Samuel typed a text telling them to get to work regardless of his son’s incompetence.

When he was finished, he clicked send.

“Don’t you agree, Samuel?” said the climber president.

He blinked. He hadn’t been listening to the conversation happening in front of him.

“That question is unfair, Mr. President,” said Sakura. “You can’t ask the man to comment on his own son’s defeat.”

“Cyrus is defeated?” said Samuel.

“Well, not yet,” smirked Sakura. “But Max has displayed some very clever thinking. First, he used the bind trait against Cyrus, but then with an even bigger stroke of genius, he used the mana threads of the bind trait as a mana bridge to then send hostile mana into Cyrus’ body causing him to burn from the inside out.”

Samuel bristled. It was a smart play from the boy from the outer-rim. Maybe he had approached his arrival in the wrong way. The boy may have been a good recruit. It was too late now though. The sides were already drawn.

The operatives should have received his text message by now.

There would be no more delays to the plan.

* * *

Everyone was silent in the student climber waiting room.

Toto squealed and nestled into Casey’s neck.

“I know, Toto,” said Casey. “I can’t handle the suspense either.”

Was this it? Was the battle over? Had Max won?

* * *

Max took a deep breath as he watched the smoke and debris settle on the other end of the arena.

He’d given Cyrus everything he had.

The audience watched with bated breath for the smoke to clear.

With Cyrus’ low endurance, he didn’t see how the boy could survive.

The smoke began to settle.

It was now the moment of truth.

Cyrus was bruised to a pulp, but he stood up, wiping blood off of his mouth.

No way, Max thought. How was he still standing?

Cyrus started to laugh manically. His eyes bulged.

This guy was truly insane, thought Max.

“Nice trick,” said Cyrus. “But I’m still right and you’re still wrong. You’re weak and I’m strong. I’m Cyrus Archer and you’re bloody nobody. Just watch.”

Max rushed forward. The sight of Cyrus’ face was enough indication that Max only needed to hit him one more time to knock him out unconscious.

After two steps, however, he found himself frozen in place.

“We’ve been through this, Cyrus,” said Max. “You can’t keep me frozen.”

Cyrus snickered once more.

“Oh yes, I can,” he said.

Max’s heart raced. What was Cyrus going on about?

BOOM!

A huge explosive tremor of noise and destruction came from beyond the arena.

* * *

Sakura swerved her head to the other side of the room.

A huge tremor reverberated against the wall.

“What’s just happened?” shouted Sakura.