He growled, his body trembling with frustration. With a roar, he unleashed a torrent of mana, his fists glowing as he activated his final move—the third movement in his Grade 6 martial art: Void Collapse.
The air around us warped, bending as gravity intensified. Everything in the arena was being pulled toward him. The ground cracked beneath our feet, and even the spectators leaned forward, held in the pull of his immense gravitational force.
I could feel the weight pressing down on me, the very air thick with the pressure of his power. But I wasn't going to be caught in this trap.
With a deep breath, I activated my trump card.
"Lucent Harmony, full activation."
The world around me slowed as my body was enveloped in a radiant glow, the sigils on my skin flaring to life with a greater intensity than ever before. My senses sharpened, and suddenly, the gravitational force pulling me toward Ren felt distant, almost inconsequential.
In the midst of his Void Collapse, I moved.
Faster than lightning. Faster than even Ren could comprehend.
God Flash: Absolute.
I vanished from his sight, reappearing right in front of him in less than a heartbeat. Ren's eyes widened in disbelief as I thrust my sword forward, aimed directly at his chest.
There was no time for him to counter, no time for him to dodge. My blade pierced through his defenses, striking him with a flash of mana.
BOOM!
The impact sent Ren flying across the arena, his body slamming into the ground with a thunderous crash. Dust and debris filled the air as the gravitational pull of his Void Collapse fizzled out, leaving only silence in its wake.
The crowd was stunned.
Ren lay on the ground, his chest heaving as he struggled to move. His body was bruised, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He had fought valiantly, but it was over.
I stood over him, my sword still glowing with the remnants of my attack.
"Ren Kagu has been defeated!" Valerie's voice echoed through the arena, snapping the audience out of their stunned silence.
I slipped my sword back into the spatial ring, the cool metal vanishing from my grip. One more left.
Lucifer Windward.
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The five
Grade 6 arts were rare, known only to the most powerful. They stood on a completely different tier from Grade 5 arts, representing a level of mastery and complexity that few could ever hope to achieve. Even among those gathered, only the legendary geniuses like the Martial King were capable of creating their own.
But what they had just witnessed defied expectations.
Arthur Nightingale had not only demonstrated a Grade 6 art, but one he had created himself. An unknown art that had now stunned the greatest minds and talents present.
The silence was finally broken by the booming laughter of Li Zenith.
"HAHAHAHA!" he roared, his voice carrying over the arena. The sound of his laughter shook the others from their stupor, his mirth infectious yet disbelieving.
"To think I'd see this in my lifetime!" Li continued, still chuckling. "An unknown Grade 6 art... created by a mere student."
He turned toward Valerie, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What the hell did you do to him, Valerie?"
Valerie smiled triumphantly, her black eyes glimmering with pride. "I simply helped him unlock his potential," she said coolly. "I told you, didn't I? You'd witness something truly special."
"Special indeed," Leon murmured as he leaned back in his chair, shaking his head. "First the Martial King in the last generation, and now him. Is this even fair?"
"Isn't it a bit premature to compare him to the Martial King?" Kem cut in, his sharp gaze narrowing.
Duke Blazespout raised a hand, silencing the room with a calm, commanding voice. "Not really," he began. "Arthur created his own Grade 6 art and achieved
Kem's lips pressed together, his discomfort clear, but he didn't argue further.
The Duke's eyes flickered with intrigue. "If Arthur continues on this path, he may very well make the Seven Supremes the Nine Supremes alongside the Martial King. His future is undeniable."
Li Zenith nodded slowly. "It seems this generation isn't just special—it's historic."
Outside the VVIP box, in the students' stands, the reactions were a mix of awe and disbelief. The entire arena had just witnessed Arthur Nightingale dominate Ren Kagu, a fight no one had expected to be so one-sided.
From the moment the match began, Arthur had held the advantage, effortlessly overpowering Ren. There wasn't a single point in the battle where Ren seemed capable of turning the tide.
"Wow," Seraphina whispered, her fingers tightly gripping the fabric of her skirt. A faint flush crept across her cheeks as her gaze followed Arthur descending the stairs. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at her lips, her eyes fixed on him.
Ian leaned back in his seat, his red eyes gleaming with admiration. "That was something else," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. "After losing to him before, he didn't just beat Ren—he obliterated him."
Lucifer, who had been sitting quietly, stood up without a word. His expression was stoic, but the tightly clenched fist at his side betrayed his thoughts as he walked away.
Ian watched him go, his gaze sharp. "...Arthur even made Lucifer feel threatened," he murmured before turning back to the stage, a mixture of excitement and unease in his eyes.
Rachel pursed her lips, her expression darkening as she watched Arthur descend from the stage. Without a word, she stood up and quietly left the stands.
"What's up with her?" Ian asked, his brow furrowing. Neither Cecilia nor Seraphina responded.
Cecilia's eyes narrowed as she stared at Arthur, her thoughts unreadable. But like the others, she remained silent, keeping whatever she felt to herself.