Several minutes ago...
Out of everyone who had come to support Lily Havenglow, there were only two people openly supporting Rio – Rose, and Nyla.
Rose had also come to watch the match, sitting with her older sister and cheering for her beloved big brother. She held up a sign that read, 'Go Big Brother Rio!' and smiled cheekily.
Lily couldn't help but comment on her sister's quick change of loyalty, "You switched sides so fast, my dear sister," she said playfully, her tone lighthearted.
Rose responded in a casual tone, "Well, I did promise Big brother that he would be my favorite forever, and besides, he has proven himself to be quite the hero!"
Lily continued her banter with Rose, feigning hurt, "I can't believe you've betrayed me like this, Rose!" she exclaimed, trying to keep a straight face.
The young girl spoke with a soft smile, "You know, Sister Lily, what you, Grandfather, Mother, and the whole Havenglow family couldn't do in a few weeks, Big Brother Rio managed to do in just one day! So, of course, Big Brother Rio is the best! Although I love you dearly, I'll support him today since he has no one else by his side."
Rose was hinting at the fact that despite the Havenglow family's best efforts, along with the help of the strongest experts in the human world, they were unable to find and rescue her.
Yet, Rio had accomplished this seemingly impossible task within a single day or perhaps even a few hours after returning from the dead.
As a result, her respect for this boy, whom she had previously disliked, soared to new heights, akin to a towering mountain.
Lily's eyes widened with surprise upon learning that Rio had been the one to save Rose. She quickly glanced around to find him and noticed that he was already looking in their direction. As usual, he was wearing the same mask he had donned throughout the tournament.
When the boy entered the stadium, his gaze searched for a particular girl in the crowd. He finally spotted her, sitting with Rose.
Noticing the two girls, he couldn't help but smile upon seeing Lily talking with Rose, who was holding a sign bearing his name. The playful annoyance on Lily's face was quite evident.
Despite the many questions running through his mind regarding Lily and their future, a smile still managed to bloom on his face, sparked by Rose's actions.
As the boy was called out to the battle arena, he took steady steps forward, his shoulders squared and head held high.
The murmurs of the audience grew louder, their cruel words reaching his ears. "How dare he insult our goddess, Lily Havenglow, by challenging her like this!" someone sneered.
Another voice chimed in, "He's so ungrateful! The Havenglow family took him in and made him strong, and this is how he repays them?"
The whispers and jeers continued to swirl around him like a storm, yet they failed to sting him or dampen his spirit.
Rio maintained his composure, focusing his attention on the task at hand. He drew in a deep breath, releasing it slowly, and let the malicious words slide off him like water on glass.
As he stepped into the arena and faced Lily, his calm gaze met hers.
*Thump!!*
*Thump!!*
*Thump!!*
Despite his unwavering resolve, he could feel his heartbeat quickening, each thump resonating loudly within his chest, making him uncomfortable.
'What is this happening? Is she some kind of witch or something?'
Inwardly, Rio cursed Lily with a mix of humor and bitterness, suspecting that she must be using some underhanded technique to affect him like this.
The atmosphere in the arena grew tense, with fervor hanging heavy in the air. The audience's taunts and jeers faded away, leaving only the sound of Rio's racing heartbeat and the electric energy that crackled between him and Lily.
The referee took center stage, raising his hand to signal the beginning of the battle.
With a booming voice, he counted down, "Three... two... one..."
The referee uttered the final number and emphatically declared, "Begin!" The intense confrontation between Rio and Lily erupted, a battle destined to create a sensation and leave a lasting impact on all who witnessed it.
As soon as the referee's countdown reached its end, Lily sprang into action without wasting a single second, her sword materializing in her grasp, and rushed to meet him head-on...
In response, Rio summoned his Silver-Bloom King sword, his fingers wrapping tightly around the hilt.
Although he wielded a black stage beast soul, which he upgraded with the help of Lia for the tournament, he enhanced its strength with his mana enchantment, allowing him to go toe-to-toe with her red-stage sword.
Their swords clashed with a relentless force, the sharp metallic sounds resonating throughout the arena, as sparks flew from the meeting of their sharp blades.
*Clang!* *Clang* *Clang*
The two Havenglow children engaged in a fierce exchange, their weapons striking each other with great force, pushing them several meters apart with each impact.
Both Rio and Lily felt their hands grow numb with each clash, yet they continued to battle, carefully avoiding any serious harm to one another. Their minds were filled with Aliyah's words, a reminder that they were not allowed to harm each other too seriously.
To the surprise of the audience, this adopted child of the Havenglow family proved to be equally matched with Lily, despite their initial expectations and desires for him to withdraw so that Lily could be in better condition for her match against the contender from the Dhovrix race tomorrow.
'Ah... How is he managing to fight against me with a black stage beast soul and still able to push me back?'
Lily was shocked as Rio was battling her with a black stage silver-bloom king sword against her red stage weapon.
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[SnowNote]
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