An Understated Dominance - Chapter 2350

stands. Jeremiah looked over at Ruby, who was waving her arms excitedly.

Crystal smiled back at her friend but kept her focus on the ring. She felt confident after her win against Aurora, but she knew she had to stay sharp.

As she approached the center of the ring, the announcer’s voice echoed through the arena. “Contestant number 13 is now entering the ring!”

The crowd buzzed with anticipation, and Jeremiah leaned forward, eager to see who would face Crystal.

When the other contestant stepped into view, Jeremiah’s heart sank. It was Max, a fierce fighter known for his speed and agility. He had taken down several opponents with ease.

“This is going to be tough,” Jeremiah muttered under his breath.

Crystal and Max squared off, both sizing each other up. Jeremiah wished he could warn Crystal about Max’s quick moves, but he knew she had to rely on her own skills.

The match began, and Crystal immediately took a defensive stance. Max darted forward, launching a series of fast punches. Crystal dodged and countered, using her sword to block his attacks.

“Come on, Crystal! You can do this!” Ruby shouted, her voice rising above the crowd.

With each clash of their weapons, the tension grew. Jeremiah clenched his fists, hoping Crystal would find an opening. He remembered how hard she had worked to get to this point, and he believed in her strength.

After a few intense exchanges, Crystal found her rhythm. She focused on Max’s movements, waiting for the right moment. Then, with a swift move, she struck back, catching him off guard.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Crystal landed a solid hit. Jeremiah felt a surge of hope. “Yes! That’s it!” he exclaimed.

As the match continued, it became clear that Crystal was gaining the upper hand. She used her speed to outmaneuver Max, making him miss several attacks.

Finally, with one powerful strike, Crystal knocked Max to the ground. The referee stepped in, declaring her the winner.

Jeremiah jumped up, a huge grin spreading across his face. “She did it!” he shouted, joining the applause from the crowd.

Crystal raised her sword in victory, her eyes shining with determination. She knew this was just the beginning, and she was ready for whatever came next.

matches,” Crystal replied, trying to stay calm. She could feel the weight of the moment.

Although making it to the top 16 was already a big achievement, reaching the top eight would bring her more recognition and rewards when she returned to her guild.

As Crystal stepped into the ring, she noticed a tall man dressed in black, with a sword strapped to his back. His sharp eyes caught her attention, and he reminded her of Glenn, though not as intimidating.

“Emeret?” Crystal gasped, surprised to see her opponent was Emeret Dwight, a skilled disciple from the Sword Union.

Emeret was known for being just below Glenn in skill and had a remarkable talent for swordsmanship. He usually kept to himself, which meant not many people knew about his abilities.

His most impressive feat was his undefeated streak against Cyrus in three rounds. It was clear that Emeret was a strong competitor.

“Crystal, what a surprise! I didn’t expect you to be my opponent,” Emeret said with a friendly smile. “How about we have a little spar, like we used to?”

“A spar?” Crystal shook her head. “When have I ever beaten you since joining the guild?”

She knew she didn’t stand much of a chance against him. There was no way she could handle three of Emeret’s full-force strikes. Their skills were just on different levels.

“I know I can’t compete with you. I don’t want to waste your time, so I’m going to concede,” Crystal said with a respectful nod. She was aware of her limits and knew that pushing on would only lead to defeat.

“Give up? That’s not like you,” Emeret said, looking surprised. He remembered how she usually fought hard, even when the odds were against her.

“This match is different from sparring. You should save your energy for tougher challenges ahead,” Crystal explained, trying to keep her composure.

“Good luck against your opponents tomorrow,” she said with a smile.

It was important to hide her true strength, as it could keep her opponents guessing and help her win. Since she knew she couldn’t beat him, she didn’t want to waste her energy.

“I appreciate your understanding,” Emeret replied, mirroring her gesture.

“Do your best tomorrow. Show them what you can do,” Crystal said with a soft smile before stepping out of the battle ring.

“Contestant number four has conceded, so contestant number 13 is the winner,” Oron announced without delay.

“What? That’s it? She’s giving up already? How boring!” someone shouted from the crowd.

“Seriously, she didn’t even try? She has no fighting spirit,” another voice chimed in.

“They’re from the same guild. It makes sense for her not to go all out. It’s smarter to save her energy and let someone stronger move on to the top eight. That’s actually a smart decision.”

“Passing up a chance at the top eight? She’s more clever than she looks,” someone else noted.

Crystal’s decision to surrender drew mixed reactions from the audience. Some were critical, while others respected her choice.

If Crystal had fought hard against Emeret, it might have helped the other contestants. However, as members of the Sword Union, it was more honorable for her to concede. Not everyone was so considerate.

“The fourth match is over. We will now begin the fifth match. Contestants number five and twelve, please come to the battle ring,” Oron announced without wasting any time.

As Emeret and Crystal left the ring, he called for the next match right away.

Just then, a loud clang echoed through the air, and a golden beam shot up into the sky. It soared 300 feet before crashing down and embedding itself into the battle ring.

Everyone turned to see the source of the sound and noticed a golden saber.

Shining on the ring.