The air was thick with excitement and tension as JacQuarius walked off the stage, his victory over David still fresh in the minds of the cheering spectators. Adalina, her expression unreadable, approached him with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Congratulations, JacQuarius," she said, her voice dripping with false sincerity.
JacQuarius didn't miss a beat. "Fuck off, Adalina," he growled, pushing past her. Kiyomi and Tela flanked him, their expressions a mixture of concern and admiration as they left Mount Blackie behind and headed back to their assigned house.
Inside the sanctuary of their temporary home, the tension in JacQuarius's body began to ease. He walked straight to the main bedroom and collapsed onto the bed, the adrenaline of the battle giving way to the pain of his injuries. He needed to recover, and he needed to do it quickly.
Kiyomi followed him into the room, her worry evident. "How are you feeling?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"I'll be fine," JacQuarius replied, his voice strained. "Just need some rest." He paused, then looked at her seriously. "We need to talk about Adalina. She's more dangerous than she seems."
Kiyomi nodded, her eyes narrowing. "Do you have any information on her or strategies to beat her?"
JacQuarius shook his head. "No, but we need to stay vigilant. There's something off about her." He hesitated before continuing. "I had a conversation with an undercover GEI Agent, a Platinum Rank Soldier here. He told me that Adalina is a Russian spy sent to infiltrate the US Army."
Kiyomi's eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?"
"Yes," JacQuarius confirmed. He reached into his storage ring and handed it to her. "Use whatever you need for your upcoming battle. Be prepared for anything."
Kiyomi took the ring, her expression resolute. "Thank you, JacQuarius. I'll be ready."
With that, JacQuarius rolled over, closing his eyes and allowing the exhaustion to take over. He fell into a deep sleep, knowing that he needed every ounce of energy for the days ahead.
The Next Day
The next day dawned with the low-tier cultivators taking the stage. Their battle was brief and decisive, a stark contrast to the fierce struggle between JacQuarius and David. As the defeated combatants left the arena, Adalina lingered, a predatory smile playing on her lips.
The Platinum Rank Soldier, the undercover GEI Agent, approached her. "Are you ready for your battle with Kiyomi tomorrow?" he asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
"Yes," Adalina replied, her smile widening. The Soldier handed her a folder, its contents brimming with information.
"This contains everything you need to know about Kiyomi," he said. "Her cultivation style, skills, everything."
Adalina took the folder, her eyes gleaming with malice. "Perfect."
As she walked away, the Platinum Rank Soldier began to casually stroll around the stage, his fingers brushing over certain parts of it with a practiced ease. JacQuarius, Kiyomi, and Tela spent the rest of the day cultivating and training, the air thick with a sense of impending conflict.
The Next Day
The morning of the battle arrived, and JacQuarius, Kiyomi, and Tela made their way to Mount Blackie. As they walked, Adalina emerged from the doorstep of another house, her presence immediately grating on their nerves.
She fell into step beside Kiyomi, her mouth a constant stream of questions about Kiyomi's Qi style and skills. JacQuarius's patience wore thin. "Shut the fuck up," he snapped, pushing her behind the group. "And stay yo bitch ass back."
Adalina fell back momentarily, but she quickly caught up, her persistence irritating. JacQuarius had enough. Activating his Omega Wyvern Strike, his hand transformed into a dragon claw. He slashed at Adalina with a ferocity that took her by surprise.
Adalina dodged the attack, retreating backwards. JacQuarius's eyes blazed with warning. "Try to follow us again, and I'll kill yo bitch ass on my dead homies bitch."
She heeded his warning, falling far behind but still trailing them as they approached Mount Blackie. When they arrived, Kiyomi walked onto the stage with Adalina right behind her. The Platinum Rank Soldier, the undercover GEI Agent, stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips as he glanced at JacQuarius.
"I'll be personally moderating this battle," he announced, his gaze lingering on JacQuarius with a knowing look.
JacQuarius's instincts screamed that something was wrong. He sent Tela a thought transmission. "Be ready to attack at any moment. Something suspicious is going on."
Tela nodded subtly, his eyes scanning the stage for any signs of danger. The Platinum Rank Soldier raised his hand. "This is the third battle of Round 1 of the Winners Bracket. The rules are the same as the other battles: no killing. Begin!"
Kiyomi and Adalina faced each other, their auras clashing even before the first move. Adalina moved first, her speed and agility surprising. She launched a barrage of strikes, her movements fluid and precise. Kiyomi countered with her Qi-infused attacks, her energy pulsing with intensity.
The two women fought fiercely, their skills on full display. Kiyomi's Qi style was a blend of offense and defense, each movement calculated to exploit Adalina's weaknesses. But Adalina was relentless, her attacks powered by a dark determination.
Both sides clashed in a dance of strategy and skill, their blows landing with precision and power. Despite their fierce attacks, they were merely probing each other's tactics and skills, trying to bait the other into releasing their most powerful abilities early. It was a game of cat and mouse, each side seeking to uncover the other's weaknesses and exploit them to gain an advantage.
But beneath the surface, each side was hiding secrets. They had trump cards up their sleeves, powerful abilities that neither planned to use... yet. The game of strategy was complex, with each side trying to outmaneuver the other. But one wrong move could spell disaster, and both sides knew it.
JacQuarius watched intently, his senses on high alert. He noticed the Platinum Rank Soldier moving subtly, his fingers making strange gestures. JacQuarius's suspicion grew. He sent another thought transmission to Tela. "Stay close. He's up to something."
Kiyomi landed a powerful blow, sending Adalina sprawling. But Adalina recovered quickly, her eyes blazing with fury. She unleashed a dark energy attack, a forbidden technique that shocked the crowd. Kiyomi barely managed to deflect it, the impact sending her skidding across the stage.
Adalina smiled wickedly. "You're strong, but not strong enough."
Kiyomi's eyes narrowed. "We'll see about that."