose. Time to show them.'
He steadied himself, focusing. His trump card was his calamity beast, but he needed her to
make the first move.
Tamara tilted her head slightly, letting out a slow exhale. She raised her hand to the side, her voice dripping with mockery.
"I was hoping for someone..." she said, her words cutting through the tense air. "I was even ready to go slow to make this a little fair... But if you're all really playing to win, then I will
too."
Her eyes gleamed with an intense green light, and an explosion rocked the arena. The ground around Tamara cracked, jagged fissures spreading outward as a vortex of green and black
energy spiraled around her.
The air grew heavy with power, silencing the roaring crowd. At the eye of the storm, Tamara's silhouette stood unyielding.Nôv(el)B\\jnn
Ryder's instincts screamed at him to retreat, but there was nowhere to hide.
In the blurry of her burst of power, Tamara leaned forward, her powerful legs tensing, and
then, she vanished.
The cyclone surged, the ground shattered beneath her feet as she launched forward.
Ryder could only flinch, before disappearing in a monstrous impact.
A wave of destruction obliterated half the battleground in an instant. Debris flew in all directions, the protective energy dome flickering under the immense strain.
The crowd's cheers turned to gasps, then stunned silence as the dust began to settle.
Where the battlefield had stood moments before was now a wasteland of scorched earth and
jagged rubble.
Ryder lay unconscious amid the wreckage, his body battered and motionless.
Tamara stood over him, her boots pressing firmly into his back. Her piercing gaze swept
across the Golden Cosmos team before locking onto Eratz.
"So, you want to play for real?" she said. "Good. We'll introduce you all to Hell."