64: The Awakening of spirit and a deep hidden desire {part-1}

The fight between the top 27 was going crazy; there was no stopping, no going back. Once, the cruise, a piece of absolute art crafted by each country, was now wrecked by the overpowering superiors of the new batch.

"Void, you know very well that your body doesn't have the capacity to handle this much pressure. Your nerves are reaching their limits. If we go any further, you might…" Lumi said to Void, who was enraged and determined to defeat Opal.

"...lose consciousness, and in the worst case…" the Raiju added, her thoughts running wild as she fought Eliza and Samuel.

"...his nerves will burst out again!" Vivienne thought, fighting Aziel head-on. She was grappling with her own turmoil. "I've ruined everything with my actions. Even after that, my mistakes were overlooked by everyone. Even now, Void has done nothing, nor have his fiancées; I know Void has just kept silent so he might not lose control…!"

The clash was intense. Aziel, who had been acting scared yet calculating in front of Void, was now giving Vivienne a fight on equal footing. They fought fiercely, neither willing to back down.

"What are you wondering about, Vivienne? Come fight me with all your might!!" Aziel taunted, a wicked smile spreading across his face. "This is it—my ultimate achievement…hahahaha!" His thoughts were filled with madness as he reveled in the chaos.

"Black Fusion!" Aziel cast a black vortex-filled ball of energy toward Vivienne. She couldn't bear such an attack; she had already endured a continuous fight with the top fighters. Ranked 12th, she was trembling on the ground.

"I can't…I don't have the strength to fight anymore…" Vivienne coughed up blood, her vision blurring. "I'm not even close to what Void faced…" Her eyes widened as Aziel summoned the Abyssal Darksword. Dark purple lightning surrounded her, and with one hit, the foundation of Vivienne's resolve was shaken to its core.

Vivienne growled in pain, letting out a cry as she felt herself breaking with each passing moment. "Aww..! What happened? I guess all the blood of Middletown is just in that blockheaded brother of yours. Why don't we make a deal? What if I give you back your long-lost lover, and in return, you sell your brother and make him my pet?" Aziel sneered, his words dripping with arrogance and madness. His eyes gleamed with the abyss.

"What do you say? I'll let you have your pathetic fiancé back, but in return, you'll make your brother…" Aziel grabbed Vivienne's hair, pulling it viciously. "...My slave!!" His words echoed through the battlefield, thick with sinister intent.

"If…you promise…I, Vivienne Middletown…!!" Vivienne stammered, teetering on the brink of surrendering to Aziel, falling into the same abyss that had claimed Ajay in a past life. Tears tugged at the corners of her eyes as she whispered in her mind, "I'm sorry…Void…I'm the worst…"

"Surr…" Before Vivienne could surrender completely, a sudden monstrous aura surged through the battlefield, emanating from Vivienne. This was unlike anything before—it wasn't like the usual ones nor like Void's mana-infused territory. This aura was far more horrifying, melancholy, and terrifying. A thick mist surrounded Vivienne.

Otherworldly flames ignited around her, forming a fiery mark that spread from her elbow to the base of her neck, glowing a menacing red. A spirit materialized—a man, his presence fierce and commanding. It was none other than Ignis, the Spirit of Flame, awakened within her.

Aziel's confidence evaporated as he backed away, sweat pouring down his face. The sinister laughter that once echoed through the battlefield was replaced with fear. Vivienne's territory expanded, engulfing the battlefield in a suffocating aura. No fighter dared to move an inch; all spells were deflected and destroyed by her overwhelming power.

"How…no…Vivienne…I can help you get any man and as many men as you want! Just…please, spare me…" Aziel stammered, trying to retreat. But it was too late. Before he could even react, he was sent flying, his body crashing and tumbling through the air. Pain coursed through him as he was thrown and battered, helpless against the onslaught.

Aziel managed to regain some sense of control, but all he could see was that he was soaked in his own blood, his body paralyzed with fear. He screamed, his voice trembling with desperation as he saw Vivienne standing before him. Her figure was now more demonic than ever, a true embodiment of wrath. The demon prince who once reveled in darkness was now begging for his life.

"This is the first time I've seen Mistress so enraged," Alfrin thought to herself. She hadn't expected Vivienne to push herself to this extent. Her wounds were healing rapidly, she was getting back to her feet all the endured wounds were being healed

Seeing Vivienne in this state, Vannessa, Celine, Sophie, and Vexia rushed to her side, trying to hold her back. Even Lora, the mermaid and Celine's friend, joined in, despite the unusual wound on her hand that no one had taken seriously. She began to sing a lullaby, her melodious and soothing voice somehow calming Vivienne, lulling her back to sleep.

As the terrifying aura subsided and Vivienne's territory receded, the battlefield fell silent, and a collective sigh of relief swept through the remaining fighters. Opal, the demoness and sister of Aziel, approached her brother's broken form. Lumi followed beside her, her expression unreadable.

But before you wonder how in the world Opal came back, why is she no longer in control moreover where is our Void..? let's go in flash back and focus on Void and opal a bit.

The waves of destruction were endless as Void and Opal clashed, shattering everything in their path. The energy they unleashed was immense, freezing and manipulating the surroundings. "Summon Vellora!" Opal commanded, calling forth the literal Spirit of Dark Matter, Vellora.

"Every element has its spirit—especially light, flame, water, ice, earth, and dark. Spirits are considered the greatest as they are rare, and having them is like a blessing from the goddesses themselves. Her perfect opponent is Charles, not me, as only light can end darkness!" Void thought, struggling to fend off both Vellora and Opal. Both he and Lumi were being cornered, Void's strength waning with each passing moment.

"And that freak Shuri isn't here right now. She's an alternative, but she doesn't even have the strength to fight Alfrin. She can't even stand, leaving me with no choice. I don't possess the strength like them; I'm low on mana…on my edge!" Void's thoughts were desperate as Lumi disappeared, and he felt the last drop of mana slip away. Opal seized the opportunity, landing hit after hit on Void. Deep cuts marred his body, his ribs cracked, and old injuries reopened as he was driven further into the ground.