The echo of the explosion reverberated through the air, the acidic yellow engulfing the center of the arena...
The platform where the leaders stood shook!
All of them watched the scene with wide eyes.
Garoma took a step back, while the others remained frozen in shock.
"What in the hell...?" said Ash, covering his nose, trying to block the acidic smell that began to seep toward them.
As for Claude, his hand trembled slightly, tense... but he had seen something. ,'He used it...'
And yet, the boy had crushed Egologia from the start.
While they were in shock, the sound of quiet footsteps emerged...
From within the yellow smoke, shadows began to form.
Then... Zora emerged, walking confidently, without a single scratch!
He raised his head and stared directly at the leaders...
Then he spoke in a calm voice, but it cut through the silence like a knife:
"Did you all see now?... I'm the interesting one here."
A moment of silence fell before another voice rang out...
From within the smoke, Egologia emerged!
His clothes were torn, and his feet slid across the shattered ground, but he didn't fall.
The crimson shield! The technique he always used to block, he used it again in that moment.
But he was barely standing...
He opened his mouth, taking sharp breaths, as if trying to tame a storm within his chest.
Then he slowly raised his head and glared at Zora... with ferocity!
But Zora wasn't even looking at him.
"That damn brat..." Egologia muttered in a trembling voice.
'Damn... Fuck this hiding...'
His body began to tremble, as if something inside him was trying to break free.
'I'll unleash everything I have now...'
The ground beneath him began to crack slowly.
'Until I crush you to pieces!'
Claude spoke, addressing the leaders:
"The remaining two are these two... is it necessary to continue? That little boy..."
Garoma, with a confident smile:
"Oh, hold on, Claude! You're always cautious, as is your habit... let's see what happens... let's see what the legitimate heir can do."
Ash, agreeing with Garoma:
"Yes, I agree with you, Garoma. Claude, we feel for you... you're always cautious because of that incident... it's a tragedy for you, unfortunately..."
The Incident
Claude felt a sudden heat rising within him, and a solid, explosive aura surrounded him for a moment...
The incident... it seemed this matter was very sensitive for Claude... something that must have happened to him before.
On the other hand, Egologia was watching the unconscious competitors...
Everyone was injured... some from fighting each other, and others... because of him. But things got worse after the explosion... it had been a shockwave that shook the ground.
'Damn! If I had jumped instead of crouching... the outcome would've been completely different!'
'Despite my certain success, I feel anger... as if I'm seeking revenge... as if I don't deserve to be treated like this by that boy...'
'In my first life, I was a king... I am not to be disrespected!'
'But Life Number 1... why does it always sting my head like this?!'
Devil?
'That word... it stung me...'
"A fight... a brat like him wouldn't dare... ruining my new lifestyle... the rules are to live... to flow... to reach the best."
Egologia finished his internal mutterings, then spoke aloud:
"Hey... you brat face!"
Zora didn't turn, remaining as he was, with his pale, piercing gaze, as if he saw nothing even while staring at the platform ahead.
"Shit! who is this boy?"
'Something... the [maga] around him moved strangely earlier, as if responding to him unconsciously.'
'Is it possible for him to possess all this energy at this age?!'
Egologia didn't hesitate. He shot forward like an arrow, showcasing his astonishing speed.
Arrow-like movements...
An arrow backward, a vertical arrow from above, impossible to see, barely noticeable.
But Zora didn't move, only... his eyes glowed for a moment.
'Is he still in his trance?!'
'Well, let's try something else...'
Egologia charged from above, descending directly onto him like a fiery meteor.
"Come on, show me... bring it out!"
Then, Zora finally raised his head.
His piercing eyes glowed intensely, as if preparing to pierce through everything in front of him.
And suddenly...
A deadly acidic beam shot out from the depths of his eyes, a direct lethal strike toward Egologia!
"FU-UUH-CK.. a laser??!! ...."
In a fraction of a second, Egologia realized the danger.
'Enough is enough... no escape, I have to unleash my maga now... Hell it—'
But then, something appeared in the sky!
A massive iron wall suddenly stood between them!
The Titanium Beast... Claude himself, standing between the inevitable collision!
As if time stopped for a moment, then in one motion, Claude swung his fist, deflecting the beam as if it were just an arrow!
The beam ricocheted away, shooting toward the stone wall at insane speed,
And in the next moment—
A massive explosion!
The wall completely shattered, and dust covered everything in an instant.
Inside the arena, the dust was still rising, and silence loomed...
Garoma broke the silence: "What in the hell?!"
He glared at Claude with suppressed anger.
"Your interference... what can we call it? What did you do?!"
On the ground, Egologia and Claude landed lightly, both directing their gazes toward Garoma.
Inside, Egologia muttered coldly:
'One of the leaders... can I kill him?'
Meanwhile, Claude spoke firmly, "That's enough, everyone... the matches are over."
Then he added bluntly:
"The report is clear, and the winners are decided."
"What do you mean, Claude?! The matches today were... Shit!, I rarely see a fight with this much power! And don't forget, this was your idea from the start!"
"Poor you all! The arena is exploding in front of us! The competitors could be killed at any moment!"
"They're just weak, they'll die here, that's natural."
Then he added in a stern tone, crossing his arms:
"The exam conditions are clear as you see, Claude... don't you remember we designed this together?"
Then he smirked slyly:
"You're really as strange as they say."
A terrifying pressure aura rose around him, like molten metal.
"Looking for fun? You want duels? Fine, I won't stop you... here I am... now, move your ass and come at me!"
"Oh... the iron boy is talking?"
At that moment, maga began to rise, one from above, and another from below.
'Are they going to fight?'
Egologia muttered to himself... his eyes gleaming with deadly curiosity.
But suddenly...