The arena grew silent, the tension so thick it was almost tangible. The two combatants stared each other down, their respective auras crackling with unrelenting power. This chapter is updated by Novel~Fire. (n)et
Darren stood tall in his Overlord Fusion form, his golden eyes radiating a primal, unyielding force. His draconic claws flexed, glowing with molten energy, and the jagged stones covering his body shimmered as if alive.
Asher, on the other hand, remained eerily calm. His crimson eyes glowed brighter, the blood pooling at his feet swirling upward as if obeying his unspoken command. The crowd was on edge, their collective breaths held, sensing the fight was reaching its climax.
"You've been holding back, Magnus," Darren growled, his voice a deep, guttural mix of his own and the dragon's. "I can feel it. You think you're better than me, don't you?"
Asher tilted his head slightly, his smirk colder than ice. "Think? No, Dagon. I know I'm better."
Darren roared, his claws slashing through the air as he lunged forward, each step cracking the stone floor beneath him. Asher didn't flinch. Instead, with a fluid motion, he summoned a torrent of crimson blades that spiraled around him like a hurricane.
The first clash was explosive. Darren's claws collided with Asher's spinning blood blades, sending shockwaves rippling through the arena. The crowd shielded their faces from the debris, their screams barely audible over the deafening sound of battle.
Darren pressed forward, his monstrous strength forcing Asher back a step. But Asher countered with a sweeping gesture, sending a wave of blood spikes toward Darren. The spikes struck his armored form, but Darren roared through the pain, using his claws to shatter them mid-flight.
"Not bad," Darren admitted, his voice a mix of grudging respect and feral anger. "But you'll have to do better than that!"
With a powerful leap, Darren soared into the air, the wings on his back spreading wide. From above, he unleashed a barrage of glowing stone projectiles, each one crashing toward Asher like meteors.
Asher moved swiftly, weaving through the barrage with inhuman precision. His feet barely touched the ground as he darted forward, closing the gap between him and Darren. With a flick of his wrist, he created a massive scythe from his blood, its blade dark and shimmering with malevolent energy.
"Blood Reaper Scythe," Asher intoned, his voice calm and cold.
The crowd gasped as the scythe arced through the air, its sheer size and speed making it seem impossible to dodge. Darren snarled, crossing his claws in front of him to block the attack. The impact was cataclysmic, a shockwave of crimson energy rippling outward as Darren was sent crashing to the ground.
Darren groaned, rising to his feet with a furious glare. His fusion form shimmered, cracks forming in his armor. Yet, his determination didn't waver. "You think that's enough to beat me?!"
Darren's aura surged as he unleashed a deafening roar, the ground trembling beneath him. His body began to glow, molten light seeping through the cracks in his armor. "This is it, Magnus. My ultimate move! Let's see if you can handle the full wrath of an Overlord!"
Darren opened his mouth, a blinding sphere of energy forming between his jaws. The heat was intense, the very air around him distorting from the sheer power.
"Dragon's Inferno!" he roared, releasing a massive beam of molten energy. The beam tore through the air like a raging comet, aimed directly at Asher.
Asher's eyes narrowed as he raised his scythe, the blood around him swirling faster, forming a massive crimson vortex. He planted his feet firmly, gripping the scythe with both hands.
"Time to end this," Asher muttered.
With a surge of his own energy, he swung the Blood Reaper Scythe downward. The scythe unleashed a colossal wave of crimson energy, a cutting force so powerful it seemed to rend the very fabric of the arena.
The two attacks collided in mid-air, the clash of energies creating a cataclysmic explosion that shook the entire Academy. The audience screamed as they were forced to shield themselves from the gale-force winds and debris flying in every direction.
For a moment, the arena was consumed by blinding light and deafening noise.
When the dust finally settled, the crowd gasped at the sight before them.
Darren was on one knee, his fusion form shattered, smoke rising from his battered body. His golden eyes were dim, his breathing ragged. He clutched at his side, blood dripping onto the scorched ground beneath him.
Asher stood a few meters away, his scythe dissipating into a mist of crimson droplets. Though his breathing was steady, his usually pristine uniform was tattered, and a faint cut adorned his cheek—a rare mark of vulnerability.
"You… damn… monster," Darren muttered, his voice weak but defiant.
Asher's cold gaze remained fixed on Darren. "A monster, am I? Perhaps. But at least I know my limits. You, on the other hand, overestimate yours."
Darren let out a weak chuckle, collapsing onto his back. "You've got me this time… but don't think for a second this is over."
The audience erupted into cheers and applause, their earlier fear now replaced with awe at the sheer spectacle they had witnessed.
"That was insane!" one student shouted.
"Magnus really is on another level," another murmured.
Freya, watching from the stands, smiled faintly. "As expected of you, Asher."
Asher turned and began to walk away, the crowd parting to make way for him. He didn't bask in the cheers or acknowledge the praise. To him, this fight had been just another obstacle—a stepping stone on his path to absolute power.
As he exited the arena, his crimson eyes glowed faintly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Next time, bring something more interesting, Dagon."
As Asher began to walk away from the arena, his footsteps echoed on the stone floor. His crimson eyes glimmered faintly, and a small smirk played on his lips. "Though, I have to say... it was fun," he mumbled under his breath.
Suddenly, a familiar chime resonated in his mind, and a translucent screen appeared before his eyes:
Objective: Remain the top ranker in the Academy and fight one opponent every week.
Reward: Skills will vary depending on the opponent defeated.
[ Fight Against Darren Dagon Completed ]
Congratulations on obtaining the skill: Blood Flames!
Asher's smirk widened slightly as he read the notification. "Blood Flames, huh? Interesting."