Chapter 42 – The Phantom Strategist
Chapter 42 – The Phantom Strategist
The coliseum buzzed with anticipation as the next battle of the second round commenced. The twenty remaining competitors stepped into the arena, each one exuding confidence, determination, or sheer bloodlust. Among them was Caelum Nightshade, his expression unreadable beneath his hooded cloak. He stood near the edge, his stance relaxed, but his sharp gaze flickered across the battlefield, already calculating his next moves.
The floating screens overhead shimmered to life, displaying the names of the contenders. The audience roared, eager to witness another thrilling battle. Some of the fighters had already gained reputations from previous rounds, but Caelum remained an enigma. He had neither boasted nor displayed excessive strength before. Yet, those who had studied his movements knew—he was not an opponent to underestimate.
As the countdown to the battle began, Caelum took a deep breath.
"Twenty opponents. Three will move on. The rest... eliminated."
The moment the announcer’s voice signaled the start, chaos erupted.
---
Just as expected, temporary alliances formed instantly. Four fighters rushed together to eliminate the largest threats first, while others engaged in quick, brutal skirmishes to establish dominance. Caelum did neither.
Instead, he melted into the chaos, observing.
His movements were subtle, his presence almost nonexistent. He weaved through the battlefield with minimal effort, dodging unnecessary confrontations while gauging the flow of the fight.
"Let them burn their strength first," he mused. "Then I'll strike when the moment is right."
A massive explosion of fire and lightning erupted to his right. A hulking brute of a fighter, Garric the Warhammer, sent an opponent flying with a single swing. Meanwhile, a sword-wielding woman named Selene Varrow was locked in a fierce duel against a twin-dagger user, her blade moving like a silver serpent.
You didn't buy this chapter, Buy it and read full at novelbin.com