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Suddenly, I’ame The roar of the audience abruptly returns, followed by the announcer’s shocked voice and the ju into see myself still encased in black arone, as if it were all a hallucination My white gaain

"E?"

"Forget her--" co for the Artifact now!"

I realize I a, frozen, trapped inside a set of ruins with only a sa in vain to fend off three Cloud Knights He’s going to lose his Artifact I try to rae, but I can’t--and then I realize it’s because I have no en left My reserves are red That’s what Hammie had enerate What had happened?

"I don’t believe it!" the announcer is shouting now "After their incredible first win, the Phoenix Riderssoon--"

Ha into view like a phantohts’ Artifact before they can register her presence, right at the sae for Asher’s Both teams seize the other’s Artifact at almost the exact same time The crowd screams

A few seconds pass before the final score appears in our views

"The Phoenix Riderson to victory by a millisecond!" the announcer shouts

As the world vanishes aroundcrowds--comes back into view, I see Asher roll out of his station in a furiousat raa their moves Boos arefor a replay, that we hadn’t won this round at all

"What the hell happened?" Asher de, shameful display I’ve ever seen froaure is still hovering in my mind, ominous and silent "I’ust "We’ll talk back at the dorms" From the corner of my eye, I see Roshan shake his head at me in confusion, while Hammie looks away in disappointoes to Ren, who’s watching htens He knows

Suddenly, the holograo still My teaasps and shouts As they do, I can only find enough strength to stare in stunned silence at the grainy screenshot that is now publicly broadcast to everyone in the arena, and probably to everyone watching this game Everyone in the world I don’t knoho had taken it, or how But so of his attack onout of Hideo’s ho in to kisson to mine It’s unmistakable

The news is out

25

PHOENIX RIDER SNAGS HEARTTHROB BILLIONAIRE!

HIDEO TANAKA PLAYS HIS WILD CARD

WILD CARD GETS BILLIONAIRE BOYFRIEND

EXCLUSIVE: 1ST LEAKED PHOTOS OF HIDEO AND EMIKA