Chapter 251: Battle!

After the duo finished speaking, the referee finally arrived. The referee was a senior professor that usually taught and managed upperclassmen matches, but was assigned this one.

She was hovering at the arena’s edge, and finally raised a hand, “Combatants,” she announced, “This is a full-ranking duel. Victory is determined by incapacitation, ring-out, or surrender. Lethal force is prohibited. All Weapons are allowed,”

Her eyes flicked between them.

“Begin.”

~BANG!~

Caelum moved first, immediately using his mana pressure. His mana exploded outward in a controlled detonation, ancient sigils along his robes igniting as the arena’s suppression arrays screamed in protest.

A gravity well formed around him, compressing space into crushing density and causing various students to gasp out of shock when they saw it.

“A Gravity Dominion Art,” Morgana murmured, “A very high-tier as well, seems like this guys family invested a-lot in him,”

Elara swallowed as she saw that, “That output, he’s not even holding back.”

The pressure slammed into Albedo like a mountain falling from the sky. The arena floor cracked and the various wards in the surrounding area flared as the air detonated outward, dust erupting in a violent ring.

However, at the epicenter, Albedo stood unmoved. His feet were still planted exactly where they had been. Not a single crack spread beneath them.

“…That’s it?” he asked calmly.

Caelum’s pupils constricted as he saw that.

“You”

Albedo stepped forward and Caelum’s pressure shattered like glass, a shockwave tore outward as if reality itself had flinched under the weight of Albedo’s power

Caelum was forced back three steps, boots screeching against the arena floor. The crowd erupted.

“SEE, I TOLD YOU HE’D WIN!”

“Calm down, it’s just one clash, the new guy will still win,”

Albedo rolled his shoulders lazily.

“Let me give you some advice,” he said. “If you’re going to rely on lineage techniques, at least understand the fundamentals behind them.”

Caelum snarled.

“Then die beneath them!”

Golden runes erupted around Caelum as he thrust his hands outward, “Rivenhart Secret Art — Celestial Compression Array!”

The air screamed as a vast hexagonal formation of luminous sigils snapped into existence above the arena, folding downward like a divine guillotine. Gravity multiplied and spatial pressure surged.

The entire arena buckled and even the spectator barriers groaned. Albedo’s coat whipped violently as the pressure intensified.

He exhaled slowly.

“…Now we’re talking.”

His mana surged smoothly, like an ocean tide rising. Invisible force rippled outward. The crushing pressure evaporated.

The massive sigil array shattered into fragments of golden light that dissolved harmlessly into the air.

Caelum stared.

His mind struggled to process what he was seeing.

“That’s impossible…”

Albedo vanished and he reappeared directly in front of Caelum, fist already moving.

Caelum barely managed to reinforce his body before the impact landed.

~BOOM!~

The resulting shockwave cracked the arena floor in a spiderweb pattern stretching hundreds of meters.

Caelum was launched backward like a meteor. He crashed through three layers of barrier wards before skidding to a halt at the arena’s edge, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

The stands exploded.

“ONE HIT?!”

“He didn’t even cast a spell!”

“That physical output!”

Caelum rose shakily, eyes blazing.

“You filth!”

Golden mana ignited around him, flooding his meridians as ancient bloodline seals flared across his skin, “Rivenhart Blood Awakening — Sovereign Descent!”

His aura transformed and his power skyrocketed. The air vibrated violently. Students were forced to shield themselves as oppressive pressure rolled outward in waves.

Albedo watched calmly.

“Good,” he murmured. “Now I can stop holding back.”

Havoc & Ruin — Infernal Mode

Twin pistols materialized in Albedo’s hands, their forms sleek and black, runic circuits pulsing crimson.

Havoc & Ruin.

Infernal Mode activated. The arena temperature spiked instantly. White-blue flames coiled around the barrels, heat distorting the air.

Gasps rippled through the stands.

“Those weapons!”

“I’ve seen them in recordings!”

“The execution guns!”

Caelum’s eyes burned.

Albedo immediately fired off, a lance of compressed infernal flame tore across the arena, vaporizing everything in its path.

Caelum threw up layered barriers. They shattered like paper. The blast engulfed him, hurling him into the far wall in an eruption of flame and molten stone.

For several seconds, the arena was nothing but blazing light.

When it cleared, Caelum knelt in a crater, robes in tatters, blood streaking his face, chest heaving violently.

Still conscious but barely still standing.

Albedo lowered his weapon slightly.

“You still think this is about birth?”

Caelum glared up at him, hatred and disbelief twisting his features.

“You don’t deserve that power…”

Albedo’s eyes hardened.

“You don’t deserve to speak.”

He raised Havoc.

Graviton Mode engaged. The arena groaned as localized gravity collapsed inward. Caelum’s body slammed into the ground, pinned helplessly as his bones creaked and blood sprayed.

“Lesson one,” Albedo said coldly. “Strength isn’t inherited.”

Another shot, this time in Mana-Drain Mode, a vortex of siphoning energy ripped through Caelum’s core, draining his reserves in seconds.

The glow of Sovereign Descent flickere, —and died.

“Lesson two,” Albedo continued. “Arrogance makes you sloppy.”

Caelum convulsed, gasping. Albedo stepped closer.

Execution Mode unfolded.

The pistols fused. A massive sniper construct formed, energy spiraling violently. The entire arena went silent as they saw it.

“Lesson three,” Albedo said quietly. “If you look down on others…”

He leveled the weapon.

“…you better be ready to kneel.”

The barrel glowed.

Caelum’s eyes widened in terror.

“I….!”

“Yield,” the referee shouted urgently.

The light vanished.

Albedo lowered the weapon.

Caelum collapsed unconscious, body smoking faintly, utterly defeated.

For several seconds there was only stunned silence.

Then, the arena erupted in thunderous applause. Shouts, gasps and roars of disbelief. The announcer’s voice rang out.

“Victory: Albedo Neverwinter!

Rank One — Maintained.”

In the stands, Morgana exhaled slowly, shadows calming.

“Predictable.”

Elara stared, breathless.

“He dismantled him…”

Below, medics rushed to Caelum’s side.

Albedo turned, already walking away.

Behind him, whispers spread like wildfire, praising his incredible strength, but Albedo didn’t care much.

As he exited the arena, his watch pulsed once. Another challenge notification. He glanced at it. Then smiled faintly.

Tomorrow, Morgana would take her turn.

And after that, he would welcome every heir, every prodigy, every so-called chosen one who thought they deserved his place.

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