Chapter 16 – Whispers in Black
[Main Arena – The Next Match Announcement]
The crystal screens flickered.
Names materialized in glowing glyphs.
Announcer:
“The next match will feature a sibling trio—Fran, Zoarfang, and Ritz of Lysa Academy…”
A dramatic pause echoed across the arena.
“…versus a newly registered and mysterious team…”
The camera constructs shifted.
Zooming toward the entrance gates.
Three masked silhouettes stood motionless beneath the towering archway, cloaked in black robes that absorbed the arena lights.
Their presence felt wrong.
Cold.
Detached.
As if they did not belong to the same world.
Announcer:
“…known only as Team Black Whisper.”
From the observation deck—
Aisha leaned closer to Nadia and Hasyalys.
Aisha (whispering):
“Who are they? They weren’t on the initial roster…”
Hasyalys narrowed her eyes.
A faint glow shimmered within them.
Hasyalys:
“Their aura…”
Her voice tightened.
“…it’s unstable. Something’s off.”
On the arena floor—
The Black Whisper members remained silent.
Heads lowered.
No identities revealed.
From beneath their robes, a dark violet-black aura seeped outward—thick, unnatural.
A telltale sign.
Possession.
Mind control.
Fran exchanged glances with Zoarfang and Ritz.
Fran:
“Stay sharp.”
His voice was low.
“They’re not ordinary fighters.”
A pause.
“I can feel it…”
“…they’re not representatives of any human or beasts kingdom.”
The referee raised a hand.
Beginning the countdown.
And then—
From high above, atop the organizer’s private observation tower—
A voice cut through the tension.
Troy:
“…I know that aura.”
His eyes hardened.
Without another word—
He vanished.
Speed teleportation.
[Arena Floor – The Battle Begins… Prematurely]
Before the starting signal—
A flash.
One of the masked fighters moved.
A poisoned flicker-blade shot toward Ritz.
CLANG!
Zoarfang intercepted it mid-air.
Fran:
“They attacked before the bell?!”
Chaos erupted.
No etiquette.
No restraint.
The enemy’s movements were disturbingly fluid—as if they had studied human combat patterns extensively.
Every strike targeted vital weaknesses.
Efficient.
Calculated.
Predatory.
[Suddenly – A Blue Lightning Descends]
KRAKOOOM!
A bolt of blue energy tore through the arena sky.
Troy materialized at the center of the battlefield.
With a single gesture—
Time Disrupt.
Reality shuddered.
All motion within a ten-meter radius froze.
Black Whisper.
Fran.
Zoarfang.
Ritz.
Suspended in halted time.
Troy (furious):
“You’re not real contestants.”
He stepped forward.
“Who sent you?”
He pressed his palm against the forehead of the nearest masked fighter.
Initiating a ninjutsu memory scour.
But—
BOOOOM!
A violent eruption of condensed black aura exploded outward.
A voice echoed.
Soft.
Layered.
Inhuman.
Syavadark Voice:
“We are only shadows…”
A ripple of dimensional distortion followed.
“The real ones…”
“…await your distraction.”
Black flames consumed the three figures.
Within seconds—
They disintegrated.
Vanished.
Leaving behind only scorched robes.
And metallic insignia pins.
Each engraved with a branching triple-eye emblem.
The mark of the ancient Syavadark–Mechatros Intelligence Corps.
[Sideline – Aftermath]
Nadia lifted one of the still-glowing pins.
Heat pulsed through her gloves.
Nadia:
“This material…”
Her expression darkened.
“It doesn’t exist on Earth.”
She looked toward Troy.
“They were never one of us.”
Troy folded his fingers beneath his chin.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Eyes gleaming with strategic calculation.
Troy:
“They weren’t here to win.”
A beat.
“They came to evaluate.”
“To measure the true strength of Earth’s fighters.”
His gaze drifted toward the trembling arena.
“If Syavadark has begun scouting…”
His voice lowered.
“…then we’re approaching the real war.”
Hasyalys turned to Fran and his brothers.
Hasyalys:
“You were lucky they disappeared.”
A grave pause.
“From now on…”
“…your matches may no longer be tournaments.”
“…but battles for survival.”
Chapter 17 – Trials of Fire and Steel
[Grandmaster Balcony – Supreme Overseers]
High above the arena—
Zedwan sat cross-legged, serene as ever.
His eyes watched the open sky.
Beside him stood Troy Hideyama, still troubled by the earlier incident.
Zedwan (calmly):
“Let the younger generation handle this, Troy.”
“Their time has come.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“We guide from the shadows.”
Troy:
“You’re right…”
He exhaled slowly.
“If we keep acting as their shield…”
“…how will they ever grow?”
His eyes darkened.
“I just worry. If Syavadark moves…”
“…it won’t be minor.”
Zedwan rested a hand upon the hilt of his emerald blade.
Eyes closing briefly.
Zedwan:
“When true destruction arrives…”
His aura subtly stirred.
“…then we step onto the battlefield.”
Troy nodded.
Resolve returning.
[Main Arena – Fran’s Name Appears]
The crystal screens flashed.
Announcer:
“From Lysa Academy—Fran Dhampir Phoenix!”
“Versus…”
“Furiya, the Frozen Snow Princess of Clan Frostfang!”
She emerged.
Hair white as glacial ice.
Eyes like piercing blue crystals.
Her steps were light—
But her aura radiated lethal cold.
Frost magic gloves encased her hands.
Anything she touched…
…would freeze.
[Battle Start]
Furiya struck first.
Chains of ice arrows spiraled across the arena.
Fran dashed forward.
Phoenix flames igniting beneath his feet.
Fran (grinning):
“If you play ice…”
“…I’ll play fire.”
He launched upward.
Typhoon Kick.
A blazing aerial spin.
Ice projectiles vaporized into mist.
Landing seamlessly—
Fran unleashed:
Dhampir Claw Rush.
A barrage of violet-crimson energy claws.
Furiya split—
Frozen Mirror Decoy.
Three identical illusions.
Fran’s eyes narrowed.
Phoenix aura expanding.
Fran (whispering):
“Your blood can’t hide your temperature…”
Phoenix Trail Dash.
A streak of flame punches.
Impact.
Furiya was blasted out of the ring.
KO.
[Zoarfang’s Turn]
Opponent:
Raigon.
Gravity manipulator.
Zoarfang lunged with vampire speed—
But Raigon distorted gravity fields with every approach.
Each movement grew heavier.
Slower.
Crushing.
Zoarfang ignited Phoenix fire in desperation—
Too late.
Graviton Slam.
He was slammed violently into the arena floor.
Instant KO.
[Ritz’s Turn]
Opponent:
Laira.
Half-android warrior of the Mechatros Empire.
Her movements were heavy.
Precise.
Servomotors whirred with each step.
Digital crimson crosshair pupils locked onto Ritz.
Announcer:
“Biology versus technology, ladies and gentlemen!”
Battle
Ritz exploded forward.
Vampire Tempest Punch.
A spinning strike cloaked in blood-red aura.
Laira staggered.
Metallic chest plating dented.
Ritz (smirking):
“Steel will never defeat true blood.”
Her eyes flickered.
Rapidly.
Reality glitched around her.
[CPU Mirror Adapt – ACTIVE]
Holographic projections formed.
Ritz’s movements appeared 0.1 seconds ahead of execution.
Prediction.
Replication.
Optimization.
Ritz (shocked):
“She’s copying me?!”
Laira (monotone):
“Correction.”
“…Optimizing you.”
Final Move
Ritz leapt for an aerial finisher—
Laira’s shoulder panels opened.
Blue energy rails aligned.
Railgun Fist – ONLINE
BAMMMMM!!!
An electromagnetic rail-propelled punch blasted Ritz mid-air.
Electric shockwaves erupted.
He crashed into the arena wall.
Aura shattered.Not able to stand up.
KO.
[Sideline – After the Defeat]
Hasyalys embraced Zoarfang and Ritz.
Hasyalys:
“It’s okay…”
“You fought with everything you had.”
Her voice softened.
“This loss is only a signal…”
“…that we must grow stronger.”
A small smile.
“And don’t worry.”
“Our Detective HQ will become your next training ground.”
Behind them—
Shinin watched proudly.
Shinin:
“You’ve proven your courage.”
“Now…”
“…we refine our techniques.”
His eyes gleamed.
“No one will underestimate the legacy of vampire blood…”
“…and Phoenix fire again after this.”
