Chapter 161: Chapter 160: Semi-Final Begins – Royal Pressure vs Skygate Resolve

The Grand Imperial Arena trembled beneath the weight of tens of thousands of voices.

Never before in the history of the National Championship had a semi-final drawn this much attention.

The atmosphere itself felt unstable.

The sky above the arena shimmered beneath massive floating projection arrays, each one radiating golden light as they displayed the symbols of the competing teams repeatedly across the heavens. Giant crystal screens hovered above the battlefield from every angle, ensuring that even the furthest spectators could witness every expression, every movement, every flicker of spiritual energy.

Noble platforms overflowed with influential figures draped in ceremonial attire. Military commanders sat beside elder tamers whose names had become legends decades ago. Representatives from distant kingdoms occupied specially protected viewing sections high above the crowd, their expressions sharp with interest.

Even the towers spread across the Imperial City transmitted the match live through linked projection formations.

Today, the empire itself was watching.

Not merely out of curiosity.

Out of expectation.

Because somewhere deep within every spectator’s mind lingered the same thought:

This battle would decide more than tournament rankings.

It would decide whose future carried greater weight.

---

The moment Skygate Academy entered the eastern tunnel leading toward the battlefield, sound crashed into them like a tidal wave.

Cheers.

Arguments.

Shouting.

Predictions screamed from every direction simultaneously.

The sheer force of human emotion flooding through the arena felt almost physical.

Valen rolled his shoulders slowly while exhaling through his nose.

"...This is absurdly loud."

His voice nearly vanished beneath the overwhelming noise.

Even he, someone who normally thrived under attention and battle frenzy, felt the pressure pressing against his instincts.

Because this crowd was not neutral.

Half the arena desperately wanted Skygate to rise higher.

The other half wanted the empire to crush them publicly.

And emotions at that scale created a pressure far heavier than spiritual energy alone.

Liora walked silently beside him, her expression composed as always, but her silver-blue eyes moved carefully across the surrounding arena.

She noticed everything.

The tension in the noble platforms.

The excitement among the younger spectators.

The military officers observing with cold discipline.

Even the barrier formations surrounding the arena pulsed differently today.

Stronger.

Denser.

Prepared for disaster.

At the center of Skygate’s formation, Aether remained calm.

Completely calm.

His pace never changed.

The deafening arena noise seemed unable to touch him.

The Spirit Fairy floated quietly beside his shoulder, releasing soft pale-blue light that contrasted sharply against the overwhelming golden glow filling the stadium. The Flame Sovereign Pup walked near his feet, each step leaving behind faint traces of crimson-gold fire across the stone pathway.

And hidden beneath the edge of his shadow—

The Fallen Succubus watched silently.

Interested.

Amused.

Hungry.

---

Then the western gates opened.

Golden light flooded the arena instantly.

The crowd erupted so violently that the barrier pillars surrounding the battlefield vibrated faintly beneath the pressure.

The Imperial Royal Team stepped forward beneath roaring applause.

Unlike Skygate’s quiet entrance, the royal team arrived like an imperial procession marching toward conquest.

Golden banners unfurled automatically above the western tunnel.

Sunlight reflected brilliantly across polished armor.

Royal musicians stationed along the upper platforms activated ceremonial sound formations, causing deep resonant tones to echo across the entire arena.

At the center walked Lion Solvaris.

White-and-gold combat armor covered his body like living sunlight, each engraved imperial sigil pulsing with restrained spiritual energy. A crimson cape flowed behind him while golden particles drifted naturally through the air around his figure.

His expression remained calm.

Confident.

Dominant.

He did not walk like a competitor entering a difficult battle.

He walked like a ruler approaching a throne already waiting for him.

Behind him followed three elite royal tamers moving in perfect synchronization.

Cassian.

Rhyss.

Velka.

Every movement precise.

Disciplined.

Controlled.

Unlike previous teams Skygate had faced, the Imperial Royal Team radiated military precision rather than individual aggression.

They moved like a unified war formation.

And that made them terrifying.

---

The projection crystals above the arena immediately illuminated with detailed information regarding the royal team’s beasts.

The crowd reacted instantly.

Lion Solvaris

Golden War Lion

Solar Drake

Ironmane Colossus

Cassian – Royal Support Tamer

Crystal Feather Hawk

Lightveil Fox

Rhyss – Assault Specialist

Thunderhorn Basilisk

Crimson Battle Ape

Velka – Battlefield Control Specialist

Chainmist Spider

Frostbound Specter

The audience exploded into loud discussion immediately.

"That lineup is monstrous..."

"Three commander-potential beasts already?!"

"The imperial family prepared seriously this year."

"Skygate is in trouble..."

Even several academy elders watching from the upper platforms exchanged grim looks.

Because this team had not been built merely to win.

It had been built to dominate.

Every beast complemented another perfectly.

Frontline pressure.

Aerial control.

Movement restriction.

Battlefield suppression.

An almost flawless military structure.

---

Compared to the overwhelming aura surrounding the Imperial Royal Team, Skygate Academy appeared almost simple.

No extravagant armor.

No ceremonial display.

No overwhelming beast quantity.

Only three students walking calmly toward the center battlefield.

And yet—

That simplicity itself created tension now.

Because after everything Skygate had already accomplished, nobody dared underestimate them anymore.

Especially not after Shadowfen.

The memory of Aether calmly dismantling a synchronized mental domain still lingered vividly in the minds of countless spectators.

Uncertainty had become Skygate’s greatest weapon.

Nobody knew where their limits truly ended.

And uncertainty frightened people more than visible strength ever could.

---

As both teams reached the battlefield center, Lion ignored Valen completely.

Ignored Liora.

Ignored Rowan observing from the sidelines.

His eyes locked only onto Aether.

Because this battle had become personal long ago.

Not because of insults.

Not because of rivalry.

Because Aether’s existence challenged something fundamental.

Lion had spent his entire life standing above others.

He was the empire’s future ruler.

The central figure of the younger generation.

Someone destined to dominate naturally.

Then Aether appeared.

Quiet.

Unknown.

Without noble lineage.

Without imperial backing.

And somehow—

The empire had begun comparing them equally.

Lion hated that feeling more than he hated defeat.

---

The amplified voice of the arena announcer thundered across the stadium.

"National Championship Semi-Final!"

The crowd roared instantly.

"Skygate Academy..."

Another wave of cheers erupted.

"Versus..."

The announcer paused deliberately.

"Imperial Royal Team!"

The arena exploded.

The sound became almost violent.

Even the barrier formations surrounding the battlefield trembled faintly beneath the emotional pressure flooding through the audience.

Several younger spectators nearly lost balance from the overwhelming noise.

Above the battlefield, projection arrays shifted rapidly between the faces of Lion and Aether.

Two symbols.

Two futures.

Moments away from collision.

---

Aether calmly observed the opposing formation.

The Heaven Eye remained inactive for now, but his mind already processed countless details simultaneously.

Cassian occupied the rear-left support position.

Battlefield amplification.

Vision control.

Coordination support.

Velka controlled the right-side suppression zone.

Chains.

Restriction.

Movement denial.

Rhyss positioned aggressively near the front.

Direct assault pressure.

Heavy disruption.

And Lion—

At the center.

The core dominance unit holding everything together.

Perfect structure.

Stable.

Disciplined.

Extremely difficult to break through direct confrontation.

Which meant his earlier conclusion remained correct.

Breaking their rhythm would be the only path forward.

---

Before the match officially began, Lion stepped forward.

Golden spiritual energy surged behind him like igniting sunlight.

The air temperature rose sharply.

Then the Golden War Lion materialized beside him.

The beast emerged through blazing golden flames, massive claws crushing against the battlefield stone with enough force to crack the reinforced arena floor beneath its weight.

Majestic.

Terrifying.

Its mane burned like living sunlight while ancient predatory instincts radiated outward in violent waves.

The roar it released shook the battlefield instantly.

A shockwave of golden energy spread across the arena, causing weaker spectators to pale instinctively.

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers.

Lion slowly raised one hand.

Then pointed directly toward Aether.

"You."

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The audience quieted slightly.

Not completely.

But enough.

Enough for everyone to hear what came next.

"Do not hide behind your team today."

The tension throughout the arena spiked sharply.

This was no longer subtle provocation.

This was direct challenge.

The imperial prince was publicly calling out Aether personally before the battle even began.

High above the battlefield, nobles leaned forward with intense interest.

Military commanders narrowed their eyes.

Even the hidden faction observers concealed throughout the arena focused completely now.

---

Aether remained motionless.

Then the Flame Sovereign Pup stepped forward beside him.

Crimson-gold flames spread lightly beneath its paws, forming intricate patterns across the battlefield stone.

Unlike the overwhelming brilliance of the Golden War Lion, the Pup’s flames felt restrained.

Controlled.

Compressed.

Which somehow made them more dangerous.

Aether finally answered.

His voice remained calm.

Emotionless.

"Then keep up."

The crowd exploded again.

Valen grinned openly now.

Even Liora’s expression shifted slightly.

Meanwhile, Lion’s golden eyes narrowed.

Because beneath Aether’s calm tone, he sensed something dangerous.

Confidence.

Not arrogance.

Not recklessness.

Certainty.

---

The gong struck.

The semi-final officially began.

And the Imperial Royal Team moved instantly.

No hesitation.

No testing.

No unnecessary observation.

The battlefield transformed within seconds.

Velka’s Chainmist Spider slammed its limbs against the ground, releasing silver chains across the arena in explosive waves. The chains spread unnaturally fast, forming glowing restriction zones designed to limit movement paths and suppress battlefield flexibility.

At the same moment, the Frostbound Specter unleashed freezing mist through the surrounding terrain. Ice spread rapidly across critical movement points, stabilizing the battlefield structure against distortion abilities.

Cassian’s Crystal Feather Hawk soared high above the arena, scattering radiant crystal feathers that expanded battlefield vision control instantly.

Meanwhile, Rhyss charged directly toward Skygate’s formation alongside the Crimson Battle Ape.

No wasted movement.

No hesitation.

Perfect synchronization.

Military execution.

The pressure hit Skygate immediately.

---

Valen clicked his tongue.

"Tch."

The Titancrest Fangbear erupted onto the battlefield beside him like a collapsing mountain.

With a violent roar, the massive beast slammed both forelimbs downward.

BOOM!

The impact shattered multiple chain restriction zones instantly, sending fragments of silver energy exploding through the air.

But almost immediately—

New chains regenerated.

Faster than expected.

Valen’s eyes narrowed.

"They reform too quickly!"

The Chainmist Spider’s control was far stronger than ordinary battlefield restriction techniques.

Every destroyed zone regenerated through linked energy pathways.

This was not simple suppression.

It was systematic suffocation.

---

Elsewhere on the battlefield, Liora immediately activated the Moondream Hare’s spatial distortion abilities.

Silver moonlight spread across the arena as illusionary positioning paths formed rapidly around Skygate’s formation.

Normally, this would allow her to control battlefield flow completely.

But this time—

Velka countered instantly.

The Frostbound Specter froze multiple distortion pathways before they fully stabilized.

Spatial fluctuations weakened.

Movement redirection became inconsistent.

For the first time in the tournament—

Liora could not freely control the battlefield.

The Imperial Royal Team had studied every one of Skygate’s previous matches carefully.

And they had prepared specifically to neutralize her influence.

Liora’s eyes sharpened slightly.

This team was far more disciplined than Shadowfen.

More dangerous than Crimson Forge.

No hidden tricks.

Only overwhelming coordination.

---

At the center battlefield, Aether observed everything calmly.

Golden calculations flowed continuously through his mind.

Movement timing.

Formation pressure.

Energy circulation. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

And then—

He realized something important.

Lion still had not moved seriously.

The current assault was merely setup.

The true attack had not begun yet.

Which meant the royal team’s opening pressure existed for one purpose:

Restrict Skygate’s options before Lion personally entered combat.

A battlefield suffocation strategy.

Deliberate.

Efficient.

Dangerous.

---

Then the arena temperature spiked violently.

Golden flames erupted behind Lion like a rising sun.

The audience gasped collectively.

A massive draconic figure descended from above.

The Solar Drake.

Its enormous wings spread wide across the battlefield while radiant fire poured from between its scales like molten sunlight. Every flap of its wings distorted the surrounding air through overwhelming heat pressure.

The moment it landed—

BOOM!

Golden fire exploded outward in concentric waves.

The crowd erupted.

"That beast matured again?!"

"The pressure is insane!"

"It’s almost commander-class already!"

Even the Flame Sovereign Pup narrowed its eyes seriously now.

Because unlike ordinary fire beasts—

The Solar Drake carried draconic dominance naturally embedded within its flames.

The battlefield pressure intensified sharply.

Golden heat spread across the arena.

Combined with Velka’s restrictions and Cassian’s aerial support, Skygate’s movement options shrank rapidly.

This was not chaotic aggression.

It was battlefield suffocation executed with terrifying precision.

---

Finally—

Lion began walking forward personally.

Golden spiritual energy radiated around him in overwhelming waves.

Step by step.

Slow.

Deliberate.

Like the battlefield already belonged to him.

The Golden War Lion moved beside him.

The Solar Drake hovered overhead.

And suddenly, the pressure surrounding Skygate multiplied.

Valen instinctively tensed.

Even Liora’s breathing slowed slightly.

But Aether stepped forward too.

Calm.

Precise.

Controlled.

The Spirit Fairy floated behind him while releasing faint soul-energy threads through the battlefield air.

The Flame Sovereign Pup’s flames condensed sharply around its body.

And hidden beneath Aether’s shadow—

The Fallen Succubus watched silently.

Interested.

Because finally—

The real battle was beginning.

---

The crowd collectively rose to its feet.

Nobody remained seated anymore.

Because everyone understood the truth now.

This was no longer merely Skygate versus the Imperial Royal Team.

It had become something much larger.

Aether versus Lion.

Two central forces preparing for collision.

---

Golden energy exploded outward suddenly from Lion’s body.

The battlefield cracked beneath his feet.

"Show me," Lion said coldly.

His voice echoed through the arena despite the overwhelming noise surrounding them.

"Whether your rise truly deserves this attention."

Aether’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Beneath the hidden locket resting against his chest, the Heaven Eye activated silently.

Golden threads spread instantly across his vision.

Analyzing.

Calculating.

Predicting.

Energy flow patterns appeared throughout the battlefield.

Chain pathways.

Heat currents.

Formation synchronization.

Every movement probability unfolded before him simultaneously.

And then—

Aether realized something important.

Lion had hidden strength too.

Far more than previous matches revealed.

The Solar Drake’s energy circulation exceeded expectation.

The Golden War Lion’s synchronization had improved dramatically.

Even Lion himself radiated unusual spiritual compression.

He had evolved.

Prepared.

Adapted.

Which meant this battle would not end quickly.

---

The arena trembled beneath opposing spiritual pressure.

Golden fire collided against crimson flame.

Silver chains spread across frozen terrain.

The roar of beasts echoed endlessly through the stadium.

And at the center of the battlefield—

Aether and Lion finally stood facing each other directly.

Neither moved first.

Neither retreated.

One radiated imperial dominance like the rising sun.

The other stood calm beneath endless pressure like an unmoving abyss.

Above them—

The empire held its breath.