Chapter 208: The Queen
Chapter 208: The Queen
(Days earlier)
The announcement that Golden Cosmos would participate in Genova Academy's event was an event across the continent.
Eratz Pandora's name carried weight, his undefeated streak and meteoric rise were drawing attention like never before.
But then, a second announcement shattered the initial buzz.
Infinite Twilight, one of the world's most prestigious agency, confirmed their participation.
The revelation sent fans into a frenzy, but it was a cryptic comment in an interview by a very special person that set the stage for what was to come:
"I look forward to meeting an old friend." Tamara said.
Fans and experts alike speculated with bated breath: could this be the long-awaited reunion of the legendary trio?
The Star Crusher. The Queen. And the shadow in their wake, the Black Lady, less famous but a figure of quiet, awe-inspiring feats.
The possibility of these three women standing on the same battlefield again had set the world ablaze. The event was no longer a simple tournament.
It became a pilgrimage for fans, a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness history.
Everyone who could travel did so, desperate for a chance to witness history.
Back in time, the courtyard of Genova Academy was silent. All eyes were on the figure approaching from the distance.
Tamara Regalia walked promptly, her steps measured and powerful.
Her long white hair, tied neatly in a ponytail, shimmered in the sunlight, swaying slightly with her movement.
Her dark skin, glowing under the afternoon light, contrasted sharply against the pristine white jacket she wore. Ruby embroidery lined its edges, subtle yet regal.
Beneath the jacket, a fitted navy jumpsuit clung to her athletic frame, accented by sleek metallic plating along her shoulders and wrists, a combination of elegance and practicality.
Her boots clicked against the stone path, each sound echoing like a drumbeat signaling her arrival.
It was as if an unstoppable force moved toward the group, shrouded in an aura of pure dominance.
Mercury's fingers twitched, her jaw tight as beads of sweat formed on her forehead. Roger instinctively put himself closer to Cassie, his hand trembling slightly
Cassie, pale and wide-eyed, tightened her grip on Eratz's arm.
But Kallistra, standing in the center, crossed her arms with an unimpressed gaze.
Victoria, however, was visibly shaken. Her wide eyes betrayed a mix of shock and dread as she whispered.
"T... Tamara..."
Tamara reached the group without hesitation, her walk unyielding and focused.
She didn't glance at anyone, not even Kallistra, as if they weren't worth her time.
She stopped in front of Victoria, looming over her. Slightly taller, she tilted her head and scanned Victoria from head to toe, her piercing gaze making Victoria stiffen.
Victoria's lips parted.
"T-Tammy..."
"Shut up," Tamara interrupted, her voice low but cutting.
Before anyone could react, Tamara pulled Victoria into a hug.
The hug was crushing, firm, and unrelenting. It wasn't the warmth of reconciliation but the grip of someone who refused to let go again.
Kallistra rolled her eyes and muttered.
"Comedy..."
"You're an idiot," Tamara hissed at Victoria, her voice trembling with anger. "A complete, utter idiot."
Victoria stood frozen, her hands hovering uncertainly.
"Tammy, I..."
"Don't," Tamara cut her off, her voice rising slightly. "Don't you dare try to explain yourself. You think you can just leave like that? Like it was nothing? After everything?"
Victoria's lips trembled, but she couldn't find the words.
Tamara's voice cracked as she continued, her anger spilling over.
"Do you have any idea what it felt like? To come back to the agency and find you gone? When I needed you the most, you vanished without a word!"
Victoria's eyes watered, her voice barely a whisper.
"I... I had to. The situation with you and Kally..."
"Had nothing to do with you!" Tamara shouted, her words echoing through the courtyard. "That was between me and her! You left me. You abandoned me when I needed you the
most!"
Victoria's head lowered, guilt pooling in her eyes.
"I'm... I'm sorry."
Tamara sighed deeply, her grip loosening slightly. She pulled back just enough to look Victoria in the eye.
Her sharp gaze softened, though the anger hadn't entirely faded.
"You're a fool, Vicky," she said, her voice quieter now. "But you're my fool. And I'm done
being angry at you."
The courtyard was silent, everyone looking at the two women with intrigue.
Milo leaned toward Colin and whispered.
"Should I still be scared again? Or... is this, like, okay?"
Colin nudged him with her elbow.
"Shhh! This is awkward enough..."
Tamara finally let go of Victoria, though her sharp gaze didn't waver.
"I was furious with you," she admitted, crossing her arms. "Especially when I found you again during a team battle my scouts forced me to watch. And there you were... building this big agency, pouring everything into it like it was your life's mission."
Victoria bit her lip, but Tamara didn't let her speak.
"You refused to help me build our agency. But this? You had all the time in the world for this?"
Her voice cracked slightly, but she quickly composed herself.
"I wanted to ignore you after that. Pretend you didn't exist."
She paused, her eyes flicking toward Eratz.
"Until I heard you and Infinite Twilight were coming to this event. And I knew some snaken/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om
would take the opportunity to sink her fangs into your ace."
Kallistra, who had been inspecting her nails, finally chimed in.
"She's not wrong, you know. Eratz is like honey. He attracts a lot of flies."
Tamara turned to Kallistra, their gazes locking. Slowly, their auras began to seep out, waves
of pressure rippling through the courtyard.
Elsewhere on the academy grounds, Leonidas, seated, opened one eye.
Sia flinched, her gaze snapping toward the source.
Kaida, Ryder, and Catarina, standing together, all looked instinctively in the same direction.
Back in the courtyard, Tamara's voice dropped ominously.
"You... You're crossing that line again?"
Kallistra smirked, unfazed.
"What line? I've done nothing wrong. Eratz doesn't need my permission to start doing what he's destined for. Rejoice, no one needs you anymore. You can go to retirement, old woman."
The pressure intensified, each wave heavier than the last.
Mercury pulled Colin and Milo close, her voice firm.
"Go. Now."
Eratz glanced at Roger, who nodded, his face pale. Roger grabbed Cassie's hand, and the two
began to retreat.
Victoria stepped between the two women, her voice growing from worry to anger.
"Now you two... Stop this!"
But Tamara ignored her. "This is your fault, Vicky. He was under your care and you let him do these things... And worse,
you let this snake get close to him. And now that she knows..."
Her eyes narrowed as she glared at Kallistra.
"He's already doomed. But I won't let that happen. That's the second reason I'm here..."
From the back of the courtyard, the air shifted as more figures appeared.
Members of Infinite Twilight arrived on one side, and on the other side, Catarina, Ryder, and Kaida approached in hurry, their jaws dropping as they noticed the two women.
The tension in the air was palpable as everyone gravitated toward the center of the storm, and then Tamara's voice cut through the crowd.
"I'm here to recruit the Pharaoh," she said, her sharp gaze locking onto Eratz. "For World
Star."