My Happy Dragon Life With Supernatural Girls-Chapter 92. Making A Choice.

Below them, the survivors gathered around.

Some stood tall while others shook in fear.

Meanwhile, a few others looked toward the royal stands without realizing why their instincts told them to.

It almost seemed like they wanted to know if the elites were smiling while looking at them or not.

In other words, they seemed to be searching for some kind of approval or recognition, but Aster wasn’t looking up, and neither was Astrid as well.

Neither of them cared about those things.

Instead, their minds were on what Lilith was about to say.

The succubus descended slowly from above, with her wings folding behind her as her heels touched the arena floor.

Noticing this, the noise faded without her needing to ask.

It wasn’t because of fear.

But because every demon present understood that this moment mattered a lot.

Lilith looked over them all, and her gaze swept across the contestants.

She noticed how some were exhausted and bloodied, then she smiled warmly.

It wasn’t her usual smile, which seemed to have a hint of mockery in it, and neither was it a teasing smile as well.

Instead, it was a genuine smile that showed how impressed she was to see this group of contestants making it to this point of the contest.

"Hmm, let me say this before you do anything else." She said lightly as her voice carried across the vast arena with ease. "Congratulations once again to all one hundred contestants who successfully qualified."

Lilith’s words echoed in every contestant’s ears.

For a few seconds, no one reacted, and neither did they say anything.

They simply remained still until realization struck, and then they all realized they had actually done it.

They had somehow crossed the threshold that thousands of other demons had failed to reach, and this made the arena erupt as both contestants and spectators rejoiced in excitement.

Cheers rose from every direction while names were shouted and fists were raised in celebration.

Some demons laughed in disbelief while others covered their faces to block out the tears streaming down their cheeks.

Their shoulders shook as they continued to cry while realizing that they were no longer just hopefuls.

Instead, they were now the chosen few who would undeniably be admitted into the academy after making it this far in the tournament.

On the other hand, Lilith raised one hand, and the noise softened, but it did not fully fade.

Then she continued.

"Everyone of you has done well."

"You’ve endured fear that shattered minds."

"You’ve faced spirit beasts, battled monsters and your peers alike, yet here you are, still standing."

So do so with your chest raised high."

"From this moment onward, none of you will ever again be called ordinary."

"Each of you has already earned a direct recommendation into Evermore Academy, so you should be proud of what you’ve done so far."

Hearing this, their reactions were instantaneous.

Many had their eyes widened in shock, and many still couldn’t believe what they had just heard.

For some, this was everything, so they felt really proud to hear that they had suddenly been chosen to attend the academy.

A commoner dropped to one knee, and his breath hitched as though air had been knocked from his lungs.

Meanwhile, a noble also stared at his hands with a stunned look on his face as he realized that he had made it this far not by his name but actually by merit.

Several other demons laughed softly as they realized this as well, but Lilith let them do as they pleased until they were all satisfied.

Then she continued. "With what you’ve accomplished already, there is no shame in stopping here, if you choose to."

"You’ve proven your worth already, and you’ve secured your future as well."

"In other words, you’ve done more than enough."

"So if you wish, you may choose to leave this arena now as victors, or if you want, you may stick around to take part in the fifth and final round."

A few demons exhaled deeply upon hearing this.

A few others looked like they were about to cry because they could already imagine the fifth round being a really difficult trial for them to overcome.

But Lilith wasn’t finished.

"However," she said.

"For those of you who are a little bit curious about what’s ahead."

"And for those who are unsatisfied with what they’ve done or would want more than acceptance."

"Also, for those who wish to know where they truly stand among monsters. There is but one final opportunity to gain something very important." Lilith said, and a murmur erupted.

The murmurs returned, louder now.

"What opportunity?"

"What does she mean?"

"We already won, didn’t we?"

"Yeah, we did."

"So what’s there for us to fight for?"

" I don’t know what she’s talking about."

Meanwhile, Lilith raised her voice just enough to cut through them. "If you choose to continue into the fifth round, there will be a reward far greater than recognition."

Hearing this, everyone locked their eyes onto her as they listened to what Lilith had to say.

"Prestige."

"Attention."

"Influence."

"These are a few of the things you’ll gain, along with the answer to a question many of you are already asking yourselves."

She paused.

"Who is the strongest among you? Lilith announced, and the arena turned silent.

It wasn’t fear that turned them silent.

It was actually temptation.

The feeling of being recognized and acknowledged as the strongest in their generation, who wouldn’t want such a strong and marvelous prestige?

Meanwhile, Lilith lowered her hand as she said. "Let me be clear. This is not a requirement."

"There are no penalties in stepping back, and neither are there any dishonor in doing the same."

"And there’s definitely no consequences in stepping away."

"You have already won. So those who wish to withdraw may do so now."

No one moved, but some demons glanced at each other.

Some clenched their fist,s and some stared straight ahead, breathing carefully as they weighed their pride against their reputation."

Meanwhile, Aster remained still while Astrid did the same.

Neither looked around

Neither looked at the other.

And neither looked up because they already knew what they would do.

On the other hand, Lilith waited as seconds passed, then a demon stepped forward.

He was a noble, tall, and with broad shoulders.

"I will." He said, and another followed.

Then another

And another.

A commoner hesitated, but then he took a step while tightening his jaw.

A conjurer moved next, and slowly, by slowly, more began to join.

Not all of them were able to join, but by the time the movement stopped, more than half had stepped forward.

Fifty-eight.

That was the number.

Fifty-eight demons who were not satisfied with victory.

Fifty-eight who wanted proof.

The others remained behind, watching with expressions that were mixed with relief, envy, and awe.

Lilith counted them once, and then she smiled.

"A respectable number," she said as her gaze swept through the contestants.

"Very well." Lilith turned toward the volunteers.

"For those who remain, prepare yourselves."

"Because what comes next is not about merit alone, it’s about recognition," she said.

And with that, the light beneath their feet began to gather.

Light gathered beneath the feet of the fifty-eight who had chosen to remain.

It was not deadly, and neither was it sudden.

The arena floor glowed in clean circular patterns, each circle isolating one contestant from the others.

The air turned still and heavy in a way that pressed against the chest rather than the skin.

No one spoke, but those who had stepped back watched in silence as the light intensified, knowing this was the last moment they would stand on the same ground as the monsters they had just fought beside.

Aster did not look around.

Astrid did not either.

But the glow surged, and the arena vanished.

Aster felt the shift immediately because space folded without distortion.

There was no pull, no vertigo, no warning.

One instant, he stood beneath the open sky of the arena, and the next, his boots rested on smooth black stone.

The environment was circular, wide, and enclosed.

The ceiling rose high above, while the floor beneath him was etched with faint glowing runes arranged in perfect symmetry.

The air was cool, neutral, stripped of heat and scent.

It was a controlled space, and he was alone.

But then he felt it.

It felt like a presence.

Across the chamber, Aster noticed light gathering again.

Not beneath his feet this time.

It was in front of him.

The glow condensed, thickened, and it took shape.

Then he noticed the outline of a body, followed by limbs, and then finally, its details.

Seeing this, Aster’s eyes narrowed slightly when he realized that the figure standing across from him was actually him?

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A/N: So sorry for the Chapter yesterday.

Hopefully, you guys will be able to see it now.

Thank you so much still, for the golden tickets and power stones

I really appreciate them.