Solar Blood Masters (143)

Chapter 143 - Tournament Of Calamity

The holographic timer above the Grand Mound Arena flickered, showcasing the relentless passage of time within 'Lightning Veil'. Then, with a final flash, it reached zero.

SIX HOURS: 00:00:00

And as if triggered by that dreadful finality, beams of light shot down from the heavens above, hitting each of the nine platforms. Those teams that had successfully captured five Liu Fuuyi materialized. They flickered briefly as they adjusted to the shift in realities.

Lu Ruby slithered to the edge of her platform with her eyes narrowed dangerously as she scanned the Black Wind platform.

“So it is true. Those bastards weren’t eliminated during the ‘Might Sky’ stage?” She hissed. Her scales shimmered with barely contained fury as she noticed Raphael’s team standing there, seemingly unscathed, even Gastaroid was present!

Hellphet and Splinter Roc, who stood beside her, also glared at Raphael's team. Their expressions were a mix of envy and a bitter resentment for past humiliations, both physical and mental.

“Those… bastards.” Splinter Roc muttered as he recalled the shattering defeat he’d suffered at the bull’s hands, that dreadful ‘Hyunda Blizzard’ still resonated through his very feathers as a chilling premonition.

Raphael’s massive form trembled as he sensed those venomous stares. He turned towards their source and met Lu Ruby’s burning gaze.

“Huh?” Raphael nudged his companions. "It seems… we have admirers. Ahahaha!”

Qi Fenwei and Lu Jade noticed the Ho Eastern team.

"Tsk! Those losers." Qi Fenwei scoffed. She glanced at Lu Ruby with an air of utter disinterest, then casually dusted off a speck of dust from her amethyst armor as if they were nothing but insects, a display of arrogance that had Lu Ruby’s scales blazing with fury.

“That… BITCH!” She was about to slither over to the Black Wind platform and smack QI Fenwei silly, when…

“Princess Ruby, calm yourself." Lord Lingshi placed a reassuring mental hand on her hide.

“There will be TIME for revenge… LATER. Patience, my dear disciple. Let us savor their humiliation… when it arrives. Surely, with our combined strength, we’ll crush them in the later stages.”

Reluctantly, she nodded. Her gaze never wavered from its target as she hissed, "That bull… and those who crawled beside him… they’ll PAY! I swear it!”

“Now then, valiant contenders! Esteemed spectators!” Muburt’s booming voice silenced the murmurs and hushed the chaotic whispers. He hovered above the central platform with the Red Ant Emperor's banner. Its golden glow was like a miniature sun, illuminating his imposing form.

“Congratulations! You have all successfully navigated the treacherous skies of 'Lightning Veil'! You’ve captured those mischievous Liu Fuuyi, and your persistence… it is commendable! Truly something!

Now then… the moment you've been WAITING for!”

He paused as if savoring the anticipation, before yelling, "DRUMROLL please!”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

From the edges of the arena, a thunderous drumming reverberated! It had the very air itself vibrating.

“The REWARDS will now be… DISTRIBUTED!”

A blinding blue light descended from the heavens above. It bathed all the platforms in a radiant glow, and within that light, a soothing energy permeated, revitalizing their weary bodies and souls.

The participants gasped. They basked in the blessing, their exhaustion fading as their wounds mended. It was a truly wondrous experience.

“This blessing… It’s stronger than the previous one!”

“Wow, TWO THOUSAND years’ worth of cultivation! Such generosity from Void Emperor Sindoll!”

Their expressions of gratitude and awe had Muburt smiling. “You are all correct! This is a TWO THOUSAND year blessing, gifted to you by our benevolent Void Emperor Sindoll! Enjoy it, for your next challenge… will push you to your very LIMITS!”

BOOM!

Suddenly, a wave of intense heat exploded from the Black Wind platform, garnering everyone's attention.

Gastaroid stood there radiating a power that dwarfed even the largest beasts present. He was laughing boisterously as his fists clenched and unclenched.

“MUWAHAHAHA! YES! Two more ‘Bull Demon Pillars’! My power has returned! I’m back to my prime! Peak Nightmare Calamity! With this, I can crush even a mountain range! HAHAHA!”

He looked around, eager for a challenge. His eyes blazed with a fiery intensity that had the other participants shivering.

“Oh no…”

“I hope we don’t face HIM!”

“That Bull Mountain Demon… he's a MONSTER!”

Their whispers were hushed as Muburt’s voice echoed.

“It seems Gastaroid is excited. And RIGHTLY so! For the next stage… will be a team versus team battle! A true test of strength and strategy!”

He then elaborated, "The Great Divine Tribulation is coming to its climax. Only ninety-seven teams have made it this far. Your journey has been arduous. You've faced death. You've tasted victory. And you've endured countless hardships.

But now… the true battle begins!”

He held the Red Ant Emperor's banner aloft. A holographic image of a tournament bracket materialized above the central platform.

“This is the ‘Tournament of Calamity’. Each team shall face off against another, in a battle to the death!”

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, as the crowd buzzed with anticipation.

“Seeing that each territory still has a balanced ratio of teams, for the early stages, teams from opposing territories will battle each other. Then, as the numbers dwindle… well, those from the same territory will also be forced to clash! It’ll be a bloodbath, for only ONE team shall remain standing!

Each team can decide how they choose to face their opponents, a full team onslaught or one-on-one duels, it’s up to YOU.

Now… without further ado…

LET THE TOURNAMENT OF CALAMITY BEGIN!”

The crowd roared.

“YES!”

“Finally!”

“This is what I’ve been waiting for!”

“Place your BETS! Place your BETS! Who will win?”

A wave of betting had those bookies scrambling while chanting: "Black Wind! Ho Eastern! Skydom! Which territory will it be?"

"Black Wind will reign supreme!”

“Ho Eastern will crush them all!”

“Skydom for the win!”

Muburt silenced them. He pointed his staff at the tournament bracket. The holographic display shifted, revealing two names in the ‘active battle’ slots.

“The FIRST battle will be between…” He paused for dramatic effect. “…The Breath Takers and… The H-Blue Fairies!”

“YES! Time to CRUSH some fairies!” Gastaroid roared. He didn’t wait for Raphael or the others to respond. He slammed a fist into the platform and vanished.

He reappeared on the central platform in a flash of fire and earth energy, forcing Muburt to scramble out of the way.

"I, Gastaroid, will face them ALL! Send those pathetic fairies to their DEATH! I alone am enough to SMASH them ALL!"

He folded his arms across his chest and glared at the Skydom platform, those molten eyes dared them to challenge him.

“Such arrogance… for a lowly Bull Mountain Demon.”

A cold voice had Gastaroid’s fiery gaze turning, and he scowled, “What did you say?!”

“Sister’s, let’s knock the wind out of this brute. Perhaps those 500,000 years are enough to awaken the other five tails I have been hiding?”

“Indeed.” And with those words, a chilling premonition had him trembling slightly as five figures materialized with a blinding flash.

They were the ‘H-Blue Fairies’.

They surrounded Gastaroid.

Each one was female, with light-blue skin, large, iridescent butterfly wings, and long, glowing antennae that protruded from their heads. Their tails, slender and tipped with glowing orbs, swished playfully. They wore armor: a mix of white, blue, and green, each piece intricately crafted and radiating potent Solar Essence.

They looked fierce.

And their eyes, sharp as a hawk’s talons, were fixed intently upon Gastaroid.

They spoke in unison, each voice clear and sharp, as they struck a fighting stance: one fist clenched, the other palm open, before them.

“Hao Tien Linda! 1st Layer Nightmare Calamity!”

“Hao Tien Suzumi! 1st Layer Nightmare Calamity!”

“Hao Tien Mistral! 2nd Layer Nightmare Calamity!”

“Hao Tien Kate! 3rd Layer Nightmare Calamity!”

“Hao Tien Hue! 7th Layer Nightmare Calamity!”

Gastaroid’s scowl deepened as he sized up his opponents, those butterflies and fairies they were nothing to scoff at now.

“Five… against ONE? Hmmm, interesting. It seems you fairies crave a gruesome end. Very well. I’ll indulge you.

But do not weep later on… when your pathetic Solar Consciousnesses are decorating my mountain.

I, Gastaroid… shall make sure to engrave your names… on your tombstones!

Muwahahaha!”