The crowd's anticipation reached a fever pitch. Raizen stood firm, his muscles coiled with power, the system's enhancements pushing him past his former limits. Darius wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze narrowing into something colder—something desperate.
Darius wasn't done yet.
He exhaled sharply, his stance shifting into a lower guard. Raizen's system flashed a new warning.
[Enemy Skill Detected: Phantom Reaver – E1 Tier Technique]
Raizen's body tensed as Darius lunged, moving faster than before. His form blurred, his movements unpredictable. The crowd barely registered what was happening before Darius was upon him, his fists striking out in a sequence of rapid, precise blows.
Raizen dodged the first strike, but the second grazed his ribs, sending a shockwave of pain through his body.
[Damage Sustained: 52%]
Raizen gritted his teeth. His strength boost was fading, and Darius was throwing everything he had into this final push. He had to end this—now.
The system pinged.
[Adaptive Combat Prediction: 70% Synced]
A rush of clarity filled Raizen's mind. The system was learning, adjusting. He could see it—Darius's next move, his next breath, his next attack.
Darius came in for the finishing blow, his palm igniting with a crackling energy pulse aimed straight for Raizen's chest.
Raizen twisted his body at the last moment, sidestepping the strike by a hair's width. Before Darius could adjust, Raizen drove his fist into his opponent's exposed side with every ounce of force he could muster.
BOOM!
The impact echoed like a thunderclap, sending Darius skidding across the arena floor. The noble crashed onto his back, gasping for air, his arms trembling as he tried to push himself up.
The system's countdown reached zero.
[Time's Up – Victory Achieved]
The arena fell into absolute silence. Then—
A roar of excitement erupted from the crowd. Students who had mocked Raizen now watched in awe. Even the instructors exchanged glances, clearly reevaluating the "commoner" they had dismissed only days ago.
Raizen exhaled, shaking his hands as the adrenaline left his body. His entire frame throbbed with pain, but the fire inside him only burned brighter.
[Quest Completed: Defeat Darius Valen]Reward Unlocked: Physical Attribute Boost – Strength Enhancement Applied Permanently.
Darius lay on the ground, his breaths ragged. He lifted his head slightly, glaring at Raizen. "This… this isn't over."
Raizen smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Take a number."
Selene watched from the sidelines, her eyes lingering on him a moment longer than before.