Chapter 210

The aftermath of the team battle still echoed above the arena. As Shrek's members returned to the rest area from different directions, some were still catching their breath, some had beads of sweat hanging from their foreheads, and some clenched their fists in the gaps between steps before loosening them again.

The protagonist stood slightly left of center on the arena and did not move immediately. His right hand was still draped behind Ma Xiaotao's waist and had not withdrawn. Ma Xiaotao leaned against his shoulder, her breathing still rapid, the loose strands on her forehead stuck to her skin with sweat. Her hand hung at her side, her fingertips trembling faintly. Most of her Soul Power had been drained by that last strike, and the meridian running from her shoulder to her fingers was still recovering slowly. Her face was somewhat pale, and her lips had lost their color, but she did not hurry to let go or stand up. She simply remained there, her chest still rising and falling.

The protagonist lowered his head and glanced at her, a thought surfacing in his mind: if the team battle had dragged on, the greatest variable would actually have been her. Her strength truly surpassed everyone on the opposing side, but her temperament also meant she would become their priority target. As long as they had a way to hold her back for even a few breaths, she would lose her head, and once she did, her Evil Fire would surge up. At that point, it would no longer be a matter of Phoenix Flame. It would be a matter of her Evil Fire going out of control. If it truly reached that stage, even the referee might not be able to save anyone in time, and those people on