Awakening Domination System: But I'm a Slave?-Chapter 286: Tournament [8]

Professor Vash's voice finally came.

"Winner by incapacitation, CALEB DUSKWOOD! Iron Talon takes the match!"

Final Score: Iron Talon: 3 | Bronze Shield: 2

Medical staff rushed into the ring, carefully loading Garrett onto a stretcher. His burns were extensive.

Caleb limped out of the ring, refusing assistance, his injured shoulder hanging at an odd angle and left leg dragging slightly. Iron Talon students erupted in cheers as he disappeared into their platform area.

Professor Vash cleared her throat.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we'll take a THIRTY MINUTE INTERMISSION before the finals! Competitors, rest and recover! Spectators, refresh yourselves!"

The arena buzzed with conversation about what they'd just witnessed. The betting corners went into overdrive adjusting odds for the finals.

----

The five Silver Crown representatives sat in their luxurious platform space. Refreshments had been brought, water, light foods, healing tonics for minor injuries.

The senior who'd carried the sacred flames during their entrance stood with them, her blonde hair pulled back severely, sharp green eyes that assessed everything. She'd been Student Council member before.

"Decent performances," Victoria said, taking a seat on the edge of the table. "Kieran, Damien, your matches were textbook. Verelia," she nodded approvingly, "That mirror technique against lightning was brilliant. Clean, efficient."

"Thank you," Verelia said neutrally, sipping water.

Victoria's gaze moved to Alaric. "Dual affinity. That's going to make you a priority target in future tournaments. Everyone will study those patterns, look for weaknesses in how you transition between elements."

"I'm aware," Alaric said.

"Good. Don't get cocky about it." Victoria turned to Elina. "You, that coating was impressive. Brighter than standard body path enhancement. Family technique?"

"Something like that," Elina replied, grabbing a piece of fruit.

"Well, it works. Keep refining it." Victoria stood, moving to the window overlooking the arena where cleanup crews were repairing damage. "The finals will be different. You're facing Iron Talon, and after what we just saw, they're going to come at you with everything."

"We expected that," Damien said, leaning back in his chair. He glanced at Victoria with a slight smile. "Though I have to say, having such a knowledgeable senior offering guidance is... appreciated."

Victoria's eyes narrowed fractionally. "Is that flirting?"

"Would it be inappropriate if it was?"

"Extremely. I'm here as advisor, not entertainment." But there was the ghost of amusement in her tone. "Focus on the tournament. You can embarrass yourself socially afterward."

Damien grinned, not particularly discouraged.

Kieran snorted from his position near the refreshment table.

Victoria shook her head but moved on. "Kieran, your wind manipulation is solid, but you're too reliant on raw power. Against skilled opponents who can redirect rather than block, you'll waste essence. Vary your approach."

Kieran shrugged lazily. "Noted."

"'Noted' isn't the same as 'will actually do it,'" Victoria pointed out.

"Also noted."

Victoria looked at him for a long moment, then sighed. "You're impossible."

"Part of my charm."

Victoria rubbed her temples. "This is what I get for volunteering to mentor first-years. Now rest. Eat something. Damien, stop staring at me. And Elina, thank you for being the only one taking this seriously besides Verelia and Alaric."

"You're welcome," Elina said, grabbing more fruit.

"And all of you, remember. You're not just representing yourselves. You're representing Silver Crown. With years of dominance. Don't break that streak because you got overconfident or sloppy."

"We won't," they said in varying degrees of conviction.

Victoria studied them for another moment, then nodded. "I believe you. Now I need to check on other things. Behave yourselves."

She left, closing the door behind her.

Immediately, Damien leaned back with a dramatic sigh. "She's terrifying."

"You tried to flirt with her anyway," Kieran pointed out.

"I like living dangerously."

"You like getting rejected," Elina corrected.

"That too."

----

[Iron Talon Platform]

The atmosphere was different here, more charged, more intense.

Caleb sat in the corner, a healer working on his shoulder while another tended his leg. His face was impassive, barely acknowledging the pain as bones were realigned, essence channeled to accelerate healing.

His teammates gave him space. They'd all seen what happened in that ring.

One of his team member stood near the window, arms crossed. "That was brutal, Duskwood. Effective, but brutal."

"He deserved it," Caleb said quietly.

"Maybe. But you also gave away your capabilities. Silver Crown now knows exactly how you fight under pressure." The boy turned to face him. "Can you fight again? Finals are in twenty minutes."

"I'll fight."

"That's not what I asked. Can you? Your shoulder's partially healed but not fully. Your leg's going to slow you down. And you burned through a lot of essence."

Caleb met his gaze. "It's nothing."

The boy studied him, then nodded slowly. "Alright. You've earned the right to make that call. But if you go out there compromised and lose because of it, we're done. Clear?"

"Clear."

Another teammate, Helena, the ice user who'd lost to Kieran earlier, spoke up. "For what it's worth, that was the most metal thing I've ever seen in a tournament. Guy had it coming."

A few others murmured agreement.

Caleb said nothing, just let the healers continue their work.

His mind was already on the next fight. On facing Silver Crown.

Meanwhile at the betting corners...

Odds had shifted dramatically after the semifinals.

Silver Crown was still favored, but not as heavily. Caleb's performance had shown Iron Talon had fight in them. Real, dangerous fight.

People were placing aggressive bets on specific matchups now, who would face whom, how injuries would factor, whether Silver Crown's efficiency would hold against Iron Talon's willingness to go all-out.

The tournament had delivered drama.

And the finals promised even more.

Professor Vash's amplified voice cut through the intermission noise.

"Five minutes until finals! Competitors, make your final preparations! Spectators, return to your seats! The championship bout is about to BEGIN!"

The energy in the arena ratcheted up another level.

This was it.

Silver Crown's decades of dominance versus Iron Talon's hungry determination.

Champions versus challengers.

And everyone watching knew this would be the most intense matches of the day.

The real tournament was about to start.