"Let's end this."
The words echoed through the suddenly silent arena. All eyes were fixed on Leon, standing alone in the center, surrounded by the four powerful fighters of Group 2.
"GRAND CROSSWIND SLASH!"
Archer unleashed a swift and devastating attack—four arrows shot forth, forming an X-shaped slash. The wind split the air at supersonic speed, producing a sharp FWIP sound.
Leon didn't even move his sword. Instead, with a single grip, he caught all four arrows—then crushed them into dust.
"Wha—?!" Archer gasped.
"Impossible..." Deathblade Dancer frowned.
Then—
KRAAAK!
The pressure barrier around the arena cracked!
A thick, black aura erupted from Leon's body, turning the surrounding air heavy and suffocating. Spectators in the front rows collapsed, some fainting from the sheer pressure. Others screamed in terror, trying to retreat but finding their legs weighed down as if shackled by an unseen force.
In the VVIP seats, Zenless Mammon suddenly leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with madness. He laughed maniacally, his eerie voice reverberating throughout the arena, sending chills down everyone's spines.
"FINALLY! I'VE FOUND SOMEONE INTERESTING!" Zenless Mammon roared with glee.
"This is a special day! I've found someone like him!"
Inside the arena, Leon's four opponents staggered back, forced to their knees by the overwhelming pressure of his aura.
"No... way..." Wall Keeper growled, his arms trembling as he struggled to maintain his stance.
"Prepare yourselves," Leon whispered, his eyes glowing blood-red.
"FENRIR'S HOWLING ARROW!"
Archer fired a massive wind-wolf arrow—supersonic wind fangs lunging forward!
"Singularity Grasp."
WHOOM!
Space cracked in front of Leon's palm, forming a miniature black hole. The giant arrow was sucked in, shattered into scattered wind particles!
"CYCLONE BACKSTEP!" Archer tried to retreat—
"Too late."
WHOOSH!
Leon was already behind him, his left hand gripping Archer's nape.
"Singularity Grasp."
KRUK!
Archer's neck bones were crushed in Leon's grasp. Before his body could even hit the ground, Leon swung his arm—hurling Archer like a slingshot.
BAM!
Archer's body slammed into the arena wall with tremendous force. Cracks spiderwebbed across the surface as dust and debris scattered. Blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering onto the ground.
Leon stood tall, his breathing steady—as if this fight wasn't even enough to wind him.
"RAIJIN'S WRATH!"
Thunder Strike lunged forward—three lightning-fast punches blasted through the air— BAM! BAM! BAM! —followed by a roaring roundhouse kick!
But Leon merely raised his arm, coldly deflecting the strikes. As the final kick came, his hand shot out — GRAB! — his fingers clamped around Thunder Strike's ankle like a vice.
"You're too slow."
With a twisting motion, Leon snapped Thunder Strike's leg— CRUNCH! —like breaking a dry twig.
"AAAAAAAAAGH!" Thunder Strike's scream of agony echoed through the arena, his eyes nearly bulging from the unbearable pain.
But Leon wasn't done.
Without mercy, he lifted Thunder Strike's body and— SLAM! —smashed his head into the ground. A massive crater split the arena floor, blood gushing like a crimson waterfall.
Before Leon could even take a breath—
"DRAGON'S WALL!"
Wall Keeper was already in front of him—his palms thrust forward, releasing a shockwave that tore through the ground! Leon raised his sword just in time—
CLANG!
The force of the impact pushed Leon back, his feet scraping against the cracked floor.
But Wall Keeper gave him no reprieve.
"LAST BASTION'S WRATH!"
A deadly combo—three rapid punches followed by an uppercut!
BAM-BAM-BOOM!
Leon blocked the first two strikes, but the last one slammed straight into his jaw. Blood sprayed from his mouth.
Wall Keeper smirked, narrowing his eyes. "You can be hurt."
Leon wiped the blood with the back of his hand, a cold smile spreading. "A scratch."
Before the words even faded, Leon lunged—BAM! —a low kick shattered Wall Keeper's knee. Bones cracked, but Wall Keeper refused to fall.
"Take this!"
Leon's fist struck like a hammer— WHAM! —right into Wall Keeper's solar plexus. Blood coughed from his lips, but Wall Keeper's hand clamped around Leon's wrist.
"You're too—"
CRACK!
Leon twisted his arm 180 degrees, breaking the grip like a brittle branch. Blood spurted from Wall Keeper's now-bent elbow.
"—slow."
Leon gave no pause. One final strike—his palm slammed into Wall Keeper's chest, sending him flying into the arena wall.
Suddenly—
SHING!
Deathblade Dancer appeared from behind— "BLADE WALTZ!"
Her sword danced—ten slashes in a single second!
SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!
Leon dodged, but a few cuts still sliced into him—blood poured freely.
He grunted, but his eyes remained sharp. "You're the only one worth it."
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Their blades clashed, sparks flying with each collision. Every impact sent shockwaves ripping through the arena floor. Deathblade Dancer grinned wildly, her teeth bloodied from the pressure.
"You're perfect... let me destroy you."
Then—
"GRAND CROSSWIND SLASH!"
Archer, lying wounded in the corner, mustered his last strength to fire one final attack.
Four arrows shot toward Leon, who growled with burning eyes.
WHOOM!
"Singularity Grasp!"
A miniature black hole swallowed the arrows, obliterating them instantly. At the same moment, Deathblade Dancer leaped into the air, her sword glowing crimson.
With a swift motion, she twisted mid-air and landed behind Leon.
SHING!
The sound of her blade cutting through the air. Leon turned—but too late.
"BLADE OF THE END!"
A red slash descended from above, forcing Leon to raise his sword in desperation. The two blades collided with a deafening crash.
CRACK!
Leon's sword snapped in half! But another shock awaited—Deathblade Dancer's blade also shattered into pieces from the sheer force. Their eyes met, both equally stunned.
"Gh...k...!" Deathblade Dancer choked, her knees trembling. Blood dripped from her blistered hands, burned by the exploding sword energy.
Leon picked up the broken shard of his blade, his gaze locked onto Deathblade Dancer.
"You... monster..." she whispered, her breathing ragged.
"I'm just stronger than you," Leon replied calmly before delivering a brutal kick to her abdomen.
DORR!
Deathblade Dancer collapsed, barely conscious—her eyes half-lidded, her fingers clawing at the ground. With her last ounce of strength, she lifted her head and glared at Leon with pure hatred.
Slowly, she raised her right hand, pointing a trembling finger at him.
"I... will... kill you..." she hissed before finally succumbing to unconsciousness.
The arena fell into silence. Only the eerie stillness of battle's aftermath remained. Leon stood tall, surrounded by the four defeated warriors lying motionless on the ground.
Archer, Deathblade Dancer, and the others lay broken—victims of the brutal clash. Nearby, Leon's own teammates also lay unmoving, casualties of the earlier fight. His expression remained unreadable as he stared at them.
The crowd, those still conscious, stood frozen in shock. Some had their mouths agape, unable to utter a single word. The announcer, pale and shaking, struggled to speak.
"A-a-and... the battle... is over!" he stammered.
"The winner is... Group 1!"
His voice exploded through the silence like thunder. The spectators, still stunned, began clapping hesitantly.
In the VVIP section, Zenless Mammon stood with a faint smile, applauding slowly.
"Perfect..." he murmured, his eyes gleaming with admiration.
=== CHAPTER 26 END ===