*Chapter 20: The Dance of The Green Light*
The battlefield was a symphony of chaos, each movement orchestrated with precision and power. Fulan's team of five had executed Fayrouz's plan flawlessly, but now, as the dust settled—or rather, as the black smoke billowed—they found themselves facing a new threat. The air was thick with tension, the scent of burnt hair and ozone mingling with the metallic tang of blood. The stakes had never been higher.
Fayrouz's earthquake had thrown the candidates off balance, their bodies momentarily suspended in mid-air. The bald man, his bronzed muscles gleaming, had unleashed his full power, pulling over twenty students toward him with his gravitational ability. The blonde girl, her green eyes glowing with Menma energy, had transformed the sandy ground into a sea of golden hair, binding the candidates in mid-air. And now, it was the archer's turn.
The archer, his golden eyes sharp and focused, moved with the grace of a predator. He darted across the cracked earth, his boots barely touching the ground as he leaped into the air. His movements were fluid, almost poetic, as he drew an arrow from the quiver on his back. Fayrouz's blue eyes, glowing faintly with Menma energy, watched him intently.
We only have a few seconds before they break free. Everything depends on you, Archer.
The archer closed his left eye, focusing solely with his right. His golden eye gleamed as he nocked the first arrow, his movements swift and precise. The arrows flew one after another, embedding themselves into the sea of golden hair. At first, it seemed like he was missing his targets entirely. The arrows didn't strike any of the bound candidates, and the bald man's frustration boiled over.
"Hey, shorty! Can't you even hit stationary targets?" he barked, his voice laced with irritation.
Even Fayrouz, Fulan, and the blonde girl exchanged uncertain glances. Had the archer missed? But the archer's smile widened, his golden eyes glowing brighter as Menma energy surged through him.
"Miss? Me? That's an insult... My explosions can be lethal. Knocking out a group of students with these blasts is a reckless plan, but it's the only way."
For a moment, the battlefield was eerily quiet. The arrows, now buried in the golden hair, began to glow with a soft, golden light. The strands of hair shimmered, reflecting the light in a mesmerizing display. The bound candidates, their faces pale with fear, stared at the glowing arrows in confusion.
The sight was almost beautiful—a pool of golden hair illuminated by the soft glow of the arrows. But beauty quickly gave way to terror.
*[Menma Reaction ~ Cellular Detonation!]*
The archer's voice was calm, almost serene, but his expression was anything but. A manic grin spread across his face, transforming him from the quiet, composed archer into something far more dangerous.
Booooom!
The arrows exploded, one after another, in a chain reaction of blinding light and deafening noise. More than twelve explosions erupted simultaneously, the force of the blasts tearing through the golden hair and sending shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. The bound candidates were engulfed in the explosions, their screams drowned out by the roar of the detonations.
Black smoke filled the air, obscuring everything in a thick, choking haze. The explosions had drawn the attention of every remaining candidate, their eyes wide with shock and fear.
At the edge of the arena, the fifteen successful candidates watched the chaos unfold. Two of them stood side by side, their expressions a mix of amusement and disdain. The first, a tall figure with long blue hair and a calm demeanor, whistled softly. The second, a lean but muscular figure with spiky orange hair and fiery blue eyes, smirked.
"A bunch of weaklings teaming up to win. What a joke. Don't they feel ashamed to succeed like this?"
Back in the smoke-filled battlefield, the blonde girl coughed, her green eyes watering as she glared at the archer.
"What the?! We told you to knock them out, not kill them!"
The archer's golden eyes dimmed as the Menma energy faded. His voice was calm, almost indifferent.
"I made sure the arrows sank into the hair before detonating. They'll be fine. Or at least, they'll survive..."
Fayrouz stepped forward, her blue eyes scanning the smoke-covered battlefield.
"As soon as the smoke clears, we need to start collecting points."
The bald man joined them, his expression relaxed but confident. The plan had worked, and they were one step closer to securing their spots among the victors.
But Fulan was nowhere to be seen.
A few meters away, Fulan stood alone, surrounded by the thick black smoke. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.
"Guys, I can hear you, but I can't see you. When is this smoke going to clear?"
He moved slowly, cautiously, his senses on high alert. Suddenly, his body tensed, and a white aura enveloped him. His instincts, honed by the White Tiger's abilities, screamed at him.
This tremor... this feeling... I'll never forget it. One of the White Tiger's abilities is sensing danger in critical moments. I'm definitely about to be attacked, but from where?!
His black eyes darted left and right, the aura around him glowing brighter as he prepared for the inevitable. Fayrouz and the others, still shrouded in smoke, caught glimpses of his white aura piercing through the darkness.
The White Tiger's abilities—speed of sound and danger perception. Where had Fulan gained these powers? And what was the explanation behind his ability to wield multiple abilities?
Flash!
A green light, like a shooting star, streaked through the smoke toward Fulan. The speed was incredible, but Fulan's reflexes, enhanced by the speed of sound, were faster.
Fwoosh!
He leaped into the air, his white aura trailing behind him like a comet's tail. The green light followed, slicing through the smoke with deadly precision.
An orange-haired candidate at the edge of the arena smirked.
"He's going to lose his head..."
Fulan twisted in mid-air, his movements a blur as he narrowly avoided the green light. A thin line of blood appeared on his right cheek, but he didn't falter. He kicked out with the speed of sound, aiming for the green light, but it darted away before he could connect.
Landing on the cracked, sandy ground, Fulan's eyes narrowed. The smoke still obscured his vision, but he knew the green light would return.
"Fayrouz, to the sky!!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos.
Fayrouz's blue eyes widened, but she didn't hesitate. Placing her hands on the ground, she channeled her Menma energy.
"Pierce The Sky, Stone Mountain!"
Crash!!!
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