Chapter 351
Meanwhile, the cursed Apelings were already in position, moving with practiced silence. Every member of the cursed clan had this formation drilled into them from a young age, a formation that truly showed why they were called the cursed apeling clan.
Garrock held a shield nearly his own size in one hand and a heavy axe in the other, his posture unwavering and focused as he took the lead. Just behind him, Okon held her whip loosely at her side, coiled but poised like a snake ready to strike. Kuro, constantly shifting his weight from side to side, handled his twin daggers with dexterity, each one flashing as he sized up the Apeling students.
As the announcer’s voice faded, a tense silence blanketed the arena. Both teams stood ready, like predators eyeing their prey.
Across from them, the Apeling students gathered their energy, forming a united front. Torrent stood in the center, flanked by Ndidi, whose fingers crackled with wind energy, and Aduke, her eyes glowing as nature magic surged through her, roots and vines already coiling around her fingers. Torrent nodded to his teammates, an unspoken agreement passing between them: they would make this fight count. They would not go down easy.
With a yell, Torrent slammed his hands together, sending a wave of water surging toward the cursed Apelings, aiming to break their formation early. The cursed Terra Apeling barely shifted, raising his massive shield in a fluid, almost relaxed motion. The wave split around him, his earthen armor deflecting the impact as if the water was nothing more than a gentle breeze. His steady, piercing gaze met Torrent’s, sending a chill down the younger Apeling’s spine.
"Kuro, now!" Garrock barked, his voice like thunder.
Kuro moved without hesitation, darting forward with a speed that left barely a blur. He closed the gap between himself and Ndidi in seconds, daggers flashing in a deadly arc. Ndidi twisted to avoid the strikes, but Kuro’s movements were erratic and unpredictable, each lunge and feint keeping him on his toes. Ndidi barely had time to block before Kuro’s dagger slashed a shallow cut across his arm, blood staining his sleeve.
Torrent’s eyes flashed as he saw his teammate struggling. He flicked his fingers, and water rose from the arena floor, spiraling toward Kuro with a snap. Kuro dodged to the side, but Torrent anticipated his movement, redirecting the water in midair and forcing Kuro to leap back. The cursed Apeling let out a low growl, his smile gone as he adjusted, now watching Torrent’s every move with a predator’s intensity.
Okon’s eyes glinted as she watched Aduke’s vines fail against Garrock. She seized her opening, her whip snapping forward in a perfect arc to catch Aduke’s ankle. She jerked back with practiced ease, sending Aduke crashing to the ground, roots and dirt scattering around her. Before Aduke could react, Okon was on her, her whip’s sharp tip slicing through Aduke’s thigh, leaving a bloody trail in its wake.