The crowd was deafening, a wild symphony of cheers and roars that vibrated through the arena. The earlier matches had set the stage, each one raising the stakes, but now, everyone was on the edge of their seats. The nature biome, with its lush trees, dense underbrush, and sparkling streams, stood ready for the next fierce clash.
Above the chaos, the school officials sat in their private box, silent and watchful. Their sharp eyes scanned every move, every blow.
"The future of the army has promise," Sergeant Fredin said, his gravelly voice carrying an air of approval. The others murmured in agreement.
"Promise?" Kallias, lounging lazily in his seat, scoffed. "They'll probably all die before they make it that far."
The room turned to him, frowning, but he waved them off with a smirk, clearly unbothered by their disapproval.
Down in the arena, the commentator's voice boomed, cutting through the noise. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's time for the next battle! In this corner, we have Delight Homer, the brilliant creator of chimeras!"
The crowd erupted into applause as Delight stepped forward, her vibrant ginger hair pulled back into a loose braid that shimmered under the light. Her piercing blue eyes swept across the crowd, but her usual warm smile was absent. Her expression was calm, focused—a side of her rarely seen.
"And in this corner, we have Dione Tix, master of water chains and a force to be reckoned with!"
Dione strode into view with confidence radiating off her. Her bronze skin glistened, her dreadlocks tied into a high bun that accentuated her sharp jawline. Her hazel eyes burned with determination as she flexed her fingers, water pooling around her hands and forming into shimmering chains.
The commentator let the tension build for a moment before declaring, "Contestants, ready yourselves! READY… SET… FIGHT!"
The second the words left the commentator's mouth, Delight nocked an arrow onto her sleek black bow and fired. The arrow cut through the air, but Dione was quicker, summoning a fluid chain that whipped the projectile aside with a crack.
"Nice try," Dione taunted, spinning her chain with a dangerous grace before lashing it out toward Delight.
Delight dove to the side, rolling into the dense underbrush. As she emerged, her hand glowed faintly, and with a flash of light, her first chimera appeared. It was a panther-like beast with golden hawk wings, its sleek black fur rippling as it snarled. Its eyes glinted with intelligence, and its wings spread wide, casting a shadow over Dione.
"Go!" Delight commanded. The chimera launched into the air and dove toward Dione, claws extended.
Dione didn't flinch. Her chains shifted, spiraling into a barrier around her. The chimera's claws struck the water shield, creating a burst of mist, but Dione was already countering. She reformed her chains into a whip and sent them hurtling toward Delight.
Delight dodged, her blue eyes narrowing in concentration. She placed her hand on her chimera, and with a brilliant flash of light, she merged with it. Wings burst from her back, and her movements became impossibly fast. Her arrows flew like lightning, each one aimed with deadly precision.
Dione blocked most of them, but one grazed her arm, another her leg. She growled in frustration, slamming her hands into the ground. Water erupted in a tidal wave, forcing Delight to take to the air.
The fight raged on, each attack more ferocious than the last. Dione morphed her water chains into weapons—a mace, a spear, even a massive serpent that lashed out at Delight's second chimera, a serpent-like creature with a crocodile's head.
Delight's determination was palpable. Her usual bubbly demeanor had vanished, replaced by a fiery resolve. She twisted through the air, her wings giving her an advantage, as she fired arrow after arrow, each one pushing Dione closer to defeat.
Finally, with one last burst of energy, Delight fired a glowing arrow that shattered Dione's water serpent, sending her opponent sprawling.
The crowd held its breath as the dust settled.
"AND THE WINNER IS… DELIGHT HOMER!" the commentator roared.
The arena erupted into cheers. Delight's wings faded as she returned to her normal form, her chest heaving with exertion. She glanced at Dione, who lay on the ground, breathing hard.
Extending a hand, Delight said, "You fought well. Don't lose that fire."
Dione hesitated but took her hand, a small smile breaking through her exhaustion. "Next time, you won't be so lucky."
Delight chuckled softly as she turned to face the crowd, raising her bow in victory. She had proven herself, and for the first time, the bubbly strategist had shown the fierce fighter she truly was.
As the crowd's cheers began to settle, the box of officials remained seated, their eyes lingering on the arena where Delight stood, soaking in her victory. Despite their composed exteriors, an undercurrent of excitement buzzed through the room.
"Well," Sergeant Fredin said, breaking the silence, "that was a display worth watching. The girl has potential."
"Potential?" one of the junior officers asked, eyebrows raised. "That was more than potential, Sergeant. The way she adapted mid-battle—merging with her chimera at just the right moments and exploiting the biome's layout. That was pure tactical brilliance."
"She didn't just fight," said another, a woman with sharp, calculating eyes. "She commanded. The way she controlled her chimera, used her bow to keep Dione at a distance, and then closed in when it mattered most. Remarkable. That merge form was particularly impressive—her speed and agility gave her the edge she needed."
Kallias, leaning back in his chair with a smirk, crossed his arms. "She's good, sure. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. She still has limits—only one chimera at a time, and those arrows? She's got to watch her resources. If she faces someone with better stamina or stronger defenses, she might not last."
Fredin turned to him, his tone sharp. "Limits can be overcome. What she showed today was more than raw skill—it was intelligence, strategy, and heart. That's what we need in the future army."
"Agreed," the sharp-eyed woman chimed in. "And let's not forget how she kept her composure under pressure. The way she shifted from bubbly to focused… that kind of mental fortitude is rare, especially for someone her age."
A senior officer, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was deep and deliberate, carrying weight. "Delight Homer… she's more than just a fighter. She's a leader in the making. That kind of adaptability, that kind of control—it's not something you can teach easily. She's food for the future, no doubt."
The others nodded in agreement, except Kallias, who rolled his eyes. "Sure. Let's just hope she doesn't choke when it matters most."
Fredin shot him a sharp glance. "If anything, I'd wager she's the type to rise even higher when the stakes are at their peak."
The room fell silent for a moment as the officials turned their attention back to the arena. Delight had left the battlefield, but the image of her fight lingered.
"Keep an eye on her," Fredin said finally. "If today's performance is any indication, she's going to make waves. Big ones."
With that, the room settled into quiet contemplation, each officer considering what they had just witnessed and what it meant for the future.
A lady in the shadow of the room smiled, "Beaxtrix, come up and fight my girl".