The 30-minute break passed by in a blink. During it, the audience were all restless at their seats. There were even some who couldn't go to the restroom even if they could already feel their bladder about to burst. Afraid that at the time they left to take care of their business, the final battle will be over.
For them, this competition is something they will surely remember.
A lone Natal Spirit challenging those higher in realm and in an overwhelming fashion. It's not just rare, it's near impossible for it to happen.
During the group stage, I eliminated a lot of Natal Spirits and some Fused Spirits who tried to eliminate me.
In the first match of the Individual Matches, Molark flew and embedded himself into the wall with just one punch from me.
In the second match, Namira also fell in one punch but this time it's from my main body which is a lot stronger than the Spiritual Twin.
With a record like that, anyone in their right mind will start wondering who I am or where do I come from. My looks even probably came out from most of the girls' ideal image. If Jayna's father is not an idiot, he will probably start suspecting my origin. Maybe even suspecting I'm some kind of spy.
However, since he knew that his daughter has the ability to disguise someone that even he couldn't dispel, his suspicion will go at that thought first. From there, it will then be transferred to Yumiko, as someone who often influences his daughter, taking her to dangerous missions. He could possibly connect it.
Ah. This is assuming that he started suspecting the origin of an unusual Natal Spirit like me.
"Ember. I thought this would be a competition I would easily win. Gaining a tutelage of a famous Noble Spirit is something anyone would want to brighten up their path. For you to appear here, I guess I could call this a test for me."
Trax started as we stood face to face in the middle of the stage.
What he just said was the truth. If I'm not here, no one can ever pose a threat for him and also the girls will probably cheer for him and not for me. Just with his dark-blue hair that was reminiscent of those anime protagonists plus his handsome face which could probably pass an idol audition just by showing that in front of a camera, most girls will be his fans.
His Spiritual Twin Phantom was already projected behind him, behind it were the manifestations of his 5 Streams of connection to the Spirit Ocean. Each Stream contained the supernatural power he borrowed from the Spirit Ocean.
With that kind of display, the audience sucked in their breaths as they started to get excited, waiting for me to also show off what I was hiding.
But yeah, there's nothing I could show except my Spiritual Twin that was wielding my previous sword. It took the same stance as me. My Sword Mastery was already on the verge of upgrading thanks to my Spiritual Twin.
As to what will change if it became Intermediate Sword Mastery, I still don't know. Currently, I could only do simple sword moves without any flashiness nor complicatedness. If I continue improving it, will it eventually evolve to me having a Sword Intent? Maybe. Who knows? It's there so grinding it alongside my system is better than letting it rot.
Maximizing the Potential Drawing, I also waited for the start of the match. Every second that passed should build up my tension but yeah, I'm unaffected when I already adapted to this kind of thing.
"Begin!"
The loud voice of the announcer rang out. It's too loud that it immediately covered the whole coliseum with a lot of echoes following it.
"Try this Ember!"
Trax shouted moments after the voice of the announcer covered the whole venue, taking out an azure-colored spear, an illusory wave enveloped it as one of his Streams shined and merged with it.
Though it looks like a calm wave splashing from a distance, my Adaptability immediately warned me about the force exuded by it, it's a lot stronger than Namira's fireball.
My Spiritual Twin stood in front of it, raising the sword up high, it then swung it down producing a crescent-shaped projectile which intended to cut through the waves.
I channeled some of my Brute Energy towards it and activated one of my Augmented Skills, Energy Slash.
Though using an Augmented Skill was kind of a waste, I had to instill to his mind that his attacks could be easily countered by me.
The crescent-shaped energy sped fast and met the illusory waves that was launched from Trax's spear, cutting it in half and dispersing it before it continued travelling towards him.
"What the?!"
I heard Trax exclaim from where he is when the unassuming blade of Energy passed through his own attacks.
His reaction was fast though. Another Stream enveloped his spear as another illusory waved covered it. This time, instead of shooting it towards me, his spear spun at fast speed in front of him turning the illusory wave to a shield which successfully blocked the Energy Slash.
Its force already diminished when it dispersed his attack so I expected this outcome.
I didn't just stand on my place though. After he successfully defended himself from that, together with my Spiritual Twin, we flanked his sides.
Both with a sword in hand, we stabbed at him at the same time.
"How is this a Natal Spirit?!"
Trax shouted in frustration when he once again saw himself in a perilous position.
Willing the 3rd Stream, it immediately materialized into something like a surfboard in which he stepped in before it took him up to the sky, dodging the stabs in the nick of time.
It then flew him away from me before it vanished and dropped him from it.
He landed lightly but sweat already lined the side of his face.
Looking at him, his previous calm expression was already nowhere to be seen. What replaced it was his disbelief that something like this could happen to him.
Even with his Spiritual Twin Phantom strengthening his overall stats, taking my attacks head-on was something he judged as not viable.
"Sorry, Trax but I won't hold back."
He's really not just an ordinary Fused Spirit. Even with my slightly overwhelming advantage in stats, he still managed to dodge and escape from me.
Though I've already seen three of his Streams, he could actually use those again as long as he still has enough Spirit Energy reserves. Plus there were still two unknown supernatural powers he could use. Though I'm confident in winning, overconfidence will often lead to mistakes.
Willing my Spiritual Twin to move in concert with me, we made the same stance as we pounced towards the seemingly tensed Trax.
I haven't used the Blessing embedded to my new sword and I don't think I need to use it now. Maybe later when we're fighting the Invading Forces but in this competition, let's keep it light.
Seeing our approaching figures. Trax's eyes lit up as the two azure light shined from above him, it then turned to mini azure dragons whose illusory bodies were similar to that of raging waves.
Then three more azure lights indicating his three Streams shined and washed over him. Now, this is him going all out, using everything he has to defend.
Maybe if I managed to break him this time, the battle will be over.
But will it really be this simple?
Supplying Brute Energy to my Spiritual Twin, we filled our swords with my first Augmented Skill, Energy Explosion. Together with the enhancement that came from the passive provided by the System, it won't just be the same explosion from before.
Bang!
Boom!
Whoosh!
When our attacks met each other, various sounds were made as his azure-colored aura made from his 5 Streams of connection clashed against my swords which were covered by a dense amount of Spirit Energy as well as the Brute Energy concealed within the sword.
It created an explosion at the point of impact and due to that, a blinding light was made as the winds surrounding us were stirred.
Exclaims of surprises could be heard from the audience as the dust in the middle of the stage settled.
Standing there was me who wasn't injured at all except a small graze on my shoulders. Though his attack was really strong, it's truly not enough to defeat my current stats.
On the contrary, Trax was on his knees as he started breathing heavily. His clothes were in tatters as various wounds opened up around his body that were caused by the Energy Explosion.
"I can't accept this!"
He stood up and stirred the remaining Spirit Energy he had.
Projecting his 5 Streams again, the sky suddenly darkened as the light concentrated on him. His 5 Streams started to come together and combine themselves into one.
Is he trying to breakthrough at this moment?
Should I attack now or should I wait for him to finish?
Looking at his determined face not to lose against a Natal Spirit, I guess I'll let him try to breakthrough and see how I will fare against a new Transformed Spirit.
Ah. Why don't I try to breakthrough as well? You won't mind it, right? World's Will?