The rain raged on further muddying the already muddy arena.
It has already been multiple minutes since the fight began yet neither participant showed any notable changes in their state.
No cuts, no signs of being tired and also no signs of the situation changing.
The fight was at a true deadlock.
'What can I do to break through? Think Ash think, what were you training for this whole time?'
The gears were turning in his head, but the fight didn't stop for a moment, the slashes and deflections kept on coming.
That was when something suddenly changed.
"Hmph."
An annoyed grunt escaped from The Slasher's mouth.
Suddenly their speed increased.
The slashes continued on like before only now quicker more vicious.
'I'm being pushed back.'
For now Ash was able to block the strikes, but he was being actively pushed back.
This couldn't go on much longer or else he would end up losing.
'Do I really have to rely on Delusion again?'
Since the fight began Ash had intentionally been withholding on using Delusion.
It wasn't because he was underestimating his opponent, it was only because he realised he'd been relying on it too much.
Frankly speaking most of his matches he won only thanks to it. The skills ability to manipulate reality gave him the minor openings he needed to quickly finish the fights, but looking back on it Ash felt that it felt cheap... unearned.
Sure it was part of his skill set and not using it was stupid too, but he'd already learned that it wasn't always as reliable as he wanted to and without it... he was weak... way too weak, certainly not strong enough for what awaited him in Icarus.
But alas it seemed no matter how much he'd wished to resolve it with pure skill, it was simply not possible.
'He'll miss his next slash.'
And as fate would have it the next slash did indeed miss it's target, as the one responsible Ash naturally moved to capitalize on the opportunity and slashed at the person's side with full force.
*Clang*
The swords collided, his attack was blocked still it wasn't without result as he gained back all the space he'd lost prior.
"So you've finally decided to stop running."
The Slasher spoke up for the first time since entering the arena.
"I guess you could say I'm honored, it's only appropriate if I reciprocate."
Suddenly the sword in their hand was enshrouded by a heavy purple light.
'The lightning attribute.'
The attributes themselves didn't matter to Ash as his own attributes of Light and Dark were ones that had pretty much no interactions with the others.
Still it was useful information nonetheless, as it could serve as a warning for what's to come.
'What will it be ranged lightning or superspeed?'
That was when the figure launched at him with speed unlike anything he'd seen before.
'I can't block this... did I lose?'
In that split second between the blade arriving Ash activated his Delusion.
*Boom*
The entire arena reverberated as the slash arrived the lightning energy traveling through the droplets in the surroundings.
As the air cleared, people quickly saw what had happened as Ash stood there with a giant wound on his front.
'I guess this was the best I could do.'
He was bleeding and he was doing so heavily, but he was still alive and even more importantly he was still standing.
As for how he did it, it was simple. He simply stepped back, combining it with his Delusion this was the end result.
The entire crowd was unable to speak. It was an unbelievable sight – to take such a hit and still be standing it was truly something else.
"Boss should we interfere?"
One of the goons asked looking at Caesar with a concerned look.
But despite what he'd expected Caesar was calm, he showed no signs of worry or anxiety.
"Leave him, he seems fine to me... I don't want to take his opportunity to shine away from him."
'Opportunity?'
The guy didn't understand, but as he looked throughout the arena he slowly understood.
'All these people speechlessly looking upon the Young Master they are... admiring him.'
Indeed the entire crowd was taking in the view as this lone teen stood in the rain with a giant wound looking so... calm.
"Hahahaha..."
A sudden wave of laughter came from the middle of the arena.
"Hahaha... I knew you were crazy, but this is really surprising, you can call me impressed."
The Slasher took a few steps back giving Ash some much needed space.
"I was wrong about you, I'd like to apologize."
Ash slowly raised his sword before speaking up.
"Don't bother, because I don't care. I didn't come here to earn your acknowledgement."
As he said this he looked up at the VIP area where Caesar stood looking down.
Then he looked back at his opponent before taking in a deep breath.
'Think Ash of a way to quickly wrap up this fight.'
With this wound he couldn't afford to drag the fight on any longer, he had to make it end.
'I'll have to try something even if it is experimental."
That was when a memory from the not so distant past surfaced in his mind.
...
The room was unusually quiet, only the sound of hurried breathing could be heard echoing in the small training hall.
"Ummm... Ma'am?"
"Huh?"
Stacy looked at the heavily breating Ash laying on the ground.
"...about... the move you were... training for yesterday."
"What about it?"
"Can you teach it to me?"
The women quickly jumped up from her sitting position.
"No!"
Ash's face couldn't hide his disappointment.
"Why... not?"
Stacy picked up her sword before answering Ash's anwer.
"Get up."
Ash slowly got himself up into a sitting position.
"What are you doing? Stand up!"
Ash slowly got himself up.
"And your sword?"
Ash slowly leaned down to pick up his sword, but as he was doing so he asked a question.
"Didn't you say you weren't gonna teach me?"
"I am not."
"Then..."
That was when Stacy swung her sword down with all her might.
As the sword came down with all the aura infused in it it looked like crescent moon.
*Boom*
The air exploded upon completion.
Finishing the slash Stacy looked at Ash.
"This is Cleave, the next step in the path of slashing skills. Replicate it."
Ash was flabbergasted, what he'd just seen looked like a rather high quality skill, way above the ones he currently possesed.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Soul Chip Interface]
>Core Power: [Truth Seeker]&[Delusion]
>Proficiency: [5%]
>Rank: [II]
>Attribute: [Light]&[Dark]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[Minor Skills]
>Slashes [G] Proficiency: [100%]
>Basic Aura Control [F] Proficiency: [100%]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
His skills barely changed since his time in Blackheart.
"So are you just gonna stand there or give it a shot."
"Aren't you gonna give me some form of guidance?"
Stacy put her hand to her head before speaking up.
"It's not my fault you are too stupid to memorize muscle groups."
"It's just that memorization just isn't..."
"I don't care, the fact still stands that you lack the requirements for me to properly teach you so this is all I can offer."
Ash gritted his teeth, but he hardened his grip regardless.
'Guess I'll just have to show her that I can do it without having to memorize.'
Ash closed his eyes took a deep breath, before opening it and slashing down.
*Swish*
Silence.
There was nothing, but silence in the room.
Then Stacy finally spoke up, breaking the silence that has enshrouded the room.
"I told you, I won't teach it to you."
"But even if I failed, you showed me the move doesn't that count as training?"
Hearing the words that left Ash's mouth Stacy caught herself letting out a small chuckle.
"Did you really think this was the move I was training for?"
"Wait it's not?"
"Nope, you could say learning Cleave is like the entry to be able to learn that move."
Ash's face showed an even deeper degree of disappointment than before.
"But don't be too down about it. If you ever learn this move and I'm still alive I might teach you the next few steps."
'Still alive...'
These words left Ash deeply mortified.
'Am I really that far from using it?'
...
Even thinking back on those memories was emberrassing, but Ash knew that that was where his key to victory lay.
'Cleave, yes I have to use Cleave.'
Thinking it, was way easier than actually doing it.
'What was so different about that slash compared to the ones I've been doing all along.'
Ash was thinking about what was the missing piece to executing this move before his thought got interrupted.
"We can resume the fight right? You won't surrender."
Opening his eyes Ash looked at his opponent before speaking his mind.
"Yes we ca–"
But before he could even finish The Slasher was already right next to him.
*Clang*
The swords clashed in time for Ash to block the oncoming strike.
'Didn't even let me finish.'
Ash found himself once again being pushed back.
'This isn't good I need to do something.'
His Delusion quickly activated, but to his surprise it seemingly failed as The Slasher suddenly backed away, still the result was the same as he now had some space.
'I just have to go for it.'
Then Ash proceeded to launch himself at the backing away opponent at full speed, with his sword raised high.
That was when a light of pure white illuminated the whole arena. It was as if the moon had descended upon the battlefield.
The Slasher moved their sword to block the strike, but it was useless.
The sword in their hand was shattered to pieces, but the Cleave didn't stop it kept going before connecting with their torso and cutting through it like butter.
*Boom*
The sound of the shockwave spread throughout.
And once the light dispersed the contestants became visible.
"Someone get them immediately."
Caesar shouted, now more concerned than before.
Finally the announcers voice resounded across The Arena.
"With this the The Arena Seasonal Tournament is over."
"And the winner is Ash!"
As all of this was unfolding in the corner of the VIP area stood a lone figure grinning at all that was happening below.
'As expected.'