Chapter 373: The Plan

Chapter 373: Chapter 373: The Plan

The noise of the crowd faded into a distant hum as Damon gathered his women in the private dugout beneath the stands.

Stone walls enclosed them on three sides, and a heavy curtain blocked the entrance. The air was cool and still, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

Ariel sat on a wooden bench, her trident resting against her shoulder.

Mio and Mia stood near the wall, their arms crossed, their eyes sharp.

Seraphina leaned against the far corner, her emerald gaze steady.

Flare paced near the back, her fingers drumming against the Inferno Phoenix Blade.

Alena sat at a small table, arranging vials and herbs with practiced precision.

Lumina stood apart from the group, her golden hair still disguised as Lark’s short dark locks. Her hands were clasped in front of her, her posture rigid.

Damon stood at the center of the room.

"Listen up," he said. "The final is in one hour, and we need a plan."

All eyes turned to him.

"I want everyone to get a piece of the glory," he continued. "This is the biggest stage in the Eastern Continent, and you’ve all earned the right to stand on it."

Ariel’s vivid blue eyes sparkled with quiet confidence as a gentle, knowing smile spread across her delicate lips.

Mio rolled her shoulders and cracked her neck with energetic, almost playful vigor, her deep purple ponytail swaying with the motion.

Mia, the quieter twin, offered a single, firm nod, her deep purple eyes meeting Damon’s gaze before dropping to the floor.

Seraphina slowly uncrossed her arms, the motion deliberate and fluid, her emerald eyes fixed on Damon with calm intensity.

Flare halted mid-stride, her vibrant red hair catching the dim light as she turned to face him fully, a wild grin already spreading across her features.

Lumina’s pale blue eyes widened beneath her disguise, a flicker of surprise crossing her usually composed features.

"So here’s the roster," Damon announced, his golden eyes sweeping across the room. "Ariel, you’re first."

Ariel straightened her back, her grip tightening on the trident. "Understood," she replied, her voice soft but resolute.

"Mio, you’re second. Mia, third," he continued.

The twins exchanged a quick, meaningful glance, a silent conversation passing between them before they both nodded in unison.

"Seraphina, fourth. Flare, fifth," Damon said, his tone firm.

Flare’s grin widened into a fierce, predatory smile. "Finally," she breathed, her orange eyes glowing with anticipation.

"Lumina, sixth," Damon finished, turning to face the disguised princess.

Lumina blinked, her disguise flickering for just a moment as she processed his words. "Me?" she repeated, her voice a whisper of disbelief.

"You’re part of this team," Damon said. "And you’re strong enough to handle anyone except Kael."

Lumina’s lips parted, but no words came out. She simply nodded, her eyes glistening.

Damon turned to Alena.

"And you’re staying in reserve."

Alena’s hand froze over a vial. "What?"

"You’re our support," Damon said. "Our medic. Our alchemist. You keep us at peak condition between fights, and you step in if someone gets hurt."

Alena’s jaw tightened. "I can fight."

"I know you can," Damon said. "But I need someone I trust watching our backs. Someone who can heal a broken meridian or neutralize a poison before it spreads."

Alena looked down at her hands.

Then she looked up, her forest-green eyes holding a steady, unyielding resolve that cut through the tension like a blade.

"Fine," she said, her voice carrying the weight of a solemn oath.

"I’ll keep you all alive. Every last one of you."

Damon’s lips curved into a warm, approving smile.

"That’s my alchemist."

He knew Alena’s word was as good as gold—if she promised to guard their lives, she would move heaven and earth to fulfill that vow.

He turned to face the group fully, his golden eyes sweeping across each of their faces. "Now for the most important part."

The room grew deathly still. Even the ambient hum of spiritual energy seemed to hold its breath.

"I will face Kael."

A heavy beat of silence descended upon them like a shroud.

Then Ariel stepped forward, her vivid blue eyes wide with alarm. "Damon, you can’t—" Her voice cracked with genuine fear.

"I can," Damon said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And I will."

"But his bloodline," Mio interjected, her usual cheerfulness drained away. "That decay—it’s not something you can just block with qi." Her deep purple eyes were shadowed with concern.

"Is exactly why I’m going alone," Damon interrupted.

"I’ve seen what it does. I’ve felt the Chaos Devourer’s reaction to it. That thing inside him is from the Void Abyss, and I’m not letting any of you get close to it."

Flare crossed her arms. "We can handle—"

"No," Damon said, his voice firm. "This is not negotiable."

He looked at each of them in turn.

"You are my wives. My partners. My family. I will not risk you against something I don’t fully understand."

Selene stepped forward. "And what makes you think you can handle it?"

Damon met her gaze.

"The Chaos Devourer," he said. "It’s the only thing that can counter his Entropic Void Bloodline. I felt it when I looked at him. The sword wants to consume him."

Selene studied him for a long moment.

Then she nodded.

"Fine," she said. "But if you start losing, I’m stepping in."

Damon smiled. "You won’t have to."

He turned to the rest of the group.

"Ariel, you handle the first few fighters. Wear them down. Don’t overextend."

Ariel nodded.

"Mio, you’re up next. Use the Voidpiercer Bow to keep distance. Pick them off one by one."

Mio grinned. "Easy."

"Mia, you’re third. Stay in the shadows. Eliminate anyone who gets past Mio."

Mia’s lips curved into a rare smile. "Understood."

"Seraphina, you’re fourth. Use the Azure Dragon Bloodline to control the battlefield. Don’t let them group up."

Seraphina inclined her head. "I will."

"Flare, you’re fifth. Burn whatever’s left."

Flare cracked her neck. "Finally, someone who understands me."

"Lumina, you’re sixth. If it gets to you, use the Sun Wielder Bloodline to purify the arena. Don’t hold back."

Lumina swallowed. "I won’t."

"And if it gets past all of you," Damon said, "I’ll be waiting."

He looked around the room.

"Any questions?"

Silence.

"Good," Damon said. "Then let’s go win this tournament."

He turned and walked toward the entrance of the dugout.

The roar of the crowd grew louder as he pushed through the curtain.