Scar was fast. So fast that in an instant, he was already right in front of Ray.
His right fist clenched, then lashed out with explosive force, the sheer gale generated by his punch was enough to make the surrounding space itself begin to crack!
Ray's pupils contracted sharply. On pure instinct, he raised his longsword to block.
Clang—!
The heavy fist slammed viciously into the blade, unleashing a deafening shockwave.
A sinister, insidious force pierced straight through the sword, surging up his arm and leaving it completely numb.
This man was terrifyingly strong.
Far stronger than any enemy he had ever faced before!
As for how he compared to the Ephor, that was still impossible to judge.
After all, in their earlier spar, although both had claimed not to be holding back, they had ultimately maintained restraint. Neither had gone all out.
But Scar was different. He was aiming straight for the kill.
Crack—
A faint sound of splintering came from the crystalline blade. Under the impact of this overwhelming power, the resilient sword had begun to bloom with cobweb-like fissures.
Ray's expression darkened considerably.
This was a gift from Carlotta.
Though it was a weapon, he had always treasured it, rarely using it in daily life.
He had deliberately taken it out today out of respect for Augusta.
And now...
He used the force of the blow to spin around and counter, landing a sharp elbow strike aimed directly at Scar's throat but Scar easily blocked it.
Both were knocked back several steps, then faced off once more.
"That's it? You're nothing like the rumors." Scar's smile was taunting. "Just like your weapon, frail and useless."
Ray's gaze turned to ice, locked squarely on his opponent.
He dissolved the cracked longsword into flowing light, retracting it into his Tacet Mark. He flexed his numb wrist, then clenched both fists.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Rumors. The past. I don't care."
He lifted his eyes, and the aura around him suddenly shifted, becoming dangerously sharp.
"But you've really… pissed me off."
Scar crossed his arms, watching him with clear amusement. "And what are you going to do about it? Teach me a lesson with those weak, frail fists of yours?"
"No." Ray's gaze was cold as frost. "I'm going to tear that smug grin right off your face."
The moment the last word left his mouth, his figure blurred.
Moving far beyond what should've been possible. Even Scar couldn't track how he moved.
By the time Scar registered it, the fierce wind of his punch was already screaming toward him.
Ray's right fist shot forward, trailing a deafening shockwave, aimed straight for Scar's face.
This, right here, was Ray's true Resonance ability.
Whether it was the pinnacle of speed or some form of interference with the laws of time itself no longer mattered.
There was only one thought in his mind: beat this bastard, who had destroyed something precious, until he couldn't even smile anymore.
The sudden, ferocious assault made Scar's pupils contract briefly. But in the next instant, the corner of his mouth curled into a near-deranged grin. "Now that's more like it! If you really were that pathetically weak, this game would've been way too boring!"
He opened his fingers, catching the incoming fist like a steel vise. His knuckles popped under the strain.
But Ray's attack came like a raging storm.
His left leg swept upward like a battle axe, howling through the air as it drove straight toward Scar's midsection.
Scar immediately bent his arm to block. The heavy impact sounded like two massive stones colliding.
"How interesting!" Scar let out a cold laugh as his other hand shot straight for Ray's throat.
Ray twisted his body to evade, his elbow swinging down hard toward Scar's ribs.
The dull thud of bone and flesh colliding echoed through the fractured space. Both let out muffled grunts as they passed each other.
This was no longer a spar. This was pure, life-or-death combat.
Ray slammed a heavy punch toward Scar's jaw, but Scar tilted his head, dodging by a hair.
The force of the punch grazed his face, leaving a trail of blood. Scar, instead, seemed thrilled. He licked the blood from the corner of his lips and drove his knee viciously into Ray's abdomen.
Ray braced and took the hit. In the same motion, he grabbed Scar's ankle and hurled him into the ground.
Stone chips flew. Scar caught himself with one hand and swept his leg at Ray.
The two rolled across the ground in the domain, grappling and striking, each blow aimed at a vital spot.
Ray's knuckles ached from the impact. Faint cracks echoed from Scar's ribs. Yet the pain only twisted his smile further into something more unhinged.
For a man accustomed to constant overclocking, pain like this was no more than a stimulant.
This was how combat was meant to be.
Nothing but raw, primal instinct.
And then, a pitch-black great sword tore through the air!
Augusta stepped into the fray, her killing intent sharp as frost.
The Fractsidus had committed serious crimes in every city-state of Septimont and Rinascita.
The moment Augusta learned Scar was an Overseer of the Fractsidus, her mind was made up: eliminate him.
She had held back earlier only to give Ray room to act.
Scar retreated half a step, barely dodging the sword's edge. He glanced at Augusta's figure and sneered. "What's this? The great Ephor of Septimont, ganging up on me? Doesn't seem quite your style."
Augusta opened her mouth to reply, but Ray cut her off. "Save your breath. With scum like him, there's no such thing as fair. This is a righteous two-on-one! Ephor, let's take him together!"
Augusta swung her sword level, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly. "Works for me. Besides, the tournament rules have changed. A duo formation isn't against the rules."
The moment the words fell, both Ray and Augusta launched their assault on Scar simultaneously.
Caught in their storm-like pincer attack, Scar was forced steadily back. His blocks grew sloppy.
Another heavy strike sent him tumbling several meters away. He wiped the blood from his lips, then suddenly covered his face and burst into manic laughter.
"Yes! This is it!"
He spread his arms wide, his deep crimson cloak snapping violently in the gale.
"A battle this exhilarating… I suppose it's time to show you what real power looks like!"
Chaotic ripples erupted from him, and the entire space began to twist violently.
Just as he shattered the card in his hand, Ray tore through layer after layer of frequency storms. His fist, driven by unyielding momentum, smashed straight through.
"Open!"
The heavy blow landed squarely on Scar's face, blasting him from mid-air to the ground.
The terrifying frequencies that had gathered around him scattered instantly, leaving only the dull echo of impact hanging over the ruins.
Ray didn't know exactly what Scar was trying to do. But he wasn't stupid enough to stand by and watch an enemy power up.
Even Augusta, witnessing this, widened her eyes slightly, she hadn't expected Ray to act with such ruthless decisiveness.
"Tch, you bastard…" Scar pressed his hand to his face, trembling as he dragged himself up from the rubble. His expression was twisted, almost spitting with rage. "Are you mentally unwell? Attacking at a time like this?"
"What else was I supposed to do?" Ray shot back without hesitation. "Just stand there waiting for you to power up? You think this is some kind of shounen anime?"
"You bastard."
Scar's venomous glare could've drawn blood. But then a voice cut into his ear, Cristoforo's, low with warning.
'That's enough. If you interfere with my plans, I'll be reporting everything to the Leader.'
"...Fine. You win this round." Scar ground his teeth, eyes burning with hatred as he shot Ray one last look. "This debt… we'll settle it slowly."
Before the words fully faded, he had turned and stepped into the teleportation rift that suddenly opened behind him. His figure vanished instantly.
With the caster gone, the shattered domain began to collapse.
When the two returned to the arena, the Septimont guards had already surrounded the stands.
"Ephor!" The captain rushed to Augusta's side. "Are you alright?"
Augusta shook her head gently. "I'm fine."
Nearby, Ray was still turning over Scar's words in his mind, until Carlotta's voice jolted him back.
"Ray!"