A single stone cast into still waters creates a thousand ripples.
The arena, which had been holding its collective breath in tense silence, suddenly erupted into chaotic noise as the reality of what they'd witnessed began to sink in.
"Did Azrael actually win?"
"I owe him an apology for underestimating him earlier."
"This reminds of those boss fights where you think you've won, only for the enemy to reveal a second form."
"You're absolutely right about that!"
The spectators from this world had never encountered a Shinigami before, so they naturally couldn't comprehend that for characters from Bleach, their initial combat abilities were rely the foundation. Only after achieving Bankai or Resurrección could a character be said to display their complete power.
Nel, for instance, could even achieve a second-stage Resurrección. As for Aizen himself, didn't he also possess his Hōgyoku transformation?
In front of their television screen, the Hiragi family had fallen into stunned silence.
Gabi stared at the close-up of Azrael on the broadcast, her expression distant and unfocused. "Is this really what silver-level combat looks like?"
After a long mont, she suddenly began laughing through tears that stread down her cheeks.
Panic flickered across Gustav's features when he saw his daughter's reaction. "Gabi, you're scaring ."
Wiping her eyes, Gabi managed a bitter smile. "It's nothing, Father. I just realized that I might never catch up to Azrael in this lifeti."
She'd harbored hopes of closing the gap after the provincial unified examination, but watching today's battle made those aspirations seem almost laughably naive.
Hearing her words, Gustav found himself at a loss for comfort. Should he tell her she could catch up through hard work? The very thought was absurd. Being a genius was rely the entry requirent to even glimpse Azrael's level.
Deep within a shadowed cavern, Jin's weathered face displayed an enigmatic smile. "It seems our Crimson Oath Society has truly discovered a precious treasure."
"mphis, contact Fredrika imdiately. Have her adjust Azrael's clearance level to maximum."
Though Jin was a master-level Lore Cardian, even he hadn't anticipated that Azrael's cards could unleash such devastating power without witnessing it firsthand. Of course, with his experienced eye, he could also tell that Azrael's ntal energy consumption must have been enormous.
mphis concealed his shock behind a respectful facade. "Understood, sir."
He knew the Crimson Oath Society would soon welco its newest inner circle mber.
At Cambridge University's Battle Club, Oliver and the others exchanged bewildered glances. The battle's progression had been a rollercoaster of emotions, and none of them had expected such a dramatic conclusion.
After a prolonged silence, Oliver spoke with evident frustration. "We need to push ourselves harder. We can't afford to hold Azrael back during the national competition."
Today's display had forced Oliver to confront whether this might be his only chance to contribute aningfully to a national championship run.
Behind him, Sun-Myun's narrowed eyes flashed with barely concealed jealousy. With such a powerful ally to carry them, why was Oliver still worried about being a burden? Of course, Sun-Myun voiced his agreent outwardly while privately seething.
His gaze lingered on Choi-Gyu, who was practically glued to Oliver's side, and the frustration in his heart nearly drove him to madness.
Back in the arena, Azrael approached the dejected Crowley with little Nel perched on his head, his voice carrying a playful edge. "Ti to honor your promise."
After the battle concluded, Nel had flown to Azrael, nuzzling his cheek with her small body while babbling about rewards. However, Azrael's depleted ntal energy couldn't sustain her adult form any longer, leaving him with his diminutive companion as a makeshift hat.
Crowley raised his disheveled head with vacant eyes, and when the aning of Azrael's words registered, his face flushed crimson. "I won't, "
His protest died mid-sentence as his body went rigid like a marionette. Azrael looked up to see Master Lucian observing with an amused expression, while behind him, a crimson-robed figure's presence lood ominously.
Little Nel instinctively shrank further behind Azrael's head, completely concealing herself. The elderly man radiated a terrifying aura that made her deeply uncomfortable, far more unsettling than even Aizen had been.
Having regained her mories in her adult form, Nel understood the implications of such power, though the card's limitations prevented her from maintaining that state indefinitely unless Azrael was willing to continuously channel his ntal energy. Still, her smaller form had advantages, video gas awaited her return ho, and they were infinitely more entertaining than hide-and-seek.
Under countless watchful eyes, Crowley chanically approached the gathered dia representatives, grasped a microphone, and began confessing his cris in monotone detail.
The arena's central display screen, along with various live broadcasts, began showing surveillance footage that complented his testimony. While such recordings could be easily manipulated, everyone understood their significance in this context.
The audience quickly realized this revelation was the true purpose behind Master Lucian's orchestrated duel.
As Crowley's chanical recitation continued, the spectators' breathing grew increasingly heavy with outrage.
"Those commoners were quite amusing, actually. They expected to protect them."
"If my father hadn't assigned this mission, I wouldn't have spared them a second glance."
"They should feel honored to die for my sake, for Crowley's benefit."
A beverage can flew toward him, only to be deflected by one of Crowley's remaining bronze-level cards. He swept his contemptuous gaze across the stands. "Peasants will always be peasants, lacking any semblance of proper breeding."
"Seems I've struck a nerve."
Watching Crowley's brutally honest confession, Azrael regarded his teacher with newfound wariness. If Master Lucian ever subjected him to such truth compulsion, his embarrassing secrets would be exposed, gaming preferences, questionable browser history, and other social death scenarios that made him shudder.
The ntal image was more terrifying than any battle he'd faced. Better never provoke Master under any circumstances.
Finally, Crowley's self-incriminating testimony reached its conclusion. The stands had devolved into chaos, filled with angry shouts.
"You monster! Why don't you just die!"
"Damn elitist bastard!"
In this world, civilians still comprised the overwhelming majority, and Crowley's contemptuous remarks had successfully united their hatred against him.
As Crowley's confession ended, the compulsion effect from Master Lucian's card dissipated. Color gradually returned to Crowley's pallid features as he looked back at his father, Ottarl, with mounting panic.
Ottarl's expression had darkened to such a degree that he could have cosplayed Master Lucian's signature card, Judge Bao. His skeletal right hand gripped his wooden cane so tightly that veins bulged prominently, and he practically hissed through gritted teeth at a nearby Mizuno family servant, "I'll Retrieve the young master imdiately!"
Then his hateful glare fixed on the guest seating area. Since both sides had abandoned all pretense, there was no need for further theatrics.
Moreover, given the current situation, Zidaine naturally couldn't allow Master Lucian to completely destroy the Mizuno family, such an outco would derail all his carefully laid plans.
However, the Mizuno family was equally powerless to harm Azrael directly. The two factions had reached a precarious stalemate.
But the Empire encompassed more than just the imperial court and the Lore Cardians' Association. For instance, there was the Crimson Oath Society, that persistent thorn in Master Lucian's side.
Though the Society maintained distance from traditional power structures, even the court's usual contact wasn't with Pixar's top leadership. In fact, the governnt remained ignorant of the Society's true hierarchy beyond Jin himself.
Ottarl's rage suddenly transford into calculated calm. He patted his son's shoulder and turned to leave, his voice carrying ominous implications.
"Excellent move, Master Lucian."
"Since you harbor such animosity toward noble families..."
"It would be perfectly reasonable for your disciple to fall victim to the Crimson Oath Society's retaliation, wouldn't it?"
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