"Hmm." Seeing two addition to his opponent list, Hao checked the status of his Quick Draw-Drive ability tab to see if he can use it again soon. He needed all the technique in his arsenal if he was going to emerge from the arena victorious.
The two creatures summoned by Kiera were called T-Biters; they were smaller than Maelstrom but equally ferocious. With scales that glistened like onyx and rows of razor-sharp teeth, these quadrupedal predators were known for their relentless agility and swift, powerful attacks.
Kiera screamed, "You've pissed me off to the brink of no return, now I will use every ounce of power I have left to utterly crush your pathetic existence!"
"Come and try it." He beckoned her with his hand, and so the hectic stream of assault ensued.
Boom! Boom!
Hao, determined to prevail, was pushed to the edge of his physical and mental limits. He decided to give his newly upgraded Quick Draw-Drive technique another try. "Go!" This time, the attack struck one of the T-Biters with tremendous force, cleanly cutting it in half.
"Huh!" Hao was surprised by what he witnessed; he had not expected the technique to be so devastatingly effective. Maelstrom's sturdy constitution was the only reason it had managed to withstand the blow earlier.
Kiera's fury intensified. "How dare you slaughter my pet?" She unleashed her Whip Blade that sent Hao dodging and leaping, desperately trying to avoid its deadly slashes. Serpent's Lash was striking at him with lethal precision.
Slash! Slash!
"Her weapon is even faster than Diana's Flash Embrace." Realizing he needed an edge over Kiera's blistering speed, Hao activated Vibe Seeker. Its heightened focus allowed him to better predict her movements.
However, the Vibe Seeker's disadvantage of limiting Hao's perception of other objects in the environment soon became evident. Just as he anticipated and evaded one of Kiera's strikes, he was blindsided by a T-Biter that lunged at him from the side. The impact sent him crashing to the ground, leaving him momentarily dazed.
"What the heck are you doing?" Yoad yelled from the audience.
"Maybe he didn't see it," Kiera surmised while a vicious grin spread across her face.
"Dammit!" The realization that Vibe Seeker's focused ability had left him vulnerable to the T-Biter's attack infuriated Hao, but it was already too late for regrets.
Mentos and Yoad, watching from where they were, exchanged worried glances. Mentos was desperate to help his friend but he knew that intervening would only make matters worse, so he remained standing there, praying that Hao would survive.
"I should have also upgraded Vibe Seeker when I had the chance, but there's no time for that now. I need to think of a workaround." Hao grimaced as he picked himself up from the ground, his muscles were aching from the relentless onslaught. His sight was locked onto his remaining adversaries: the ferocious T-Biter, the recuperating Maelstrom, and Kiera, who showed no signs of hesitation. While he struggled to his feet, she lunged at him with her Serpent's Lash and its lethal promise of pain.
"Die!"
"I don't think so, lady."
Hao's body twisted and spun to dodge the Serpent's Lash. Sparks emerged from their weapons' sharp surfaces clashing against each other. Despite the beauty of their dance, the violence was all too real. Hao's every movement carried the weight of life or death. As he fought, he kept a keen focus on Kiera, watching for any signs of weakness he could exploit.
During his struggle, he nerve forgot to collect all the Tunes that were generated around him. He needed an edge, something to tip the balance in his favour. All he had to do now was buy himself some time to upgrade or unlocked new skills.
"My total Tune Points is now at 36, I can probably unlock that skill now, but first I have to lose her."
He teleported to the far side of the arena close to where Barkcode was laying idle. Then with a swift mental calculation, he opened his Sword Details and used his remaining Tune Points to unlock the Volume Raiser ability.
Volume Raiser Ability Tab>>
Level 1: Normal
• Description: This powerful ability sends out a shockwave of vibrations from the Vibe Edge's miniature speakers, lifting objects within a certain range off the ground and enveloping them in a vibrational sheet. The sheet can then be manipulated in various ways, such as compressing it to crush the object or sending it flying towards a target. The strength and range of the ability increase with each upgrade.
• Target: Multiple
• Range: Medium
• Duration: 10 seconds
• Cooldown: 2 minutes
Level 2: Resonance Amplifier (LOCKED)
• Description: An advanced version of Volume Raiser that amplifies and manipulates vibrations on a larger scale. By tuning the speakers on Vibe Edge to specific frequencies, the user can create complex vibrations that interact with the environment in unique ways. For example, the user can create a vibrational wall that deflects incoming attacks, or generate a vibrational shockwave that knocks enemies off their feet. The power of the Resonance Amplifier increases with the amount of Tune Points invested in it.
• Target: Multiple
• Range: Long
• Duration: 30 seconds
• Cooldown: 3 minutes
• Upgrade Requirement: 50 Tunes
"You can't run you, bastard!" Kiera and her bloodthirsty Bastian was quickly closing in on Hao while he was finishing the purchase of his upgrade.
He knew he had to create some distance to test out this new ability. Thus he launched himself into a series of backflips, barely avoiding the snapping jaws of the T-Biter and the slashing tail of Maelstrom. The cracked and uneven ground of the arena's crater made it difficult to maintain his balance, but he persevered, knowing that his life was on the line.
In the midst of executing his final flip, Kiera closed the distance, her Serpent's Lash poised to deliver a fatal blow. Hao's heart raced as he positioned his sheathed Vibe Edge below him, the tip then stamped the ground as he shouted:
"Volume Raiser!" BOOM! The speakers released a sudden burst of vibrations that spread like a shockwave. Instead of dissipating, the sound waves engulfed everything within a certain range, lifting Kiera, her Bastians, and the rocks high above the ground before slamming them back down with devastating force.
"Oh my God! What was that!!!?" Dippo's mouth widened in disbelief, as did the faces of the crowd.
Kiera and her Bastians lay motionless among a pile of rubble, their bodies sprawled across the arena's floor like a lifeless husk. Only Hao remained standing, his Vibe Edge supporting him in the centre.
The name Volume Raiser now seemed fitting because the ability had raised the stakes and the enemies alike, turning the tide of battle in an instant.
"I still can't believe what I'm seeing!" Hesitation flickered on Dippo's tongue as he lowered his hovering sword and looked upon the fallen combatants, but he had no choice. He took a deep breath and announced, "The winner is... contestant, Hao Vee!"
Boom!
The crowd erupted in cheers which were quite unexpected considering how they held Kiera in high regard. This was the Hallows for you, people's minds can change like the flick of a light switch.
Hao was proud, having defeated Kiera and her formidable Bastians. He had won the prize money and the promised Beast Companion, but the cost weighed heavy on him.
"Wonderful! Wonderful!" Mentos came over clapping Hao on the back with his face beaming with pride.
"Barkcode!" Yoad, however, couldn't muster the same enthusiasm. He looked worriedly at his injured Beast. Hao and Mentos knew that the celebration would have to wait until their injuries were taken care of.