BLADES HAVE WINGS TOO

There was a brief silence. A clap echoed, and the stadium instantly exploded with cheers. It was a violent cacophony, like a torrent from the storm.

Harvy became restless. He winced and stirred in his seat.

Aildrin helped cover his ears. "My mom used to do this for me during thunderstorms," he said through the CommCenter. "Is this your first time watching?"

Harvy shook his head. "No. But this is my first time to watch a match with a crowd like this. Damn! I need to smoke. Sorry man, I have to leave."

Jack and Pat enjoyed the numbness in their ears brought by the crowd's roar. Harvy already left the coliseum, but they did not realize it until a message popped in their group chat.

"Lidar! Lidar!" the human spectators chanted, intimidating the divine race around them.

Meanwhile, after saying goodbye to Harvy, Aildrin refocused himself on the match. Deep interest filled his eyes. "Lilia was correct when she said that I'm an alien to this new stage. I need to learn a lot of things in this world to catch up," he said to himself.

Lidar was once his rival, but now he was beyond his grasp. Aildrin clenched his jaw. He needed to grow as soon as possible.

The second player of Burning Orient appeared on the stage while Zeru's headless body remained. It did not disintegrate and continued to sprawl on its red blood.

"Burning Orient's second player has entered the stage. And it's no other than the ruthless, Zodin! This is gonna be an interesting match as both contestants are infamous for their heartless slaughter on the battlefield!" Ringo said. "Let's see if Lidar could hold his ground and pull off a second win!"

Zodin, in a blue breastplate, towered over Lidar. A helmet with a pair of wings like those of a valkyrie—his character's class—veiled his face.

"You did not give my man an honorable death, kid," said Zodin in a deep, playful voice. "That samurai is obsessed with the Bushido and look where it got us. But it doesn't matter anymore, I'll reclaim that loss with your head!" He then planted the handle of his weapon on the ground. It was an axe as enormous as Lidar's buster sword, with a narrow spike on top—a halberd.

"Zeru was an honorable opponent, unlike you old freak. If you want to play dirty, then I'll give you the sewers of Alistor!" Lidar said. He then picked up one of the katanas before charging.

"All is fair in the battlefield, young man!" Zodin's enormous wings flapped. He then took off from the ground. "Heaven's Strike!"

Three glaive-shaped energies hummed around Zodin and shot towards Lidar. But they missed their target, puncturing the ground with holes instead.

"You wield a halberd, but you fight me from above?" Lidar said.

"I'm just using my wits, kid!" Zodin said before laughing. He enjoyed looking down on opponents who could only wait for their death. His prey had nowhere to go. "So, will you lower your pride now and use a skill? Come on, Lidar. Hit me with those sword waves! Or will you die as the Helpless King of Basic Attacks?"

Lidar chuckled. "I don't need to use a skill to bring you down. Do you think I'm not prepared for these situations? Send my warm regards to Valhalla!" He then leapt from the ground like a launched rocket.

Zodin continued to laugh while increasing his altitude. "Fly, you fool! Fly as if you have wings!" Then the tip of his halberd shimmered in gold. "Let's see you dodge this!" he thought. "Herald's Light!"

A wide yellow beam shot out of Zodin's weapon. It then divided into smaller parts, creating a shower of lights.

Lidar maneuvered himself in midair, slowing his ascent. He shielded himself with his blades, but one managed to pierce his shoulder. Blood showered, and metal links clanked.

The blade of Lidar's sword sprang out from its hilt, transforming into sharp black chains.

Lidar grinned at the surprised face of Zodin. He then controlled his extended sword's trajectory while his descent started.

The blade charged through gravity with speed and precision. It almost slashed its target's head if not for the last-minute parry. But Lidar was not yet finished. The chain locked to Zodin's weapon.

"Die!" Lidar said while pulling Zodin with him. He then grimaced at the sore on his shoulder, but he still whirled the katana in his hand.

Lidar then threw the weapon like a dagger. And it pierced Zodin's helmet. "An honorable death for a dishonorable man!"

The chains retracted and returned to its original form just before Lidar landed with a roll on the ground. Meanwhile, Zodin struggled on his way down before dying. He fell straight into the abyss.

"Three versus one! Three versus one!" the crowd said.

"Did you see that, Lark? Did you see that? That could be one of our highlights for today!" Ringo said. His mouth kept on gaping.

"Lidar pulled off a splendid victory despite the flight disadvantage. And it seemed that his Buster Sword, Assault has more to offer!" Lark said.

"And today, Lark, he reminded us that blades have wings too!" Ringo said with a grin.

"Indeed, Ringo! Blades can fly too!" Lark said. "And now, Burning Orient is down to their last man. Who will they send to stop Lidar's momentum?" He immediately got his answer.

A voluptuous figure in an azure robe embedded with sapphire gems appeared. She wielded a wooden blue wand with a moon-shaped crystal on its tip.

"My eyes are pleased, Goddess Zoraida. Although I was expecting to face Guildmaster Zeno," Lidar said with a grin in between shaky breaths. "It's an honor to sweep your team."

Zoraida maintained her indifferent demeanor. With no incantation or hand gestures, three enormous sapphire flames in the shape of a dragon's head lunged from her position.

"Woah! Those dragons covered the entire stage!" Ringo said when the beasts swallowed the island in an explosion.

"What's the meaning of this?" Lark said when the smoke dissipated.

Nothing remained of the floating island, but Lidar was unscathed. He was floating, and a thin purple aura glowed around him.

"Woah! What skill is this? Did the King of Basic Attacks finally broke his title?" Lark continued.

Zoraida gloomed. "Why do you have the Wargod's Blessing...Have you found the empty throne?