I Can Copy Curses

Chapter 298: 298. A Twist in the Selection

Orion smiled and walked back. He had intentionally provoked Josh into attacking him, knowing that Josh couldn't defend himself while attacking. Orion used that moment to gain the upper hand and defeat him.

Just as Orion had said, Josh could be the weakest in the guild if not for his unique talent. Orion felt the same about himself; if not for his unique ability to copy curses, he might have died long ago.

"Ray wins," Nathan announced, and it was at that moment everyone gasped. Some of the lower guild members, including Josh's friends like Shuna and Ravina, were shocked that Josh could be defeated so easily.

If they had thought calmly, they might have figured it out, but they hadn't, and now only regret remained, especially for Shuna, who felt exactly this way.

The spectators and higher-level guild members were also surprised, to say the least. It wasn't every day they saw someone defeat Josh so easily.

However, not everyone was pleased with the outcome. A middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties cursed Orion. "Damn, where did this Ray Wiser come from? He ruined our entire plan," he muttered. He had red-brown hair with a short mustache and a full beard.

"Don't be too angry, Lucas. Either way, they both have to fight Reilly, so it doesn't change the situation too much. If Josh had fought him, it could have been easier, but luck isn't always on our side," another middle-aged man said, feeling a bit of pity.

"Zeskin, do you mean to use that method?" Lucas asked with narrowed eyes.

Zeskin nodded and said, "It's a bit risky, but it'll do the job."

Lucas nodded, pondering for a moment before giving orders. "Alright, I'll handle everything here. You go and prepare for that."

Zeskin nodded and disappeared from the Combat Hall.

***

"I defeated Josh too," Orion said to Roman when he reached him, smirking. "What do you think my chances are against Reilly?" He was really curious.

Roman pondered for a moment and said, "Somewhere around 10%."

"That low?" Orion raised his eyebrows.

Roman nodded. "Reilly rarely uses his full strength, and when he does, it's a sight to behold."

Orion nodded, wondering how long Reilly could take him on.

"It seems like we have our two top contestants," Zemiri said loudly, attracting everyone's attention. "Now it's time to reveal something."

She looked at Orion and Reilly and continued, "There wasn't just one, but two seats given to Starfire Guild. However, one of them had already been decided beforehand, and the selection was for only one seat."

Whispers spread among the lower guild members who weren't aware of this news. Even Reilly, Shuna, and the others looked surprised. No one had known such a surprise was waiting for them at the end of the selection.

"The first candidate is Erza," Zemiri said. "If anyone is dissatisfied with the choice, you can challenge and defeat her. If you successfully defeat her, that seat will be yours."

She looked at everyone and added, "Therefore, before the final battle between Ray and Reilly begins, I want to confirm Erza's spot. If anyone doubts her ability, you can challenge her."

Some lower-level members exchanged wry smiles when they heard Zemiri's words. Everyone in the hall was well aware of the formidable strength Erza possessed. She wasn't just another gold-ranked member of the guild; she was one of the strongest, if not the strongest, at that rank.

The only person who could match her in battle was Reilly, and even then, the question of who was superior between the two remained unresolved. The reputation and hype surrounding Erza were on par with Reilly's.

Shuna, Roman, and Reilly were once again taken aback by Zemiri's statement. They had long assumed that Erza would refrain from participating in the selection process. After all, she had never shown any interest in joining the prestigious Dallas Academy.

Instead, she had always been focused on carrying forward the legacy of the guild, with many believing she was destined to become the next leader. But now, it seemed they had misunderstood her intentions all along.

Orion was the most surprised. He had some doubts about why she wasn't participating but hadn't given it much thought. It turned out she didn't need to participate since she was already chosen for one of the seats.

Seeing that no one stepped up to challenge Erza, Zemiri announced, "It's decided then. The first spot is fixed for Erza."

She then looked at Orion and Reilly and continued, "You two can start your battle now. Remember, only by winning will you have the chance to go to the Dallas Academy; otherwise, it will be all over for you. So, think of it as a do-or-die battle. Use your full strength, both of you, and show us what you've got. Don't worry about getting heavily injured.

With me and all the other members of the healing party here, it won't happen. Just give it your all."

Orion nodded and began walking toward the stage, his expression calm and determined.

At the same time, Reilly moved to his designated space, his face etched with a seriousness that hadn't been there before. The realization had dawned on him—he had completely misjudged Orion's power.

At first, Reilly had dismissed Orion as just another weakling among the participants. But as he observed Orion's battles, one by one, it became painfully clear that Orion was far more dangerous than he had initially thought.

The ease with which Orion had dispatched his opponents, including Josh, had shattered Reilly's earlier assumptions. He understood now that Orion was likely to be his opponent, perhaps even before facing Josh, and that realization had silenced any sarcastic remarks he might have made. There was no point; he knew Josh stood no chance against Orion.

Reilly also reflected on their first encounter, remembering Orion's casual demeanor. At the time, he had interpreted it as arrogance or ignorance, but now it was evident that it meant something else entirely. Orion either didn't know who Reilly was, or worse, he simply didn't consider Reilly a threat.

But that was then, and this was now. Reilly couldn't afford to lose focus. He closed his eyes momentarily to calm his mind and took a deep, steadying breath.

A strange feeling settled in his chest—a sense of foreboding that this might be one of the toughest battles he had ever faced. For the first time in a long while, Reilly felt uncertain, but he pushed those thoughts aside, knowing that any doubt could be his undoing in the fight ahead.

"Who do you think is going to win?" Shuna asked Roman.

"I believe it will be Reilly, but I could be wrong because this new guy has been creating too many miracles," Roman sighed.

"Start," Nathan announced the beginning of the battle.

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