Chapter 82:
Lucien and Clarisse leaped between the ruined buildings as they made their way toward Seryn's location. Their movements carried them across the broken rooftops until Iris suddenly appeared in their path, forcing them to stop side by side.
"Out of the way," Lucien said, his voice calm and assured. His eyes narrowed as he studied Iris, the familiar, knowing smile on his lips lingering just long enough to make the command sound like an invitation to test him. "There are two of us and one of you. You won't win."
"You do make me laugh, Lucien. Does she look like the sort who backs down?" Clarisse replied, a faint smile touching her lips as she tilted her head. She regarded Iris with the composed curiosity of someone who found the interruption more entertaining than threatening.
(I wonder what knowledge I could devour from this girl.) Clarisse thought as her gaze lingered on Iris. Her expression remained elegant and unreadable, though a quiet interest stirred beneath her otherwise effortless composure.
"Are you two planning to stand there and admire each other?" Iris asked, dropping into a fighting stance. Her confident grin made it clear that Lucien's warning—and their numerical advantage—had done nothing to shake her resolve. "Come on, then. Both of you."
"Ahaha! Now that's the kind of confidence I like." Lucien's smile widened as he laughed. Iris's challenge seemed to amuse him more than anything else. Then, without warning, he surged forward, launching himself at her with speed no ordinary human could follow.
At the same time, Clarisse produced a Holy Mythic Weapon in the form of a long, golden wizard's staff. Its elegant shaft bore the intricately sculpted form of a dragon, which curved around the weapon as though its body had been fashioned directly from gleaming metal.
Clarisse swung the golden staff forward without losing her composure. A surge of radiant golden light erupted from the ground beneath Iris and rushed toward her position, converging with Lucien's rapid approach as the two attacks closed in on their opponent.
Somewhere else in the ruined city, Dino and Seraphine were making their way toward the main battlefield when Althea suddenly appeared in their path, forcing both of them to stop before they could continue toward their intended destination.
"Oh, great! I should have known something like this would happen," Dino muttered with a nervous expression as he glanced toward Althea, already imagining how badly the upcoming confrontation could turn out if they failed to handle her properly. (Shit, my legs are shaking... I have to stay confident in front of Seraphine.)
"We have her outnumbered, Dino, so let us look out for each other," Seraphine said quietly as she positioned herself beside him, her expression becoming more focused while she prepared to face the opponent blocking their path.
"Then let us make it four against one!" Lazriel announced as he approached Althea from behind, his relaxed confidence remaining evident as he arrived alongside Aelira, turning the encounter into a confrontation between four combatants and a single opponent.
"Huh, no sense of fair play in any of you, is there?" Althea remarked with a faint smirk as she glanced over her shoulder toward the approaching pair, appearing more amused by their decision than concerned about the disadvantage they believed they had created for her.
"Oh, please do not take this personally," Aelira replied as she rested one hand against her hip, her expression remaining composed while she explained their reasoning without showing any particular embarrassment about joining the others against a single opponent.
"It is only natural to gang up on someone when they are the strongest person here, at least among our opponents, of course," Aelira continued with a small, knowing smile, making it clear that she considered their strategy reasonable rather than dishonorable.
(Honestly, I do not think we can win this... Wait, what am I thinking? I have to stop thinking like that.) Seraphine thought as her fist tightened beside her body, her initial uncertainty giving way to determination even though the possibility of defeat continued weighing on her mind.
Seraphine suddenly widened her eyes and released an invisible force that struck Althea with tremendous power, sending her flying through several buildings as the surrounding structures began breaking apart beneath the force of the attack.
Lazriel immediately extended his palm toward the building Althea had crashed into and released several red beams in rapid succession, directing their trajectories toward the shattered structure before his opponent suddenly emerged and retaliated.
Althea spun through the air and delivered a powerful kick that redirected the incoming beams toward their original attackers, forcing the others to react immediately as the reflected attacks rushed back toward them from several different directions.
Lazriel's eyes widened at the unexpected counterattack, and although the others managed to evade the incoming beams, he was caught before he could escape when Althea appeared beside him and seized the back of his head, leaving him unable to move away.
Dino noticed what had happened while dodging a beam directed toward him, and he immediately wanted to rush forward to help Lazriel, but his legs refused to cooperate as fear held him in place despite his desperate desire to do something.
"Lazriel!" Aelira shouted as she launched herself toward him, her protective instincts overriding her caution as she attempted to reach her companion before Althea could deliver another attack against him.
Her attempt came too late, however, because Althea struck Lazriel directly in the face with overwhelming force, producing a tremendous impact that sent the surrounding combatants flying backward while the nearby structures shook beneath the resulting shockwave.
(Shit... I did not even anticipate that.) Lazriel thought as the attack left him gravely injured, his previous confidence replaced by a bitter realization as he struggled to comprehend how easily Althea had outmaneuvered him. (Even in this world, I will always lose.)
The tournament's safety mechanism activated as Lazriel reached the point where he could no longer continue fighting, teleporting him away from the battlefield before his condition could worsen and leaving the remaining combatants to face Althea without him.
Seraphine and Aelira wasted no time in closing the distance between themselves and their opponent, coordinating their movements as Seraphine launched a rapid sequence of three kicks toward Althea while Aelira prepared to support her from the side.
Unfortunately, Seraphine's attacks passed through an afterimage of Althea, who had already repositioned herself behind her opponent and was preparing a powerful downward kick while Seraphine remained unaware of the danger approaching from behind.
Seraphine realized what was happening too late and began preparing to defend herself, but before Althea could complete her counterattack, Aelira rushed forward into an spear , forcing Althea backward into a nearby building with enough force to shatter its windows.
Althea immediately retaliated by driving both elbows against the sides of Aelira's head, striking with such force that Aelira staggered and cried out in pain while struggling to maintain her footing against the sudden assault.
Before Althea could continue attacking Aelira, Seraphine appeared beside them and delivered a swift punch toward Althea's face, unleashing enough force upon impact to blast away the section of building standing behind them.
As the resulting cloud of dust gradually cleared, Seraphine discovered that Althea had seized Aelira and forced her directly into the path of the punch, leaving Aelira fatally injured as the devastating impact overwhelmed her before she could recover from the attack.
Seraphine's eyes widened as she stared at the consequences of her own strike, her fist stained with blood while she struggled to comprehend how Althea had used Aelira to absorb the attack that had been intended for her.
Aelira was promptly teleported away by the tournament's safety mechanism, leaving Seraphine facing Althea alone as the latter continued standing amid the devastation with no apparent concern about the attacks that had been directed against her.
(Huh...? No, that cannot be right. How did she see that coming?) Seraphine wondered in confusion as she leaped backward to create some distance between them, desperately trying to understand how Althea had anticipated her movements and turned the situation against her so effortlessly.
""Pure Blade"," Althea declared as she activated her skill while Seraphine was still descending toward the ground, releasing an invisible cutting attack that struck before her opponent could properly regain her balance.
Seraphine's lower body was severed by the attack, leaving her unable to stand as her upper body fell toward the ruined floor, and the sudden defeat shattered the determination she had struggled to maintain throughout the confrontation.
(This is unfair... I worked so hard, and what was it all for if I was only going to lose?) Seraphine thought as frustration overwhelmed her, tears gathering in her eyes while she briefly turned her attention toward Dino and silently entrusted the battle to him.
The tournament's safety mechanism finally activated after Seraphine suffered a defeat that left her unable to continue, teleporting her away from the battlefield before her condition could deteriorate further and leaving Dino alone to face the opponent who had overwhelmed his companions.
"Dino, huh?" Althea muttered as she surveyed the battlefield, her gaze eventually settling on Dino, who stood motionless with his hair casting a deep shadow over his face while she prepared to eliminate the final opponent standing before her.
Without warning, Althea launched herself forward in a sudden burst of speed, closing the distance between them almost instantly as she reached out with the intention of tearing his head off before he could react to her attack.
However, the moment Dino raised his head, Althea caught sight of his eyes burning with an intense crimson light, and her instincts immediately warned her to retreat before she could understand what had changed within the previously frightened young man.
Althea attempted to leap backward, but her reaction came too late, and her arms were suddenly torn from her body as Dino appeared within striking distance during her attempted retreat, leaving her momentarily stunned by the unexpected reversal.
Her expression shifted into genuine shock as she realized that Dino had ripped off her arms while moving with a speed she had not anticipated, and before she could recover from the surprise, he was already preparing another attack aimed directly at her chest.
Thinking quickly, Althea made her body intangible just as Dino's punch reached her, allowing his fist to pass straight through her form and strike the building behind her instead, causing the structure to vanish without producing even the slightest sound.
(What is happening...? If I am not mistaken, he was one of those people who were afraid to fight.) Althea thought as she regained her footing and returned to a tangible state, struggling to reconcile Dino's earlier fear with the overwhelming aggression he was displaying now.
This sudden transformation was the result of Dino's Unique Skill, "Accumulated Wrath", which allowed him to enter a berserk state fueled by seemingly endless anger, steadily increasing his power as the battle continued and his fury continued to intensify.
Althea immediately activated "Pure Blade" and unleashed repeated invisible cutting attacks against Dino, leaving countless blade marks across his body, but despite the accumulating damage, he continued charging toward her without showing any sign of stopping.
Dino's relentless advance finally faltered when one of his legs was severed, forcing him toward the ground as instinct drove him to brace himself with his right arm, only for another invisible blade to cut through that limb before he could support his fall.
Even after collapsing onto his side and losing the ability to move normally, Dino continued trying to drag himself toward Althea, his crimson eyes still burning with the same relentless fury until she stepped forward and brought her foot down upon his head, ending his advance.
The tournament's safety mechanism activated immediately after Dino's defeat, teleporting him away from the battlefield while Althea stepped backward and looked briefly toward the clear blue sky, releasing a quiet sigh as she rested one hand against her hip.
(I have taken four of them down, which should be what Lord Haruto wanted.) Althea thought as she looked through the strands of hair falling across her face toward a distant building, her expression settling as she considered the next stage of her plan.
(Now, as planned, I shall allow myself to lose.) She continued thinking, remaining still for a moment as she focused her attention on the distant structure, apparently waiting for the opportunity to carry out the final part of her intended arrangement.
A faint flicker of light appeared above the distant building, and in the very next instant, a light-speed attack struck Althea and tore through her body before she could react, bringing the confrontation to an abrupt end.
The tournament's safety mechanism immediately teleported Althea away from the battlefield, concluding her participation in the match just as she had apparently intended.
"How frustrating. I had a feeling she would dodge that shot," Lyra remarked as she knelt beside Celeste, who lay on her stomach near the rooftop's edge with a transparent blue sniper rifle aimed at their distant target.
"I shall take that as an insult to my abilities," Celeste replied, keeping her gaze fixed on their opponent as the transparent weapon dissolved into sparkling particles. "Besides, even if she dodges, I can simply manifest another weapon—or create something else entirely—with my Unique Skill, "Visionary Manifestation"."
"I know. You do not have to explain your entire ability just to make a point." Lyra lightly patted Celeste on the backside, a small smile forming as she added, "Though I suppose that is simply how you are."
"Would you stop doing that?" Celeste asked, her expression tightening with mild annoyance as she rose and brushed herself off. "Let us move on to the next target."
"Right behind you." Lyra stood and followed Celeste away from their hiding place, amused as she watched her companion set off without hesitation. "You really are determined, aren't you?"
"Unlike a certain someone," Celeste replied, casting Lyra a brief sideways glance before leaping from the building.
Lyra followed close behind, the wind sweeping around them as they descended.
(We are losing members rather quickly. We underestimated them far more than I anticipated.) Celeste considered as they landed on the ruined street. She scanned the surrounding buildings for another opponent.
As they continued down the damaged street, dense mist crept across their surroundings, spreading between the ruined buildings until visibility dwindled. The two women instinctively moved back to back, each watching a different direction.
Lyra raised her hand and launched fireballs into the mist, sending them in several directions to strike anyone concealed within it. Yet the flames seemed to sink into the haze without visible impact or sound.
The unnatural silence wore on Celeste's concentration. She narrowed her eyes and focused on the shifting outlines within the mist, but the lack of sound made it increasingly difficult to determine where their unseen opponent was hiding.
Without warning, the mist turned bitterly cold, and several sharp ice spears shot toward them from concealed directions. Celeste and Lyra twisted aside, narrowly evading the attacks.
(This is bad.) Lyra thought as she activated her Unique Skill, "Perfect Sight". The skill allowed her to see through obstructions and perceive minute structures down to the atomic level, regardless of their density or size.
Her enhanced vision revealed a figure concealed within the mist, positioned apart from herself and Celeste. Lyra immediately cast Earth Magic, splitting the ground beneath the hidden opponent to force them out of cover.
The figure leaped into the air to avoid the rupturing ground, exactly as Lyra had anticipated. As their silhouette emerged against the haze, Celeste understood what her companion had intended.
"Got you." Celeste manifested a firearm through "Visionary Manifestation" with a thought, aimed at the airborne target, and fired repeatedly while the opponent remained exposed above the fractured street.
The icy mist gradually cleared, revealing Shizuku on her knees amid the damaged surroundings. Several wounds marked her body, and blood seeped through her clothes as she grimaced through the pain.
"Well, that was unexpected," Shizuku said, pressing one hand against her chest as she forced a smile. She looked up to find Lyra standing before her, one palm extended with an energy sphere forming above it.
"This is for the rest of us," Lyra declared, her expression growing serious as the sphere expanded in her palm. "Please do not take it personally."
Lyra was about to release the gathered energy when an ice spear shot through the mist and struck the hand holding the sphere. The attack was diverted from Shizuku and crashed into nearby buildings, its blast tearing through the surrounding structures.
Pain flickered across Lyra's face as the attack disrupted her spell. Celeste immediately rushed toward her, so focused on reaching her companion that she failed to notice the figure approaching from behind.
Ayame was already in position, katana-style sword raised. Before Celeste could reach Lyra, the blade swept across her neck, defeating her instantly. The tournament's safety mechanism teleported her away before she could cry out.
"Sorry, but have you not learned to keep your emotions in check on the battlefield?" Ayame remarked calmly. She turned her blade upward in a smooth follow-through and struck Lyra before she could recover, defeating her as the safety mechanism removed her from the battlefield.
(No! Wait, I see it now. The white-haired girl led us into a trap, using herself as bait so the other could get behind Celeste while she was distracted. It was such a simple plan, and yet we still fell for it.) Lyra realized with mounting frustration as her defeat took effect.
"Ahahah… We actually did it," Shizuku said with an uneven smile, relief and lingering discomfort in her voice as Ayame knelt beside her and treated her injuries with Healing Magic. "Teamwork makes the dream work, huh?"
"You silly girl, just stay quiet," Ayame replied with a small smile, tilting her head as green light from her hands illuminated her face while she concentrated on healing Shizuku.
The wounds across Shizuku's body gradually closed as Ayame's Healing Magic took effect, restoring her injured flesh while leaving the bloodstains and torn holes in her clothing untouched. Once the healing was complete, Shizuku rose to her feet and checked that she could move properly before turning toward her companion.
"Ayame, let us regroup with our classmates," Shizuku suggested calmly, prompting Ayame to nod as she returned her katana-style sword to its scabbard.
"Hmm..." Ayame murmured, noticing a white streak of light crossing the sky before curving downward in their direction. The approaching figure soon became recognizable as Takumi, who flew toward them with his aura surrounding his body while Aya held tightly around his waist.
"Hey, you two!" Aya called cheerfully after Takumi descended, releasing her hold on him before walking over with a pleased smile. "It is good to see you. How have you been?"
"We heard fighting nearby, so we decided to investigate, and that eventually led us here," Takumi explained, slipping both hands into his pockets while taking in the ruined street around them.
"Well, we were in a battle a little while ago, but we managed to win," Ayame replied with her usual composure. "It seems things have been going our way so far."
(That is probably because Teacher assigned three of his servants to our group to assist us.) Takumi considered, keeping the thought to himself as he listened to their conversation.
"Wow, I'm glad you guys are still alive!" Aya said with visible relief, bringing her hands together as her earlier smile softened. "We have not encountered a single opponent during these past five hours."
"Really? That is surprising," Shizuku replied, tilting her head as she considered how their experiences differed so dramatically despite participating in the same tournament.
"Let us stick together from now on," Takumi proposed, surveying the towering ruins that surrounded them. "We should avoid remaining out in the open, since someone could attack us without warning, so let us find shelter inside one of these buildings."
"That sounds like a good idea," Aya agreed, following the others toward the entrance of a nearby structure.
(Although, what happens if someone simply destroys the building while we are inside?) Aya wondered as they crossed the entrance. (Never mind. If I say that out loud, he will probably give me that look again.)
The group continued through the ruined city, moving from one building to another until something in the next structure caught their attention and brought their progress to an immediate halt.
Without needing to discuss the decision aloud, they activated their Extra Skill, "Presence Concealment", and faded from ordinary observation by suppressing their movements, sounds, scents, and other detectable signs of their presence.
They entered the building cautiously and searched its lower floors before making their way upstairs, eventually reaching the fourth floor, where two unfamiliar figures stood near a broken window overlooking the ruined city.
"What are we supposed to do now, Renji?" Amara asked, staring through the shattered window toward the distant skyline. "There are too many of them."
Renji responded with a faint smile, apparently far less troubled by their situation than his companion, because he could sense Takumi and the others despite their use of "Presence Concealment".
"Are you all planning to keep hiding over there?" he asked, directing his words toward the seemingly empty space behind them.
"Well, well," Takumi replied as he released his concealment, allowing the skill's effect to fade until his presence became visible again.
"Ahaha! You really are something, Renji," Aya remarked, dropping her own concealment as the others followed suit, their sudden appearance catching Amara completely off guard.
"Huh?! When did you guys get here?" Amara exclaimed, turning toward the group with genuine disbelief as she struggled to understand how so many people had managed to approach without her noticing anything.
"You will get there in time, Amara," Shizuku reassured her with a slight smile. (I do not mean to be rude, but she is one of the weakest members of our class, so I am honestly surprised she has made it this far.)
"So, brother, it seems you and Amara were discussing something rather troublesome," Ayame said as she approached Renji, her tone remaining casual despite the concern reflected in her question. "Mind filling us in?"
A brief silence followed while Renji turned away from the group and faced the broken window, gazing across the immense ruined city as though organizing his thoughts before explaining what he and Amara had discovered.
"It is nothing too serious," Renji answered, placing one hand inside his pocket. "Amara and I located four of our opponents, but we cannot afford to be careless with them. They belong to the strongest group participating in this tournament."
"I see. You are talking about the members of the Ascendant Synod of Unbound Apotheosis," Shizuku observed as she moved beside Renji, her expression becoming more serious now that she understood which opponents they had encountered.
"That is a significant problem," Takumi added, his usual casual manner giving way to a more thoughtful expression. "Their leader, Selene Akashiro, possesses a Divine-class weapon, and that is not something we can afford to underestimate."
"True, but that does not mean we should give up before trying," Aya replied, attempting to keep the discussion constructive rather than allowing their opponent's reputation to discourage everyone. "We just need to come up with a proper plan, right?"
(Aya does not fully understand the scope of a Divine-class weapon yet, but she is right about one thing.) Takumi thought, allowing a small smile to form before turning toward her. "You are right, Aya. I will put together a plan and see what we can do."
"How about we rest for a while and let Takumi put that big brain of his to work?" Shizuku suggested, glancing around at the assembled group as though the decision had already been made.
Her proposal received immediate agreement from the others, who had little reason to object to a brief period of rest before confronting opponents they could not afford to underestimate.
(It would be better to strike at night.) Renji considered, his attention returning to the sky beyond the shattered window. (This dimension Teacher created appears to have a proper day-and-night cycle.) Both the sun and the moon remained visible above the sprawling ruins, giving him another factor to consider as he began weighing the possible timing of their next move.