One-on-one—Crawford's team of four against Dominica. But who will face Dominica first?
The answer: none of them wanted to.
Dominica, as a member of Fiora's royal family, excelled in battles of attrition. Even in a sequential fight, the four members of Crawford's team might not be enough to defeat her. This realization turned the situation on its head. What was initially Crawford's advantage had now shifted entirely in Dominica's favor.
Crawford and his companions visibly tensed.
"Is this for real?"
"No wonder Dominica didn't panic despite knowing she walked into a trap," someone muttered.
"Is this how a Fiora genius carries himself?" another snapped. "When your royal family targeted the Taris Kingdom in the past, they weren't this timid. Are you afraid to face the remnants of our people now?"
Crawford's frustration was evident. Their apparent advantage had vanished in an instant. Yet, as much as Crawford loathed it, he could do nothing about the situation.
Dominica remained unfazed by the taunts. Above the arena, a countdown timer appeared, signaling a short break before the fight resumed. Dominica used the time to recover. The rules of Kolossim—the arena—worked in her favor, allowing her to maximize her strengths.
However, Kolossim's impartial rules offered no additional support to Dominica. He could only exploit them to her advantage.
"Crawford, what should we do?" Cook asked nervously.
Crawford was silent for a moment before replying, "With these rules in place, we can't break them. We'll have to adapt. Our advantage isn't as strong as it seemed, but we still have it." He exhaled sharply. "In a sequential battle, Dominica can't win all four rounds. We'll win."
Despite his confidence, he hesitated before adding, "Cook, I need you to go first."
Cook's expression darkened. He understood what this meant. Dominica would almost certainly win the first match, regardless of who faced her. Her strength was undeniable. If not, the Taris Kingdom wouldn't have treated him as such a significant threat.
The rules of Kolossim were brutal: victory required the death of an opponent. There was no option to surrender. For Cook, entering the arena meant a fight to the death.
He clenched his fists and nodded. "Understood. I'll do my best to force Dominica to reveal her abilities and weaken her for the rest of you. I'll give everything for our victory." He hesitated, his voice faltering. "But… our revenge has only just begun. I won't get to see it fulfilled."
"Cook…" Crawford began, his tone heavy.
"Please," Cook interrupted, his eyes red with emotion. "Promise me. Make sure our Taris Kingdom's vengeance is complete. Dominica must fall. And those who wronged us—the Fiora royal family, the Hunter Association, and even the bystanders who turned a blind eye—they must all pay."
Crawford nodded solemnly. "We will. I swear it."
Cook managed a weak smile. "Then I'm ready." He turned toward the arena. His steps were steady, his resolve unwavering, even as death loomed ahead.
Kaizen watched silently as Cook stepped into the arena. Though Cook's words painted him as a man seeking justice, Kaizen couldn't ignore the atrocities committed by the Nen users of the Taris Kingdom. These people had exploited and slaughtered countless innocents in their pursuit of vengeance. They viewed ordinary humans as disposable tools, cultivating their own power with no regard for the lives they destroyed.
Cook spoke with conviction, but Kaizen couldn't help but wonder: what about the innocent lives lost to their vendetta? Did those people not deserve justice as well? It wasn't a matter of right or wrong—it was a matter of perspective. And from Kaizen's perspective, the Nen users of Taris were nothing but dangerous fanatics.
The countdown ended. Dominica stepped forward confidently, smiling as she glanced at her team.
"Don't worry. These pests are no match for me."
"Dominica," Wendy called out, standing abruptly. Her voice was tinged with worry.
Dominica turned toward her with a reassuring grin. "I'll win. Trust me."
Kaizen stood nearby, observing the scene. A dim light flickered around the crystal ball in his hands, drawing in energy as the battle began. He shifted his focus to the arena, curious to see how Cook, a Taris Kingdom Nen user, would fight against Dominica.
Two beams of light fell on the combatants, teleporting them into the ring. The fight had begun.
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