[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: VIP Stands]
He blinked, and the VIP suite's clean luxury snapped back into focus.
The past reduced like a tide, leaving behind the harsh echoes of battle from the arena below.
"Gerrard." Kang's voice broke through his reverie. "I need to leave. Let's speak more after the tournant."
Gerrard nodded numbly. "Yes… go ahead."
As Kang left, a crushing silence descended.
The rumble of the crowd and the echoing sounds of clashing were just noise now.
In his mind, he heard his wife's voice echoing those desperate words,
"Don't fight without ..."
The mory of her death tore at him.
If he had just been there, fighting beside her... A wave of grief crashed over him.
He longed for the impossible, to return to that day, to alter the course of destiny.
Then his gaze fell on the arena floor.
Valencia and her opponent Rel were still fighting.
A flicker of recognition, a flash of the past... a mory of Jianna rushing forward using that one move. And now, his daughter moved with the sa energy, mirroring her mother's exact stance, replicating the sa attack.
A single tear traced a path down his cheek.
It was a tear of aching loss, but also overwhelming gratitude.
He whispered, "You're just like your mother, Valencia..."
"Thank you," he choked out, the sob catching in his throat. "For reminding once more."
***
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Main Stage]
"No way... I'm not going down like this."
Rel stood 15 feet from Valencia, wincing as his injuries throbbed.
A miracle? That was an understatent. This fight was no longer about luck – he needed a whole new plan.
He activated Vulnerability Reader, but the system's response to him bit at his confidence
[Vulernability is unreadable due to lack of damage]
Rel cursed at himself, realising aside from the single chest shot, he'd barely scratched her.
TAK!, TAK!, TAK!
Without hesitation, he fired arrow after arrow high into the air.
Twenty-five shots arced towards the sky.
"...?"
Valencia stared at the sky, confusion flickering in her eyes.
Was he really banking on dodging that downpour while also attacking her? If so, he had sothing else planned...
Valencia lunged, lightning crackling through her blade.
Rel's mind raced, rembering Valencia's defensive chanics.
"It's not a fixed defence," Rel thought, adrenaline drumming a frantic rhythm in his veins. "It's an active one. Each attack, each deflection, channels the electric current to repel the force. But that ans…"
His eyes narrowed, a trace of hope igniting within him.
"She can't maintain it everywhere at once! She has to focus mana to cover specific areas, leaving gaps elsewhere."
The realization spurred him into action.
Stamina wouldn't just be a concern for him; it was Valencia's weakness too.
The more she used her defensive chanic, the more she'd be forced to make choices – focusing on offence, maintaining the shield, or risking exhaustion.
Rel tossed the bow onto his back with a clatter.
This fight was going up close and personal.
He tightened his grip on the arrows in his hands, the fletching brushing his knuckles.
He hoped that his [Evasiveness] passive and raw speed would allow him to strike in those exposed monts.
All he needed was to see where the field wasn't concentrated... that could be the key to victory.
SWING!
Valencia was a storm in human form. Her electrified sword slashed downwards, forcing Rel to leap back just as the energy cleaved the air where his head had been.
He saw his chance, a montary hesitation in her stance.
With a desperate ss, he lunged forward, aiming a sweeping kick at her legs.
whoosh...
But fatigue had caught up with him. His body pushed beyond its limits, but he was a hairsbreadth too slow.
"...!"
Valencia reacted with lightning reflexes.
BANG!
Her right foot, crackling with raw electrical energy, t his stomach with a sickening thud.
The impact sent him flying backward, the air knocked from his lungs.
Pain roared through him, stealing his breath and montarily clouding his vision.
COUGH!... COUGH!
Rel crumpled to the ground, gasping for air. But just as despair threatened to engulf him, a warmth spread through his body.
[Tenacity (Passive) Has Been Activated]
His passive skill, [Tenacity], kicked in, dragging him back from the brink.
He gritted his teeth, pushing himself up from the ground.
His movents were shaky, but his gaze remained fixed on Valencia.
...
...
...
A sudden concern nagged at Valencia.
Rel's arrows hadn't returned.
How high up had he been firing them? Did they leave the arena entirely? Her eyes darted towards him before widening in shock.
"...!"
Rel's right hand was outstretched, palm facing downwards.
A flicker of his middle and index fingers – a commanding gesture – and the air suddenly thickened with nace.
KAAAAAK!
An instant later, a hail of arrows rained down from above, answering her question.
They descended in a controlled volley as if guided by an unseen force.
Did he have so hidden ability to manipulate them?
Arrows struck her body – her shoulder, the small part of her back, her arm – none landing a critical hit.
But it was enough to shatter her focus. It was as if Rel read her mind.
Valencia had been so caught up in considering his strange control over the arrows that she'd let her guard down – her defence was destroyed almost instantly.
"He knew how it worked… the gaps, the strain." She muttered. "That's enough."
While her aura attacks offered little threat against such a sly opponent, Valencia realised that using a form was also useless, She needed a tank of stamina to unleash another massive attack.
But she had another option, she still had plenty of mana left.
"It was ti to end this battle."
She'd tolerated his tricks, but now they would be his undoing.
huuuuu...
Valencia channelled mana, feeling it flow around her body, as it overloaded her sword.
CRACKLE!... CRACKLE!... CRACKLE!!!
A flood of lightning danced around her as she plunged the charged blade into the platform.
Electricity exploded through the cracks, a spiderweb of raw energy.
Rel, witnessing the transformation, paled. This was no simple attack.
With a defiant flick of her wrist, Valencia pointed a single finger towards the heavens.
"Elental Zone: Shrouded Storm,"
she intoned, her voice amplified by the surging power.
A cross of pure lightning manifested in the air above them, then plumted downwards, dissolving into a seething electrical vortex that surrounded the battlefield.
BANG!!!
There was no solid barrier this ti, but the crackling energy pulsed outwards, containing them both within its lethal embrace.
"I'm fucked..." Rel's eyes were lost in disbelief.
***
{Rel's POV}
[Pinnacle Academy, Stadium 1 - Arena A: Main Stage]
Valencia's Elental Zone pulsed with terrifying energy.
While the lack of a closed do was sothing of a relief, it offered little comfort.
This open area ant her 2 abilities; chained attacks and chain reactions will be amplified 2 fold.
One slip, one misplaced step, would be the end.
huuuuuu...
As I watched Valencia charge up her blade, I was already feeling way too sluggish to move and stop the attack.
SWING!
She swung her blade, a crackling extension of her power unleashed.
A blinding arc of lightning rushed towards , a devastating beam cutting through the air. Mitigation was useless – I wouldn't have ti to activate the Mitigations Phenona...
haaah...
[Projectile Disarm Has Been Activated!]
[Clockwork Of Ti Has Been Activated!]
As my right hand began crackling with black lightning, ti slowed down for .
My breath flowed in asured intervals, filling my lungs, and steadying my hand.
The blinding flash resolves into a series of calculations – angles, timing, and the flow of energy.
...
...
The lightning beam hurtled towards , and I committed.
Focusing everything on this one ability, I channelled it into my right hand.
It was either I devour the attack or be devoured.
[Clockwork Of Ti Deactivated!]
SHAAAAAAA!
________________
Authors Notes:
- Valencia's Ultimate Ability: Shrouded Storm, An open elental zone that amplifies and transforms her surroundings to be filled with lightning. with this zone it surrounds lightning with specific parts of her body, forming an invisible shield. This electrifying shield seamlessly integrates with her aura, extending her blade with an extensive Lightning Aura Blade.
The lightning aura blade enhances the reach and impact of her sword strikes, infusing them with electrical energy.
- Depending on the environnt Shrouded Storm can initiate a localized electrical storm known as the 'selective targeting' aning Valencia's chosen opponents within its range will be struck from above if hit with her sword.
- Shrouded Storm is a Type-B Elental Zone: Amplification Zone Transformation Zone
- Chain Reactions: Valencia has the unique ability to initiate a sequence of interconnected attacks. Chain reaction works in 2 scenarios. if shes versing 2 or more opponents strings of lightning would appear and connect to the other opponents around the target. But If she's versing a singular opponent the damage multiplies itself by 1.5x creating an internal shock within the target's body.
(Basically, if you're struck when this ability is activated you're friend will get struck as well if it's in range)
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