The entire stadium fell into stunned silence.
No one spoke.
They watched with wide eyes as Alex, carrying Selene, walked out of the ruined arena.
Emilia finally snapped back to her senses. Her voice thundered across the shattered silence:
"GAME OVER. WINNER — REBEL TEAM!"
She paused as the crowd slowly emerged from their shock.
"ALL INJURED — TO THE INFIRMARY. FURTHER MATCHES ARE SUSPENDED FOR TODAY!"
Darian stood amidst the wreckage of the arena, his armor blackened and dented, blood tracing a crimson line from his forehead.
He looked around, dazed by the scale of devastation.
Then down at himself. His once-shining armor now looked like scorched scrap metal.
He muttered in disbelief,
"Is this how gods wage war… or did they summon a god itself?"
He glanced up at the sky, voice a whisper only the wind could hear.
"That kind of power… shouldn't exist. What hope is left for those without power… in a world where that walks freely?"
