Screams tore through the crowd and reverberated across the arena. Crimson painted the floor more than ever before as spectators murmured in confusion and fear.
The dark thoughts behind Noelle's blunt expression were unmistakable; this wasn't just combat, it was a massacre. She rained down strikes on her opponent even while clutching her gut, trying to stem her own bleeding.
With his elbow braced against his thigh and fist propping up his chin, Raiden sat contemplatively. An aether cigarette hung between his lips as he stared through Noelle's domain, seeing it now through his newfound gaze.
With each inhale, he felt the smoke spread through his spine. The mana he gradually infused into his eyes helped prevent the technique from overwhelming him, though his vision still blurred intermittently.
His own discomfort, however, was of little concern to him. What held his attention was the brutal fight transpiring between Noelle and her opponent.
