Sasuke pressed his hand against his face, revealing only his left eye through the gaps between his fingers. His crimson six-tomoe pupils locked onto Hercules across the battlefield, tears of blood silently streaking down his cheek.
In the next instant, pitch-black flas materialized soundlessly throughout the arena, burning with an eerie, otherworldly intensity that seed to devour light itself.
A small tendril of fla touched Hercules' massive fra, then rapidly spread across his entire body like living shadow, clinging to every surface with unnatural persistence.
"How predictable," Eina sneered inwardly. She had expected sothing more impressive from Azrael's supposedly hidden ace, but this seed like nothing more than elaborate pyrotechnics designed to intimidate rather than harm.
Although this was her first encounter with these particular black flas, the seasoned spectators in the elevated guest area found themselves genuinely intrigued by the unusual display.
"Those flas possess highly unusual properties," Finn murmured, stroking his pale beard thoughtfully as his experienced eyes analyzed the phenonon. "And the casting dium appears to be purely ocular in nature. Fascinating technique."
As a Diamond-level Lore Cardian with decades of experience, he could naturally sense the potent supernatural energy radiating from Sasuke's distinctive Mangekyō Sharingan.
Pri Minister Yuichi frowned deeply as he studied the dark-haired youth positioned strategically on the field. "This particular card hasn't appeared in any of his previous tournant matches, has it?"
The astute observation sent ripples of realization through the assembled high-ranking officials. Azrael had either deliberately concealed this powerful summon during his earlier battle with Crowley, or he had sohow crafted an entirely new card between tournant rounds.
Either possibility demonstrated the young Lore Cardian's exceptional talent and remarkable strategic depth, traits that clearly set him apart from his contemporaries in the competition.
Finn couldn't resist a mont of scholarly vindication. "Pri Minister, I'm curious about your current thoughts on this developnt?"
He felt precisely like soone who had discovered an incredible new series and desperately wanted to share the experience with a skeptical friend.
Yuichi sighed helplessly, finding the elderly man's obvious enthusiasm rather tireso in such circumstances. "I understand your close relationship with Master Lucian naturally influences your judgnt, but such blatant favoritism doesn't particularly suit the esteed president of the Vaelcrest National Taoist Academy."
Finn's expression stiffened noticeably at this pointed reminder of protocol. The Vaelcrest National Taoist Academy had indeed been eliminated in the previous tournant round, securing what most considered a respectable top-32 placent given the competition level.
After a mont's thoughtful pause, he defended his students with characteristic stubbornness. "How can you honestly call losing to Master Tempest's exceptional disciples a true defeat? That was rely an extraordinarily close match that could have gone either way!"
The old man's persistent protests brought a wave of good-natured laughter to the guest section, lightening the previously tense atmosphere.
However, several senior elders exchanged aningful glances, their expressions considerably more serious than the jovial atmosphere around them suggested.
anwhile, down on the battlefield, the spreading pitch-black flas had already completely engulfed Hercules' imposing form and were steadily spreading outward across the entire arena floor.
Although Eina seriously doubted these theatrical flas could truly threaten Hercules, who had been significantly enhanced by her carefully chosen venue card, she couldn't simply allow them to consu her painstakingly invested ntal energy without response.
The feminine figure grotesquely stitched to Hercules' muscular back observed the relentlessly spreading black flas with growing unease, droplets of crimson blood beginning to spatter steadily onto the ground below.
Seeing this concerning developnt, Eina called out to Azrael with a deliberately mocking tone. "I should actually thank your teammate for thoughtfully gathering those convenient storm clouds. Without them providing moisture, the Blood God wouldn't have been able to extinguish your little light show so effortlessly."
"What a terrible sha for you."
On the Pixar University bench, Oliver stared blankly at the ominous crimson storm clouds swirling nacingly above the arena.
"Am I actually holding Azrael back with my contribution?" he wondered quietly, self-doubt creeping into his thoughts.
Choi-Gyu's sudden excited exclamation snapped him back to attention. "Brother Oliver, look at what's happening now!"
Azrael's asured response to Eina's taunting was delivered with perfect, almost unsettling composure.
"You're absolutely right about that."
"What a sha indeed."
Eina felt her confidence begin to waver as she studied Azrael's unnaturally calm expression with growing concern. "What's with that insufferable attitude of yours?!"
She whipped her head toward the battlefield with mounting alarm.
Just as mysteriously as they had first appeared, the black flas were now silently consuming absolutely everything within Sasuke's direct line of sight.
Hercules, the grotesque Blood God, the stone arena floor, and even the blood rain the Blood God had desperately summoned to extinguish the encroaching flas—all burned with the sa inextinguishable darkness.
Ironically, the only liquid on the entire field that remained completely untouched was the blood flowing freely from Sasuke's own left eye.
Without any concern for the trendous strain on his precious ocular powers, Sasuke unleashed Amaterasu with absolutely reckless abandon, even more desperately than he had in the original tiline.
In the source material, precious little ti had passed between Sasuke's initial awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan and his near-complete blindness from dangerous overuse.
This desperate young man was burning everything he possessed to exact terrible vengeance upon a world he had grown to despise.
The black flas, fueled by the abundant blood coating the arena, spread rapidly in all directions until they reached the protective barrier at the field's periter.
From that crucial mont forward, the interior of the arena beca completely obscured from all outside observation.
The horrifying spectacle left every single spectator in stunned silence.
Watching the arena transform into what resembled a hellish cage slowly draining Hercules' life force, Azrael spoke quietly. "Your Venue Card does considerably more than simply enhance recovery rates."
"Doesn't it?"
Eina felt cold sweat instantly coat her back, her carefully maintained composure finally cracking under pressure.
Despite her prestigious status as a star player from Kyoto University, she struggled desperately to maintain her usual confident deanor. "You're talking complete nonsense..."
Azrael smoothly cut her off before she could finish her denial. "Let hazard an educated guess about this."
"The true ability of your supposedly simple Venue Card..."
"It allows Hercules to draw trendous strength from being observed by others. The larger the audience, the exponentially greater his power becos."
"Am I correct in this assessnt?"
Eina's face went deathly pale with shock and genuine fear. "How could you possibly know that specific detail?!"
She frantically searched her mory, desperately wondering if soone from the Battle Club had sohow leaked her card's classified information.
"[Bloody Arena], what an appropriately theatrical na," Azrael said with a mixture of genuine admiration and slight regret.
Eina stared at him in complete disbelief. Could soone really deduce a card's complex abilities from its na alone?
If that were actually possible, who among his peers could realistically hope to compete against Azrael in serious dueling? His cards were already devastatingly powerful; adding tactical omniscience would make him virtually unbeatable.
Azrael's lips curved into a knowing, enigmatic smile.
Naturally, he had no intention of explaining his actual reasoning process. After all, Eina hadn't exactly been courteous during their earlier exchanges.
In truth, Azrael hadn't deduced the Venue Card's intricate chanics from its na alone. His growing suspicions had crystallized when Hercules had shouted, "Look at ! Just like that!"
The sudden, dramatic surge in the hero's aura imdiately following that revealing declaration had been impossible to miss for soone paying attention.
Unfortunately, success and failure both stem from the sa source. While Hercules' grandstanding had indeed drawn considerably more attention, it had also completely exposed his fundantal weakness to Azrael's analytical mind.
Combining this crucial observation with the inherent symbolism of a gladiatorial arena, Azrael had instructed Sasuke to obscure the entire battlefield with Amaterasu.
His hypothesis proved completely correct.
While the confused audience remained baffled by the impenetrable wall of flas, Azrael could clearly sense Hercules' power level dropping steadily back to where it had been when Eina first activated her Venue Card.
"It seems my deduction was entirely accurate," Azrael said casually, delivering what felt like a devastating critical hit to Eina's rapidly crumbling confidence.
The sudden, dramatic reversal of fortune in the arena only deepened her growing panic and desperation.
Taking several deep, steadying breaths, she forced herself to ignore Azrael's calculated psychological warfare and focused entirely on the battle itself.
In the elevated guest section, the high-ranking Lore Cardians remained completely unaffected by the visual obstruction. To their spiritually enhanced perception, everything occurring within the barrier was as clear as if they were standing directly beside the combatants.
Pri Minister Yuichi let out a resigned, weary sigh. "The final outco has been decided. Azrael wins this match."
Only now did he fully understand the specific chanics of Eina's Venue Card. It was equally obvious that Azrael had possessed at least partial knowledge of these abilities from the very beginning of the match.
Finn had already moved past his academy's earlier disappointing defeat. Hearing Yuichi's professional assessnt, he laughed with completely undisguised excitent. "I knew Azrael would ultimately prevail!"
"But those black flas from his card—are they truly inextinguishable? Quite fascinating indeed."
After witnessing the flas consu even liquid substances, the assembled elders quickly deduced Amaterasu's unique properties.
Observing the protective barrier rippling dangerously under the persistent assault of the black flas, Finn couldn't help but comnt, "Thank goodness the tournant organizers use only the highest-grade barrier cards available."
"Otherwise, if this had continued much longer, the consequences could have been absolutely catastrophic for everyone present."
Pri Minister Yuichi nodded grimly at this sobering observation. "The first national tournant used only Gold-grade barriers, and a student actually managed to breach them during competition."
"If there hadn't been other high-level Lore Cardians present to imdiately intervene, there would have been nurous casualties among the spectators."
Finn chuckled as he recalled that particular historical incident from the detailed tournant records.
anwhile, in the stands, the frustrated audience voiced their growing disappointnt at being unable to see the action.
"I paid substantial money for tickets to watch the matches live, only to encounter this situation in the very first bout. Seriously disappointing experience."
"At least it's better than those tedious defensive matches we saw earlier. Two days ago, I had to sit through two turtle-strategy cards irritating each other for hours."
"True enough. But what about Azrael's fla technique earlier? Did anyone get a clear look at it before the obstruction?"
"I saw it perfectly clear. Wasn't it just Eina trying to extinguish fire with blood? But then the fire started burning the blood itself."
"Does it seem reasonable for fire to burn liquid like that?"
"Since when is it reasonable to argue physics with magical cards? Look, the fire is still burning the barrier itself. Why don't you go spit on it and test your theories?"
"Fair point there."
Within the arena, Hercules glared grimly at Sasuke, who remained safely protected by Fubuki's shimring telekinetic barrier.
The excruciating agony of black flas consuming his flesh paled in comparison to the deep anguish of losing his audience's empowering gaze.
Although Hercules retained so of the legendary hero's essential characteristics, he wasn't the Berserker-class version from Type-Moon who had lost all capacity for rational thought.
He could still assess tactical situations and make strategic decisions under pressure.
A direct confrontation was clearly impossible. The white-armored girl alone posed a significant threat to him in combat.
That didn't even account for the braided woman beside her, or the erald-haired girl sheltering safely behind their defensive formations.
His only viable option was to protect the Blood God while attempting to dispel the black flas from the barrier periter.
The entire arena, save for a few ters around his opponents, had been completely consud by these unnatural flas.
If he were in their advantageous position, he would focus on wearing down his enemies rather than risking a close-quarters engagent amid the friendly fire.
With this tactical realization, he took a deep breath. "There's still a fighting chance!"
In the next mont, he planted his feet firmly and swiftly retreated from the opposing cards.
However, what happened next made his eyes widen in complete disbelief.
The pitch-black flas covering the ground instantly parted, creating a clear path that led directly to Hercules' position.
"They can control the flas?!"
This unexpected developnt completely shattered Hercules' tactical calculations.
He felt a surge of despair as he observed the young man in the distance, left eye bleeding freely, but expression remaining utterly resolute.
Just as Hercules struggled to formulate a new strategy, Lily appeared before him with her holy sword drawn.
The magnificent blade now blazed with the sa black flas that covered the surrounding battlefield.
Sasuke's right eye technique, [Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi], granted him complete control over Amaterasu's shape and application.
He could attach these flas to his own Kusanagi sword, and by extension, to Lily's holy sword and Retsu's Zanpakutō.
[Sasuke Special Enhancent: Amaterasu Infusion]!
The holy sword, wreathed in inextinguishable black flas, swept toward Hercules with a piercing whistle.
Hercules abandoned his internal debate and retreated with a heavy heart.
Against an ordinary weapon, he might have attempted to block the strike with his bare hands. But the holy sword already emanated an aura of danger even without supernatural enhancent, and now it burned with flas that seed to consu reality itself.
Only a fool would attempt to intercept such an attack directly.
Seeing Hercules evade her initial strike, Lily remained calm and transitioned seamlessly from a horizontal slash to a forward thrust.
Her right foot drove into the ground with trendous force, sending spider-web cracks racing across the arena floor.
Hercules found no avenue of escape and was forced to accept the blow with his own body.
"Schwick!"
Like a heated blade through butter, Lily's holy sword pierced Hercules' abdon as black flas imdiately sward into the wound.
The excruciating pain caused Hercules to grimace montarily, but the Blood God fused to his back refused to remain passive.
A stream of crimson blood transford into a razor-sharp blade, slashing toward Lily with lethal intent.
Lily maintained her composure, withdrawing her holy sword and retreating smoothly.
"Bakudō #81: Dankū"
A transparent barrier materialized above Lily's position.
Unohana Retsu had cast the defensive Kidō. Although she hadn't activated her [Yachiru] technique, she could still provide effective ranged support.
As the captain of the Fourth Division, she was naturally suited for supportive roles.
A sharp cracking sound echoed through the arena. The hastily cast Severed Sky, perford without its full incantation, couldn't completely withstand the Blood God's assault, but it was sufficient.
By the ti the barrier shattered, Lily had safely withdrawn, and Fubuki had erected a telekinetic shield around her.
Seeing that he couldn't inflict aningful damage, the Blood God desperately swept his crimson blade across the barrier, attempting to dispel the burning black flas.
"Whoosh!"
The massive torrent of blood swept through part of the arena, temporarily extinguishing so of the black flas. However, under Sasuke's cold gaze, endless flas imdiately refilled the cleared space.
By this point, both Hercules and the Blood God understood that defeat was inevitable. With their vision blocked, they couldn't even attempt a final, desperate assault.
"Forgive , Eina," Hercules thought with resignation before launching his last charge.
Outside the arena, spectators waited restlessly for the match's conclusion. Although a small section of black flas had briefly vanished, they hadn't been able to glimpse the action before new flas replaced them.
"Who do you think will win?"
"I have no idea. Probably... Oh shit, we have results."
As everyone watched, the black flas that had engulfed the entire barrier gradually began to fade.
What appeared before their eyes was Azrael's team, completely intact.
Well, not entirely intact, the young man who had unleashed the black flas still bore traces of blood on his face.
But that detail hardly mattered now. The sight could only an one thing
Azrael had won.
Reviews
All reviews (0)