CHAPTER 1 – THE SKY’S CHALLENGER
---
2094 – NEW TOKYO, A WORLD BUILT ON BATTLE
A digital skyline pulsed above the streets of New Tokyo, the city where dreams were built—or destroyed—through battle. Skyscrapers stretched into the sky, neon circuitry tracing their edges like veins of light. Holograms flickered across the skyline, showcasing one absolute truth:
ASTRAL DOMINION RULES THE WORLD.
The game wasn't just entertainment. It decided wars, dictated politics, settled corporate disputes, and crowned legends. Whoever ruled Astral Dominion ruled everything.
And sitting at the top of that world was The Absolute—the undefeated World Champion.
A massive holographic screen crackled to life above Shibuya Crossing, displaying a lone figure standing atop a battlefield of shattered terrain. His voice echoed across the city:
> "Only one can sit on the throne. If you dare challenge me… rise."
Thousands of pedestrians paused to stare. Some cheered. Some whispered in reverence.
But on a rooftop, a lone figure leaned back against a metal railing, watching with a lazy smirk.
Eden D. Souldrake.
He exhaled, the night wind ruffling his silver-tinted hair. His emerald green hoodie—lined with black void-like patterns—fluttered behind him. His piercing gaze never left the screen.
"Arrogant bastard." He grinned. "Enjoy your throne while you can."
---
ASTRAL DOMINION – THE COLLEGE TOURNAMENT BEGINS
A train roared into Shibuya Hyper-Station, packed with players from all over the city. Eden stepped off, hands in his pockets, ignoring the crowd's buzz. The College Tournament was kicking off today—the first step toward national recognition.
First step to becoming World Champion.
His phone beeped. A message flashed from his closest friend, Rei Takasugi:
> Rei: [Dude, where are you? Tournament check-in starts in 10 minutes!]
Eden: [Relax. I'm getting food first.]
Rei: [FOOD?! PRIORITIES?!]
Eden: [Priorities: Not dying from hunger.]
Eden smirked, shoving his phone away. The College League Tournament was filled with hot-blooded competitors—but for him? It was just step one.
A nearby food stall caught his attention. The scent of grilled meat filled the air. Eden strolled up, casually ordering a skewer.
Behind him, someone scoffed. "You're seriously eating before your match?"
Eden turned slightly. A muscular guy in a sleek, combat-style jacket glared at him—Klaus Reinhardt, a foreign student from Germany. A big-name player, famous for his aggressive playstyle.
Eden took a slow bite of his skewer. "Yeah. You?"
Klaus' eye twitched. "Tch. You're either cocky or stupid."
Eden chewed. Swallowed. Then smirked. "Or both."
Before Klaus could respond, a booming announcement echoed across the station:
> "ATTENTION COMPETITORS! REPORT TO THE ARENA NOW!"
Eden turned away, tossing his skewer stick into the trash. "Guess we'll see who's stupid in the ring."
---
THE DIGITAL ARENA – WELCOME TO THE STORM
The College League Grand Stadium was an engineering marvel—a colossal floating structure, suspended mid-air by anti-gravity fields. Inside, a holographic battlefield expanded endlessly, shifting terrains to match each match's theme.
Eden stepped into the player chamber, where competitors gathered. Large screens displayed match brackets.
> Round 1 – Eden D. Souldrake vs. Klaus Reinhardt
Rei appeared, panting. "DUDE. YOU CUT IT SO CLOSE."
Eden waved him off. "Relax. I'm here, aren't I?"
Klaus was already standing by his battle terminal, cracking his knuckles. His eyes locked onto Eden. "No more jokes. I'll crush you."
Eden stretched lazily. "Uh-huh. Sure. Let's get this over with."
---
BATTLEFIELD GENERATION – SUMMON YOUR ASTRAL
The stadium rumbled. A massive digital screen pulsed.
> "Initializing Match… Terrain: SKY TEMPLE."
The floor vanished beneath them, replaced by an expansive battlefield floating above the clouds. Towering stone pillars jutted out from thin air, shifting every few seconds like an ever-changing maze.
> "Summon Your Astrals."
Eden exhaled, rolling his shoulders. This was it.
Klaus extended his hand. A glowing sigil formed in mid-air. Lightning crackled as his Astral materialized—a warrior draped in storm-charged feathers, talons glinting.
> [Astral: Hawkfang] (Gale / Volt Type)
Klaus smirked. "Your turn, dead man."
Eden lifted a single hand. The air around him trembled. A deep emerald glow surged, warping space itself. His voice came out calm—but his smirk widened.
> "Tear through the sky—VAELGRYM."
A pulse of black-green energy erupted. The space behind Eden shattered like glass as a towering figure emerged—a knight draped in crystalline emerald armor, wreathed in abyssal storms.
> [Astral: Vaelgrym] (Gale / Draco Type, Trait: Dominance)
The entire stadium fell silent.
Rei's jaw dropped. "What the hell is THAT?!"
Eden rolled his neck. "Guess you'll find out."
Klaus clenched his fists. "Tch. Doesn't matter."
> "BATTLE START!"
Eden's emerald eyes gleamed. His smirk turned sharp.
"Try and keep up."
---
BATTLE COMMENCES – ASTRALS UNLEASHED
The Sky Temple Battlefield stretched endlessly above the clouds, its floating stone pillars shifting unpredictably. Wind howled through the arena as Vaelgrym and Hawkfang faced each other, tension crackling in the air.
A system voice echoed through the stadium:
> "BATTLE START!"
Klaus didn't hesitate. He slammed his fist into his battle terminal. "Hawkfang—Gale Burst Dash!"
A sonic boom erupted as Hawkfang disappeared in a flash of electricity, cutting through the battlefield like a storm. In an instant, it was right above Vaelgrym, talons glowing with charged energy.
> "Lightning Rend!"
A streak of Volt-infused slashes tore through the air, aimed directly at Vaelgrym's core. The crowd gasped—Klaus' speed was overwhelming right from the start!
But Eden? He barely reacted.
Instead, he exhaled. "Vaelgrym—Domain Shift."
The moment Hawkfang's attack closed in, a sudden spatial distortion erupted around Vaelgrym. The air warped, and the battlefield itself seemed to bend.
The attack passed through nothing but an afterimage.
Klaus' eyes widened. "What?!"
Eden grinned. "You forgot, huh? Dominance Trait—The more Vaelgrym controls the field, the more brutal he becomes."
In that instant, Vaelgrym's wings expanded, sending a pulse of emerald-black energy outward. The stone pillars around the battlefield shifted violently, rearranging themselves to suit Eden's will.
> "Tempest Chain."
Gale-force winds howled as chains of black-green storm energy erupted from Vaelgrym's wings, snaking through the battlefield and locking onto Hawkfang's position.
Klaus gritted his teeth. "Dodge it—"
Too late.
The chains slammed into Hawkfang, wrapping around its limbs mid-air. The crowd erupted as Klaus struggled to regain control.
> "Tch—Not good…"
Eden stretched, cracking his knuckles. "See? This is what happens when you think speed alone makes you untouchable."
He snapped his fingers.
> "Storm Fang—Break."
Vaelgrym jerked its chains—and suddenly, a vortex of razor-sharp wind blades converged on Hawkfang from all directions.
The first impact sent shockwaves across the battlefield. The second tore into Hawkfang's armor, sparks flying. Klaus barely reacted in time.
> "Hawkfang—Disengage, Aerial Shift!"
A desperate Volt-infused explosion erupted from Hawkfang's body, shattering the chains and sending it spinning away to safety. Klaus skidded backward, panting.
His expression had changed.
That wasn't just a counterattack. Eden had completely dictated the pace of battle.
> "Damn it…" Klaus muttered. "So this is your true level…"
Eden rolled his shoulders, his emerald eyes glinting with excitement. "What's wrong? Not gonna run that mouth anymore?"
The crowd roared. Eden wasn't just fighting—he was playing with his opponent.
But Klaus clenched his fists. "Don't think this is over."
Lightning crackled. Hawkfang's feathers stood on end.
> "Let's see if you can handle THIS—Astral Fusion Mode: STORM EMPEROR!"
A surge of golden electricity wrapped around Hawkfang's body, forming an intricate battle armor. Its talons extended, wings expanded, and its body pulsed with overwhelming power.
The entire battlefield trembled.
Eden's smirk widened. "Now we're talking."
---
ASTRAL FUSION MODE – STORM EMPEROR ASCENDS
The stadium trembled as Klaus activated Astral Fusion Mode. The golden electricity surrounding Hawkfang surged, forming into sleek, storm-forged armor that wrapped around its body like a divine warlord descending from the heavens.
The system voice echoed across the battlefield:
> "ASTRAL FUSION MODE ACTIVATED – STORM EMPEROR."
The crowd exploded in excitement.
Rei, watching from the sidelines, slammed his hands on the railing. "Oh, crap. That's a full power-up transformation!"
Klaus grinned, his previous frustration wiped away. "Cocky bastard, let's see you handle this."
Hawkfang's wings extended, now laced with arcs of Volt energy. Its talons pulsed with power, and even the battlefield's floating stone pillars were starting to shake under the sheer pressure radiating from its form.
Eden exhaled, rubbing his neck. "Finally, something interesting."
Klaus shot forward. "Storm Emperor – Sky Blitz!"
A violent explosion of wind and lightning cracked the air as Hawkfang vanished in a streak of golden light. The aftershock alone sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield.
Vaelgrym barely had a second to react.
The impact came like a meteor. Hawkfang's talons smashed into Vaelgrym's side, sending him flying into a crumbling pillar.
> CRASH!
Dust and stone fragments rained down as the crowd gasped. It wasn't just speed—Klaus' attack carried overwhelming force now.
Rei's eyes widened. "That was a direct hit—!!"
Klaus didn't give a second to breathe. "Storm Emperor – Cyclone Breaker!"
Hawkfang spun midair, the winds around it coiling into a tornado-drill attack. Volt energy surged as it dove straight for Vaelgrym's position, intending to pierce through his defenses entirely.
Eden, despite the situation, simply sighed. "…And here I thought you had more than just brute force."
His hand tightened. "Vaelgrym – Phase Shift."
In the instant before impact, Vaelgrym's form flickered. Like before, space itself distorted—but this time, he didn't just dodge.
> He moved through the battlefield as if teleporting.
Hawkfang's attack hit nothing.
Klaus' smirk faltered. "What—"
Eden's voice cut through the air, calm but filled with unmistakable confidence. "My turn."
A pulse of emerald-black energy radiated from Vaelgrym's wings.
> "Dominion Expansion – Boundless Tempest."
The moment those words left his mouth, the battlefield itself changed.
The sky above twisted, darkened—as if swallowed by an abyssal storm. The floating pillars restructured, shifting into a formation that perfectly trapped Hawkfang in the center.
And then came the winds. Howling, unnatural, crushing. The storm wasn't just raging—it was following Eden's command.
Klaus' eyes widened in horror. "No way—He's altering the battlefield itself?!"
Eden cracked his knuckles. "That's the problem with Fusion Mode."
> "It gives a power boost, but it doesn't change the fact that I control this fight."
Klaus gritted his teeth. "Tch—like hell I'll let you—"
BOOM.
A violent gust slammed into Hawkfang from all directions. Every time it tried to move, the winds pushed it back, forcing it into a disadvantageous position.
Klaus tried to push forward. "Sky Blitz—"
"Denied."
Eden snapped his fingers.
> "Vaelgrym – Tempest Fang."
The very air solidified into emerald daggers—dozens, then hundreds—all aimed at Hawkfang.
Klaus barely had time to brace before the storm struck.
> SHRRKKK!
> A direct hit.
Hawkfang's armor fractured. Sparks erupted from its body as the force sent it crashing back—smashing through three floating pillars before skidding to a halt.
The stadium fell silent.
Rei stared in awe. "H-He's…completely overwhelming him."
Even the commentators were stunned.
> "Ladies and gentlemen… Eden D. Souldrake is toying with a fully fused Astral!"
Klaus groaned, forcing Hawkfang to its feet. His expression twisted in frustration—he wasn't just losing. He was being outplayed at every step.
But then…
His lips curled into a smirk. "…Good. That's what I wanted."
Eden's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh?"
Klaus clenched his fist. "Time to show you why I'm not just 'brute force.'"
Suddenly, the storm didn't just dissipate—it reversed.
Eden's relaxed posture straightened slightly. "Huh."
Klaus lifted his head, his grin wide. "Astral Fusion—Override Mode: Storm Ascendant."
The air itself split apart. The electricity around Hawkfang condensed, fusing with the storm winds, turning them into razor-sharp, storm-forged spears. The damage from before? Gone.
> System Notification: Klaus has activated Advanced Astral Fusion Override.
The crowd went insane.
Eden exhaled, rolling his neck. "…Now we're actually fighting."
THE CLASH OF FUSION MODES – OVERRIDE MODE ACTIVATED
The moment Klaus activated Override Mode, the entire battlefield reacted. The storm-forged spears surrounding Hawkfang vibrated with an unnatural hum, their edges crackling with hyper-condensed Volt energy.
The system voice chimed:
> "ASTRAL FUSION OVERRIDE MODE – STORM ASCENDANT ACTIVATED."
Wind and lightning intertwined, no longer separate forces. Instead of raging tempests, Klaus had refined his power into absolute precision.
The floating pillars around the battlefield weren't shaking anymore—they were being cut apart.
Eden's emerald eyes flickered with curiosity. "Huh. So that's what Override does."
Rei, watching from the stands, nearly fell over the railing. "Dude—he's compressing his entire storm into a cutting force. That's next-level control!"
Klaus smirked, rolling his shoulders. "You were right, Eden. I relied too much on brute force. But now—"
He snapped his fingers.
> "Storm Ascendant—RAZOR SKY DANCE."
BOOM.
Hawkfang vanished.
Not a blur. Not a streak.
It simply ceased to exist in its previous location.
SLASH!
Eden's pupils shrank. A razor-thin cut appeared on Vaelgrym's wing.
The first real damage Eden had taken.
The crowd exploded.
Even the commentators were losing their minds:
> "Ladies and gentlemen—Klaus just LANDED A CLEAN HIT ON EDEN!"
Rei's jaw dropped. "No way. Eden never gets hit."
Klaus was grinning now. "What's wrong, champion? You're looking a little—"
> "Storm Ascendant—Thunderfall Strike!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Hawkfang appeared behind Vaelgrym.
Its talons were no longer just weapons—they were storm-forged guillotines.
> CRACK!
Eden barely had time to react before Vaelgrym was sent flying across the battlefield, crashing through floating stone platforms.
> BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
Klaus didn't let up.
> "Sky Blitz—Horizon Cleave!"
Lightning erupted as Hawkfang shot forward, its body splitting into afterimages.
The sheer speed and cutting power left glowing arcs in the sky—each one capable of carving the battlefield itself.
Eden, however, was grinning.
Vaelgrym flapped its wings once. The entire field distorted.
> "Dominion Expansion—Absolute Gale."
The raging storm Klaus had been controlling?
Eden stole it.
BOOM!
The entire battlefield shifted in Eden's favor once again.
Klaus' eyes widened. "What—?!"
Eden cracked his neck. "Took you long enough to be interesting. Guess I should return the favor."
> "ASTRAL FUSION MODE—RESONANT ASCENT."
A pulse of crystal-green and black-hole energy erupted from Vaelgrym's core.
The moment it happened, the entire arena changed.
The wind, the battlefield, the very rules of movement—
Eden was no longer controlling the fight.
> He WAS the fight.
Klaus' face went pale. "Wait—this isn't normal Fusion Mode, is it?!"
Eden's smirk deepened. "Oh, you're finally catching on?"
Vaelgrym's body was no longer just its usual dragon-like form.
> Its wings had become razor-sharp crystallized blades. Its scales were no longer just armor—they pulsed with miniature singularities.
Eden's voice reverberated through the stadium:
> "ASTRAL FUSION—VOID TEMPEST FORM."
The system voice confirmed it:
> "ASTRAL FUSION—BEYOND CLASS ACTIVATION."
The Beyond Class.
The highest level of Astral Fusion Mode.
Klaus took a step back. "…Oh shit."
Eden lifted a single hand.
> "Shall we continue?"
The battle was only just beginning.
---
BEYOND CLASS FUSION – VOID TEMPEST ASCENDS
The stadium was dead silent.
No cheers. No commentary.
Even the system voice hesitated before announcing:
> "ASTRAL FUSION: BEYOND CLASS – VOID TEMPEST FORM ACTIVATED."
Rei gripped the railing. "This… this is different."
Different? No.
This was something beyond anything they'd seen before.
Klaus could feel it in his bones. His instincts screamed at him. This wasn't just a transformation.
> Eden had rewritten the battlefield's very existence.
Vaelgrym hovered midair, its body radiating an emerald glow laced with black singularities. The winds around it didn't just move—it bent space itself, warping the battlefield into something new.
Klaus' fists clenched. He refused to back down.
> "Storm Ascendant—Final Arc Slash!"
Hawkfang launched forward, wings cutting through dimensions. Volt energy surged through its form—
And yet, the moment it reached Vaelgrym's domain—
> It stopped.
Not because Eden dodged. Not because of a counterattack.
> Because the attack ceased to exist.
Klaus' eyes widened in horror. "What…?"
Eden's voice was casual, almost amused. "The moment you stepped into my Dominion, your attack never had a chance of landing."
Vaelgrym didn't move, yet Klaus could feel the overwhelming force weighing down on him.
Eden raised a single hand. "Void Tempest – Singularity Drive."
> BOOM.
The entire battlefield twisted.
The winds of Vaelgrym's Dominion condensed into a single point—a micro black hole no bigger than a coin.
> And then it exploded.
> SHHHHRRRRKKKK!
A devastating force erupted outward. Hawkfang was caught instantly.
The entire arena trembled as black-green energy swallowed everything in its path. Shockwaves blasted through the floating pillars, shattering them into dust.
Klaus could feel his Astral struggling. He pushed forward—but the pressure was suffocating.
> This wasn't just an attack. It was complete and total domination.
The system voice spoke again:
> "WARNING: SYSTEM BALANCE ERROR DETECTED."
Even the game itself couldn't process the level of power on display.
Eden let out a small chuckle. "Oops."
Klaus gritted his teeth. "Not… yet…!"
His eyes burned with determination. "HAWKFANG – FULL RELEASE MODE!"
The storm that had been crushed by Eden's void energy suddenly expanded outward.
> "OVERRIDE LIMITER BREAK – SKY TYRANT ASCENSION!"
The entire stadium lit up with golden light as Hawkfang's form shifted once more.
The battlefield trembled again—this time, Eden raised an eyebrow.
Klaus' voice rang out: "You're not the only one with a Beyond Class, Champion."
The match wasn't over yet.
---
WHEN BEYOND CLASSES COLLIDE – SKY TYRANT ASCENDS
The golden brilliance of Sky Tyrant Ascension clashed against the void-green singularities of Void Tempest Form.
The stadium could barely contain it. The game's environmental settings struggled to keep up—
> WARNING: SYSTEM STABILITY AT 82%… 67%… 55%…
Rei leaned over the railing, eyes wide. "This isn't just a normal battle anymore. They're breaking the system!"
Klaus exhaled sharply, his hands gripping his Astral Interface tighter.
Hawkfang was no longer the same. The storm wasn't just an external force—it was infused into every fiber of its being.
> Sky Tyrant Ascension: The storm does not rage—it obeys.
Klaus locked eyes with Eden. "You're not the only one who can bend the battlefield to his will."
Eden tilted his head slightly, amused. "Alright, impress me then."
Klaus raised a single hand.
> "Sky Tyrant – Ruler's Storm!"
BOOM.
A massive thunderstorm erupted, but this wasn't uncontrolled lightning—it was a royal decree.
The air itself obeyed Klaus.
The singularities of Void Tempest twisted and distorted, unable to consume the storm-forged lightning that now ruled the battlefield.
Klaus wasn't just resisting Eden's domain—
> He was taking it back.
Eden's emerald eyes narrowed slightly. "Interesting."
He extended a hand forward.
> "Void Tempest – Absolute Collapse."
The micro-black holes across Vaelgrym's wings began to pulse in unison, forming a gravitational field that pulled at the storm itself.
Klaus clenched his jaw. "Not this time!"
He flicked his fingers upward—
> "Sky Tyrant – Thunder Step."
CRACK!
In an instant, Hawkfang vanished.
Eden blinked. "Hoh?"
A fraction of a second later—
BOOM!
A blinding golden arc slashed across Vaelgrym's shoulder, cutting through even the gravitational void shielding.
The first clean hit on Eden.
The crowd lost their minds.
> "KLAUS LANDED A DIRECT HIT! HE BROKE THROUGH VOID TEMPEST FORM!"
Rei nearly dropped his drink. "No way— this is Eden we're talking about! No one lands a clean hit on him!"
Klaus grinned, adrenaline surging through his veins. "What's wrong, Champion? Looking a little slow there."
Eden rolled his shoulder. The cut on Vaelgrym's form slowly closed up, but he was smiling. For the first time in the match, Eden looked… excited.
> "Alright, Klaus."
The air around Vaelgrym shifted.
The black holes stabilized. The wind didn't rage—it coiled, refined, controlled.
Eden raised a single hand.
> "Let's stop playing around."
The battlefield shook.
> VOID TEMPEST – TRUE FORM UNLOCKED.
A second pulse of energy erupted from Vaelgrym. Its wings expanded, now resembling a perfect fusion of crystalline emerald and black-hole energy.
The system voice trembled:
> "NEW SYSTEM ALERT—
> UNKNOWN FORM DETECTED."
Klaus' heart pounded. "Oh… crap."
The battle wasn't over. It was only just beginning.
---
VOID TEMPEST TRUE FORM – THE FINAL STORM BEGINS
The battlefield wasn't just shifting anymore.
It was collapsing.
Eden's Void Tempest True Form wasn't just a transformation—it was a fundamental rewriting of reality.
> SYSTEM ALERT:
"UNKNOWN FORM DETECTED. WARNING: GAME BALANCE MAY BE COMPROMISED."
The crowd barely understood what was happening. The system itself was struggling to process Eden's power.
Klaus wasn't just fighting an opponent anymore. He was fighting the laws of the game itself.
But he refused to back down.
> "Sky Tyrant – King's Decree!"
A massive thunderstorm surged, attempting to reassert control. Lightning coiled around Hawkfang, turning into a divine spear of judgment.
Klaus launched forward, his attack tearing through space—
And then—
CRACK.
The moment his lightning touched Eden's Void Tempest domain—
> It vanished.
Klaus' eyes widened. His most powerful attack had just been erased.
Eden's voice was calm. "It's useless, Klaus."
Vaelgrym didn't dodge. It didn't block. It simply existed beyond the reach of Klaus' attacks.
Eden extended his hand.
> "Void Tempest – Abyss Tyrant Collapse."
A pulse of gravitational force erupted outward.
Klaus barely had time to react before Hawkfang was hurled backward, smashing into the remnants of the floating pillars.
The force wasn't just knocking him away—it was crushing the storm itself.
> Sky Tyrant's domain was being devoured.
Klaus gritted his teeth. "Damn it—no, I won't let you take control!"
He forced Hawkfang forward again, wings blazing with desperate energy.
But the moment he entered Eden's zone—
> Everything slowed.
Klaus' movements were sluggish. His attacks felt distant, almost disconnected from reality.
> Void Tempest True Form had rewritten the rules of engagement.
Eden exhaled slowly, his expression unreadable.
> "This is the difference between us."
Klaus forced a grin. "Yeah? Then let's see if I can break that difference."
> Sky Tyrant Override – Limit Break Mode!
A second pulse erupted from Hawkfang. The golden storm condensed, collapsing into a single point—then burst outward in an explosion of raw power.
The system hesitated—
> "NEW FORM DETECTED: SKY TYRANT FINAL ASCENSION."
Rei nearly choked on his drink. "WHAT?! KLAUS JUST PULLED A MIRACLE!"
Klaus wasn't done yet.
If Eden could break the rules—
> Then so could he.
---
SKY TYRANT FINAL ASCENSION – A GOD DEFIES THE VOID
For a single, impossible moment—
Klaus stood equal to Eden.
The battlefield trembled as Sky Tyrant Final Ascension activated.
> SYSTEM ALERT:
"UNKNOWN FORM DETECTED. ERROR. SKY TYRANT FINAL ASCENSION HAS NO PRECEDENT IN GAME CODE."
Rei's voice cracked. "He just forced the game to recognize a form that doesn't exist?!"
The arena was no longer a battleground.
It was a war between two players rewriting reality itself.
Klaus exhaled, his eyes gleaming with reckless determination. "I'm not done yet."
Hawkfang was no longer a mere combat Astral. The storm wasn't just under its control—
> The storm was part of it.
Lightning coursed through Hawkfang's veins, golden circuits running across its body like divine script. Its wings weren't just generating wind—they were shaping the battlefield itself.
Eden tilted his head slightly. "Hoh? You're finally interesting."
Klaus grinned. "Damn right."
> Sky Tyrant – Storm Emperor's Wrath!
A single movement—
And Klaus vanished.
A lightning explosion erupted where he once stood, and in the same instant—
> BOOM!
Klaus appeared behind Eden.
The crowd didn't even process it. One moment he was there. The next, he was behind Eden, his blade of lightning aimed straight for Vaelgrym's core.
Eden's Void Tempest should've erased the attack.
But it didn't.
> Because Sky Tyrant Final Ascension wasn't bound by the old rules.
Eden's eyes flickered with something rare.
Excitement.
He raised a single finger.
> "Void Tempest True Form – Singularity Reversal."
The air cracked.
The moment Klaus' attack should have landed—
The laws of physics collapsed. His momentum flipped backward, his own attack reversing on itself.
> Time itself warped against him.
Klaus barely had a second to react before his own lightning exploded against Hawkfang's body.
> BOOOOM!
The impact sent him hurtling back, smashing into the remnants of the battlefield.
The crowd gasped as the golden storm flickered.
Rei shouted, "Did… did Eden just redirect his entire attack?!"
Eden lowered his hand. "Your new form is powerful, Klaus."
His emerald-black aura surged, expanding outward once again.
> "But I am still above you."
Klaus coughed, his body screaming in pain. But instead of fear—
> He was smiling.
> "Yeah?" Klaus wiped blood from his lip. "Then let's see how much higher you can go."
The battle wasn't over yet.
---
THE FINAL CLASH – WHEN KINGS TRANSCEND LIMITS
The battlefield was unrecognizable.**
Fragments of floating islands drifted in a void-storm of emerald and gold, twisted by the conflicting forces of Void Tempest True Form and Sky Tyrant Final Ascension.
> SYSTEM STABILITY: 22%… 15%… 9%… WARNING.
Rei's hands trembled. "If this keeps up, the entire game might crash!"
But neither Klaus nor Eden cared.
This battle was beyond mere rankings, beyond titles—
> This was a war of ideals.
Klaus rolled his shoulders, breathing heavily. Hawkfang was barely holding together. But his eyes gleamed with fire.
Eden remained calm, Vaelgrym's wings pulsing with void-light. He had not even broken a sweat.
"Still standing?" Eden mused. "You should be honored. Few last this long."
Klaus laughed, shaking off the pain. "Yeah, yeah. But I'm not here to 'last'—I'm here to win."
Eden smirked. "Then come. Show me something worthy of victory."
Klaus exhaled sharply.
> Sky Tyrant – Ultimate Domain Expansion.
Lightning halted.
For the first time, the golden storm wasn't wild. It wasn't chaotic.
It was absolute.
Hawkfang's body shifted. Feathers turned into pure astral circuits. Its form grew sharper, more defined—
> Klaus had achieved something no one in history had done.
> Sky Tyrant Beyond Form: Storm Sovereign.
Eden's eyes narrowed. "Now you're talking."
He raised his hand.
> Void Tempest – Crown of Oblivion.
The very concept of gravity, space, and energy bent around Vaelgrym. Every law of physics was rewritten to his will.
> THE FINAL MOMENT ARRIVED.
Klaus vanished.
Eden moved.
Their final attacks clashed—
---
THE FINAL CLASH – WHEN KINGS TRANSCEND LIMITS
The battlefield was unrecognizable.**
Fragments of floating islands drifted in a void-storm of emerald and gold, twisted by the conflicting forces of Void Tempest True Form and Sky Tyrant Final Ascension.
> SYSTEM STABILITY: 22%… 15%… 9%… WARNING.
Rei's hands trembled. "If this keeps up, the entire game might crash!"
But neither Klaus nor Eden cared.
This battle was beyond mere rankings, beyond titles—
> This was a war of ideals.
Klaus rolled his shoulders, breathing heavily. Hawkfang was barely holding together. But his eyes gleamed with fire.
Eden remained calm, Vaelgrym's wings pulsing with void-light. He had not even broken a sweat.
"Still standing?" Eden mused. "You should be honored. Few last this long."
Klaus laughed, shaking off the pain. "Yeah, yeah. But I'm not here to 'last'—I'm here to win."
Eden smirked. "Then come. Show me something worthy of victory."
Klaus exhaled sharply.
> Sky Tyrant – Ultimate Domain Expansion.
Lightning halted.
For the first time, the golden storm wasn't wild. It wasn't chaotic.
It was absolute.
Hawkfang's body shifted. Feathers turned into pure astral circuits. Its form grew sharper, more defined—
> Klaus had achieved something no one in history had done.
> Sky Tyrant Beyond Form: Storm Sovereign.
Eden's eyes narrowed. "Now you're talking."
He raised his hand.
> Void Tempest – Crown of Oblivion.
The very concept of gravity, space, and energy bent around Vaelgrym. Every law of physics was rewritten to his will.
> THE FINAL MOMENT ARRIVED.
Klaus vanished.
Eden moved.
Their final attacks clashed—
---
FINAL MOMENT – WHEN GODS CLASH
The instant their attacks collided—
> Reality shattered.
The entire battlefield was consumed in an explosion of raw power, light, and void twisting into a singularity of absolute destruction.
The system collapsed, unable to process what was happening.
> SYSTEM CRITICAL ERROR! ROLLING BACK REALITY.
Players watching across the world screamed as the broadcast flickered, their screens momentarily going black.
Then—
Silence.
The dust cleared.
Klaus was on one knee. Blood dripped from his forehead, his breath ragged. Storm Sovereign was fading.
Eden stood before him, Vaelgrym's form pulsing with unstable energy.
He had won.
But barely.
Eden exhaled slowly. "You almost had me."
Klaus forced a grin. "Damn… so close."
> VICTORY: EDEN D. SOULDRAKE
The system barely managed to announce the result before the entire arena collapsed back to normal.
Rei was losing his mind in commentary. "WHAT DID WE JUST WITNESS?!"
The crowd erupted in chaotic cheers, still trying to process what had happened.
Klaus wobbled to his feet, staring at Eden. Then, he extended his hand.
"Next time, I'll win."
Eden smirked, shaking his hand. "You'll try."
The battle was over.
But the war had just begun.