LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 531: A Bold Move
As the ice dome gradually sank back into the ground, the spectators from all eight kingdoms watched with wide eyes and their hearts beating in sync as they awaited the outcome of the fight.
However, contrary to their expectations of seeing Kawl writhing on the ground, the audience witnessed something even more shocking.
King Thomas' eyes flashed with disbelief when his gaze fell on his unconscious daughter. Then his eyes shifted to Nox.
'He knocked her out... how did he do it?'
Of course, from his position, King Thomas could easily see the steady rhythm of his daughter's heartbeat, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. However, he still couldn't help but be curious about what had transpired inside the dome.
'This sneaky bastard,' Thomas thought as his eyes glinted. He probably raised the wall purposely to prevent everyone from seeing his skills.
Thomas shot a glare at Dracos, who was watching everything play out with a subtle smile on his face. Draco's gaze lingered on the amulet securely worn around Nox's neck and muttered in a very low voice only audible to him:
"That was close."
He sipped his special drink and then said in a quite loud voice, "It seems the Light Kingdom has lost."
Dracos felt irritated hearing the Ice Monarch's mocking words, yet he couldn't deny that what Thomas had said was a painful fact.
Sure enough, Nox, after dealing with the Light Princess, didn't idle around much and quickly dashed toward the towering avatar. A brutal fight ensued—ice and light energy clashed violently. It took Nox about five minutes to deal with the frost avatar. He ripped the energy construct to shreds, and it dissipated into the air, turning into radiant white energy that flowed into the unconscious Light Princess.
After dealing with the avatar, Nox went on to assist his teammates. With their combined forces, they obliterated all the defenses of their opponents, who had no choice but to surrender to avoid injuries.
And just like that, Frostpire advanced to the finals after so many years. The netizens of the Ice Kingdom shed tears of joy and hugged each other. It was a joyful occasion, and even King Dracos struggled to keep his emotions in check.
Yet despite his best efforts, he couldn't stop his lips from twitching.
Meanwhile, in the spectators' stand, the Lightning and Inferno Princes narrowed their eyes at Nox, and both of their gazes flashed simultaneously as if they had planned something.
That night, the streets of Frostpire were filled with celebrations and excited voices.
Snowflakes drifted lazily from the skies, but not even the bitter chill could douse the enthusiasm blazing in every corner of the city. Lanterns of blue and silver lit up the frost-covered buildings, casting a gentle glow across the cobbled streets. Children chased one another, holding makeshift wooden swords while yelling,
"I'm Kawl! I knocked out the Light Princess!"
"I heard he used only one skill. Just one! And it brought down the Light Kingdom's trump card. They say he didn't want anyone to see how he fights, so he covered the dome with that ice wall."
"I still can't believe he took down Princess Lumi... I mean, she completely destroyed even Princess Nyxirith, yet he didn't even look injured when he stepped out!"
"My cousin saw it! He said the moment the dome came down, Nox was standing tall, not even breathing hard. Kawl was just… there. On the ground. Out cold. Like she never stood a chance."
"Damn it, the finals will be blood-pumping! I think Frostpire might just win this year's competition."
"Hey hey, let's not forget we still have the Lightning and Inferno Princes, especially the Inferno Prince with his partner Elise. Those two are frightening."
"Well, let tomorrow be the judge of that."
From the towering ice tower that served as the royal castle of the Frostpire royal family, King Dracos Frostpire watched the enthusiastic citizens with a subtle smile on his face.
By simply showing his strength in the tournament, Nox had effortlessly won the hearts of everyone in Frostpire and even the neighboring kingdoms.
It was far easier than I had thought, Dracos thought, a pleasant look on his face. He thought back to the conversation he had with his daughter, and his eyes glinted.
Maybe, just maybe, he could be what we need to defeat the Scourge Alpha once and for all.
Meanwhile, inside his chambers, Nox felt exhausted from all the fighting, so he decided to rest. After all, no matter how powerful he seemed for his age, he was still human—and like every human, he needed rest to function properly.
But just after closing his eyes for what he assumed to be only a few hours, he heard a soft knock on the door.
He opened one eye, slightly irritated but not surprised. It had been a long day. Rising slowly, Nox adjusted his shirt and walked toward the door with heavy steps. The knock came again—gentler this time, almost hesitant.
Click.
As the door creaked open, Nox's sharp gaze softened a little when he saw who it was.
Standing before him was Zara, her light blue hair tied back in a loose braid, her beautiful eyes glimmering with a mixture of curiosity and something unreadable.
"Did I wake you?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.
"Yeah, you did," Nox yawned as he stepped aside for her to come inside.
"Well, I had to," Zara said. "If not, you'd be late for the match between the Lightning Kingdom and Inferno Kingdom."
Nox abruptly stopped in his tracks when he heard this, and instantly his gaze drifted to the window, which was now reflecting rays of sunlight.
"It's morning already," he muttered, slightly dazed.
"Yes, come, let's hurry," Zara said and grabbed Nox's hand. "If not, we'll miss the fight. The others have already left—they thought you wouldn't want to watch the match."
"Okay, I'm behind you. You don't expect me to go out like this without freshening up, do you?"
"Oh, right." Zara freed Nox's grasp as an embarrassed expression appeared on her face.
Without bothering to ask Zara for privacy, Nox started to strip in front of the princess, whose mouth was left hanging open—she had never expected Nox to do something so bold.