Basilisk's relentless assault showed no signs of abating, and as the battle reached its climax, Raj unveiled his secret weapon. With a nod of approval from Principal Silvertounge, Raj signaled for Wally to join the fray.
Bounding into action, Wally leaped into the midst of the chaos, his metallic form gleaming in the dim light of the arena. Then, in a surprising twist, Wally underwent a startling transformation, his bottom half morphing into a sleek rocket propulsion system.
With a deafening roar, Wally propelled himself forward with incredible speed, hurtling toward Liam like a bolt of lightning. In a daring maneuver, he latched onto Liam, his metallic grip unyielding, and together they soared through the air, their trajectory set toward a nearby wall.
With a resounding crash, Wally and Liam collided with the solid structure, the force of the impact sending shockwaves rippling through the arena. The wall buckled and crumbled under the force of the collision, reduced to a pile of rubble in an instant.
The unexpected assault caught Liam off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned as he struggled to regain his bearings amidst the chaos. Meanwhile, Raj and Adam seized the opportunity to press their advantage, launching a coordinated attack to capitalize on their opponent's momentary vulnerability.
With a determined stride, Adam charged toward the stunned Liam, his hammer raised high above his head in a menacing arc. As he leaped into the air, ready to deliver a devastating blow, the chains of Enkidu sprang to life, ensnaring Liam in their unyielding grasp and immobilizing him in place.
Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Liam found himself unable to evade Adam's impending attack, his movements restricted by the formidable chains that bound him. Helpless against the onslaught, he braced himself for the inevitable impact, his defenses compromised by the unexpected assault.
Meanwhile, Raj engaged Tensei in a fierce battle of his own, his mastery of electromagnetism proving to be a formidable asset against his opponent's formidable skills. With Tensei preoccupied by his own struggle, he was unable to come to Liam's aid, leaving him vulnerable to Adam's relentless assault.
As Adam descended upon Liam with the full force of his hammer, Raj's relentless onslaught prevented Tensei from intervening, leaving Liam to face the brunt of the attack alone. With each passing moment, the pressure mounted, and Liam's chances of mounting a defense grew increasingly slim against the combined might of Basilisk's formidable champions.
With a resounding impact, Adam's hammer descended upon Liam, striking with unrelenting force and sending shockwaves reverberating through the arena. The ground beneath Liam's feet trembled as the full weight of the blow bore down upon him, cracking and splintering under the immense pressure.
Caught off guard and unable to defend himself against the overwhelming force of the attack, Liam was propelled backward by the sheer momentum of the impact. The air around him crackled with energy as he collided with the unforgiving surface of the arena floor, the force of the blow driving him deep into the earth below.
As the dust settled and the echoes of the collision faded, Liam lay sprawled upon the shattered ground, his body battered and bruised from the ferocity of the assault. The sheer power of Adam's strike had left an indelible mark upon the battlefield, a testament to the relentless determination of Basilisk's champions in their quest for victory.
***
In that split second of confusion, the truth unfolded like a carefully crafted illusion. The arrow, aimed directly at Adam, was poised to strike true until an unexpected twist altered the course of fate. Tensei's cunning strategy had been concealed behind a veil of deception, and now, as the arrow hurtled toward its intended target, the veil was lifted to reveal the truth.
The Liam that had been seemingly immobilized on the ground was nothing more than an illusion, a cleverly crafted clone devised to deceive their adversaries. The real Liam had remained hidden all along, concealed in the elevated recesses where the teachers observed the battle unfold.
As the arrow closed in on Adam, poised to deliver its lethal blow, Wally emerged from the chaos, hurtling toward Adam with a mysterious object in hand. With lightning speed, Wally intercepted the arrow, deflecting its deadly trajectory and averting disaster.
In a flash of brilliance, the arrow collided with the object held by Wally, its energy absorbed and amplified before being redirected toward its unintended target. Liam, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, found himself impaled by the very arrow that had been meant for Adam.
Silence fell over the arena as Liam tumbled from the elevated platform, blood staining his lips as he plummeted to the ground below. The air hung heavy with tension as the gravity of the situation sank in, the unexpected twist of fate leaving both spectators and combatants alike reeling in disbelief.
Ijaz's smirk spoke volumes, a silent acknowledgment of his role in the unfolding events. Though he remained on the sidelines, his contribution to the battle was undeniable. With a flick of his wrist, he had set into motion a chain of events that culminated in Liam's unexpected downfall.
The Astral Mirror, a coveted Heavenly Treasure won by Pegasus in the fourth trial, had proved its worth in the heat of battle. As the arrow hurtled toward Adam, its trajectory altered by Tensei's cunning maneuver, the Astral Mirror emerged as the unsung hero of the moment.
In a display of its formidable power, the mirror intercepted the arrow's deadly path, absorbing its energy before reinforcing it with a newfound strength. With unwavering precision, it had redirected the attack toward its unintended target, Liam, who stood unsuspecting on the elevated platform.
The impact was swift and decisive, the arrow finding its mark with unerring accuracy. Liam, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, bore the brunt of his own attack as it struck him with devastating force. As he tumbled from the platform, his fate sealed by the very weapon he had unleashed, the arena erupted into stunned silence.
From his vantage point in the stands, Ijaz watched with a sense of satisfaction, his smirk a silent testament to his role in the battle's outcome. Though he had not wielded a weapon or engaged in combat directly, his strategic foresight had proved invaluable, ensuring victory for his comrades in the heat of battle.
Tensei stood frozen in shock as the events unfolded before him, his carefully laid plans unraveling with startling swiftness. His smirk faded into a grimace of disbelief as Liam, his comrade and ally, fell to the ground wounded, a victim of the very trap they had set.
In that moment of realization, Tensei's thoughts raced with a torrent of regret. How had he failed to account for the presence of the Astral Mirror, a formidable Heavenly Treasure capable of altering the course of battle? His oversight, a critical flaw in an otherwise flawless strategy, had cost them dearly.
As he watched Liam's prone form, Tensei's shock gave way to a profound sense of responsibility. He had been outmaneuvered by Ijaz, a silent observer on the sidelines, whose foresight had turned the tide of battle in an instant. It was a humbling reminder of the unpredictable nature of combat and the importance of adaptability in the face of adversity.
With a heavy heart, Tensei resolved to learn from his mistake, to sharpen his strategic acumen and anticipate every contingency in future battles. Liam's sacrifice would not be in vain; it would serve as a catalyst for their growth and resilience as a team.
As the echoes of the clash faded and the dust settled in the arena, Tensei stood resolute, his gaze fixed on the fallen figure of his friend. Though the road ahead was fraught with challenges, he was determined to honor Liam's sacrifice and emerge stronger from the crucible of conflict.