"Hmm?" Huo Kong, who had been closely observing the storm fighter, raised an eyebrow.
A faint uncertainty flickered across his expression. Something about this moment felt different. Sebastian's side had fired that terrifying weapon once again, yet, strangely enough, only a single shot this time.
Even more puzzling was its target. It wasn't aimed at the Flame Ostriches on the ground. Instead, it streaked straight toward the blazing circle of fire.
"Phoenix, ignore everything else, focus all power on the enemy musketeer!" Huo Kong's lips curved into a confident smirk.
He knew exactly what was coming. When that weapon detonated, it would certainly drain some energy from the circle of fire, but only a little. A negligible amount.
The vast flaming ring continued its descent, roaring like a burning sun, but the speed of the Silent Missile was faster as it ripped through the air at over two kilometers per second. Though made of specialized materials that made it slower than the AGM-62 Walleye, its speed still outmatched even the Phoenix's dazzling flight. In mere moments, the Silent Missile reached the skies above the fiery circle.
Spectators held their breath, convinced the Phoenix's flames would ignite it once again. Yet the next instant, a shocking scene unfolded. The missile split open midair, releasing a cascade of fist-sized metal cylinders that scattered like a rain of silver hail.
As they met the open air, the cylinders unfurled, each one expanding like a blossoming flower or a fan spreading its blades. They reshaped into enormous circular plates, like fists opening into wide metallic palms.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Hundreds of metal cylinders poured from the missile, descending in an endless stream. From a distance, one could see at least a hundred glinting against the inferno's glow.
This ingenious design, borrowed by Imperium scientists from the concept of cluster bombs, allowed them to launch hundreds of micro-devices from a single missile. Inside this one alone were five hundred. Their primary component, vibranium, is the ultimate anti-energy metal.
For years, scientists believed vibranium's potential was mostly untapped. It had been alloyed and modified countless times, but never had its purest power been fully utilized. After all, vibranium's greatest ability was to absorb all forms of energy, even Supernatural energy. Yet its absorption capacity was finite. Thus began the Imperium's pursuit of the impossible, the creation of a weapon that could devour energy itself.
This particular research project dated back to the reign of Elizabeth, and only within the last two decades had it made progress. Its secret lay in refining and purifying vibranium to perfection. But purification demanded extraordinary precision, a labyrinthine process consuming vast manpower and immense resources. The Astra Militarum had managed to craft only ten of these rare anti-energy munitions. Each tiny, fist-sized cylinder costs more to produce than a full missile.
The Silent Missile dropped from the sky, and even Lando winced as he watched. He knew how much each shot cost. If it weren't absolutely necessary, he would never have authorized its use.
High above, five hundred metal claws expanded, each twenty centimeters wide, descending in a dense, black swarm. They looked insignificant compared to the colossal fire circle, a mere cloud of dust before a blazing sun. But they fell fast.
Huo Kong frowned slightly, a twinge of unease rippling through him. Something felt wrong. Still, he dismissed the thought.
The metallic swarm plunged downward, colliding head-on with the circle of fire.
Snort! Snort! Snort!
A screeching hiss split the air as the claws met the Phoenix's inferno. At first, the reaction seemed normal, any object that touched the Phoenix's flames was instantly consumed.
But this time, it was different. After the first burst of heat and light, the flames began to shrink. Before anyone could process what they were seeing, the heart of the fire circle began collapsing inward.
The five hundred claws hammered into its center, absorbing its Supernatural energy like bottomless wells. In an instant, a gaping void opened where pure flame once blazed and the inferno was snuffed out. Only faint, struggling wisps of fire remained.
The enormous fire circle, once radiant and untouchable, now looked hollow and fragile. Its outer edges still burned, but its core was withered and dim.
Hissss…
The flickering remnants twisted and coiled, then shrank into the weakened form of the Phoenix itself. Its once-proud eyes were dulled with exhaustion. With its Supernatural energy drained, it could no longer sustain its fiery transformation.
"Silent Missile... attack effective!" An elderly scientist leapt to his feet, clenching his fists in triumph.
Around him, others broke into ecstatic cheers. The Imperium's most expensive, most secretive weapon, a masterpiece of energy absorption, had finally proven its worth. If it had failed, the consequences would have been devastating.
"This... This can't be..." Huo Kong's expression darkened as his eyes widened in disbelief. Those tiny, unassuming metal claws had shattered the very fire circle he took pride in.
The crowd erupted into chaos. At first, everyone thought Sebastian was doomed. The fiery circle had seemed unstoppable.
Clifford and the others had been on edge, their knuckles white as they watched. Yet now, with just one missile, Sebastian had turned the tide.
"What... What kind of weapon is that?" Huo Kong's voice trembled with awe as it echoed into Sebastian's comms.
"It's designed specifically to counter energy." Sebastian's reply was calm, understated.
"Anti-energy?" Huo Kong exhaled slowly, then smiled bitterly. "You've got me this time. I concede defeat. Next time, let's have a proper rematch."
"I'll see you in the main event of the Group Star Competition, Huo Kong."
"See you there."
Sebastian smiled faintly. He knew Huo Kong's strength. Even if he entered the loser's bracket, he would surely fight his way back to the top.
Huo Kong pressed the quit button.
"In this matchup, player Huo Kong concedes defeat, player Sebastian claims victory! Congratulations to Sebastian for entering the top 500 of the winner's bracket and securing a qualifying slot among the thousand in the Sky Star District tournament!" The announcer's voice rang throughout the arena.
A moment of silence, then the crowd flared.
"Sebastian!"
"Sebastian!"
Their chants shook the entire square. Whistles, cheers, and applause crashed together like a storm.
Hope's Peak Academy's banners fluttered in triumph, while spectators from every region joined in the celebration. Clifford and his teammates shouted, still stunned by what they'd witnessed. Five hundred anti-energy claws had devoured the Phoenix's fire, and Huo Kong's defeat had come in seconds.
Few even understood what had happened, but no one cared. All that mattered was that Sebastian had won. And not just any victory, he had defeated the top-ranked genius of the Area.
"No way... He actually won?" Around Prokopy, the faculty exchanged bewildered looks.
Someone asked, "What were those metal cylinders just now?"
Prokopy chuckled softly. "I don't know, and I don't need to. What matters is that he won."
The teachers laughed with genuine relief. After this battle, Sebastian's qualification was guaranteed. Next, he would advance to the Council of Stars and compete in the final main event.
But amidst the celebration, a few faces in the crowd remained cold and silent, their expressions dark as shadows beneath the roaring lights.