"BAM!"
Shadow crashed to the ground, coughing smoke. Most of her clothes were incinerated by the flames, yet miraculously, her skin remained unburnt.
"You!" She shakily rose, her eyes locked on Advika. "You." The next moment, she bowed her head. "Thank you for holding back."
The audience gasped, stunned by Shadow's unexpected deference.
"It's just a competition, no need to go that far," Advika stated, her gaze piercing Zack with undeniable killing intent.
"Alright! Advika wins this round, earning her team an extra 1,000 points! Both Guardian Academy and Vitality Academy are tied! This has never happened before!" The announcer's voice boomed through the mic. "Next! Number 5!"
Advika descended the scorched stage, joining Christopher and Mariana. All eyes returned to the stage as Tony stepped forward, followed by a competitor from the fourth county. The two ascended, facing each other with anticipation.
"Start!" the announcer yelled.