Chapter 113: Power Struggles and the Desert Arena
---
The stands were buzzing as Dabi's team prepared to face the second stage of the tournament in the scorching Desert Arena.
In contrast to the forest's shadows and cover, the desert offered no refuge just a wide expanse of golden sands, relentless heat, and occasional dust storms also some big worms.
This was a test not only of strength but of endurance, and it would quickly reveal who could last in one of the harshest environments.
"Contestants, prepare for the second stage the Desert Arena!" the announcer boomed. "Remember, this is not just about power, but about outlasting and outsmarting your opponents!"
Dabi could feel the heat radiating from the sand under his boots as he looked around at his teammates.
Zen wiped the sweat off his brow, glancing at Dabi. "Well, at least we're not dealing with any surprise shadows here," he muttered.
"Don't be so sure," Dabi replied with a half-smile. "This place has its own challenges."
And as if on cue, a dust storm started to form in the distance, whipping across the arena and carrying with it clouds of sand that quickly reduced visibility. But Dabi wasn't fazed; he was already forming a strategy.
"Stick close," he instructed his team. "We'll move slowly and focus on conserving energy.
The other teams might try to wear us down by rushing through this, but if we keep our pace steady, we'll outlast them."
They advanced carefully, shields up to block the sand. But even as they moved, they could feel the attention of the audience bearing down on them, particularly from the noble families in the VIP area.
In the VIP Section: Noble Plots Take Shape
Back in the VIP section, Reniel Vantore's eyes tracked Dabi's every move.
Reniel's irritation was visible; each success Dabi had achieved in the tournament had been a blow to his pride.
He turned to a nearby noble, Marius Hadrian, he is a son of the Hadrian Family leader, known for espionage and intelligence.
"I don't like how things are going, Marius," Reniel muttered. "Dabi's gaining too much attention. If he keeps this up, Astral Heaven Academy might actually start to rival us.
We need to do something. We can't let him beat our celestia academy currently no one in the kingdom."
Marius nodded, his expression cold and calculating. "You're right. If he performs too well, it could change things. But let's wait. I have my agents observing him, and if he slips, we'll be ready."
Just then, a murmur ran through the VIP section as Lady Althea Illyrian from the Illyrian royal family entered.
Her quiet but unmistakable presence caught everyone's attention; the Illyrian family was renowned for their control over ancient magic, and her mere presence here suggested that the royals were taking an interest in Dabi's progress.
Reniel watched her warily, noting the way her eyes seemed to follow Dabi's team in the desert. He couldn't help but wonder if she was watching out of curiosity or if the Illyrians had a hidden motive( like live sick girl).
Back in the Desert Arena, With the sandstorm swirling around them, Dabi's team pressed forward.
The temperature had risen, and every step felt heavier. Zen took a moment to catch his breath, then glanced at Dabi. "We're almost out of water.
We can't keep this up much longer. Suddenly they were attack from underground by desert worms. These worm don't have good vision but they can sense the heat.
They eats/ swallow anything which moves ok their area. They like to toy with the food. As they attack Dabi use his space move to kill two in second. Zen and others also killed two."
Dabi knew they needed to finish this stage quickly. He called on Whity, his swift spirit pet, who darted forward, scouting through the sandstorm.
Through Whity, Dabi could see paths around some obstacles, helping his team conserve energy.
"Let's move in Whity's direction," Dabi directed, gesturing for them to follow. Whity led them through a narrow path between sand dunes, bypassing natural traps and hidden pitfalls.
Just as they neared what seemed to be the stage's endpoint, one team ambushed them.
Read latest chapters at empire
Dabi recognized them from their insignia the Gavriel Family, masters of elemental magic. They had come prepared, their leader already channeling a fierce stream of fire toward Dabi's team.
"Zen, fall back!" Dabi shouted, reacting swiftly as he summoned Nyx, his void beast, to intercept the flames. Nyx's dark tendrils absorbed the heat, swirling protectively around the team.
The Gavriel team looked taken aback, but their leader wasn't finished. He raised his arms, summoning a powerful whirlwind of sand aimed directly at Dabi and his teammates.
"Stay low!" Dabi instructed as he pushed back against the attack, focusing on Nyx and Whity's coordinated movements. Whity darted forward, attacking the Gavriel mages from unexpected angles, while Nyx countered the sandstorm by forming a barrier of dark energy.
Meanwhile, in the VIP Section, the spectators watched the battle in awe.
Seeing Dabi countering the Gavriel's elemental attacks so effectively only increased the interest among the noble families.
Even Lady Althea Illyrian seemed intrigued, leaning forward slightly as Dabi's skillful coordination with his spirit pets unfolded.
But Reniel Vantore was less impressed. "He's more resourceful than I thought," he admitted grudgingly to Marius. "But he can't keep this up forever. He's bound to make a mistake."
Marius smirked. "Or we'll help him make one."
The Hadrian family head subtly gestured, and moments later, a distant signal was sent to one of their allies on the field a small, subtle sabotage to give the Gavriel team a chance to push back.
Suddenly, Dabi felt a disturbance in the energy around him. He realized, to his surprise, that the field's magical balance had shifted a telltale sign of interference.
The sandstorm seemed to grow fiercer, and the air was charged with strange energy that was making it harder for him to control Nyx.
But Dabi didn't panic. If anything, he adapted, using his insight skill to find weak points in the field and reestablish control.
"Keep pushing!" he urged his team. "Whatever they're doing, they're trying to throw us off. Don't give them that chance!"
Dabi summoned Fen, his strongest spirit pets, whose howls reverberated across the desert, sending a ripple of fear through their opponents.
Dabi used Fen to create an opening, while Whity continued harrying the Gavriel team's mages.
Finally, Zen, taking advantage of the opening, launched his own attack. "This ends now!" he shouted, launching a spell that disrupted the Gavriel's magic, weakening the sandstorm's intensity.
The Gavriel team staggered back, clearly exhausted. Within moments, Dabi and his team managed to subdue them, pushing forward to clear the rest of the Desert Arena.
The announcer's voice echoed, "Astral Heaven Academy advances through the Desert Arena! An impressive performance against the powerful Gavriel Family!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd, and the tension in the VIP section was palpable. Lady Althea Illyrian turned to her family members with a subtle, approving nod. But Reniel's expression was cold, his gaze full of calculation.
"That commoner has managed to keep winning," Reniel hissed to Marius Hadrian. "He's more tenacious than I thought."
Marius nodded, clearly displeased. "Perhaps it's time we rethink our tactics. If we're going to stop him, we'll need to apply a bit more… pressure."
Lady Althea, however, observed the conversation with quiet interest. She leaned toward another member of the Illyrian family and whispered, "Perhaps there's more to this young man than they realize."
Her ally raised an eyebrow. "Why show interest, Althea? He's just another contestant."
"Not quite," she replied, her gaze still fixed on Dabi. "His resilience isn't just skill. It's something more… innate. Let's wait and see."
After they cleared the Desert Arena, Dabi and his team returned to the waiting area. They were exhausted but triumphant, adrenaline still pulsing through their veins.
"That was intense," Zen admitted, shaking his head as he sat down. "If it weren't for your spirit summons, we'd have been in real trouble back there."
Dabi grinned, though his gaze remained thoughtful. "I felt something strange during that fight, like someone was messing with the magic fields. It's no coincidence that we've had interference in both rounds."
Zen's eyes narrowed. "You think it's the noble families?"
Dabi nodded slowly. "I'm sure of it. They don't want us me to succeed. But I don't care what tricks they pull. We're going to finish this."
Zen clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit. We've got one more stage to go. Let's rest up and prepare."
Dabi closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, already planning his strategy for the final stage. Whatever awaited them next, he knew he'd need every ounce of his strength and wits to win.
In the VIP section, Reniel exchanged a final glance with Marius and professor Vladimir, clearly displeased by Dabi's continued success.
Reniel told Professor Vladimir the astral heaven academy will won the first place in the team competition.
Now what should we do ?
Vladimir says don't worry it's nothing as long as we win the rest of match and individual competition we can say team victory was a fluke by them.
I will send the most powerful students from our academy. That Commoner will pay for his arrogance....
---