Arthur's eyes widened as he watched his brother rise to his feet. It wasn't the action that caused his initial shock, but rather Lance's accompanying statements that intrigued and puzzled him.
"Forget Pride," Lance proclaimed, signaling a departure from the confidence and bravado he had displayed at the beginning of the battle.
"Forget Honor," he continued, indicating a deliberate abandonment of any sense of honor he might have possessed, choosing instead to seize any opportunity, regardless of its moral implications.
But it was the third statement that truly took Arthur aback.
"Forget Elegance."
To Arthur's understanding, this meant Lance was renouncing not only his elegant fighting style but also his entire belief system and ideals about battle. He had never seen his brother willingly forsake the values he held so dearly, making it clear that this battle held a deeper significance for Lance than any before.
What came next was even more astonishing to him.
"I don't believe it," Arthur stammered after witnessing Lance wield Camelot with his left hand.
As the demigods turned their attention to Arthur, he continued explaining the situation's significance.
"This is the farthest I have ever seen my brother go in battle."
The demigods couldn't help but feel intrigued and curious about the apparent transformation in Lance. Quinn, especially, focused intently on Lance, seeking to understand the depth of Arthur's astonishment and his brother's evolution.
X stared intently at his opponent, sensing a strange and unsettling shift within his body. The toll of the prolonged battle was catching up to him, but he knew this was not the time to succumb to exhaustion. As he looked into Lance's eyes, pure rage emanated from his opponent, and X couldn't help but feel a tinge of wariness about what would come next. And without a moment's delay, after Lance's final statement, he lunged at X with incredible speed.
The ferocity and velocity with which Lance attacked far surpassed anything the demigods had witnessed, even during Drake's manifestation in the Cosmic League. X struggled to react to the strikes, as they clashed with increased force and swiftness. Strangely, Lance appeared to have shed all signs of weariness, raising further concerns about the transformation he was undergoing.
"What the heck is going on?" Link, observing from the spectator's area, voiced his bewilderment. "It's like he's a completely different fighter."
"My brother has cast aside all limitations that restrained his brutality in battle," Arthur explained, his eyes fixed on the unfolding spectacle. "He's no longer the person you once knew."
Quinn, trying to make sense of the situation, remarked, "His attack pattern has changed drastically. It's like smooth curves turning into sharp edges."
"That's because he's no longer bound by the notion of elegance," Arthur responded. "Now, his sole focus is on one thing: Victory."
Amidst the confusion, the demigods found themselves engaged in a full-fledged conversation with Arthur for the first time. Quinn, seizing the opportunity, inquired further about Lance's unexpected behavior.
"I also noticed that Lance is using Camelot with his left hand now. Any specific reason for that?" she asked.
Arthur sighed, diverting his attention momentarily to address her query. "It's to be expected since he is finally making use of his dominant hand in battle."
As the demigods refocused their attention on the battle, they were taken aback by the astonishing transformation in Lance's abilities following his final changes. X found himself overwhelmed, attempting to evade the lightning-quick attacks, but finding difficulty in doing so.
Lance's approach to combat had also drastically changed. Gone was any semblance of elegance or concern for honor. His strikes were now violent and merciless, devoid of grace or finesse. He charged relentlessly at X, spear thrusting with lethal intent, completely abandoning any established stances. It was as if he sought only one thing: to kill his opponent.
X struggled to keep up with the newfound speed and perceptiveness of his adversary, finding himself on the receiving end of relentless assaults. Exhaustion started to take its toll on him, having expended a considerable amount of energy during the prolonged duel. The adrenaline rush Lance experienced made it even more challenging for X to strategize and react effectively.
For the first time, the demigods bore witness to X losing a battle.
Desperate to turn the tide, X retreated a few meters back and grabbed his sniper rifle from the floor. He hoped to utilize it against Lance, while still knowing that resorting to True Accuracy could have fatal consequences. However, Lance closed the distance swiftly, shattering the weapon with a single strike from Camelot and leaving X defenseless. Each of X's subsequent attempts to counterattack met the same fate, after getting disarmed immediately when equipping his sidearm from its holster.
With no options left, X found himself helpless. All his weapons had been expended or rendered useless, and Lance's relentless barrage left him with no room to maneuver. It was only a matter of time before Lance delivered the fatal blow.
The demigods watched in shock as Lance's attack suddenly pierced through X's chest. The hunter's eyes widened in disbelief as he turned his attention below, witnessing his blood beginning to flow from behind his body armor. X fell to his knees with his opponent's weapon still through him, facing Lance in resignation. The attack was truly devastating.
Lance maintained a silent gaze at X, who remained on his knees. And without further words, Lance withdrew his weapon from his defeated opponent.
X experienced excruciating pain and disbelief as to what was happening. He had just lost. Blood began to flow heavily from his wound, causing him to lose consciousness and eventually perish, still kneeling with his head bowed.
Lance emerged victorious.
The demigods had not expected such a drastic change of outcome after witnessing Lance rise. Not a single one of X's blows had connected after Lance made his prior statements. It seemed like the intense surge of adrenaline had fueled Lance to use his dying breath to defeat his opponent, much like Klaus had done before.
Exhausted, Lance fell to the floor after returning Camelot in exhaustion. He had expended more energy during this match than ever before in his life, but it was all worth it. His efforts had paid off, and the final match had concluded.
"Are you really going to lose here?"
"N-No."
"Are you ready to die a failure?"
"N-No."
"Will you fail to slay your target?"
"No."
"Then get up. You are not permitted to die yet."
Lance struggled to catch his breath, preparing to be transported to the medical facility. However, amidst his thoughts, he noticed that XVII had not risen to declare the battle's conclusion.
Upon realizing this, Lance's attention snapped back to his opponent, who remained on his knees in the same position as before. Confusion filled Lance's mind, and the other demigods shared in his concern. They couldn't understand what was unfolding, until an unusual presence began to manifest.
"What the..." Lance uttered, sensing a strange force.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Klaus asked Shade from the spectator's area.
"Yes," Shade replied. "Could it be a God?"
"I doubt that," Quinn chimed in, redirecting their attention to the battlefield.
Suddenly, a peculiar energy began to envelop the entire arena, different from what Lance had demonstrated earlier but akin to a smaller version of the force that occasionally made the demigods kneel. As the demigods refocused on the fight, they witnessed X's body twitch, indicating he was still alive.
"How is this possible?" Riley inquired, witnessing X gradually rise to his feet.
"With everything we've seen, I'm surprised you're still asking," Klaus retorted.
As X steadily rose to his feet, Lance stared in complete bewilderment at how his opponent could still be alive.
"What is this sorcery?" Lance muttered to himself, struggling to comprehend the situation as he too stood back up.
As X fully regained his footing, the energy resonating in the room underwent a sudden change. A tremendous heat began emanating from X, becoming palpable to everyone present.
"Is that..." Quinn began, her eyes widening with realization. "Is that his energy?"
The heat that enveloped the arena after the earlier force appeared to be from X's energy, adding a new layer of complexity to the unfolding events.
"How did he manage to recover so much energy?" wondered the demigods who watched in astonishment.
Amidst the speculation and shock, a smile appeared on XVII's face as he continued to observe the battle.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"Interesting," he whispered to himself, intrigued by the unexpected turn of events with X's resurgence.
X rose to his feet, his hands clutching his head, visibly in pain. He scratched his hair, leaving the demigods to assume that whatever was happening to him was far from pleasant. Lance, perplexed, maintained his guard, recalling a similar scenario during the Cosmic League.
"Not this again," Lance whispered, recognizing the familiar signs.
With the intense heat emanating from X, Lance knew he couldn't switch to offense and attack. He had no understanding of the unfolding situation, and caution was paramount.
Suddenly, after a few more seconds, X let out a powerful shout, almost resembling a roar. The force behind the shout was tremendous, prompting Lance to materialize Camelot and grip it with his left hand.
X then withdrew his hands from his head, positioning them beside his hips with his fingers spread apart and pointing upwards. His eyes remained shut, shrouding his actions in mystery.
Within seconds, X started raising his hands until they reached around the bottom of his chest. As he did, stone-like objects began to emerge all around the battlefield, rising from the ground in tandem with the upward movement of his hands.
"What's that?" Mia asked, unfamiliar with her brother's actions.
"Are those... tombstones?" Iris observed, her eyes fixed on the battlefield.
"What?" Trent questioned. "Are you sure?"
"Si," Iris affirmed. "And they seem to have names on them."
"Names?" Tyler interjected. "Okay, man. I think I might be done trying to keep up with these guys."
"Do those names belong to the people he has killed before, perhaps?" Shade pondered.
"It seems so," Quinn considered, her attention still focused on the battle.
Quinn struggled with finding a logical explanation for the inexplicable events unfolding before her. The tombstones spawned by X also seemed incongruent with his assumed power. Her mind wandered, considering the possibility that what had happened to X might transcend their understanding as if he had ascended beyond his demi-godly abilities. The enigma of the situation deepened, and Quinn couldn't shake the feeling that X had transformed into something entirely different.
Maintaining her unwavering focus on the huntsman, Quinn witnessed a startling change in X. His eyes had turned a haunting blood-red, with pitch-black sclera, leaving no doubt that he had undergone a profound transformation, affirming her recent theory.
The intensity of rage in X's eyes, despite the mask concealing his mouth, was clear as he locked his gaze on Lance. Frustration gripped Lance, feeling as though everything had slipped out of his control, and he tightly gripped his weapon.
In a surge of determination, Lance then rushed forward, fully embracing offense regardless of the potential consequences. The battle was far from over, and the stakes had risen to a level beyond their comprehension.
With unwavering determination, Lance rushed at his opponent, leaping to the air before bringing his weapon down upon X. He left no room for hesitation, closing the gap swiftly to prevent X from having any more time to prepare.
As Lance's attack descended, his weapon connected with X's shoulder while his opponent was still standing. But X seized the opportunity and grabbed onto Camelot, preventing it from slicing through his body completely, and, in turn, pulling Lance closer as well. With this unexpected move, X slammed his entire right arm against Lance's neck, causing his opponent to momentarily fall to the ground.
Lance quickly regained his footing, repositioning himself after X's counter-attack had caught him off guard. X had taken the damage head-on before retaliating, leaving Lance perplexed by his opponent's unexpected action. Understanding the situation seemed futile, but Lance knew that information wouldn't secure his victory.
And in the blink of an eye, X finally switched to offense.
The fierce battle raged on as the two fighters exchanged powerful attacks. X wielded no weapon, yet his strikes and battle sequence surpassed any known records. It defied all reason how he maintained such boundless energy despite enduring numerous injuries. Despite X's newfound vitality, Lance still seemed to have the upper hand, yet there was something peculiar about X's actions.
Lance continued to assail X with relentless strikes from Camelot. He managed to land several blows on his opponent, but X showed no reaction to any of them, even though he sustained multiple injuries. His movements became erratic and unpredictable, challenging Lance's ability to anticipate and respond effectively.
"What's happening to him?" Tyler voiced in confusion while observing from the sidelines. "He's not even attempting to defend against any attack."
"You're right, that's very odd," Link agreed. "It's as if he's entirely focused on maintaining the offensive."
"And his movements," Shade remarked. "It's like he's gone Berserk."
Quinn's keen eyes remained fixed on the battle, carefully analyzing each move of both fighters. The distinction in X's movements from their previous encounter stood out profoundly. They were wild and untamed, resembling that of a feral creature and his unwavering commitment to offense only reinforced this observation. Yet, as Quinn continued to scrutinize the fight, she detected a crucial factor.
Lance persisted in his relentless assault on X, but a subtle change caught his attention as the seconds ticked by. He noticed that he was landing fewer attacks. It wasn't that X was effectively defending against them; rather, Lance's opportunities to strike were diminishing as the battle progressed.
"What's happening?" Lance questioned, uncertainty clouding his mind.
With each successful strike, it became increasingly difficult for Lance to replicate the same attack. It was as though X was swiftly learning and adapting to the onslaught, ensuring he wouldn't fall victim to the same slash twice. Moreover, all the wounds inflicted on X earlier had inexplicably vanished, including the fatal stab wound from Lance's previous assault, defying all reason.
As the fight wore on, Lance found himself facing an adversary who seemed to possess an uncanny ability to read and anticipate his moves. X's elusive and adaptable technique made the battle all the more challenging, leaving Lance on the defensive despite his initial advantage. Confounded by the baffling turn of events, Lance realized that this fight was far from ordinary.
As the battle raged on, Lance recognized the need to alter his approach to counter X's elusive tactics.
Seizing an opportune moment, Lance managed to position himself behind his opponent. With a burst of strength, he swung his weapon with immense force, aiming to cut through X from behind.
In a swift reaction, X placed his left hand between the spear and his body, attempting to defend against the attack. Yet, the force behind Lance's strike proved too overwhelming, and the attack sliced through X's left wrist. Although X sustained an injury, it bought him enough time to move his body away from the attack's trajectory.
X's unconventional defense momentarily caught Lance off-guard. He had not anticipated that X would willingly sacrifice his arm to evade the deadly blow. But before Lance could fully recover from the surprise, X retaliated with a powerful swing of his right hand, striking Lance's chest with incredible force. The impact sent Lance hurtling through the air, crashing against the wall at a significant distance.
It was the first attack X had successfully landed since the epic clash began. Lance's body lay motionless against the wall, the impact of X's strike proving to be one of the most potent blows yet in their intense confrontation.
The battlefield was now shrouded in a tense silence, as the demigods and spectators alike watched in awe and concern.
Despite the pain coursing through his body, Lance swiftly rose to his feet, fixing his attention on his relentless opponent who was once again charging at him. Frustration and anger boiled within Lance, fueled by his opponent's unwavering resilience. In a burst of fury, Lance let out a roaring shout, clenching his fists in a display of raw emotion.
In response to Lance's outburst, X's focus was abruptly drawn to the sky above him. The demigods followed suit, witnessing a multitude of weapons materialize and rain down upon X. It was Lance's desperate attempt to prevent his opponent from closing the gap between them.
X deftly maneuvered, evading the torrent of weapons falling around him. Swords, spears, and other deadly implements cascaded like a relentless storm, leaving X with no respite. He leaped and dodged, countering some of the weapons with a sword he retrieved from beneath him. As that weapon broke, X quickly discarded it and seized another, his relentless movements unfazed even with the loss of an arm.
After a few more intense seconds, Lance finally ceased his barrage. He panted heavily, having exerted an enormous amount of energy, but he pushed his fatigue aside and charged at X with unyielding rage.
Once more, the demigods watched the two fighters engage in an explosive brawl, the battlefield now littered with tombstones and various weapons scattered across the ground. The sight sent shivers down their spines, and a sense of surrealism pervaded the atmosphere.
Undeterred by the surreal turn of events, Lance continued his fierce clash with X, wielding both his golden spear and another weapon he had retrieved during his rush forward. He unleashed a relentless assault, using the additional weapon to augment his attacks. Eventually, with a powerful swing, Lance swung Camelot down upon X, seeking to exploit an opening in his opponent's defense.
X reacted swiftly, using the weapon in his right hand to block the attack, but this had been part of his opponent's strategy. Lance then raised his right hand, using the weapon he had picked up to attack X. However, shocking to everybody, X positioned his left hand in the path of the incoming weapon, halting it in its tracks.
"What?" Lance gasped in disbelief, struggling to comprehend the inexplicable events.
"How did he block that with his hand?" Link questioned, equally bewildered from the sidelines.
"More importantly, how does he have his left arm back?" Siren pointed out, raising the more crucial question.
Just moments ago, X had lost his left hand in a previous clash, yet he had seemingly regenerated it, now also able to defend against a full-force swing from Lance. The battle had surpassed the realm of reason, embracing an otherworldly quality that defied explanation.
"I've always been able to decipher the intricacies of these battles," Quinn suddenly began, her eyes filled with concentration. "But this one... this one might be beyond my understanding."
Her words hung in the air as the others tried to understand her statement.
"What I can say for certain is that X is continuously growing stronger and faster with every passing moment," Quinn continued. "And he is forcefully keeping himself alive until he has defeated his opponent. If I were to assume anything that makes the most sense, I'd say X is forcefully making himself the Apex Predator of the battle."
The relentless clash between X and Lance persisted, with each fighter weaving through the battlefield, grabbing weapons from the ground, and meeting each other's strikes head-on. They continued to use the weapons in the arena, with each clash destroying each other's equipped weapons before picking another from the ground. The intensity of their movements and reactions surpassed any battle witnessed before, elevating this encounter to the realm of legend. It could easily be deemed the most epic and awe-inspiring duel in the history of mortal life. But, like all battles, this one had to reach its conclusion.
As the seconds ticked by, the balance began to shift in X's favor. His power seemed to grow exponentially, outpacing even the tremendous rate at which he had already transformed. Lance realized he couldn't keep up with this unfathomable ability.
"How is he human?" Lance asked himself, struggling to maintain his ground against X's overwhelming might.
With a swift and devastating onslaught, X sent Lance reeling backward. Seizing the opportunity, X grabbed a tombstone from the floor before dealing a crushing blow with it to Lance's head. In the blink of an eye, he then disarmed Lance, cutting off his left arm with a blade from the ground before impaling him through the torso with his left fist. Lance collapsed to his knees in agony, his vision blurred as he tried to hold on to consciousness.
"I know this has happened a lot," Quinn uttered from the sidelines. "But I think this time, it may truly be over."
Standing before his defeated opponent, X remained silent for a moment. Lance, though barely able to speak, managed to utter a few words, acknowledging X's overwhelming strength.
"You... are too... strong," Lance gasped.
Without a word in response, X raised the sword he had taken and swiftly beheaded Lance in one swift motion. The arena bore witness to the grim spectacle of victory as Lance's lifeless body crumpled to the ground. X let out an empowered roar, his triumph echoing through the Arena of Valor. For the first time in minutes, XVII rose from his seat, signaling the end of the battle and announcing the verdict.
"The winner is... X."
A collective sigh of relief escaped the demigods as the battle officially concluded, but few of their minds were still fixated on the perplexing anomalies that had unfolded during the fight. However, their attention was abruptly pulled back to the battlefield.
X suddenly began to grunt, clutching his head and scratching his hair in evident agony. His labored breathing became audible, signifying his gradual loss of consciousness.
"Oh, what now?" Riley voiced the frustration shared by many.
"I'm guessing that sudden burst of power is fleeting since his objective has been fulfilled," Trent speculated.
"Exactly," Quinn concurred as they watched X fall to his knees.
Bleeding from his chest, X revealed a wound reminiscent of the one Lance had inflicted upon him before his transformation. It seemed like his body was reverting to its original state before the power surge. Gradually, all of X's movements ceased, signaling his passing while he remained on his knees. A few seconds finally passed before both fighters were transported to the medical facility.
"With that..." XVII continued, "The Divine Tournament has finally concluded."