Chapter : 362
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Chapter : 362
"Princess Iris goes head-to-head with her brother, Prince Julian!" Bob cheered. "The 7th Unit is known for their ruthless tactics! They do not play nice! They destroy their opponents! This is going to be a spectacular showdown!"
The camera cut to a live shot of the stadium tunnel. The 13th Unit walked out of the shadows. Princess Iris led the way. The crowd erupted into deafening applause. The camera zoomed in on the elite girls. It showed Naomi spinning her daggers. It showed Laxmi grinning.
Then, the camera panned to the back of the group. The lens zoomed in perfectly on Ken.
Ken walked out of the tunnel. He dragged his shoes on the dirt. Scuff. Scuff. Scuff. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He let out a massive, face-stretching yawn. He scratched his nose. His shirt hung completely untucked over his belt. His tie was totally sideways.
In the Iron Rose District, Jasmin gasped out loud. She covered her face with the throw pillow.
"Oh my goodness," Jasmin groaned into the pillow. "I am so embarrassed. Millions of people are watching him. He looks like a complete mess. Why didn't he tuck his shirt in? Why is his tie sideways? He looks like he just rolled out of bed!"
"He looks very tired," Khadija noted softly. She touched the television screen. "He needs a good nap. They are working him too hard. He should drink some water."
Brandon chuckled quietly. He shook his head. "That is our boy. He does not care about the cameras. He just wants to go home."
Back in the broadcast booth, Bob laughed loudly at the screen.
"And there he is, folks!" Bob yelled. "The most talked-about servant in the entire Empire! Ken Eliot! He completely disrupted the 15th Prince's strategy last week! The analysts still do not understand his magic! But look at his posture! The boy looks completely unbothered! He is slouching on national television! What incredible confidence!"
Sarah smiled broadly. "He truly is a mystery, Bob! He wears a wrinkled suit to a magical war! You have to respect a guy who refuses to dress up!"
---
Ken stopped walking. He stood on the bright green grass of the arena. He squinted his eyes. The sun was very bright. He raised his hand to block the glare.
"The sun is directly in my eyes," Ken complained to Naomi. "This is very bad planning. The arena should have a giant roof. Or at least some nice umbrellas. I am going to get a sunburn."
"You will survive," Naomi laughed. She bumped his arm again. "Just stand still. The other team is coming out."
On the opposite side of the massive field, the gates swung open. The 7th Unit marched onto the grass. Prince Julian led his team. He wore his flashy, highly polished gold breastplate. He wore a long red silk cape. The sun reflected off his armor. It created a blinding glare.
Julian wore a cruel, arrogant smirk. He loved the cheering crowd. He raised his hands and waved to the citizens. He acted like a famous celebrity.
Behind him stood his elite vanguard. They wore matching red and gold armor. They looked incredibly dangerous. They carried sharp swords and glowing magical staffs.
Walking in the back row of the 7th Unit was Scott. The wealthy nobleman wore a sleek dark gray combat suit. He held a long, beautifully crafted magical rapier. He did not wave to the crowd. He did not smile. He stared directly across the field. His brown eyes locked onto Ken.
Scott glared at the messy boy. He remembered the encounter in the Upper Council hallway. He remembered Sayma claiming Ken was her passionate, devoted boyfriend. Scott felt a massive surge of pure jealousy. He gripped the hilt of his rapier tightly.
Ken noticed the angry stare. He blinked his sleepy eyes. He gave Scott a small, goofy wave.
Sayma stood near Ken. She noticed Scott staring. She remembered her fake romantic story. She needed to maintain the lie. She took a step closer to Ken. She reached out and gently grabbed his arm. She stood right by his side.
"Just play along, Ken," Sayma whispered politely. "He is watching us."
Ken slouched his shoulders. He did not pull his arm away. "I am playing along. But I am not doing any dramatic speeches today. My throat is dry."
Julian stopped walking. He stood in the center of the field. He sneered at Princess Iris.
"You look pathetic, Iris," Julian mocked loudly. His voice carried across the grass. "You brought a bunch of dirty commoners to a royal fight. I am going to humiliate you today. I am going to make your team beg for mercy."
Princess Iris stood perfectly straight. She did not show an ounce of fear. "We will see about that, Julian."
The head referee walked onto the field. He wore a striped black and white shirt. He held a magical microphone. The crowd quieted down. The stadium waited for the rules.
"Welcome, Royal Candidates!" the referee announced. His voice echoed through the massive speakers. "Today’s match will test your speed, your awareness, and your endurance. This is not a standard battle. This is a special event."
Laxmi frowned. She crossed her arms. "A special event? What does that mean? Do we get to punch them or not?"
"The Upper Council has decreed a new game format!" the referee declared loudly. "Today, you will compete in a Ring Findings match!"
The stadium erupted in cheers. The broadcast booth went wild.
"A Ring Findings match!" Bob the anchor screamed into his microphone. "This is absolutely thrilling! The Upper Council is throwing a massive curveball! This changes everything!"
Sarah leaned forward excitedly. "You are completely right, Bob! This is not a simple brawl! This is a high-speed, tactical scavenger hunt! The teams have to use their brains and their legs!"
Down on the field, the 13th Unit looked very confused.
"A scavenger hunt?" Zinia asked. She cracked her knuckles. "What are we supposed to find?"
The referee raised his hand. "Please direct your attention to the arena floor! The transformation will now begin!"
A loud, rumbling noise echoed across the stadium. The ground beneath their feet began to shake. Ken widened his eyes and grabbed Sayma's arm to keep his balance.
"Earthquake!" Ken yelled playfully. "The grass is moving! This is highly unsafe!"
The flat, green field completely vanished. The arena magically terraformed itself. Massive, thick trees sprouted from the dirt. The branches tangled together to form a dense artificial forest. A rushing river of clear water carved a path through the center of the stadium. Crumbly, ancient-looking stone ruins rose from the ground. Tall hedges formed a complicated, winding maze.
In less than a minute, the simple grassy field turned into a vast, complex, one-square-kilometer biome. It looked like a wild jungle mixed with an abandoned castle.
Ken stared at the massive trees. He let out a loud, dramatic groan.
"Are you kidding me?" Ken complained. He dropped his head backward. "This place is huge. There are trees everywhere. I hate the woods. There are bugs in the woods. Bugs bite me. This is a terrible venue."
Naomi laughed softly. "It is just a little bit of nature, Ken. You will survive."