The air… was tense.
The arena had fallen into absolute silence.
All eyes were fixed on the center.
---
On one side—
the noble.
Lightning coursed through his body like living serpents.
Unstable.
Violent.
Proud.
---
On the other—
Remiel.
Standing still.
Silent.
Unmoving.
---
— You were unlucky to face me — the noble said, raising his hand slightly.
Small sparks began to gather.
---
— Sequence 9… Intermediate stage.
---
A confident smile spread across his face.
---
— I'll end this quickly.
---
The ground beneath him began to tremble.
---
Runes.
---
A magic circle formed beneath his feet.
Lines of lightning intertwined into complex patterns.
---
— Watch closely, commoner.
---
The energy exploded.
---
⚡ CRACK—!!
---
Lightning armor wrapped around his body.
Plates of condensed electricity formed around him.
His eyes glowed brightly.
---
— Lightning Armor.
---
The air grew heavier.
---
Remiel watched.
---
Without moving.
---
Without reacting.
---
— Not going to do anything?
---
Silence.
---
The noble frowned.
---
— Then die standing!
---
He raised his arm—
---
And threw it.
---
A spear of lightning.
---
⚡ BOOM—!!
---
It tore through the air at incredible speed.
---
Remiel didn't dodge.
---
Didn't block.
---
The spear struck—
---
And passed through.
---
An afterimage.
---
The noble's eyes widened.
---
— …?!
---
— Slow.
---
The voice came from behind him.
---
He turned instantly—
---
But for a moment—
---
He hesitated.
---
— …what was I—
---
Silence.
---
His mind… stalled.
---
A blank.
---
The intent to attack… vanished.
---
— What…?
---
He blinked.
Confused.
---
Remiel stood a few meters behind him.
---
Calm.
---
— Your mind is unstable.
---
The noble clenched his teeth.
---
— Illusion?!
---
— No.
---
Simple.
---
— Interference.
---
The air around Remiel distorted slightly.
---
— You think…
— I remove.
---
The noble stepped back instinctively.
---
Danger.
---
— It doesn't matter!
---
His energy surged again.
---
Another magic circle appeared—
larger.
More complex.
---
⚡ Runes rotated around him.
---
— If you want to play—
---
He raised both hands.
---
— Then let's raise the stakes!
---
The sky above the arena darkened.
---
Clouds of lightning gathered.
---
⚡ BOOOOOOM—!!
---
— Lightning Rain!
---
Dozens—
No.
Hundreds.
---
Bolts began to fall.
---
Explosions echoed endlessly.
---
The ground cracked.
Stone shattered.
---
The crowd stepped back.
---
— That's Sequence 9 Intermediate…?
— Insane…
---
Laylah watched.
Silently.
---
Her eyes… focused.
---
Very focused.
---
---
In the middle of the storm—
Remiel walked.
---
Slow steps.
---
Lightning struck all around him.
---
But it didn't matter.
---
For a moment—
---
Everything stopped.
---
Sound.
Motion.
Energy.
---
Frozen.
---
Remiel took another step.
---
Then—
everything resumed.
---
Explosions.
Light.
Chaos.
---
As if nothing had happened.
---
But it had.
---
— …
---
Laylah narrowed her eyes slightly.
---
— He…?
---
---
The noble was breathing heavily.
---
— Where are you?!
---
His eyes searched wildly.
---
— Show yourself!
---
Silence.
---
— You can't even hit me.
---
The voice echoed from everywhere.
---
— Coward!
---
The noble raised his hand again.
---
Another magic circle.
---
More power.
---
⚡ Spears.
⚡ Bursts.
⚡ Explosions.
---
Everything was unleashed.
---
But—
---
Nothing hit.
---
Nothing.
---
— IMPOSSIBLE!
---
He spun.
Attacked.
Destroyed everything in reach.
---
But Remiel—
---
Wasn't there.
---
Or rather—
---
He was.
---
Just beyond reach.
---
Beyond time.
---
---
Again—
---
Silence.
---
Three seconds.
---
The world stopped.
---
Remiel appeared directly in front of him.
---
Watching.
---
Analyzing.
---
— Sequence 9…
---
He tilted his head slightly.
---
— Intermediate.
---
His eyes faintly glowed.
---
— And yet…
---
He raised his hand.
---
— limited.
---
Time resumed.
---
— —?!
---
The noble tried to react.
---
But—
---
— Forget.
---
His mind froze again.
---
The attack… never came.
---
Silence.
---
Remiel placed his hand on the noble's chest.
---
No force.
---
No visible impact.
---
But—
---
⚡ CRACK.
---
The lightning armor shattered.
---
Like glass.
---
The noble froze.
---
— …no…
---
His body trembled.
---
— this… isn't possible…
---
His eyes met Remiel's.
---
And for the first time—
---
Fear.
---
— You…
---
Remiel looked at him.
---
Calm.
---
Distant.
---
— You don't understand.
---
A pause.
---
— And you don't need to.
---
He gave a slight push.
---
The noble's body was thrown backward—
---
No resistance.
---
No defense.
---
— End.
---
He hit the ground.
---
Silence filled the arena.
---
No sound.
---
No immediate reaction.
---
Only… shock.
---
— …what…
— He…
— What was that…
---
Laylah slowly closed her eyes.
---
— …
---
When she opened them again—
---
Her gaze had changed.
---
Completely.
---
— He's not… Sequence 10.
---
---
Remiel stood still.
---
As if nothing had happened.
---
No effort.
---
No emotion.
---
But inside him—
---
Something moved.
---
Fragments.
---
Time.
---
Chains.
---
And that…
---
dragon.
---
Watching.
---
Waiting.
---
— …
---
Remiel closed his eyes briefly.
---
— Still… incomplete.
---
But now—
---
One thing was clear.
---
His power—
---
Did not belong…
---
to this level.