A sudden silence fell over our section of the battlefield.
I stood there, looking at Liam's massive body lying on the ground, then at Ethan. He remained where he was, steam rising from his right fist. His hand was visibly trembling, the skin reddened from the intense heat.
I didn't give him a chance to recover.
I immediately put my new plan into motion, completely abandoning direct confrontation. I darted swiftly and lightly between collapsed walls and burning cars.
With every step, my brush painted.
---
[[Ink Stain]]
Description: A technique that leaves a "signature" of shadow ink on any surface. These stains remain dormant and function as traps that can be activated remotely.
---
A tap here, a stroke there.
I was turning the battlefield into my own minefield—a deadly canvas awaiting the artist's final touch.
Then I began summoning my creatures.
---
[[Basic Shadow Beast]]
Description: Drawing simple creatures (wolves, birds) on surfaces. If drawn within shadows, the creature emerges as a two-dimensional entity that moves along surfaces.
---
"Grrr…!"
An inky bird resembling a crow burst from the shadow of a wall and shot toward Ethan.
"Annoying."
Ethan released a small aura wave from his hand, erasing it—consuming only a tiny fraction of his energy.
"Graaaagh!!"
At the same moment, a shadow wolf leapt from beneath a burned-out car and lunged at his leg.
"What are you trying to achieve?" Ethan said.
"Boom!!"
In the same instant, he twisted his body midair and kicked it, dispersing the creature immediately.
The beasts were never meant to harm him.
But a few moments later, something I didn't expect happened… Ethan stopped chasing me.
"Haaah…"
He stood in a relatively open area and took a deep breath.
"Whooosh!!"
Then, [Stellar Radiance] erupted from his body… a warm, steady golden aura spreading in a ten-meter radius around him.
"Fwoosh!!!"
Nearby shadows vanished instantly. Any shadow beast that tried to approach him burned away before even getting close.
That bastard…
He created a "safe zone" for himself, nullifying my advantage over shadows.
He's forcing me to change strategies… I can't fight from a distance anymore.
So, you want me to come to you? Fine… be careful what you wish for.
I decided to take the risk.
"Whoosh!"
I dashed between the ruins and wreckage left behind from his fight with Liam.
Thanks for setting the stage.
It was time to show him something more sophisticated than simple traps.
---
[[Ink Echo]]
Description: An advanced application of [Ink Stain] that links multiple stains together. Activating one triggers the others in sequence, creating a layered and deceptive attack.
---
I placed three ink stains around him—one on a wall behind him, one on debris to his left, and one directly on the ground in front of him.
Then I stepped out and faced him.
I raised my brush and activated the stain on his left.
"Tssss!"
A shadow beast in the form of an ink serpent burst from the debris and lunged at him.
As expected, Ethan turned quickly to deal with the obvious side threat. He grabbed the serpent by its tail, spun, and threw it away instantly.
"Whoosh!"
At that exact moment… I activated the stain behind him.
"Kraaack!!"
Three bird-shaped shadow beasts shot toward his unguarded back.
Ethan reacted with incredible speed. He ducked and rolled aside, barely avoiding the attack.
But he rolled… directly toward the third stain.
The one in front of him.
"Now," I whispered.
And activated the final trap.
It wasn't a shadow hand. It wasn't a beast.
It was something simpler—and far more effective.
---
[[Temporary Ink Prison]]
Description: Simultaneous activation of three to four ink stains surrounding the target, forming thin walls of hardened shadow that create a box trapping the target for a brief moment.
---
"Tssss!!"
Four walls of shadow erupted from the ground around him, forming a tight black box that trapped him inside.
It wasn't strong. He could break it easily.
But I only needed one second.
One second of confusion. One second of sudden darkness.
A layer of ink formed over my brush, coating it in hardened, sharpened shadow.
---
[[Ink Weapon]]
Description: Coating a weapon in hardened shadow ink, increasing its sharpness and power in close combat. Any successful strike can leave an "ink stain" directly on the target.
---
While he was trapped inside that box, I charged toward him, focusing all my energy into the tip of my brush.
Checkmate, star.
"Kraaack!"
Ethan shattered the front wall with a simple punch.
But it was too late.
I was already there, my brush just centimeters from his chest.
There was no time to dodge. No time to use a skill.
It was over.
…
…
…
Or so I thought.
In the fraction of a second between my victory and his defeat, two things happened.
First, I saw his eyes glow with a golden light—not angry, but terrifyingly calm and focused.
Second, instead of dodging or blocking my attack… he did the exact opposite.
Instead of facing me, he concentrated all that radiant aura into his right fist.
It wasn't aimed at me.
"BAAAM!!"
He struck the ground.
---
[[Stellar Projectile: Close-Range Variant]]
Description: Concentrating an immense amount of energy into a single point to create a localized explosion. Not a punch, but a singularity of raw force.
---
"KRAAAAAACK—BOOOOOOOM!"
It was an internal explosion.
"FWOOSH!!!"
The ground beneath him didn't shatter—it disintegrated into dust. The massive shockwave wasn't aimed at me… it was aimed at the shadows around me.
The shadows I relied on. The shadows that contained my other ink stains.
He realized that his true victory didn't lie in defeating me… but in destroying my canvas.
He attacked the battlefield itself.
The violent tremor and burst of light ruined all my traps in an instant. I felt my connection to the other ink stains weaken and snap.
I was forced into an awkward landing, losing my balance midair from the shockwave.
He destroyed the entire stage…
As I struggled to regain my footing, Ethan wasted no time.
The glow around him was gone—he had spent a massive amount of energy on that move.
But he didn't need another overwhelming attack.
He had created his opening.
---
[[Meteor Dash: Single Step]]
Description: Releasing a burst of energy from the legs to achieve a single high-speed dash. A costly movement used for decisive maneuvering or finishing blows.
---
He didn't charge at me directly.
He appeared on my right—my blind spot—taking advantage of the moment I was still trying to process what had happened.
His speed exceeded my ability to react.
He's here!
I couldn't even fully turn my head.
"BOOM!!"
A powerful punch struck my side. It wasn't infused with energy—just a fast, solid physical blow.
"Ghh!!"
The sheer force knocked the air out of my lungs and sent me tumbling across the ground.
"BAM!!"
I rolled several times before stopping—beyond the designated combat boundary.
"…"
Silence fell.
I lifted my head from the ground and saw him.
Ethan stood alone in the center of the field, looking at me with confidence—and that same irritating smile—his white hair fluttering in the wind.
I had used every trick and tactic I possessed.
And yet… I lost.
So this is the power of a prodigy.
A bitter smile formed on my face.
Even when you play perfectly, raw talent can tear your rulebook apart and burn it before your eyes.
It was a good fight.
But it wasn't enough. Not against a star on the verge of becoming a sun.
I lost.
Slowly, the world around me faded into darkness.
---
---
Elsewhere…
A completely different kind of storm was about to form.
The moment Chloe Jansen separated from her team, she found herself face to face with a new opponent.
From behind a pile of rubble, a girl with long, wild brown hair and sharp, hawk-like eyes emerged. Her movements were fast and agile like a wild cat, her gaze fixed on Chloe with cold, assessing intensity.
Luna Ferris. From Team Zeta.
Chloe grinned mischievously, sparks already dancing at her fingertips with excitement.
"So, you're mine!" she said playfully, her tone completely at odds with the danger of the situation.
For Chloe, this wasn't training. It was playtime.
Luna didn't waste time responding. Her body dropped low into an offensive stance—and she launched forward at incredible speed.
---
[[Manifestation: Lobo's Claw (Wolf Spirit)]]
Description: Enhances speed and endurance, while forming sharp, translucent energy claws.
---
It wasn't a dash.
It was a pounce.
Chloe, expecting a ranged attack, was caught off guard by the direct aggression.
But she thrived in chaos—and chaos adapted quickly.
Is that some kind of animal ability? she wondered briefly, but didn't dwell on it.
She laughed out loud.
"I like this!"
She raised her hand and unleashed her first attack.
---
[[Guided Lightning]]
Description: Fires a real bolt of electricity from the hands, causing pain, burns, and temporary paralysis.
---
"Tssss!"
A blue bolt shot straight toward Luna.
But mid-charge, Luna performed an impossible maneuver—her body veered sideways without losing speed, like a cat dodging by mere centimeters.
Her ability was unusual—unnatural in its flow.
---
[[Animal Spirit Contracts] Rank: B]
Description: The ability to summon and embody the essence of contracted animal spirits, granting their traits and abilities temporarily.
---
She used that moment to close the distance.
"Bam-bam-bam-bam!!"
Her hands struck in five rapid consecutive blows, her energy claws carving silver streaks through the air.
Chloe retreated quickly, raising her arms to defend.
"Chiiik!"
A sharp sting—three of the strikes managed to graze her forearm, leaving thin red lines behind.
But Chloe didn't just defend.
As she stepped back, a [Lightning Whip] formed from her other hand and wrapped around Luna's attacking arm.
"Tssssss!!"
"Ghh!"
Luna groaned from the electric shock and was forced to pull back.
"Not so fast, kitty!" Chloe mocked, swinging her whip in a wide arc to create distance.
---
[[Electric Current Manipulation] Rank: B+]
Description: The ability to generate and control electricity—firing bolts, forming temporary weapons, or charging metallic objects.
---
"Tch…"
Luna shook her numbed arm and looked at Chloe differently now.
She realized this girl with the wicked smile wasn't an easy target.
She switched again—this time to pure defense.
---
[[Manifestation: Testudo Bastion (Turtle Spirit)]]
Description: A faint hexagonal pattern appears on the skin, greatly increasing durability and resilience.
---
"Tssss!"
A faint hexagonal pattern appeared across her skin.
Chloe immediately lashed her with the whip.
"Bam! Bam!"
Luna advanced steadily, ignoring the electric lashes that now struck her body with little effect, producing only dull crackling sounds.
"Oh, you got tough now?" Chloe grinned wider.
"Even better!"
She realized quick attacks wouldn't work. She began charging a larger, more concentrated bolt.
"Tssss!"
Blue light gathered in her palm, the air thickening with ozone.
Luna didn't wait.
While advancing, she switched again—this time unexpectedly.
---
[[Manifestation: Ursa's Roar (Bear Spirit)]]
Description: Grants immense physical strength and releases a sonic roar that causes disorientation and fear.
---
"GRAAAAAAAAH!!!"
Luna unleashed a deafening roar—not just sound, but a shockwave.
"Huh?!"
Chloe froze in shock.
Her concentration broke—the charged lightning dissipated. She staggered slightly, dizzy.
Luna seized that moment.
Using the full power of the bear, she slammed her fist into the ground.
"BOOM!!"
"KRAAAACK!"
The concrete shattered, sending debris flying in all directions and creating a dense cloud of dust that blocked vision.
Luna disappeared into the dust.
"Smart…" Chloe muttered, wiping dust from her eyes as she regained her footing.
She had no idea where the next attack would come from.
Instead of trying to locate Luna, she smiled excitedly.
"If you want to play in the dark… let's light things up!"
She raised both hands, electricity gathering around her like a web of blue sparks, spreading through the dust cloud—ready to electrocute anything moving within it.
"Clack-clack-clack-clack!!"
The two girls now stood opposed—one hidden in the darkness she created, the other turning that darkness into a deadly electric trap.
It was a battle of pure instinct—
And neither of them was willing to back down.