Chapter 1319
By now, Severia’s highest-security, closed-circuit tech arena was fully operational.
The grand finale was being held in the deepest, most secure core of the technology center.
There were zero blind spots in the surveillance, broadcasting an ultra-high-definition feed live to the entire world.
Inside the pre-match waiting room.
High-definition cameras tracked their every move from every angle.
The massive screen overhead played the global broadcast’s countdown on an endless loop.
The air in the room was pulled taut, the atmosphere suffocatingly tense.
Competitors from various countries were running through their final preparations.
However, across the waiting room, the other national teams were scattered thinly, with most countries boasting no more than three remaining contestants.
This made the Elyndor delegation, with its massive roster of seventeen finalists, look incredibly imposing.
Because of this.
Countless gazes drifted toward the Elyndor section, filled with a messy cocktail of deep-seated dread and blatant hostility.
After all, everyone knew.
The collective prowess of the Elyndor team was suffocatingly powerful.
And this was the individual finals.
Elyndor possessed a weapon of mass destruction who had single-handedly dictated the pacing of the entire tournament the Elyndorian Captain, Serena Lancaster.
At that moment, Mr. Ashwell stood in the center of his team, keeping his voice low as he walked them through their pre-match psychological prep.
“The fact that you’ve made it this far proves that every single one of you is among Elyndor’s finest p>
“Do not let outside noise distract you. Keep your composure, and remember the rhythm we practiced during training p>
“The grand finale doesn’t just test your skills; it tests your mental fortitude p>
“I believe in all of you p>
His speech seemed to ground the Elyndorian competitors, settling the nervous energy in the group.
Lydia Brooks clenched her fists and nodded firmly. “Don’t worry, Mr. Ashwell. We definitely won’t let Elyndor down p>
Caleb Sommers pressed his lips into a tight line and echoed his agreement.
But immediately after speaking, both of them instinctively threw an anxious glance toward the main doors.
And they weren’t the only ones.
Many of the Elyndorian contestants kept checking the entrance while listening to Mr. Ashwell.
A lingering, undeniable anxiety was clearly visible in their eyes.
Mr. Ashwell obviously noticed. He checked his watch. “Have we still not heard from Serena p>
Lydia’s face paled slightly as she murmured, “Before we left this morning, a few of us went to knock on the Captain’s door p>
“But she never answered p>
“And she’s not picking up her phone p>
Over the past few days, their captain had clearly been exhausted.
They hadn’t wanted to disrupt her rest, so they hadn’t dared to pound on the door endlessly.
Originally, they had planned to wait for her.
But the organizers had mandated early security check-in, and
Moore had promen
Chairman Moore
track her down and told them to go ahead first.
But now p>
There were only ten minutes left until the official start time.
Serena still hadn’t shown up.
“What’s going on? The Captain is never late You don’t think something happened to her do you? tydia tightly gripped the hem of her jacket, her palms slick with sweat.
Caleb’s brow furrowed, his expression turning grim.
The rest of the team looked equally frantic.
The collective anxiety within the Elyndor team began to spike.
Not far away, Severia’s sole remaining contestant was standing with two finalists from Norvane.
His gaze swept over the conspicuously empty captain’s chair in the Elyndor section.
Pushing his glasses up his nose, the Severian contestant watched the Elyndor team continually check the doors and let out a harsh laugh.
“Look like you’re all waiting on your esteemed Captain Lancaste aren’t you p>