Solar Blood Masters (131)

Chapter 131 - Out Of Bounds

Raphael's team rested amidst the carnage. Their breaths were ragged, their bodies ached, their Solar Essence depleted, but none dared move. Not while their terrifying opponent, Wu Gurang, loomed over them.

“Those wounds… she’s still standing…?”

Those whispers were hushed by her presence.

Wu Gurang's massive form shuddered. Six ‘Bull Demon Pillars’, still embedded in her hide, dripped blood. But she ignored the pain.

She glared at them.

“Damn you BULL! That beam of yours… It almost hurt me badly. If I hadn’t brought out my powerful shield… I… well…” She trailed off, but her venomous gaze settled upon Raphael’s battered form.

“You’re about to taste a world of hurt and humiliation… before you DIE!”

But as she was about to unleash another ‘Rage Emitter’, a beam of blue light descended from the heavens. It settled gently between Wu Gurang and Raphael’s team, separating them.

Upon a delicate, silver butterfly, a fairy with wings that sparkled with starlight, hovered.

“The match… is over. The ‘Breath Takers’ team… has WON this fight.”

“WHAT?! That’s IMPOSSIBLE!” Wu Gurang roared, those silver fox ears of hers twitched frantically, “How can I LOSE to those BRATS?!”

She was confused. She’d endured their attacks! She’d weathered their pathetic attempts to knock her out of bounds, and she hadn’t yielded, so HOW was it possible for her to have LOST?!

“You! Fairy! EXPLAIN yourself!” She glared at the tiny creature with those fangs bared, ready to shred those wings and devour it.

"How have I LOST?!"

The fairy calmly wiped a stray droplet of Wu Gurang’s saliva from its face and then replied simply, "You lost… for being out of bounds."

“What?” She was puzzled.

Wu Gurang looked behind her, those 3 tails swaying with a chilling confusion as her lone eye scanned the arena. Her massive form was still very much within the dome’s boundary. Not even a single fur from her tails had crossed the line.

“That’s… NONSENSE!” She was livid!

She raised a paw, ready to swat the fairy into oblivion, when a voice she’d come to loathe had her turning.

“The fairy is right. You’ve lost this round, fox.”

Raphael had managed to stand. Despite his injuries, he was smiling. A smugness had his horns trembling.

"What?!"

“Let me explain… BEFORE you chew my head OFF.” He then chuckled at how ridiculous those words had sounded coming from a bull whose very life essence was moments from vanishing, truly a day for the impossible, or was it?

“Our aim from the very beginning wasn't to outlast you for three hours, nor to defeat you. No, that wouldn't work. Our aim was to knock you out of bounds… from the START! And we SUCCEEDED!”

"WHAT?!” Wu Gurang was stunned.

Raphael nodded. "It was all part of our plan.”

…

FLASHBACK!

…

Outside the platform, Raphael and his teammates were gathered beneath a tree. Raphael addressed his team with a serious tone.

“First things first. We have to create a barrier as soon as we enter the platform. The faster, the BETTER.

Gastaroid, you’re responsible for this.” He gazed upon that mountain of molten muscles expectantly.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

Raphael recalled how potent Gastaroid’s barrier had been during the Black Wind Selection Trial, those flames that had blocked countless contestants from crossing, and now…

“Surely your flames can withstand a few Emperor Calamity attacks?”

“I’m being used as a shield because of my size, aren’t I?” Gastaroid grumbled.

"Exactly.”

“Tsk. Fine! I’ll do it!” He agreed begrudgingly.

“Secondly…” Raphael continued.

“I’m unaware of the opponent we’ll be facing. They might have weird attack patterns. Even a one-shot skill strike. So…"

He glanced at Gastaroid once more.

“You’ll be our vanguard, Gastaroid. Your job is to withstand any insurmountable attacks.”

“AGAIN?! You want to use me as bait, bull?”

“Think of it… as… a test of your strength.” Raphael countered.

“Hmph! Fine! But if I’m injured, I’ll claim your hide as compensation!”

“Fair enough. Third…" Raphael looked at Thienika.

“We won't be able to block and Emperor Calamity’s attacks for long. So, when the opportunity arises… you’ll step in.”

He explained his strategy:

"An Emperor Calamity… They’re SURE to be arrogant. After they think they’ve defeated us… they’ll gloat! It’s their nature, they can’t resist, right?”

“It’s true, those with ancient power, they often crave those who crawl before them to offer praises, but what are you suggesting, Raphael?” Thienika asked. She was intrigued by this plan.

“They won’t be paying attention to us. They’ll be lost in their boasts… and that’s when YOU, Grandma Thienika… will use your ‘Natural Phenomenon’ to save our allies from death’s embrace.”

“Hmm… that ability of yours?” Lu Jade’s eyes widened as he recalled how Thienika had saved him from Tranus. “Will… Will it work on an Emperor Calamity?”

"My FOUR skills will also work on an Emperor Calamity, Little Lu, but the duration… it'll be much shorter.” She tapped her staff and a soft thud reverberated. “It is a gamble. But one I’m willing to take.”

"Excellent.” Raphael smiled.

He then turned to Gastaroid. “Fourth…”

"Here we go again…" Gastaroid rolled his eyes.

"Gastaroid, you are the key to the fourth part of our strategy.”

Raphael hesitated for a moment before revealing his ‘Logia Mist’.

“I have this ability…" He summoned a swirling cloud of purple fog. “It can create illusions. But I need your help.”

“What’s that supposed to do?” Gastaroid looked at the fog with a bored expression.

Raphael explained, “This ‘Logia Mist’ can trick an Emperor Calamity’s perception. However, I can’t control them directly, their willpower is too strong. So…” He glanced at Gastaroid’s massive form, “I need you to absorb some of the mist… into those Bull Demon Pillars of yours.”

"My pillars?”

“Yes. And at the opportune time. You’ll stab them. The mist will seep in… and create an illusion!”

He then explained how the illusion would work.

“We’ll make it seem as if the dome has expanded, tricking the Emperor Calamity into believing that they are still within the boundaries, but…"

“But we’ll expand the platform with my rock powers, making the illusion even more believable. Right?” Gastaroid smirked. He’d finally understood the plan. It was simple, yet ingenious!

“Exactly.” Raphael nodded. “This will buy us time. And hopefully… a chance for…”

He produced a golden key.

“The Absalom Drill.”

“That drill?! But Raphael! You were severely injured using it! And it consumes so much energy… surely you…”

Thienika’s concerns were mirrored by Lu Jade.

“Big Brother… are you SURE?”

Raphael explained, "This is where our teamwork comes in. Each of you will channel your Solar Essence into me, allowing me to maximize the drill’s power! We’ll blast that Emperor Calamity out of bounds without them even noticing. And claim victory!"

He watched as his teammates gazed at the key.

“The drill is a double-edged sword, I’ll admit that. But it’s our only chance at victory. Trust me. With our combined might, we can make it work!”

“As for any unforeseen variables… well… we’ll just have to WING it, hahaha!”

He laughed nervously.

Qi Fenwei glared at Gastaroid and Raphael, “You two, you have all the important parts. I’m just… an extra?”

“You’re not an extra, Princess. Your job is to make sure this plan goes smoothly.”

“Hmph! Fine, but if this bull’s schemes get us killed…” She trailed off menacingly.

“Is everyone clear on their role?”

“Yes!”

…

BACK TO THE PRESENT…

…

Wu Gurang watched as the fake platform extension, created by Gastaroid, melted away. The dome above them narrowed. She glanced at her rear and her jaw dropped. Now she could clearly see that half of her backside was outside.

“It’s true! I’M… OUT OF BOUNDS!”

She couldn’t comprehend.

“How…? How can a bull create, and execute, such a thorough plan? In such a short amount of time? This is unreal! You… You don’t act, nor think, like an ACTUAL bull.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!” Raphael’s horns tilted, “Are all bulls supposed to be… DUMB?!” He glanced at Gastaroid, whose expression was unreadable.

Gastaroid returned his Bull Demon Pillars into his core. ‘This Golden Bull Thork’s strategy… it actually WORKED? The way he thinks… it’s almost as similar to those weak humans.’ Gastaroid clenched his fists. His thoughts were a silent, internal admission of Raphael’s ingenuity. ‘I… would never have planned something so thorough. My fists are only meant to crush…’

Wu Gurang shook her head and sighed, “I’ve been… OUTSMARTED! Truly outsmarted. It seems I underestimated your cunning, bull. You have defeated me this day. You have my respect.”

“YES! We DID it! We WON! We WON!”

Lu Jade slithered around Thienika with glee, his tail thrashed excitedly as he savored their victory.

Even Thienika couldn’t contain her smile. Her ancient heart, usually a fortress of cautious wisdom, soared with joy.

Qi Fenwei, however, felt a pang of jealousy.

‘That bull… His tactics were truly impressive. I wonder… Could my previous team have come up with such a plan? Perhaps… Perhaps not.’

The fairy reappeared. It hovered before them.

“Congratulations, Breath Takers, you have won. You will be transported back to the Grand Mound Arena.” It then unleashed a wave of blue light.

They vanished.