"..to make me give up."
Huntress and Iris turned to the source of the voice.
There they saw Nathan, forcing his body to stand against everything.
His arms were flailing as if had no strength to control them, his body was shaking from the burden placed over it, they could hear the snapping of his bones, yet his golden eyes shone brightly to show their defiance.
Like a tsunami, a red hue emerged from Nathan and collided with them. At the same time, the air sparkled with a golden hue and circled him.
Their eyes widened when they sensed his current rank.
Huntress and Iris nodded to each other and faced Nathan.
He had only reached Enma-rank, possibly using some kind of forbidden skill, they could face a hundred of Enma-rank without breaking a sweat, but something about Nathan was different.
The way golden air sparkled around him or the way his pressure suddenly intensified by hundredfolds, it felt …ominous.
Nathan raised his arm. He didn't have much time.
Second Technique: Spatial Manipulation – Space Rupture
Ccrraaack-
Ten cracks, each having a different weapon, appeared in the sky.
It wasn't anything grand or mystifying. Everyone sighed audibly and felt they had misjudged the struggle of a corned rat when–
"[Multiply]"
–the sparkling air around Nathan rushed into the sky.
Suddenly, the sky was filled with 300 weapons, all pointing to the ground.
Nathan coughed blood as he lost a large chunk of Ether in one go. However, he stood his ground.
'Not yet …this isn't enough.'
His body was breaking from handling power beyond itself. Yet he didn't stop.
He raised his other hand.
Third Technique: Folding
Vroooom-
The hundreds of weapons buzzed, Ether wrapped around them in layers and layers, until only a large golden ever-changing mass shone in the air.
Huntress, Iris, Mia, and Isabell, everyone found the source of trepidation they felt earlier. The golden air around Nathan was condensed Aether.
The giant gelatinous mass was like a sun shining over the earth, brightening the entire Underworld.
Two thick streams of blood flowed down Nathan's eyes.
He clenched his jaw and completed the third technique.
Shiing-
A spear appeared as the giant mass condensed.
The spear was similarly golden and large enough that it touched the top of Underworld with its base.
Without waiting a moment, Nathan brought the gigantic spear down.
Woooshh-
The residents of Underworld looked at the gigantic spear in horror. No matter where they were, everyone could sense the condensed energy inside the spear.
That attack had far surpassed the realm of Enma-rank.
Tap- Tap-
Mia walked to the center of the arena, to the area where the spearhead would first land.
The spear quickly covered distance.
pA n,dan0ve1.c0m Iris looked at the bleeding Nathan, who was trying to maintain the attack.
"Do you know why we didn't act until now? That is because…"
Mia bent her knees and took the stance, placing her hand on the scabbard of the katana, she audibly breathed and-
Click-!
-the giant spear was bisected along its shaft.
"It's more fun this way."
The spear shattered into millions of pieces and scattered, creating an ethereal scene where a curtain of stars fell to earth. The curtain was thick and bright, enough that it temporarily blindly everyone.
Huntress denied Iris. She had finally calmed down.
"Speak for yourself. We wanted to collect data on him, in case he really is an Irregular. Though, I think there's no doubt anymore, rather…"
Huntress turned to where she could sense Nathan. He was still standing with his arms raised in the air.
"He might surpass his predecessors."
The condensed Ether had almost returned to the air, clearing their view.
"I-s t..hat so?"
Suddenly, a voice answered them. One they didn't expect.
The remnants of the spear completely died down and exposed Nathan.
"…What is that?"
A giant reddish orb was resting over his hands.
They grew restless as they realized they didn't sense Nathan preparing for another attack.
The orb was bigger than three floors, yet none of them had sensed it.
"Stop him!"
They moved-
Swooossh-
-however, it was too late.
The orb collapsed in itself until it was no larger than a nail, red and black tendrils ran all over its surface, then it expanded.
Everything happened so fast that no one could react on time.
Reddish black waves passed through everyone and reached the edge of the stadium.
"Huff…huff…"
Nathan was breathing loudly. His robe felt heavier than himself after absorbing all his blood, black smoke rose from his left arm and he felt exhausted.
He had used his entire Nether and the Ether that came with [Synchronization] for his last two attacks.
Huntress, Iris, Mia, and Isabell, all four looked at their bodies.
They didn't see any injury on themselves and for a movement believed the last attack to be a dud.
It wasn't a surprise that Nathan failed due to his injured and exhausted body. However, their faces paled in the next second.
They couldn't use their energies.
The sudden loss of energy hit them too hard, and they were disoriented.
C..crack-
Between their shock and bafflement, Nathan brought out five more weapons into the sky.
Third Technique: Folding
Ether thickly covered the weapons, until they could no longer be seen, then the mass shrank and what appeared was a beautiful 50 feet big spear.
The spear moved according to Nathan's instruction and aimed at a far distance, as far as possible from the stadium.
C..crack-
C..crack-
C..crack-
Weapons appeared out of the air. Using them as footholds, he ran toward the spear. Amid his climb, he looked below.
His vision was painted red from blood and he could hardly see anything. However, with the rank increase in [Appraisal], he could see their cores.
'10 seconds.'
He landed on the spear and grabbed hold of it tightly.
Finally, he fired the spear.
Boom-!
The shockwaves created by its speed destroyed everything in its path and it only kept speeding up.
"…He escaped?" Isabell was left stunned.
"Not yet."
Iris grabbed Isabell by her collar while Huntress was having trouble standing straight.
"You!"
"Let's chit-chat after we catch him. We can't let an Irregular who fought against Umbra and Aegis alone escape."
Iris passed Isabell to Mia. Isabell was a hostage to stop Huntress from escaping, while Iris was catching Nathan.
Huntress bit her lips because she knew Iris was right.
The spear, although powerful, could be brushed off as him being Irregular, but his last attack couldn't.
Even the anti-field attacks only existed for mana. They were no all-energy anti-field attacks. This was also mentioned in the records found in the ruins.
If he escaped, there was no guarantee when he will reappear.
He was strong enough to harm them now. But they didn't know what heights he would reach in the future, they couldn't guarantee they could stop him if they fought against him again in the future.
He had to be caught or eliminated, and it had to be done this time.
Huntress decided that dealing with him was more important than securing the item.
Exactly 10 seconds later, they regained control.
Iris grabbed an invisible sword. Air wrapped around her and lifted her in the air.
"Don't fall behind."
Whoosh-
Iris and Mia, along with Isabell, zoomed into the distance.
Huntress crouched and tensed her calves. Sensing the trail of energy left by Nathan's spear, she adjusted her direction and released the tension in a short burst.
Boom-!
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