CHAPTER FORTY: THE CLASH OF TITANS

The battlefield was vast, an open coliseum enchanted to shift and morph, designed to push competitors beyond their limits. The final round had begun, and tension hung thick in the air. Helen's voice had barely finished announcing the start when the opposing team launched their assault.

I remained where I stood, arms crossed, my crimson eyes scanning the battlefield. I wasn't here to fight—at least not yet. My plan was simple: defend our whole while Ken and Nicole went on the offensive. Ken hadn't been thrilled about it, but Nicole had managed to convince him to follow along.

Now, it was up to them to prove themselves.

Ken moved first, his footwork sharp, a blur of speed as he closed the distance between him and the enemy's front line. His golden handgun gleamed under the stadium lights as he fired, his bullets twisting midair to track his targets. The opposing fighters dodged, forcing him to adjust his aim, but he was relentless—never firing in vain, always calculating.

Nicole followed his lead, her whip cracking through the air like a streak of black lightning. It coiled around an enemy's arm, yanking them forward before she spun, sending them crashing into the ground. Another opponent lunged at her, but with a flick of her wrist, her whip wrapped around their ankle, and she twisted her body, sending them tumbling.

The other team wasn't weak, though. They retaliated with elemental strikes—flames roared, water surged, the very ground beneath them trembled. Ken sidestepped a fire blast, then retaliated with a precise shot that grazed his attacker's shoulder, forcing them to retreat.

Nicole danced through the chaos, her whip an extension of her body. She wrapped it around a boulder an enemy had hurled at her, redirecting it midair before lashing out at another opponent. She was fierce, a perfect blend of grace and aggression.

From my position, I watched everything unfold.

Nicole's technique had improved. Her movements were sharper, her reactions faster. She wasn't just fighting—she was adapting. Ken, on the other hand, was ruthless. He moved with calculated precision, his attacks relentless. But I noticed something. Ken was still holding back.

He was powerful, but something in him was restrained.

I smirked. Let's see how long that lasts.

The battle raged on, but the true test was yet to come.

Finally, a worthy team emerged from the settling dust, their presence rippling through the air. They stood with unwavering confidence, the sun casting long shadows behind them, making them appear larger than life.

Darian Volk led their team, towering over the others like a living monolith. His dark, granite-like skin gleamed under the sunlight, and every step he took made the ground beneath him tremble slightly. He cracked his knuckles, the sound like boulders grinding together. The guy was massive—probably the toughest opponent Ken had faced yet.

Beside him, Sylvaine Oris moved with an eerie grace, her silver hair flowing like liquid mercury. Her piercing eyes analyzed us with silent intensity, never betraying a hint of emotion. She barely moved, her fingers resting lightly on the Eclipse Chains coiled at her waist. Cold. Calculated. Dangerous.

Then there was Rael Myrick—slim, wiry, and radiating pure arrogance. A permanent smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned forward slightly, his sharp gaze darting between us like a predator sizing up its prey. He popped his neck, then let out a mocking whistle.

"Well, well," Rael drawled, resting his hands behind his head. "Look what we have here—a mercenary with an ego, a girl with a fancy whip, and the blondie who thinks he's untouchable. Hope you guys didn't get too comfortable in the last rounds." His eyes locked onto me, his smirk widening. "Because this time? You're all going down."

Ken rolled his shoulders, expression unreadable, but there was a sharp glint in his eyes. "Funny. I was about to say the same thing."

Darian chuckled, his deep voice like rolling thunder. "I've been looking forward to this." He clenched his fists, his stone-like muscles flexing. "I've always wanted to see if my body could withstand a hitman's bullets." He tilted his head toward Ken. "Think you can crack me, Ken?"

Ken smirked, hand hovering over his golden handgun. "Let's find out."

Sylvaine remained silent, her icy gaze locked onto Nicole. The weight of her stare was intense, like she was dissecting every move Nicole might make. Nicole, feeling the challenge, simply twirled the handle of her whip, lips curling into a small smile.

"You don't talk much, huh?" Nicole finally said, tilting her head. "That's fine. I like making quiet people scream."

Sylvaine didn't flinch. Her silver eyes burned with quiet determination as she unsnapped her Eclipse Chains, letting the dark metal slither to the ground like a serpent preparing to strike.

The tension snapped like a wire pulled too tight.

I exhaled slowly, keeping my stance relaxed. I could already tell—this was going to be an interesting fight.

Then, without another word, the battlefield exploded into chaos.

Ken and Darian stood several feet apart, the battlefield between them littered with debris from previous skirmishes. The tension was thick, an invisible pressure pressing down as both warriors sized each other up. Ken's fingers hovered over his golden handgun, eyes locked onto Darian's towering frame.

Darian smirked, rolling his shoulders. His skin, dark and rough like polished granite, gleamed under the harsh tournament lights. "I've been looking forward to this," he rumbled, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see if your bullets can even make a dent."

Ken remained silent, exhaling through his nose. He knew better than to waste time on bravado. In a flash, his gun was in his hand, the muzzle igniting with a sharp golden glow as he fired off three precise shots, each bullet aimed at Darian's joints—his knee, his shoulder, and his ribs.

Clink! The bullets deflected off Darian's body like pebbles against steel. The larger fighter barely flinched, grinning as he stomped forward, the ground trembling beneath his weight.

Ken's expression didn't change, but inside, he was already recalculating. He holstered his gun and dashed to the side just as Darian lunged, his massive fist swinging in a devastating arc. The sheer force of the punch sent a shockwave rippling through the ground, shattering stone where Ken had stood mere moments ago.

Darian's strength was no joke. One clean hit, and Ken knew he'd be out cold.

Ken reappeared behind him, gun drawn again. This time, he fired a single shot—not at Darian, but at the ground beneath him. The bullet exploded on impact, sending up a cloud of dust and debris. Darian staggered slightly, momentarily blinded, and Ken took his chance. He moved in close, ducking low to avoid a wild swing before delivering a precise shot to Darian's ear.

A sharp ping! echoed, and Darian flinched. Not in pain, but in irritation. "Annoying," he muttered, before grabbing a chunk of broken stone and hurling it at Ken like a cannonball.

Ken barely had time to twist his body mid-air, dodging the projectile by inches. The boulder smashed into the arena wall, sending cracks spiraling outward.

Darian grinned. "You're fast. But sooner or later, you'll slip up."

Ken landed gracefully, clicking his tongue. "We'll see about that."

He reached into his holster and reloaded with specialized rounds—ones that carried more impact. Darian had made one thing clear: simple gunfire wouldn't cut it. If he wanted to take down this walking fortress, he'd need to get creative.

Darian slammed his fists together, the ground beneath him trembling. "Come on, hitman. Show me what you've really got."

Ken exhaled sharply, gripping his gun tighter. The real fight was just beginning.

Ken didn't waste a second. The moment Darian challenged him, he moved. His gun was a blur in his hands, golden muzzle flashing as he fired from multiple angles—straight at Darian's joints, then at his temple, then at the ground to kick up debris before twisting mid-air to send another shot aimed for the side of Darian's neck.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

The bullets ricocheted off Darian's stone-like body, barely leaving a scratch. Ken narrowed his eyes. He had anticipated a tough defense, but this was beyond reason.

Darian barely moved, standing firm as if he were humoring the fight rather than engaging in it. "Is that all?" he called out, his deep voice vibrating through the air.

Ken didn't answer. His mind worked rapidly, calculating the angles, the force, the movement. His body responded in kind, shifting, adjusting, firing in precise succession. Every shot was aimed to exploit a possible weak point—if Darian had any.

Nothing worked.

Ken dashed sideways, flipping over a chunk of broken stone and firing as he twisted mid-air, sending three bullets in a curved trajectory, bouncing them off the cracked walls to hit Darian's exposed flank.

Clink!

Darian turned, unfazed. "Nice trick."

Ken clicked his tongue. He needed something stronger.

Landing in a crouch, he reloaded in one swift motion, his golden gun crackling with energy as he activated his Bullet Infusion. Sparks of electricity danced along the barrel as he infused his bullets with lightning, the air around him thrumming with raw power.

He fired.

The shot whizzed through the air, leaving behind a streak of crackling blue light before striking Darian's chest. The impact sent a sharp shockwave rippling across his body, forcing him to stagger slightly. A faint dent marked the spot where the bullet had landed.

Ken's eyes widened. A dent? That was all?

The hesitation cost him.

Darian grinned. "Gotcha."

Before Ken could react, a massive fist crashed into his ribcage with the force of a sledgehammer. A sickening crack echoed through the battlefield as Ken's body shot through the air like a bullet.

He crashed through the first wall. Then the second. Then the third.

By the time he slammed into the fourth, the sheer impact left a deep crater in the stone. Dust and debris filled the air as his body crumpled to the ground, unmoving.

Silence fell.

Darian rolled his shoulders. "Well, that was fun."

Nicole's attention flickered for the briefest moment—just long enough to see Ken crash through solid walls like a ragdoll. The force of the impact made the ground tremble beneath her boots.

That moment of concern nearly cost her.

A whisper of metal slicing through air reached her ears. Instinct kicked in. Nicole twisted her body at the last second, feeling the cold sting of Sylvaine's Eclipse Chain graze the side of her neck. A second slower, and it would have wrapped around her throat.

Nicole's golden eyes snapped back to her opponent. Sylvaine stood poised, her silver hair unmoving despite the chaos around them. She wasn't the type to waste words—only actions. And her latest attack spoke volumes.

"Focus, Nicole," she muttered to herself, tightening her grip on her whip.

Sylvaine flicked her wrist. The Eclipse Chains shot forward again, twisting and splitting into multiple tendrils, all aiming to ensnare Nicole's limbs. Nicole leaped back, then lashed her whip in retaliation, its sharp crack splitting the air. Her whip coiled around one of the chains, and with a swift yank, she deflected its path.

Sylvaine didn't flinch. Her eyes calculated Nicole's movements, predicting her next action. With a twist of her fingers, the chains retracted, shifting like living serpents before lashing out again—faster this time.

Nicole ducked and rolled, her whip slashing through the air in a controlled arc. The tip struck one of Sylvaine's chains, sending sparks flying. Sylvaine barely moved her feet, effortlessly maneuvering her weapon with deadly precision.

The battle turned into a dance of steel and skill. Nicole lashed her whip in unpredictable patterns, forcing Sylvaine to adjust, while Sylvaine's chains moved with eerie fluidity, constantly trying to entangle Nicole. Each dodge, each strike, was measured. A single mistake could mean defeat.

Nicole's mind raced. I can't let her dictate the fight.

She suddenly shifted her stance, lowering her body as if preparing for another dodge—but it was a feint. The moment Sylvaine adjusted, Nicole snapped her wrist, sending her whip curling toward Sylvaine's ankle.

A hit.

Nicole yanked hard, pulling Sylvaine slightly off balance. It wasn't enough to drop her, but it was enough to create an opening.

Nicole launched forward, her whip striking in a rapid succession of precise blows. Sylvaine barely managed to deflect, but Nicole kept the pressure on, forcing her back step by step.

The silver-haired girl's eyes narrowed.

Then, with a flicker of movement, Sylvaine changed tactics. Instead of dodging, she let one of Nicole's strikes hit—her shoulder jerking slightly from the impact.

What—?

Before Nicole could react, Sylvaine twisted her chains in a sudden arc. Nicole realized too late—her whip was tangled.

Sylvaine pulled hard.

Nicole felt her weapon yanked from her grip. It sailed through the air before slamming into the ground behind Sylvaine.

Disarmed.

Nicole exhaled sharply. Sylvaine still didn't speak. She simply stood there, watching, waiting for Nicole's next move.

Nicole cracked her knuckles. "Fine. Let's see who adapts faster."

She dashed forward—without a weapon.

The fight wasn't over. It was only getting started.

She exhaled, her golden eyes narrowing. If I can't use my whip, I'll just use something else.

She pressed two fingers against her palm, muttering an incantation only known to the royal bloodline. A deep crimson glow flickered across her fingertips, spreading like veins of molten fire through her skin. The air around her shifted—heavy, charged, like the weight of something unseen pressing against the battlefield.

Sylvaine's eyes flickered with a rare hint of surprise. She recognizes it.

The Blood Pact.

Nicole's Blood Pact ability not only grants her enhanced strength but also causes a distinct physical transformation—her eyes turning blood-red as a direct effect of activating the power. This change signifies that she is channeling demonic energy, heightening her combat abilities and making her a force to be reckoned with but she could only maintain this state for ten minutes.

Nicole clenched her fist as the demonic power surged into her hand. Her veins pulsed with an unnatural strength, the borrowed power coiling through her muscles. Her fingers curled, the pressure of her own grip almost unfamiliar. It felt like she was holding lightning in her bones.

Sylvaine adjusted her stance. Unlike Nicole, she wasn't built for close combat. Her strength was in her chains, in controlling distance. Which means Nicole has to keep pushing.

Nicole lunged.

Her speed doubled in an instant. The ground cracked beneath her feet as she closed the distance. Sylvaine flicked her wrist, sending her Eclipse Chains in a desperate attempt to keep Nicole at bay.

Too slow.

Nicole ducked beneath the strike, her movements precise, then twisted her body into a perfect counterattack. Her fist, wrapped in the Blood Pact's power, surged forward.

Then—

CRACK.

The sound of bone meeting flesh echoed like a thunderclap. A deep, sickening impact that sent vibrations up Nicole's arm. It wasn't just a hit—it was a collision, raw power compressed into a single devastating point.

Sylvaine's head snapped to the side, her silver hair whipping violently with the motion. The force of the punch lifted her feet off the ground for a split second before she crashed backward, skidding across the dirt in a harsh tumble.

Nicole lowered her fist. Her knuckles tingled from the sheer power behind the strike. The demonic energy still pulsed faintly in her fingers, but the real satisfaction came from the sight in front of her.

Sylvaine lay on the ground, stunned. A single crimson streak trailed from the corner of her mouth, proof that Nicole had landed a real, undeniable hit.

Nicole rolled her shoulders. "Not so fun when you're on the receiving end, huh?"

Sylvaine groaned, wiping her lip with the back of her hand. But even as she pushed herself up, her silver eyes glowed with something else now.

Respect.

I exhaled sharply, eyes scanning the battlefield even as I moved. Nicole had the upper hand—that was good. She'd landed a clean hit on Sylvaine, and that meant she could handle herself.

Ken, on the other hand…

My teeth clenched. The idiot took a direct hit. Seeing him get sent through a damn wall wasn't surprising, but it was disappointing. He's better than that.

I barely had time to register the irritation before—

THWACK!

A fist slammed into my jaw, jerking my head to the side. The force snapped me out of my thoughts, and I staggered a step back. The sting spread through my skin, a dull throb settling in my cheek.

"Hey, dumbass."

Rael stood in front of me, shaking out his fist with a smirk. His slim, roguish frame flickered slightly, like a mirage on the edge of reality. His Specter Stride let him phase in and out, making it nearly impossible to pin him down.

"If you're gonna sulk about your team," Rael said, rolling his shoulders, "at least do it after I'm done kicking your ass."

I touched my jaw, feeling the spot where he'd landed the hit. That smug look on his face made my fingers twitch.

Fine. If he wanted my attention, he had it now.

I spat to the side, cracking my neck before fixing my gaze on him.

"Alright," I muttered. "I'll make this quick."

Rael grinned. "That's the spirit." Then, in a blink, he vanished again.

This time, I was ready.

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