The entire field had devolved into chaos, but the crowd was enraptured. All eyes were on Ned Forester and the pandemonium he had unleashed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if this isn't the most outrageous display of cunning, audacity, and sheer lunacy, I don't know what is!" the host bellowed into his microphone, his flamboyant orange bowtie bouncing with his excitement. "Never before has one contestant flipped the script so spectacularly. Ned Forester, the man who might just redefine this competition, is either a genius or a fool. And right now, I'm not sure which is more entertaining!"
The crowd roared in laughter and amazement, their voices echoing through the grand arena. Some cheered for Ned's brazen tactics, while others jeered at the sheer absurdity of the situation.
Far way from one of pyramids, Surfer, a lanky and laid-back competitor, leaned back in his chair, his expression caught between amusement and disbelief. Beside him sat Allen Forester, Ned's older cousin, who was watching the scene with a scowl that could curdle milk.
"Why is Zara even there?" Surfer asked, shaking his head. "It's an insult to the Big Three."
Allen smirked, his lips curling with venom. "She's always been like that. Never cared for status. Honestly, I'm glad. I get to watch them crush that bastard."
Surfer raised an eyebrow, catching the thinly veiled animosity in Allen's tone. "Why waste your energy on someone like him, Allen? Fighting lowlifes is beneath you."
Allen said nothing, his fists tightening around the edge of his seat.
On the field, Ned surveyed the battlefield from atop the pyramid. His team was holding strong, but the strongest warriors of the tournament—Zara, Lucius, and Marco—were closing in fast. The odds were stacked against him.
With three minutes remaining, Ned darted under the cover of a sand shield created by Lily, a preparation he had asked for earlier. Though the barrier wasn't impenetrable, it offered a semblance of security. The moment he disappeared inside, a ripple of tension swept through the battlefield.
The crowd gasped as the leaderboard's numbers began to spike dramatically. The points attributed to Ned's flag surged upward at an unprecedented rate. From an apparent zero to the top of the board in mere seconds, Ned's team name, "Reena," shot into first place.
Pandemonium broke out. The stronger teams, previously content to eliminate their weaker competitors, now refocused their efforts. Zara, Lucius, and Marco exchanged sharp glances before launching themselves toward the pyramid.
Even in the stands, Surfer's jaw dropped. "No way! He's actually going for it?"
Allen's eyes narrowed, his voice dripping with disdain. "He'll never hold out. He's just a rat cornered by lions."
The first to reach the pyramid was Zara, her blade gleaming with a sharp, ethereal light as she summoned the power of her wind talent. With a single swipe, she sent a devastating wind blade toward the sand shield protecting the flag.
To her surprise, a water shield erupted in its path, absorbing the attack with a hiss of steam. Standing at the center of the barrier was Reena, her eyes blazing with determination.
Zara smirked, impressed despite herself. "So, you're the one holding this team together. I'd heard rumors about your water talent, but I didn't think you'd be this strong."
Reena held her ground, her voice steady. "You'll have to do better than that to get through me."
Zara's grin widened. "Oh, I intend to."
The two clashed, wind and water colliding in a dazzling display of elemental power. Each strike sent shockwaves rippling through the arena, drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd.
Lucius, meanwhile, had taken a different approach. Standing at a distance, he nocked an arrow and aimed it toward the sand shield. His keen eyes focused on the weak points of the barrier, ready to exploit any opening. As he released the arrow, its spectral energy streaked toward the target like a comet.
Before it could land, a blur of motion intercepted the projectile. Ambessa, moving with inhuman speed, caught the arrow mid-flight, her fingers closing around the shimmering shaft.
Lucius's eyes widened in disbelief. "You… caught that?"
Ambessa grinned, her grip tightening until the arrow shattered in her hand. "You'll have to try harder than that, marksman."
Lucius's shock gave way to a cold smile. "Interesting. Let's see how long you can keep up."
The two engaged in a deadly dance, Lucius firing arrows with pinpoint accuracy while Ambessa deflected them with effortless grace. Each move was calculated, each counter a testament to their skill.
Marco, the brute of the trio, opted for brute force. His massive frame barreled toward the pyramid like an unstoppable juggernaut, the ground shaking beneath his feet. Just as he prepared to smash through the sand shield, a hammer swung into his path.
Bonita met Marco head-on, the force of their collision creating a shockwave that sent dust flying. Marco's grin was feral as he pushed against Bonita, his stone-like skin glinting in the sunlight.
"Finally, a real fight," Marco growled.
Bonita said "Strong." in response, his strength matching his blow for blow. The two titans clashed, their raw power turning the area into a battlefield of sheer might.
Inside the sand shield, Ned stood at the flag's base, his hands trembling slightly as he worked the mechanism to deposit the points. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but his determination never wavered.
Outside, his teammates were holding their ground, but the relentless assault from Zara, Lucius, and Marco was taking its toll. The crowd watched with bated breath as the timer ticked down.
"One minute remaining!" the host shouted, his voice reaching a fever pitch. "Will they make it? Or will Ned Forester's reign of madness come to an end?"
Looking at the clock, Zara signaled Lucius. Lucius immedietly changed his direction and fired a arrow at Reena. Reena stopped her attack and defended herself. Using this chance Zara fired a strong wind blade toward the sand shield. Her wind blade shattered the sand shield, revealing Ned standing at the flag. Dust and debris swirled around them as Zara raised her sword, ready to strike.
But before she could land the blow, a metallic clang echoed through the air. Ned had raised a staff, its intricate gears and mechanisms gleaming in the light. He met Zara's blade with a calm confidence that belied his earlier antics.
"By the law of the All-Seeing Eye," Ned said, his voice steady and commanding, "Yield or Perish."
For a moment, the battlefield fell silent. Zara's amber eyes locked with Ned's, searching for any sign of weakness. What she found was only a mocking smile.