Suddenly, Atlas let out a loud laugh, drawing confused looks from the opposing team and the crowds.
"Weapons? Him? Oh boy. Big mistake, TopRanker."
Randy's face contorted in fury. "What do you mean?"
Atlas's smile only widened. "Noah doesn't use weapons, dummies."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Wanda snapped, her tone furious. "He uses drones. Isn't that his weapon?"
As the battle card's effect was initiated, Randy and Wanda's expressions twisted with confusion as they looked at me. I still hadn't changed a thing; my drones were in position, fully operational, ready for the next move.
"H-hey! We used Restriction. Why are his drones still there?!" Wanda shouted, her voice cracking with disbelief.
The system's calm voice echoed in response:
"Verified. Noah Adler is not using his weapons."
"What? H-how is that possible? Is this some kind of joke?!" Randy screamed, his anger escalating.
I couldn't suppress the smirk that stretched across my face. "Well, I hate to break it to you, but my drones are summons. They're not my weapons. It's part of my class, Technomancy. I summon objects, not use weapons."
I shrugged, still amused by their bewilderment. "Guess you'll have to think of a better plan next time."
A loud burst of laughter erupted from the stands, drawing the attention of both teams. I didn't have to look to know who it was.
Cason, leaning back in his seat, was practically in tears from laughing. "Another dumb move by a team. Hahahahaha!" His voice carried across the arena, loud and unmistakable.
The audience responded with a mix of stunned silence and uneasy chuckles, unsure of whether to be impressed or embarrassed for TopRanker. But one thing was clear: Cason wasn't going to let them forget this mistake anytime soon.
The bitter expressions on the faces of the TopRanker duo said it all—they hadn't expected their own battle card to backfire so spectacularly. An idea crossed my mind, and a smile crept onto my face.
"Apex versus TopRank. Round 2. Match starts in 10 seconds. Timer begins now."
"Tell you what," I said, my tone deliberately nonchalant. "I'll unsummon my drones."
Atlas's voice immediately crackled through the private comms, filled with disbelief. "Noah, what are you doing?"
"Relax. I've got this," I said calmly.
Randy, catching the exchange, narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What are you trying to pull?"
"I said I won't use my drones," I repeated, grinning. "In fact, I won't do anything at all. Atlas will handle both of you."
"8... 7... 6..."
"Wait, what?" Atlas's voice shot up in protest. "Noah, have you lost your mind? You want me to fight two A-ranks at the same time?!"
I chuckled, unfazed. "Atlas, where's that confidence of yours? You've been itching to show off, haven't you? Now's your chance."
"Yeah, but this is different!" he burst out. "They've got clones! I can't even detect—"
I cut him off. "You're an assassin, Atlas. They can't see you. And let me remind you, you're wielding an SS-rank weapon—Phantom Weaver. It's a beast of a gun. Stealth explosive ammo, remember?"
"Of course I remember, but—"
"Your weapon never misses, Atlas. It has advanced tracking sensors that don't care about clones or illusions. And let's not forget—the speed of your bullet? Faster than light. By the time they realize you've made a move, it's already over. So stop doubting and start aiming."
There was a moment of silence, and then Atlas sighed, his voice steadying. "Alright, fine. But if this doesn't work, you owe me big time."
I smirked. "Deal. Now go give them a show."
"3... 2... 1... Battle Start!"
And just like that, I made no move. An electric barrier hummed around me, crackling with energy as it shielded me from any potential attacks.
Atlas had vanished from view, seamlessly blending into the arena's environment with his stealth mode. In the silence, I counted down in my head.
Five.
Randy and Wanda sprang into action. With Wanda's rune-casting weaving through the air and Randy's illusions distorting their positions, they moved in perfect tandem, their teamwork a clear display of their experience.
The air shimmered with illusionary clones and glowing sigils as they launched their first coordinated attack.
Four.
I stood there, arms crossed, completely unbothered. My shield buzzed and sparked faintly, deflecting the incoming barrage. I smirked. This wasn't my fight—it was Atlas's show now.
Three.
Somewhere in the arena, unseen by all, Atlas was making his move. His presence erased, his sniper instinct honed to perfection. Only those who knew his true skill would understand what was coming.
Two.
Wanda's glowing runes flared as she shouted, "He's just hiding! Focus the barrier! Take him down!"
Randy's voice followed, barking orders, "Keep the pressure up! Don't give him time to—"
One.
Two shots echoed through the arena, so subtle they could have been whispers. Randy and Wanda froze mid-action. For a brief moment, they looked down in confusion, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and dread.
And then it happened.
The air around them ignited in twin bursts of controlled explosions, perfectly placed by Atlas's Phantom Weaver.
The force sent shockwaves across the arena as their bodies disintegrated into glowing particles. The last emotion frozen on their faces wasn't anger or even pain—it was fear.
The crowd went dead silent. You could hear a pin drop in the vast expanse of the stadium.
The system's announcement cut through the silence like a blade:
"TopRanker: Instant Knockout. Points to Apex. Round 2 Winner: Apex!"
For a moment, the crowd stayed frozen, stunned by what they'd just witnessed. Then, as if a dam broke, the stadium erupted into deafening cheers.
Among the chaos, one voice boomed louder than the rest—Cason.
The God of Death was on his feet, howling with laughter and cheering wildly, his vice-captain Conrad uncharacteristically joining in as they hugged and jumped in excitement.
I grinned as Atlas materialized next to me, his expression calm but triumphant. We exchanged a quick fist bump, his black liquid armor rippling as it deactivated.
"Not bad," I said, the grin still on my face.
"Not bad? Are you kidding me?" Atlas shot back with a smirk. "That was perfect."