Chapter 43 That Should Have Been Me
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Matthias caught the meaning right away. “Are you kidding me? Sydney’s the one getting picked on here!”
Bastian bit back, “Isn’t it normal she’s getting yelled at? If she hadn’t left so many openings, would we have ended up losing?”
Bastian thought he’d made it clear. He figured Matthias would at least think about Sydney’s mistakes.
But no.
Matthias didn’t care at all. Instead, he flipped the blame onto Bastian with surprising anger. “So what? You’re Sydney’s brother. If you won’t stand up for her, fine, but don’t ever talk about Sydney like that again. If you won’t handle those jerks, then I will.”
Hearing that from Matthias drained all of Bastian’s energy.
It felt like no matter what he said, nothing made sense. He’d be labeled a traitor if he didn’t defend Sydney or doubted her.
Bitterness curled on his lips. So this is what Azalea went through. Right now, Matthias was the only one going against her, but Azalea had faced the whole Lark family’s accusations.
Bastian’s resolve to bring Azalea back only hardened with time.
If Azalea wants to play, I’ll clear the way for her.
Petal was put into the game, and soon the second match started.
Anexis fans hoped he’d turn things around.
Hubert sat front and center, watching the serious young girl on stage, a small smile playing on his lips.
Lea is truly amazing.
I don’t get the game, but I know she’s good at it.
Douglas clicked his tongue and sighed. “That girl’s something else.” As a gamer, he understood the skill behind Azalea’s moves.
“She’s with me, so of course, she won’t do badly,” Hubert said confidently.
“She’s with you, huh?” Douglas sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
He really wanted to find a mirror and show this old fox how ridiculous he looked right now.
He says she’s with him, but does she even care about him?
Back on stage, the game kept going. Anexis couldn’t afford to lose again. With Petal in, this match was a real back–and–forth.
It all came down to the ten–minute dragon fight again. Last game, Anexis got wiped out after the dragon fight.
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Chapter 43 That Should Have Been Me
The commentator said, “Both teams are tense now. Whoever wins this dragon fight could flp the whole match.
“Phoenix is warding the area but looks like Anexis spotted her. They’re about to start!
“Oh wow! What a coincidence! When Anexis threw all their skills, Phoenix dodged every single one! Is this really Phoenix rising from the ashes?”
That move shocked not just the commentators but everyone watching.
The crowd exploded in cheers, and someone started chanting, “Phoenix!”
The shouting drowned out everything else.
The fight ended in a quick sweep. The camera cut to Azalea as she took off her headset.
She looked down at the crowd with a small smile. “I am the peak.”
There was no doubt Anexis lost. Except for the one match GOD threw, every game was crushed at the ten- minute dragon fight. It felt like they only made the finals to get beaten.
By now, no one mocked Azalea for being a girl. Anyone who played the game could see she was just as skilled as Wylie.
To her, Petal was a nobody.
“Phoenix! Phoenix! Phoenix!”
The arena echoed with chants so loud it felt like the roof might come off. On stage, the five young players stood in the center, facing the crowd under a shower of golden light, highlighting their victory.
They were the undefeated champions of the night.
Hubert watched the girl on stage, shining bright, glowing with her glory.
Even he didn’t realize how focused he was on Azalea.
Douglas noticed Hubert’s every move and stifled a laugh, eyes shining with the amusement of a spectator. Hubert, Hubert … you don’t even know how much you care about this young lady, do you?
For someone so cold and distant, caring about someone like that was already as far as he could go.
Sydney sat on the Anexis team’s bench, staring as Azalea soaked up the crowd’s love. Her eyes burned with anger. That should have been me!
The fans‘ cheers, the Glory League champion’s crown, Wylie’s stare–those should’ve been mine!
Azalea’s been kicked out, so why did she have to come back and fight for what’s mine? Why does she get to tak
11?
Jealousy and hate twisted Sydney’s heart like creeping vines. Everything on stage made it impossible for Sydney to stay calm. Her face twisted with fury, her eyes shooting daggers at Azalea.
Suddenly, Sydney stood sharply and stormed backstage. She was afraid if she stayed any longer, she’d rush the stage.
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Chapter 43 That Should Have Been Me
Coldness filled her eyes. How could Azalea, once thrown out of the Larks, come back and even turn Cassius and Bastian against me?
*
Exhaling slowly, Sydney promised herself, I won’t let Azalea keep going like this. If I don’t stop her, I’ll be the next one kicked out of the Larks.
In the stands, Matthias’s eyes followed Sydney the moment she left the stage. Without a second thought, he stood up and went after her.
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