CHAPTER 445: CHAPTER 443: THE OTHER GUILD

[System Notification: Remaining Guilds – 53]

Guildmaster Hans Dorein (Frostbite Howl – Germany) unable to continue. Guild disqualified.

Guildmaster Amara Sook (Crystal Vale – Philippines) downed. Guild disqualified.

Guildmaster Ricardo Solis (Platinum Mantle – Mexico) confirmed dead. Guild disqualified.

The names came slowly at first — a ripple through the air, each one flashing in a transparent blue panel above the sea — then faster, as more guilds were eliminated. Some were simply unable to fight, knocked unconscious or overwhelmed, while others met a harsher fate in the chaos.

[System Notification: Remaining Guilds – 48]

Guildmaster Emily Rae (Dragonfold – Australia) unable to continue. Guild disqualified.

Guildmaster Kentaro Ishioka (Silver Storm – Japan) defeated. Guild disqualified.

Guildmaster Iman Bakar (Iron Dunes – UAE) confirmed dead. Guild disqualified.

People across the world watched in silence, holding their breath as another chime echoed.

Guildmaster Vadim Rozov (Blood Wolf Pact – Russia) unable to fight. Guild disqualified.

Some viewers clenched fists. Some cried. Others simply whispered the same thing over and over again:

"Please... let the divine weapon fall into the right hands."

________________

The anchor’s voice suddenly cracked with surprise as she leaned forward, staring at one of the live feeds playing behind her.

"Wait—wait, this can’t be right... I’m getting confirmation now—yes! A guild from the Philippines... a newly registered one—is holding their ground... no, they’re fighting against one of China’s Top 5 guilds!"

The large screen behind her zoomed in to show the chaos in the sky and sea.

There, above the midline waters, two banners were clashing — one displaying the soaring sun of the Philippines, the other bearing the five burning stars of the Chinese guild: Sky Sovereign Pact.

The screen focused on a woman flying in the air — her wings made of compressed wind, translucent and slicing the air cleanly behind her. She was barefoot, her short black hair whipping in the wind, and in each hand, she held a metal stick with glowing runes — wind enchanted batons, spinning so fast they blurred into arcs of air pressure.

[Guildmaster: Dayanara Cruz – PHILIPPINES | Guild: Mandirigma]

The camera zoomed on her as she spun midair dodging a flaming arrow and blasting a wind burst that sent three enemy members crashing onto the deck of their own ship.

"This guild just registered last year. How are they even—?!"

Across from her, riding a massive red-feathered beast with a wingspan wide enough to cast shadows on two ships, was the Chinese guildmaster.

[Guildmaster: Wei Long – CHINA | Guild: Sky Sovereign Pact]

He had long dark hair tied into a high warrior’s knot, his robes fluttering as he gripped the back of his flying beast — part phoenix, part hawk, its eyes glowing with burning qi. A spear rested across his lap, and with one hand, he pointed at Dayanara as his beast circled her midair.

"I’ve never heard of a guild from the Philippines climbing this high in such a short time," the anchor said, her voice rising with excitement. "And now, they’re toe-to-toe with China’s top players!"

The live broadcast showed Dayanara spinning her sticks again, shouting commands to her members still holding formation on their ship below. Despite being outnumbered, her guild stood firm — using wind shields and fast movement to keep the enemy from boarding.

Back in the broadcast studio, murmurs filled the room. The camera caught background crew whispering.

"They’re actually holding up!"

"Who is she?!"

"Amazing!"

The anchor turned back to the viewers, gripping her desk tightly.

"The world may be watching the top guilds... but right now, all eyes are on this underdog. Mandirigma of the Philippines is making history right in front of us!"

Dayanara floated down from the sky, her wind-crafted wings folding behind her like fading feathers of mist. Her long black hair, tied in a high ponytail, waved behind her and The sun glinted against her brownish skin.

Below her, on his beast’s back, Wei Long lifted his head and locked eyes with her. The flames around his mount flared higher as the wind swirled from Dayanara’s descent.

"...Dayanara," he muttered.

Wei Long guided his beast down and leapt off smoothly, his boots hitting the surface of his own ship. The moment he landed, a desperate attacker from another guild lunged forward, spear in hand.

Without blinking, Wei Long turned sideways — his elbow shot backward, cracking against the attacker’s face with a sharp thwack. As the man stumbled back, dazed, Wei Long grabbed the very same spear from him with one hand and kicked him clean off the ship, the man’s scream trailing behind as he fell toward the sea below.

Dayanara’s eyes narrowed at the sight, her stance shifting. She twirled the two steel arnis sticks in her hands — each stick marked with faint runes, glowing gently with wind enchantments. Their handles were wrapped in rough leather, the grip perfect, balanced for speed and force.

"Sticks as weapons..." Wei Long said with a smirk, resting the spear across his shoulder. "Seems to be not that bad?"

Dayanara lifted her arms and dropped into stance, one foot sliding slightly back. "Never underestimate a Filipino," she answered coldly. "These sticks are more than weapons. They’re our history."

Wei Long smirked, tossing the spear once in the air and catching it again. "So this is what they call... hmm... what was it?" His eyes narrowed in amusement. "Arnis?"

Dayanara gave no reply — only a steely glare.

"Show me what a woman like you can do."

And with a burst of power, Wei Long jumped, the deck beneath him cracking slightly from the force. In a heartbeat, he landed on the ship where Dayanara now waited, the air between them thick with energy.

Their weapons clashed instantly — spear meeting dual sticks in a spray of sparks. Dayanara moved swiftly, parrying with one stick and using the other to aim for his ribs. Wei Long blocked, twisting his spear and swinging for her leg, but she hopped back and twisted around, the wind swirling with her motion as her arnis sticks blurred into motion again.

Each blow of his spear came with thunderous force, but Dayanara danced between them — rolling under his sweep, striking at his elbow, flicking her sticks up to redirect the blade. Wei Long grunted once, surprised at the sharp pain on his shoulder where one strike landed clean.

Dayanara’s answer was another flurry — one stick low, aiming for his shin, the other crashing in from the side. Wei Long caught one with his spear, but the second hit his side with a crack, forcing him to leap back across the deck.