ONLINE: Blades of Eternity

Chapter 76 THE FINAL RESULTS

Carmilia and Vlahiç could barely contain themselves. The moment Guinevere's loss was declared, a ripple of laughter escaped their lips, echoing through the VIP section of the coliseum. Carmilia, her icy blue eyes glinting with a mixture of amusement and condescension, leaned back in her seat, her voice laced with a mocking tone.

"Well, well, it seems your little firebrand wasn't quite up to the task, General," she chuckled, glancing sideways at General Cao. "All that fire, yet so easily extinguished by that boy's endless mana. I must say, I expected more from her."

Vlahiç joined in with a sharp laugh, his hand slapping the armrest of his chair. "Perhaps she should spend less time trying to ignite herself and more time mastering control. It's a shame, really. I was looking forward to a more... explosive performance."

"Well it was a good thing she had to be kicked out of the tournament here, at least she wouldn't ruin her image in front of the guests outside the academy" Carmilia suddenly commented with a sly smile on her face.

General Cao, however, remained unfazed. His face held none of the irritation or embarrassment that the others may have expected. Instead, he watched Guinevere with quiet pride. Despite her loss, she had fought valiantly, and he knew she had given everything she had. Her fiery spirit had not been extinguished, even in defeat.

She had pushed her limits, grown stronger, and demonstrated her courage before all the academy. That, to him, was worth more than any fleeting victory.

With calm dignity, General Cao turned to face Carmilia and Vlahiç, his expression composed. "Laugh if you wish," he said in a steady voice. "But today, Guinevere fought with all her heart and with great honor. That's what matters most. Victory is only one part of a warrior's journey."

He then glanced back at the platform, where Guinevere was catching her breath after the grueling match. He gave her a small nod of encouragement, his eyes conveying his pride.

Carmilia and Vlahiç's laughter gradually died down, their smugness not quite able to breach General Cao's composed exterior. Even in their mocking, they recognized the strength in his calm, and though they shared a glance of amusement, neither could truly rattle him.

'This guy really doesn't know when to quite huh?' Carmilia thought with a deep frown on her face.

General Cao remained seated, his gaze forward, proud of his disciple.

"Gosh, the group battles are finally over!"

"But I can't still believe Guinevere got kicked out of the tournament without winning any match in this group battles"

"Well this just shows there are still some crouching tigers and hidden dragons in this tournament"

"And that's why this tournament will keep on getting better and better"

Before their conversation could continue, the atmosphere in the coliseum shifted again. A familiar ripple of energy cut through the air as the organizer of the group stage battles reappeared at the center of the coliseum. His commanding presence silenced the murmur of the crowd instantly.

"Attention, everyone," the organizer announced, his voice echoing through the coliseum. "It is time to reveal those who have passed the group stage."

The audience collectively held its breath as the massive screen above the coliseum flickered to life. The glowing display hovered high above the center, catching the gaze of every participant and spectator alike.

One by one, names began to appear on the screen. The first group of names scrolled past, each one representing a participant who had fought their way through to the next round.

Kaelen leaned forward, his eyes scanning the screen intently. His heart pounded in his chest as the names continued to be revealed.

Finally, his name appeared. Kaelen. He released a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. But his attention quickly shifted back to the screen.

Not long after, another name appeared—Eldric. Kaelen felt a surge of adrenaline as he saw Eldric's name beside his own. The lightning-wielder had proven to be a formidable opponent, and it seemed their paths would cross again soon.

But then Kaelen's eyes flicked down the list, searching for two other names. First, Morris. He scanned past each line, but Morris' name didn't appear. His brow furrowed.

And then he looked for Guinevere. He searched the screen, but her name was absent as well.

His heart sank. He glanced over at Morris, who was sitting further away, staring at the screen with a calm expression. Guinevere too had seen the results, her jaw tightening slightly.

The organizer continued speaking, oblivious to the reactions of those who hadn't made it through. "These participants have proven themselves in the group stage. They will advance to the next rounds of the tournament. As for the rest, your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Continue to hone your skills—there will be many more opportunities to prove yourselves."

Kaelen turned to Guinevere, unsure of what to say. He wanted to console her, but she spoke first. "It's fine, Kaelen," she said with a small smile. "I knew it was a long shot, especially with Eldric in the group. I'll be back next year."

Kaelen gave her a firm nod. "And you'll be even stronger."

As the crowd buzzed with energy over the results, Kaelen leaned back in his seat, still feeling the weight of the tournament. He glanced at Morris, who met his gaze and gave him a small nod of acknowledgment. Neither of them had expected Morris not to pass the group stage, but there was no resentment, only understanding.

The tournament was moving forward, and Kaelen could feel the pressure mounting. He had made it to the next stage, but with Eldric also advancing, the real challenge had only just begun.