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Holden had studied Russell's fights with the obsessive dedication of a stalker reviewing their crush's social media. Every frame of the Wade battle had been burned into his memory. He knew the weakness: Artoria's combat effectiveness plummeted after releasing her Noble Phantasm.
"He's going for the kill on the Saber!"
The VIP section understood instantly. Old monsters who'd survived decades of combat recognized good tactics when they saw them.
"Smart choice," Chancellor Valeron murmured, approval glinting in his eyes. Eliminating the primary damage dealer was textbook strategy. But Russell's calm expression nagged at him. That's not the face of someone watching their trump card get hunted.
"This is delightful!" Archmage Alaric leaned forward like a child at a circus. "Best fight of the entire competition, bar none."
Though technically, only one fighter was actually risking anything. Holden had signed a life-and-death waiver before stepping onto the platform—standard procedure when you fought like every battle was your last.
On the field, Holden closed the distance to Artoria with predatory grace. His face shifted from manic excitement to ice-cold focus.
"Your defeat starts NOW, Russell!"
Reality had other plans.
His invisible wind spear tore forward, the vacuum pressure splitting the earth like paper. The tip was millimeters from Artoria's chest when her right arm—encased in silver armor—exploded with golden light.
"[Silver Arm: Agateram]!"
A holy sword of pure golden energy materialized instantly in her hand.
Shit! Holden's pupils contracted, but momentum carried him forward. His spear was already committed, and Artoria's [Intuition] screamed a single message: Do NOT trade blows.
She brought the energy sword up horizontally, catching the wind spear's tip. The collision sent shockwaves rippling outward, her blonde hair whipping wild.
"HAH!" Holden planted his feet, driving his entire body weight behind the thrust. "BREAK FOR ME!"
He intended to pierce through sword, girl, and probably the arena floor for good measure.
Unfortunately, the golden blade wasn't just light given form—it was a conceptual echo of Excalibur itself. Breaking it was like trying to shatter a mountain with harsh language.
Artoria used his own force against him, launching herself backward to land gracefully outside his range.
Holden spun his spear one-handed, grinning like Christmas had come early. "RUSSELL! You beautiful bastard! You never disappoint!"
He closed his eyes briefly, sensing positions. Artoria, Unohana, and Neliel had formed a perfect triangle around him. Textbook encirclement.
"Fine then. No more holding back."
His eyes snapped open, burning with something beyond battle lust.
"Tiger Demon... DEVOUR ME!"
The words came out thick with madness, accompanied by a spectral roar that made the audience's bones vibrate.
CRACK!
The tiger-head armor on his chest shattered. An invisible, massive tiger materialized above him and, in one horrifying motion, swallowed him whole.
THUMP.
A heartbeat like thunder. Then Holden reappeared.
His upper body was naked, covered in glowing ritual scars that pulsed with each breath. Muscles rippled with condensed power that looked ready to tear through his own skin. The wind spear was no longer transparent—black currents of air writhed around it like living things.
The stands exploded in noise.
"Worth every penny! I could leave now satisfied!"
"This guy's completely unhinged! That killing intent alone would make me piss myself!"
"You? You'd be dead before your bladder even processed the fear."
"Hey, did anyone catch what Russell just used? Another hidden card?"
"The equipment card? Yeah, completely negated the Saber's weakness. This guy's got more secrets than the government."
"Excuse me, I need to change seats. For... reasons."
Russell squinted at the transformed Holden. So I'm not the only one with second-phase cards. Interesting.
Besides Wade's Goddess of Vengeance, this Tiger Demon was the only other card he'd seen capable of mid-battle evolution.
But if you think the Silver Arm is just defensive, you're in for a surprise. Need to end this fast though—this mana consumption is insane.
The drain was catastrophic: Sasuke maintaining Amaterasu, Fubuki's telekinetic barriers, Neliel's Resurrección, Unohana's unlocked state, and now Artoria channeling the Silver Arm. His reserves were hemorrhaging.
Credit where it's due—Holden's the strongest same-level fighter I've faced. In pure physical combat, he might be unbeatable.
On the field, golden particles shed from Artoria's arm like dying stars. She exhaled, gripped the warm hilt, and vanished—reappearing instantly before Holden.
CLANG!
Another deadlock. Even with the Silver Arm's boost and Mana Burst, Holden matched her strength.
But this wasn't a duel.
Unohana went low, blade seeking kidneys. Neliel's lance swept high toward his temple. No honor, no mercy—just efficient violence. If he wanted to be a Berserker, they'd give him a warrior's death.
Faced with the triple assault, Holden remained eerily calm.
He muscled Artoria back, caught Unohana's blade barehanded—black wind protecting his palm—and used the leverage to slam his spear shaft into Neliel's guard.
Three attackers, perfectly countered. But Russell had range.
Chirp-chirp-chirp!
Lightning screamed toward Holden's chest.
Black wind met white lightning. The energies twisted together and detonated. Even Holden's inhuman endurance had limits—the wind only partially deflected the [Chidori Sharp Spear] before it punched through his chest.
Looking at the charred, smoking hole in his pectorals, Holden grinned with blood-stained teeth.
"Come... and FIGHT!"
He'd lost count of such "minor injuries."
His black wind spear raged across the battlefield. Somehow, impossibly, he held even against Russell's entire team. But mathematics doesn't lie—five beats one, eventually. Wounds accumulated like interest on a bad loan.
Russell wasn't celebrating. In his perception, Holden's power was increasing with each injury.
What is this, a video game Berserker? Lower HP equals higher attack?
Artoria felt it too—the suffocating pressure building. Can't drag this out.
She formulated a plan in milliseconds, then charged.
"FINALLY!" Holden roared. "I'M GOING TO BEAT YOU TO YOUR KNEES!"
Artoria ignored the taunt, stabbing straight at his heart with an apparently clumsy thrust.
Contempt flashed in Holden's eyes. "Tired already? This weak-ass attack?"
He dropped his spear, catching the energy blade barehanded. His palm sizzled and blackened, flesh cooking, but he'd trapped her weapon. Now to pivot and—
The young King's voice rang out like divine judgment:
"[Flash of the Silver Arm]!"
Golden light erupted from her arm, instantly consuming Holden—along with Unohana and Neliel who were too close.
The stands went insane.
"TWICE? She can use it TWICE?"
"Must be weakened—quieter than before!"
"Their own people got caught!"
"Is... is Holden going to die?"
The last question brought sudden silence. They'd forgotten—Holden wasn't commanding from safety. He was there, in person, taking that annihilation beam point-blank.
In the VIP section, Valeron and Alaric shot to their feet.
"Chain Card," Valeron stated, watching the light fade. "Has to be. But King Arthur with this much potential? If she advances to Gold, then Emerald..."
"Should we intervene?" Alaric asked. He liked Russell, but unleashing tactical nukes on opponents seemed excessive.
"Wait," Valeron said, eyes on the smoke. "Let's see."
The golden light faded.
Russell's team stood intact. Fubuki had wrapped Unohana and Neliel in telekinetic bubbles milliseconds before impact—perfect timing, perfect execution.
Holden had received no such mercy.
He'd taken the full blast at point-blank range.
He was on his knees. No—he'd fallen to his knees, kept upright only by his wind spear jammed into the ground. Most of his face was gone, skin burned away to reveal a skull with two eyes that refused to close.
"Hoh... hoh..."
Each breath was agony made sound.
"I... can still... fight..."
"Come... and..."
He hadn't lost consciousness. Just like the Unified Examination—same opponents, same result. Defeated but unbroken, destroyed but still trying to stand.
Russell sighed and signaled Unohana to prepare healing. He didn't want a death on his conscience. Well, another death.
The audience's collective gulp was audible.
"Does... does anyone want to continue?"
Even the referee hesitated. The life-and-death waiver was binding, and technically Holden hadn't surrendered or passed out. But continuing would be public execution.
Just as the referee raised his hand to stop it, the air rippled.
An elegant middle-aged man with graying temples stepped out of nowhere onto the field.
"Russell wins this match."
The voice was calm but carried absolute authority that brooked no argument.
Frank Dragomir. The War Sage.
Russell recognized him instantly and felt his stomach drop. Did I just nearly kill a Master's disciple? This could be bad.
But Frank simply looked at him, offered a faint, apologetic smile, and gently lifted what remained of Holden.
Even as they vanished, Holden's lidless, bloodshot eyes never stopped staring at Russell.
The crowd exploded in whispers.
"Was that Master Frank?"
"Russell's definitely on his radar now."
"Frank's supposed to be easygoing. He won't hold a grudge."
"Easygoing? His student looks like overcooked barbecue!"
"Didn't Frank himself get beaten near-death regularly before making Master? Character building!"
Russell scratched his head, burying his worry. Fair fight. If Frank has issues, I'll call my parents. Well, my teachers. Blake and Jin. Though Jin's probably useless, so really just Blake.
He glanced at Hazel. She seemed unconcerned, which reassured him.
The referee's whistle brought focus back. Kirin's second player stepped onto the platform.
His legs were shaking so badly he could barely walk.
Yeah, following that act would terrify anyone.
(End of Chapter)
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