Chapter 106: Awakened Tournament Crisis (12)

Eden slowly walked toward the arena’s exit.

Behind him, the dust was beginning to settle.

The battlefield was a complete mess. Craters covered the ground, shattered stone littered the arena, and several sections of the reinforced floor had been reduced to rubble. The protective barrier had flickered repeatedly throughout the fight, struggling to contain the shockwaves produced by the two contestants.

Yet the stadium was louder than ever.

"WHAT A MATCH!"

The announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers.

"AFTER AN INCREDIBLE DISPLAY OF STRENGTH, EDEN HAS DEFEATED LUCY AND SECURED HIS PLACE IN THE GRAND FINAL!"

The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers.

Eden barely paid attention.

He wiped the blood from his forehead and rolled his shoulder, feeling the lingering soreness from their final exchange. Corrupted Surge was still active, but even with its enormous boost, fighting Lucy had been far more troublesome than he had expected.

’She’s gotten ridiculously strong.’

A small smile appeared on his face.

He couldn’t help feeling proud.

’At this rate, she’ll be a monster before long.’

The announcer raised his microphone.

"And with this victory, Eden advances to the final, where he w—"

"Who decided that?"

Eden stopped walking.

The announcer froze.

So did the audience.

A violent surge of pink Essence erupted from the crater behind Eden.

[Essence Accelerator]

The explosion sent a powerful shockwave across the arena. Dust and debris shot into the air, and the protective barrier flashed as the sudden burst of energy slammed against it.

Eden’s eyes widened.

’...What?’

A familiar voice rang through the smoke.

"Who decided that I’m done?!"

The crowd erupted into startled shouts.

A silhouette emerged from the crater.

Lucy.

Her clothes were torn and covered in dust. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her body trembled from the punishment she had endured.

But she was standing.

And the pink Essence surrounding her was nothing like before.

It poured from her body in enormous waves, so dense that the air around her seemed to distort. The energy twisted around her limbs, gathering into brilliant layers that pulsed with every beat of her heart.

Eden slowly turned his head.

For the first time since the match began, his expression was completely blank.

[V8]

Lucy lifted her chin.

A cocky smile spread across her face.

"Did you seriously think I was finished?"

Eden stared at her.

"...Are you for real?"

Lucy’s smile grew cocky.

"Bet I am."

He was too busy watching the pink energy coiling around Lucy’s body.

’Her Output doubled!’

He had seen her use V4 against Luvian.

He had fought her while she used V4 himself.

That alone had been enough to make the battle difficult.

But V8?

The increase wasn’t merely a little more power.

It was an entirely different level of output.

Lucy had deliberately concealed it.

She hadn’t shown it against Luvian, and she hadn’t used it at the beginning of their fight.

She had waited until he believed the match was over.

Eden’s lips twitched.

’You sneaky little...’

He barely had time to finish the thought.

[Burst-Step]

Lucy disappeared.

A sharp crack rang through the arena.

Eden’s instincts screamed.

He tried to turn, but he was too late.

A pink Essence explosion detonated against his back.

The impact lifted him off his feet and launched him across the battlefield. His body spun through the air, blood bursting from his nose as the shockwave tore through his already damaged clothes.

The audience screamed.

Lucy was already moving.

Burst Step carried her through the air with terrifying speed. She appeared above him before he could regain his bearings, her leg drawing back as pink Essence gathered around her foot.

[Quick Charge]

Eden’s eyes widened.

He raised his arms.

But even with Corrupted Surge enhancing his attributes, he couldn’t react quickly enough.

Her kick connected.

The explosion drove Eden straight into the arena floor.

The impact shattered the ground beneath him, creating a massive crater that sent fragments of stone flying in every direction. A towering cloud of dust rose into the air, and the protective barrier flashed repeatedly as the shockwave slammed into it.

Eden pushed himself up.

His ears were ringing.

Blood ran from his nose and down his chin.

He stared at the ground beneath him, trying to process what had just happened.

"What the—"

Lucy appeared in front of him.

Eden looked up.

She smiled.

"Too slow."

She struck again.

Her fist slammed into his torso before he could finish the word.

BOOM!

The explosion sent him flying.

Eden’s body shot across the arena, his back twisting as he desperately tried to regain control. He struck the protective barrier with enough force to make its surface ripple violently.

For an instant, his body seemed to stick against the translucent wall.

Then the barrier repelled him.

He dropped like a stone.

Eden hit the ground, rolled across the shattered floor, and finally stopped on one knee.

He coughed.

Blood spilled from his mouth.

"...What the hell did I just get hit by?"

His voice came out hoarse.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked toward Lucy.

She was walking toward him.

Pink Essence coiled around her shoulders and arms, and every step she took left small fractures in the ground beneath her feet.

She looked entirely too pleased with herself.

"Don’t tell me you thought that was everything I had to offer."

Eden stared at her.

Then he laughed.

It wasn’t a particularly pleasant laugh.

"You know, You really had me fooled there."

Lucy tilted her head.

"Your own fault for not making sure I was down for the count."

"Yeah, sure."

His expression gradually changed.

The amusement remained, but his eyes sharpened.

He didn’t Underestimate her.

If anything, he acknowledged everything she had shown.

Acknowledged every Limit he thought she would have.

And yet, Lucy had managed to completely break past his expectations.

Lucy had every reason to be exhausted. She had endured a brutal battle, taken several direct hits from someone whose attributes far exceeded her own, and pushed her Essence Accelerator to a level she had deliberately avoided showing.

Yet here she was.

Eden slowly rose to his feet.

"Alright, Lucy."

Crimson Essence swirled around his body.

"Now I’m paying attention."

Lucy grinned.

"Good."