Chapter 329: Facing Team Lucy 5

Without a word, they ran. The ground beneath them trembled lightly from the speed of their footsteps.

On the other side, Oliv—with a flexible body and calm eyes—darted towards Ai Lin. Ai Lin stood still, her fan opening with graceful movement. Ai Lin's hair was slowly lifted by the wind she created herself.

With a swift motion, Ai Lin folded and swung her fan—and from its tip, sharp little blades shot out. They spun like deadly discs towards Oliv.

Oliv did not hesitate. Both of Oliv's blades were raised, and Oliv danced between the sharp blades. Oliv spun, bent, and jumped to the side. Several blades missed by mere inches from Oliv's cheek, but Oliv's expression remained cool.

Elsewhere, Lucy stood with heavy breaths. Lucy's heart pounded loudly in her ears. Lucy stared at Annie—and time seemed to pause for a moment.

Their gazes met. The sharp stares of the two team leaders. Neither backed down.

But time resumed its course.

Twang! Cynthia shot again. Dorr! Mirae's bullet immediately deflected. The clash of light and metal almost felt like it sliced through the air.

Then a long roar was heard.

“AWOOOOOOO!!”

Maximus regained consciousness. Maximus's eyes were redder than before. Maximus's muscles bulged. Wherever Maximus charged forward, the ground beneath his feet cracked with each step.

“That man is back!” Harl shouted with a worried expression.

Jae Hyun immediately turned and charged towards Maximus. Dust clung to Jae Hyun's face, but Jae Hyun's eyes did not waver.

“Goujiro! Defeat William now!” Rinka shouted, her fiery voice echoing among the trees.

“Shut up! I know!” Goujiro growled, a grin on his face. “But William... is not a weak man!” Goujiro slammed his sword, creating a burst of energy from the clash of weapons that made the nearby trees bow.

Lucy gritted her teeth. Lucy's hands burned with energy. She raised them to the sky, and dozens of fire spears formed from the hot air. In one motion, Lucy hurled them towards Annie and her two teammates.

“Cynthia! Yuna! Dodge!!” Annie pulled them both away as quickly as possible. The three girls immediately rolled to the side, the ground behind them exploding.

BOOM! BOOMM!!

Fire consumed the grass, a heat haze enveloping the area.

The sky was still bright. But within the Artificial Forest of the Academy City Stadium, a small hell was unfolding.

Team Annie and Team Lucy clashed like two tidal waves. Team Annie had the numbers, but Team Lucy was like a coral reef—small, yet solid and deadly.

Meanwhile, in the stands, thousands of spectators—students, teachers, and citizens of Fortress City 085—watched with tension. Shouts, cheers, and whispers of awe filled the air.

...

...

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The battle continued in the artificial forest filled with thin mist and the scent of damp earth. The sound of wind rustling and metal clanging filled the air, mixed with shouts and the heavy breaths that began to pant. Initially, both teams seemed evenly matched.

Members of Team Lucy—with their extraordinary individual strength—easily withstood the onslaught of their opponents. However, as time went on, the rhythm of the battle began to shift.

Team Annie employed a brutal yet efficient strategy. They attacked one member of Team Lucy in turns, two against one, continuously, like waves relentlessly crashing against the shore.

Each time one member of Team Annie appeared to weaken, another would immediately take their place, bringing fresh energy. Meanwhile, the members of Team Lucy had to keep holding on—without pause, without assistance.

Their faces began to show signs of fatigue. Sweat trickled down their temples, breaths became labored. The once nimble movements began to slow. Every block, every attack, consumed more energy than before.

Lucy, standing at the center of the forest, led from the front lines. Lucy's body glowed faintly, surrounded by a magical aura that constantly changed colors. Where Lucy grasped the air, she then unleashed a rain of ice from the sky.