Chapter 205: Ash vs Ray (2)
-BOOM!!
Ash’s body skidded across the arena floor, his boots scraping against the cracked tiles as debris rolled and shattered around him. He planted his heel firmly to halt his momentum, the impact leaving faint cracks beneath his feet. Dust hung in the air, swirling like mist after a storm.
Before he could even regain his footing, Ray had already closed the distance, his figure cutting through the smoke like a predator closing in on its prey.
There was no aura covering his body this time. Ray was careful with his energy, conserving it for crucial moments when he needed to counter Ash’s unpredictable spells. For now, he relied entirely on his raw speed and close-combat mastery.
Ray’s fist shot forward in a straight line aimed at Ash’s chest. It was sharp and precise, fast enough to make the air whistle.
But just as the attack was about to land, Ash’s figure blurred and vanished. He reappeared behind Ray in a flash of light, his teleportation so smooth and fluid that it almost looked like he had simply stepped through space.
Ash was no longer holding back. He wasn’t hiding his abilities anymore—too many people had already seen glimpses of what he could do, and fighting at full strength was the only choice.
He twisted his body and launched a fierce punch toward Ray’s ribs, but once again, the attack passed straight through him as though hitting a mirage.
Damn it, this is getting really annoying...
Ash clicked his tongue in frustration. He knew exactly how to counter Illusion Step. If he could coat his hands with compressed space mana, the distortion around Ray’s body would collapse instantly. Illusion Step was strong, but it was not invincible.
But I cannot reveal that. If I suddenly use space mana directly on my hands after claiming I am a mage, it will only raise questions...
Ash’s eyes narrowed as a different idea formed in his mind.
Still, it’s not like there is no other way...
Thinking that, he muttered softly..
{Space Needles}
The air trembled for an instant as countless thin, needle-like constructs of compressed space mana shot out in a blink.
They were nearly invisible to the naked eye and moved silently, cutting through the space around Ray. The moment they touched his fading figure, a sharp grunt escaped his throat, and the illusion shattered. His real body was forced back into view.
Ash did not waste a second. His foot slammed against the ground as he dashed forward with explosive force. His body moved like a coiled spring releasing all its tension. With a swift turn of his hips, his leg swept in a clean roundhouse kick that struck Ray’s ribs with a heavy thud, the impact reverberating through the arena.
Ray’s breath caught in his throat, his body forced to the side from the blow. Before he could even recover, Ash closed the distance again and launched a punch aimed at his face. The strike connected with devastating precision, the sound of the impact echoing like a crack of thunder.
A few of Ray’s teeth spun into the air, scattering onto the ground with a faint clatter.
Ray’s body was sent tumbling backwards, rolling across the arena floor as dust and shards of stone scattered with every impact. When he finally slid to a stop, his body was sprawled across the ground like dead weight, unmoving for a moment.
Gasps echoed from the stands, a wave of shock rippling through the silent crowd. The clash they had just witnessed left their minds frozen, their mouths open in disbelief.
The arena went quiet, an almost eerie silence filling the air.
Then, as if the world itself was holding its breath, raindrops began to fall.
The sound of rain striking the arena floor spread through the silence like a soft drumbeat, every drop echoing in the hearts of the onlookers. No one dared to move, let alone speak. It felt as though even breathing too loudly would disturb the tension gripping the entire colosseum.
Come on, stand up, Ray... I know it’s not over yet...
Ash thought silently, his sharp eyes fixed on the still figure lying ahead. He stepped forward, the faint reflection of lightning above flashing in his calm yet determined gaze.
Ray, however, was drowning in his own thoughts.
How is he this strong? I am an Expert Rank... how can he fight me as if my stats and perfect foundation mean nothing? Don’t tell me... don’t tell me Ash also has one...
But how...?
Frustration twisted his thoughts, each question clawing deeper at his pride. The most suspicious thought that surfaced was about Ash being the mysterious "Unknown." But he forced it away.
No, that can’t be... Unknown didn’t have the ability to instant cast like this...
Does that mean Elysia was right? Ash was way stronger than me....?
Damn it... damn it... damn it...
{....}
Even Aetheris remained quiet, but he was evaluating Ray’s countless mistakes. It was clear to him now. Ray had been too arrogant, thinking he could fight Ash without using his Aura Blade. That one choice had already cost him dearly.
{If only you had used the blade earlier,} Aetheris thought.
{Yes, it would have drained your energy faster, but it would have pressured Ash. Pressure forces mistakes, and mistakes win fights.}
{Stop letting your pride blind you, Ray. Focus. You can ask all the questions you want once you defeat him. But for that, you must stand. Get up now.}
Hearing Aetheris’s voice echoing in his mind, Ray clenched his teeth so hard his jaw ached. He forced himself to remember Elysia’s face, the expression she wore, the way she had looked at Ash. Something inside him burned hotter. Anger surged through his veins like fire, pushing away hesitation.
Opening his System Shop, Ray’s gaze hardened. Without hesitation, he purchased a pill and few other things.
Fifty thousand points of the pill disappeared from his total in an instant. It was a steep price, but he had enough saved up. Without even thinking twice, he placed the golden pill on his tongue and swallowed it.
**
Pill Name: Limit Breaking Pill
Pill Rank: Master
Description: This pill forcefully ignites the user’s potential, pushing their body beyond their natural limit. It also smoothens the process of rank advancement. The boost in power depends on both the user’s own rank and the quality of the pill.
**
As soon as the pill melted on Ray’s tongue, a surge of power rippled through his body. His veins burned with energy, and waves of mana coursed through every inch of him, making his body glow faintly with a radiant light. It felt as if his very blood was turning into liquid fire, purging weakness from within.
Sigh... is he ranking up now? This is just like those tropes where the Hero powers up mid-battle while the Villain watches... No wait, does that make me the villain? No, I’m not...
Ash shook his head, chasing away those ridiculous thoughts, though the irritation lingered. Should I attack him now, or should I wait?
If Ash were anywhere else, he would not have hesitated for even a moment. He would have struck instantly, cutting off the transformation before it began. But this was an official academy duel, and he could not simply break the rules in front of everyone.
Moreover, Ray had given Elysia the time to awaken her own power earlier, and that small gesture of fairness now weighed on Ash’s mind.
I guess I can repay that little favor... But if I get another chance, I will not hesitate. I will not miss the opportunity then.
Meanwhile, mana roared around Ray’s body like a rising tide. His wounds sealed themselves as if they were never there. His reserves, which had been dwindling, now brimmed with energy, flooding his core with a frightening intensity.
His muscles tightened and strengthened, while every impurity in his mana channels was forced out, leaving his mana core sharper and more refined than before.
Minutes passed, and the transformation reached its end. The Ray standing before Ash was the same young man, but his aura had completely changed. It was heavy, oppressive, the kind of presence that made even the spectators unconsciously hold their breath.
Ash, however, felt none of that pressure. Instead, his lips curved into a grin. Yes, grow stronger... The stronger you become, the better it will feel when I beat you down.
He did not intend to give Ray any more chances. With a wave of his hand, countless space needles shot forward, tearing through the air with lethal precision.
But Ray moved even before the needles could reach him. He teleported, his body flickering like a shadow, and in the next instant, he was right in front of Ash. His aura flared, condensing around his hands as he conjured a blade of pure violet energy. Then, with no pause, he launched into a relentless barrage.
Sword arts flowed from Ray like an unstoppable tide. Some strikes were fast and sharp, others were heavy and crushing, and a few were flexible and adaptive, bending in ways that seemed impossible.
Ash found himself struggling to counter. Each strike pushed him closer to the edge, and though he dodged the impossible angles by relying on the second form of his martial arts, the pressure was mounting. His movements became sharper, yet Ray’s attacks only grew more aggressive, as if feeding on the momentum of each exchange.
Finally, Ash teleported away to gain distance, appearing high above Ray. But this time, he wrapped himself in Absolute Concealment, erasing his presence completely. In front of his outstretched hand crackled a dense, sparking orb of lightning, arcs of blue-white energy twisting like serpents around his fingers.
{Space Needle.}
{Spark Ball.}
The space needles shot out first, moving almost instantly towards Ray’s head.
But before they could land, a shimmering protective barrier erupted around Ray’s body, scattering the needles harmlessly.
Ash’s eyes widened, his instincts screaming. It’s a trap...!
Before he could teleport away, a hand coated in blunt aura pierced through the veil of smoke and struck him squarely in the chest, right over his heart.
"Kughhhh!" The air left his lungs in a violent rush.
In the next instant, Ray grabbed him by the collar, using his momentum to slam Ash’s body into the ground with a thunderous impact that shook the arena. Stone cracked and dust shot up like a wave.
"Idiot. Did you really think I would fall for the same trick twice?" Ray’s cold voice cut through the noise of the arena like a blade. His aura still burned around him, thick and suffocating.
Ash, lying on the cracked floor, coughed lightly, tasting iron in his mouth, but his eyes stayed sharp and calm.
Ray smirked as he thought to himself, I did well purchasing this skill. It devoured my system points like a beast, but the result... it is worth every point. *
Skill name : ...
***
A/N: If this Chapter feels a little short, it is not really my fault... I am literally half-asleep while writing it. I have checked it once, but if there happens to be any mistake, just let me know in the paragraph comments and I will go through it again.