Chương 195: Chapter : 195

The massive stadium buzzer echoed through the air, signaling the start of the third round. The giant digital clock on the broadcast screens reset to five minutes. The roles were officially reversed. It was time for Princess Iris and the 13th Unit to go on the attack, while Prince Hades and his team were forced to defend their glowing blue stone towers. Ken Eliot let out a massive, dramatic yawn.

He stretched his arms high above his head and slowly peeled his back away from the stone pillar he had been leaning against.

"Okay, let me get this straight," Ken complained loudly, shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his tailored navy blue suit.

"Now we have to walk all the way across this giant field? Do you guys know how huge this arena is? It is literally the size of a soccer stadium. My shoes are going to get completely ruined by the grass stains. Can we just ask them to bring their towers over here?" Naomi turned around and let out a bright, amused laugh. She playfully nudged Ken's shoulder, treating him exactly like a lazy, naughty friend who always tried to skip gym class.

"Stop whining, you lazy slacker," Naomi smiled, her green eyes sparkling with confident energy.

"You don't even have to walk that far. Just stay in the middle of the field and keep doing exactly what you did in the last round. We will handle all the running."

"I totally support that plan," Ken agreed happily.

"Running is entirely overrated anyway." On the opposite side of the field, Prince Hades stood perfectly still. His pale face was completely blank, but his eyes were darting back and forth, furiously calculating a brand new strategy. His data analysis had totally failed during the last round, and he was not going to let it happen again.

"Adrian!" Prince Hades commanded sharply.

"Tighten the formation. Do not leave a single gap. Shield the towers completely. If they cannot find an opening, they cannot score."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Adrian yelled back. The nine servants of the 15th Unit moved like a flawless, robotic machine. They collapsed inward, forming an impenetrable, solid wall of magical shields and crossed swords right in front of their nine glowing blue towers. It looked like an absolute fortress. There was no way to slip past them. Up in the broadcast booth, the sports anchors were screaming into their microphones.

"Look at that defensive setup, Bob!" Sarah yelled, waving her hands.

"The 15th Unit is locking down their side of the field! They are creating a literal wall of magic! How in the world is Princess Iris going to break through that?"

"I have no idea, Sarah!" Bob shouted back.

"But the 13th Unit is on the move! Here they come!" Sayma pushed her thick glasses up the bridge of her nose. She did not look worried at all. She glanced over her shoulder at Ken, who was casually strolling toward the center line of the arena. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Ken, whenever you are ready," Sayma said politely.

"You got it, Vice-Captain," Ken replied. He didn't get into a cool combat stance. He just slouched his shoulders, squinted his left eye, and pointed his index finger directly at the center of the enemy's flawless shield wall.

"Pew," Ken said lazily. A tiny, almost invisible cyan bullet zipped across the grassy field. It tapped directly against the shoulder of a massive guard who was holding a giant purple energy shield. Instantly, the guard popped out of existence and reappeared exactly three meters to the right. Because the guard was suddenly standing in a completely different location, a massive, gaping hole opened up right in the absolute center of the 15th Unit's perfect defensive wall.

"What?!" Adrian yelled, his eyes widening in pure shock.

"Close the gap! Move back!"

"Too late!" Laxmi roared with a wild, excited grin. The hot-headed fire user dashed forward. She slammed her fists together, summoning a roaring, bright orange fireball the size of a beach ball. She threw it straight through the massive hole Ken had just created. The fireball sailed past the confused guards and slammed directly into the first glowing blue stone tower. BOOM! The tower exploded into a million pieces of harmless rubble. The blue light died instantly.

"And just like that, the 13th Unit draws first blood on the offensive side!" Bob the anchor screamed through the stadium speakers.

"They shatter a tower in less than thirty seconds! This momentum shift is absolutely unbelievable!" Ken blew invisible smoke off his fingertip and grinned.

"Man, this pointing thing is actually pretty fun. It is like playing a video game, but I don't even need a controller." Elma was running alongside Naomi. The blonde servant from the 16th Unit spun her twin silver swords, her spotless white uniform shining under the stadium lights. She glanced over at Ken and saw his goofy smile. A bright, vibrant blush immediately flooded her cheeks. She quickly looked away, trying to focus on the enemy.

"Do not get distracted by him," Elma muttered to herself, her heart doing a frantic flip.

"He is just a messy goofball. But... he does have very nice aim."

"I heard that!" Ken called out cheerfully from the middle of the field.

"Thanks for the compliment, Elma! Your sword swinging looks very shiny today!" Elma's face turned as red as a tomato.

"I didn't say anything, you absolute clown! Keep shooting your stupid sparks before I come over there and kick you!"

"She totally likes you," Naomi laughed, dashing past Elma.

"Keep it up, Ken! Clear the right side for me!"

"Coming right up, boss lady," Ken promised. He lazily pointed his finger at a group of three guards who were trying to block Naomi's path.

"Pew. Pew. Pew." Three tiny cyan bullets zipped through the air. The first guard popped three meters backward, totally losing his balance and falling onto his back. The second guard teleported directly into the third guard, causing them both to crash to the grass in a tangled, clumsy mess. Naomi didn't even have to swing her daggers. She just jogged right past the fallen guards, walked up to the second blue stone tower, and gave it a solid kick. The stone pillar shattered into dust.

"Another one bites the dust!" Sarah the anchor cheered wildly.

"The 15th Unit's data analysis is completely falling apart! They cannot predict these random, instant displacements! Their entire strategy is turning into useless garbage!" Prince Hades clenched his jaw so tight his teeth almost cracked. His pale face was no longer stoic and calm. He was visibly furious. His perfect, mathematical plans were being completely shredded by a boy who wasn't even trying.

"Adjust the formation!" Hades screamed at his team.

"Do not stand still! Keep moving so he cannot target you!" Adrian scrambled to his feet, waving his magical staff.

"Spread out! Keep moving!" The remaining guards started running in wide, frantic circles around their towers, hoping that constant movement would make them harder to hit. Ken let out a long, dramatic groan. He dropped his hand and rubbed his eyes.