The air in the arena was thick with tension as Ned and Leo squared off, each bringing their distinct styles into the battle. The clatter of daggers, the crackle of gunfire, and the roars of the crowd painted a chaotic, electric picture. While Ned tried to close the distance, darting and weaving through the barrage of bullets, Leo kept his cool, dodging the daggers and maintaining his range.
Both fighters were visibly tiring, their movements growing heavier with every passing second. Leo's face twisted with determination. His breath came in quick bursts, but his resolve was unshaken. It was time to end this fight.
Leo fired all the shots left in the pistol at once and sprinted backward, creating the distance he needed. With a sharp twist of his wrist, his black pistol vanished, replaced by a sniper rifle that gleamed ominously in the sunlight. The air grew cold as he charged his weapon, pooling his mana into a single, devastating shot.
Ned, meanwhile, was preoccupied with fighting off the black chains that had emerged from the disintegrated bullets. They coiled around him like venomous snakes, tightening with each attempt to break free. His heart pounded in his chest, and the pressure of the situation began to weigh on him. He saw Leo raise his sniper rifle, aiming it directly at him.
Ned's instincts screamed at him: Move! Now!
For the first time in the fight, Ned fully activated Spectator's Insight, and what he saw sent shivers down his spine. The mana gathered at the tip of Leo's sniper was colossal, glowing with a deep, inky black aura. It was more than a shot—it was the herald of destruction. If Leo fired that attack, there would be no way out.
He gritted his teeth and pushed himself harder. With a burst of mana, he activated Talaria, forcing his entire body to vibrate at an intense frequency. The chains rattled violently, loosening their grip. With a final effort, he broke free, just as the sniper rifle discharged.
A thunderous roar ripped through the arena, silencing the crowd. The shot tore through the air like a black comet, but before Ned could breathe a sigh of relief for dodging it, the bullet morphed mid-flight. Shadows curled and twisted as the projectile transformed into a monstrous black bird—a massive raven, its wings spanning the width of the arena. Its cry was bone-chilling, its very presence a manifestation of death itself.
Gasps and Shouts
The audience erupted in chaos. Some cheered, others screamed.
"It's The Black Raven! Leo's ultimate move!" one of the spectators yelled, their voice trembling with a mix of awe and fear.
The host, standing in his raised platform, adjusted his microphone and said in a voice tinged with drama, "Ladies and gentlemen, we're witnessing history. Leo Raven has unleashed the Black Raven—an ultimate move rarely seen in combat! Will Ned Forester survive this? Or is this the end of his journey?"
Zara leaned back in her seat, shaking her head. "This is it. He's done," she muttered, crossing her arms. She wanted to fight Ned herself, but now it seemed like a pipe dream.
Reena, however, sat on the edge of her seat, her fists clenched. Come on, Ned… You can pull through. You always do.
The other participants exchanged knowing glances. This fight had reached its conclusion—Leo Raven was the victor.
Ned stared at the enormous bird, its body a swirling vortex of dark mana, its eyes glowing with malice. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to run, but there was no escape. The raven could fly faster than any speed he could muster with Talaria.
Think, Ned. Think!
Spectator's Insight flared up, showing him fragmented glimpses of the future. No matter which path he took, the result was the same: the raven would reach him, and he would fall. His thoughts raced. The raven's mana patterns were chaotic, unpredictable. Unlike other attacks, it didn't have a centralized core to target or mimic.
Then, as the raven let out an ear-piercing screech and began its dive, an idea sparked in Ned's mind. It was reckless. It was insane. But it was his only shot.
The crowd watched as Ned planted his feet firmly on the ground, his eyes locked onto the raven. His mana flared around him, brighter and wilder than anyone had seen before. He extended his right hand, channeling everything he had into it.
"What is he doing?" one of the spectators whispered.
"He's… weaving mana?" another replied, their tone incredulous.
Indeed, Ned's mana was not flowing in a straight line like most combatants'. Instead, it spiraled and twisted, forming intricate threads that wove together into an almost impossibly complex structure. His experience with mana manipulation and his heightened senses through Spectator's Insight were working in perfect harmony.
This has to work, he thought, gritting his teeth. If it doesn't… well, at least I'll go out swinging.
The raven roared as it reached him, its massive form engulfing the arena in shadow. With a deafening explosion, it collided with Ned.
The impact shook the very foundations of the battleground. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the view. The crowd fell silent, holding their breath.
Zara leaned forward, a faint look of disappointment crossing her face. "It's over," she muttered.
Surfer nodded solemnly. "A shame. He had potential."
But then, a voice rang out from the stands. "Wait! He's still standing!"
All eyes turned back to the arena as the dust began to settle. There, in the middle of the chaos, stood Ned Forester. His body was intact, his breathing heavy but steady. His right hand glowed faintly red, a clear sign of the strain it had endured. But what truly shocked everyone was the raven—it was gone, and Ned was left unscratched.
The host nearly dropped his microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen… I don't believe what I'm seeing. Ned Forester has survived the Black Raven!"
The arena erupted into cheers, gasps, and stunned silence.
Ned didn't know what was happening around him cause his gaze was fixed on something only he could see—a notification from his system.
[Congratulations, Ned Forester!]
[New Skill Unlocked: Nullify]