In Augusta's understanding, the speed of that lunge just now had long surpassed the limits of human reaction.
Even by her own exacting standards, she had to admit that Ray was a rare opponent though not a professional gladiator, the strength he displayed was far beyond that of an ordinary warrior.
He was certainly strong. Unfortunately, he still lacked some finesse.
Yet
What was going on?
That figure was clearly right in front of her, parrying her blade. how had he suddenly appeared at her side?
An afterimage?
No. It was more like a single frame of time had been stolen.
Augusta's battle instincts, honed over years of combat, screamed a warning. She forcibly twisted her attack, the great sword whipping up a gale as it swept toward her flank.
The sensation of the blade cutting through air told her: if she hadn't changed trajectory in time, she might have already been defeated.
A flicker of disbelief flashed in Augusta's eyes. She stared at Ray, now standing a few paces away, her grip on the great sword unconsciously tightening.
It wasn't just her, Ray himself was stunned by that strange sensation of lag.
In that instant, it was as if the entire world had been pressed into slow motion. Had his own speed suddenly broken past its limits? Or had something inexplicable occurred?
Such an anomaly, naturally, drew gasps from the stands.
"Did you see that? The Ephor's charge suddenly slowed down!"
"Is that the Ragunnan man's Resonance ability?"
"Incredible! This is even more exciting than the finals in past years!"
"Go, Ephor! Keep fighting!"
Lupa and Carlotta were both visibly stunned. Especially Carlotta, she had never heard Ray mention his Resonance ability having such an effect.
In her eyes, Augusta's unstoppable charge, the moment it closed in on Ray, seemed to crash into an invisible mire. Her speed abruptly decayed, each movement becoming clearly visible.
Lupa unconsciously leaned forward, her wolf tail swaying gently with the movement, amber eyes sparkling with excitement. "Wow! Ray's been hiding an ability like this? Miss Carlotta, could you lend him to me for a while? He's practically my ideal partner type!"
Carlotta: "..."
She finally understood now, not only was that guy's Resonance ability special, his luck with women was ridiculously abundant as well.
Though Carlotta wanted to refuse Lupa's unreasonable request, as the Second Young Miss of the Montelli family, one who had received a proper education, she was well aware that this wasn't something she could control anyway.
If Cat's Eye agreed to it, could she really stop him?
The Second Young Miss bit her lower lip lightly and silently swallowed the "No" that had been on the tip of her tongue.
"I thought this spar would be a one-sided beatdown... But Ray's strength is nothing like what he told me!"
"He kept saying things like 'I'm just an ordinary employee, I don't have power like a gladiator' all lies!"
Just as she was speaking, a crisp, clear young woman's voice came from behind.
The two of them turned instinctively to see a cloaked young woman quietly approaching, her footsteps light as the wind.
"Iuno?"
Carlotta blurted out her name, but the other quickly reached out and gently pressed a finger to her lips.
"Shh—" Iuno leaned in closer, lowering her voice. "Keep it down. If someone hears you, it'll be trouble."
Carlotta nodded lightly. Iuno released her hand, turned gracefully, and leaned against the railing of the stands. Her gaze fell on Ray's figure in the arena, her tone considerably lighter.
"Long time no see, Carlotta. So, what fun little things did you bring me this time?"
...
...
"Are you certain? That frail, unimpressive look of his doesn't match the person in the rumors at all."
Atop the tower, the Fractsidus Overseer, Scar, gazed with keen interest at the distant, clamorous arena.
"Though there's no solid evidence..." Cristoforo, standing beside him, unfolded the script in his hands and picked up a quill, as if writing something. "Phrolova, she seems to harbor some special feelings for this man. They've had multiple contacts before."
"Phrolova?" Scar idly toyed with the cards between his fingers, a trace of manic laughter in his voice. "Ah, I remember now. Where is she? The task of monitoring him, wasn't that personally assigned by the Overseer? Where... is she now?"
Cristoforo's tone was casual. "Who knows? You're well aware she never likes returning to base. No matter where she's assigned, she always works alone. Unless she chooses to show herself, no one can find her."
"So that means right now, she's probably holed up in some desolate cave out in the wilderness, so lonely she can only talk to herself?" Scar said as he slowly stood, stretching lazily.
Then, the smile on his face gradually twisted, a crazed light surfacing in his eyes.
"In that case... I should have myself a good game."
Cristoforo watched him, sighed softly, and shook his head.
To be honest, to some extent, he'd rather continue working with Phrolova.
At least she wouldn't suddenly get a whim like this and tear apart everything you've carefully arranged.
Scar? He's a madman.
A complete and utter madman.
"You'd better not act on your own." Cristoforo's voice carried a warning, though he knew full well his words would never reach the other's ears.
"Relax~" Scar drawled, the cards between his fingers spinning at a dizzying speed. "I know what I'm doing."
…
…
"Was that just now... your Resonance ability?"
On the arena floor, Augusta was still puzzled by what had just occurred.
She halted her assault, her gaze locked onto Ray.
"Acceleration? Or something else?"
Ray froze for a moment, looking down at the faintly glowing Resonance Mark on the back of his hand, his tone uncertain. "Uh... actually, I'm not really sure either. It's just that when you charged at me just now, in my eyes... you suddenly slowed down?"
"Slowed down?" Augusta's pupils contracted slightly, disbelief evident in her voice. "That's impossible. In my own perception, my speed hadn't decreased at all."
"Is that so?" Ray was also taken aback. In his eyes, Augusta's movements had indeed visibly slowed, but now she said her speed hadn't been reduced?
What was going on?
Augusta was silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a low chuckle. "It seems... you haven't even fully grasped your own Resonance ability yet. No matter. Let's help you get familiar with it, little by little, through our exchange."
In an instant, silence overwhelmed everything.
Then, a chaotic, disordered noise surged forth from nothing, as if chaos itself had taken physical form, swallowing both Augusta and Ray whole in the arena with its distorted frequencies.
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