Ch. 251: Chapter 251-260

Chapter 251 One Of A Kind, My Daddy!

Within the darkness, the light shone upon Judge Dredd, who was standing at the center of the Arena.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to the Semifinals of the Lionheart Tournament!"

Cheers and applause resounded all over the Coliseum as Judge Dredd announced the start of the Semifinals.

They had all witnessed the amazing battles so far, and, among all of the battles, they wanted to watch Nero fight against My Daddy in the arena.

Now that their wish was realized, everyone's mood was at its peak as they waited for Judge Dredd to call out the two teenagers who would fight each other for the right to enter the Final Match.

"Our first contender is someone who hails from Wildgarde Stronghold," Judge Dredd stated. "He is someone born from humble origins, and, yet, he has shown everyone that he can stand on this stage today because of his hard work and perseverance."

"An amazing young man, who had earned enough merits to turn his Bronze-Ranked Guild into a Silver-Ranked Guild just a few months ago. Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome the Guild Master of the Silver-Ranked Guild in Elysium, Storm Dragon."

"Please, give a round of applause to… Nero!"

Several spotlights landed on the left side of the arena where the path which led to the arena could be seen. A moment later, a young man appeared with a confident smile on his face.

A thunderous applause and cheering broke out inside the Coliseum as Nero walked towards the center of the arena with his right fist raised high in the air.

His steps were steady, and his stance was quite obvious for everyone to see.

'I will win!'

That was how everyone who saw Nero that day interpreted his confident entrance in the arena under the ever watchful stares of countless pairs of eyes.

"""Nero!"""

"""Nero!"""

"""Nero!"""

"""Nero!"""

The crowd chanted his name, as they looked at the young man who was one of the crowd favorites to win the tournament.

Nero's guild officers and guild members had also come to support their Guild Master in his fight. Although he and Lux were like oil and water, the brown-haired teenager was well loved by his Guild because of his competent management as well as his outstanding leadership qualities.

Even the Elders of Wildgarde Stronghold, including Vera, had no complaints about his way of managing things. Through him, the young members of Wildgarde Stronghold had achieved many things, and this pushed the Storm Dragon Guilds to become one of the highly respected guilds in Elysium.

This was similar to how Aina's Guild, Eternal, was treated in the Gweliven Kingdom, who even gained the trust of the Royal Family in the Kingdom where their Guild Headquarters were stationed.

"Nero, would you like to say a few words to everyone before your match starts?" Judge Dredd asked as he handed the artifact that magnified a person's voice to the brown-haired teenager whose presence had wowed everyone in the coliseum.

Accepting the artifact, Nero's gaze landed on the platform where Iris was seated.

"Everyone, thank you for coming here today to watch the Semifinal Matches of the Lionheart Tournament," Nero said. "I feel very privileged and happy, being able to stand on this stage today and show everyone a good fight. To everyone that supported me, especially my Guild Members, thank you. I will do my best to not let everyone down."

Right after Nero finished his speech, another round of cheers and applause reverberated inside the arena. He didn't mention Iris in his speech, but it was clear to everyone who knew him that the young man had decided to let his actions speak for themselves, rather than saying anything. As long as he became the Champion, everything he wanted to say would be conveyed in full.

"""Nero!"""

"""Nero!"""

"""Nero!"""

"""Nero!"""

Nero's Guild Officers, and Members, shouted with all of their might as they cheered for their Guildmaster.

Judge Dredd smiled and allowed the chanting to continue for half a minute before he raised his hand and asked for everyone to calm their tits.

"Now, let me introduce to you the other contestant that will be fighting here today," Judge Dredd said. "We don't know much about him, and his background is shrouded in mystery. When I first saw him, I even thought that he was just a harmless individual, but, in this case, I was proved wrong."

"He has fought his way up from the Qualifying Matches to the Semifinals and performed well in all of them. All of you have seen him, and I'm sure that no one here today would dare say that he doesn't have the right to stand on this stage today."

"No matter how high the mountains or how deep the sea, this man will cross it and gain victory! Everyone, please welcome, the one and only! My Daddy!"

Suddenly, the song, Natural Playboy, from Bust a Groove! played in the background as the spotlights landed on the right side of the arena.

—--

"All the people everywhere,

Everybody wants to hear My Daddy philosophy…

'Cause I look like a star when I'm smoking' my cigar

They wanna be just like me.'

—---

A chubby teenager moonwalked out of the waiting area as the music played in the background.

When he was still living on Earth, Lux had a knack with playing musical instruments, so he decided to do a recording, and sang one of the songs from one of the games he played in the past.

The upbeat rhythm, and groovy music, as well as the chubby teenager's moonwalking made the crowd laugh, and cheer for him.

Iris, on the other hand, covered her face in embarrassment upon seeing her step-brother's antics, while Vera, on the other hand, simply shook her head. She knew that Lux had the tendency to do the unexpected, so she easily accepted the fact that the Half-Elf had done what he felt like doing.

Eiko, who was perched on top of Iris' head, giggled as she swayed from side to side, feeling giddy due to the upbeat music that was playing in the background.

—--

"In the Taverns or on the streets, everybody that I meet

wants to learn and play my game…

And they watch the way I move, from my head to my shoes

And all the girls know my name~"

—--

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

The girls who were listening to the song cheered louder, so the chubby teenager waved in their direction. Even the men in the audience couldn't stop themselves from laughing as they watched My Daddy's unusual entrance before his match.

—-

"I know in their hearts they wish and dream

That they could be like me…

But if they want to know the truth, it's true!"

—--

The spotlights changed color and several colorful fireworks exploded in the arena, making Bruno's and Judge Dredd's lips twitch. Clearly, this wasn't part of the script, but they had no choice but to bear with it and watch the chubby teenager point upwards, hyping everyone before the match.

—--

"I'm the natural My Daddy of town,

And I'm blowin' every mind

'Cause I'm one of a kind.

And I'm the coolest daddy around.

The lights are shining down on me

So everyone can see

Their natural My Daddy."

—--

Lux finished his performance with a dabbing pose, as several fireworks exploded around him.

The crowd went wild and chanted his name over, and over again, resounding all over the coliseum, and beyond its walls.

"... Dafuk is this sh*t?" Judge Dredd muttered as he looked at the chubby teenager who was still in a dabbing pose, and being bathed by the loud cheering of the audience, making him scratch his head in helplessness.

Even Nero had no words to say, and he only looked at My Daddy with a calm gaze. Just like everyone, he didn't know that his opponent would make such a grand entrance before the two of them fought against each other.

High above the main seat of honor, the Headmaster of Barbatos Academy, Alexander, sighed before pinching the bridge of his nose.

"You brat. To think that you would create a scene like this," Alexander said softly.

Alicia, who was standing beside him, felt beads of sweat start to form on her forehead.

Although she hadn't said anything to Alexander in respect to Vera's request, she had a feeling that the Headmaster had discovered who "My Daddy" really was after observing his matches over the past few days.

The moment Lux stepped into the arena, he felt as if he had lost several years of his life due to shame and embarrassment. Fortunately, he was using a different face to hide his real identity, so no one could judge him.

Just a day ago, he decided to do one of the things that he hadn't been able to do in his past life, and that was to sing and dance in front of an audience.

Thinking that today was a good opportunity to fulfill that life-long wish, he decided to give it a try, which led to what had just transpired.

'I'm never doing this sh*t again,' Lux thought as he gazed at Nero with a calm expression on his face, but deep inside, he wanted to dig a hole and bury himself inside it. 'Still, that felt good.'

Bruno, who was still trying to get over Lux's performance, glanced at the two fighters, and asked if they were ready to start the match.

Nero and Lux simply nodded their heads before both of their bodies were covered with the sets of armor that they would be using in today's battle.

Nero held a blue blade, which crackled with tendrils of lightning, as he took a fighting stance, pointing the sword in Lux's direction.

Orion stood behind Lux with his arms spread wide in a protective stance. The chubby teenager, on the other hand, had also taken a fighting stance as he waited for Judge Dredd's signal to start the battle.

Seeing that both fighters were finally ready, he raised his hand and shouted.

"Battle Start!"

Chapter 252 My Wish [Part 1]

"Battle Start!"

As soon as Judge Dredd gave the signal, Nero used his skill, Lightning Step, and immediately appeared in front of Lux, slashing him with his sword.

He already knew that the Rock Golem standing beside the chubby teenager had a skill that could forcefully taunt people into attacking it, allowing Lux to use that opportunity to unleash an attack of his own, just as he had done to Vall.

Nero didn't know the exact mechanics of this ability, but having his freedom taken away from him for a brief moment was something that he didn't want to happen, so he decided to take the initiative to fight Lux in close quarters.

Summoners, in general, were weak when it came to close combat, so he believed that he could overwhelm the other party as long as he went toe to toe with him the first opportunity he got.

Lightning sparks flew in every direction as Nero's sword landed on Lux's body.

Everyone thought that the match would be instantly over, but to their surprise, Nero's blade was met with Lux's right hand that had transformed into the claws of a dragon, sending sparks flying in every direction.

Nero frowned, because that single blow alone was enough to tell him that he had greatly underestimated his opponent. He wasn't just fighting against a Summoner, but against someone who also specialized in close combat!

"You have hidden yourself quite deep," Nero said as he backed away a safe distance away from Lux. "As expected of someone that has entered the Semifinals."

"You're faster than I thought," Lux replied as gazed at his opponent in the distance.

Lux's entire body was covered by a blue set of armor, which was different from the dark-green one that he had worn in his previous battle against Vall.

He had equipped the specialized armor that he had prepared specifically for his fight against Nero, gaining increased resistance against the Lightning Element.

—---

< Lux's Dragon Regalia >

(Lightning Awakened Form)

Rating: Pseudo-Legendary

Requirements: Apostle Grade D

– An armor that was forged for the sake of protecting someone that was important to him.

+50 to all Stats

+500 to Defense

– 50% Resistance to the element of Lightning

– Has a moderate chance to nullify any lightning based damage that the wearer of this armor will receive.

– This armor can absorb lightning damage and use it to coat its entirety with lightning that deals damage to anyone within two meters of its wearer.

– This Armor is bound to Lux Von Kaizer

Active Skills: Lightning Flash, Lightning Strider, Lightning Body

Passive Skills: Improved Lightning Reflexes, Improved Concentration, Beast Bane, Improved Elemental Resistance, Absorb Lightning, Indestructible, Auto Fit

< Lightning Flash >

– Create a dazzling radiance that has a high chance of temporarily blinding your enemies.

—--

< Lightning Strider >

– Teleport anywhere within a twenty meter square radius.

—-

< Lightning Body >

– Coat your body with the power of lightning that deals damage to anyone within two meters of you.

—--

< Improved Concentration >

– Raises all of your stats by 10 points each.

—

< Improved Lightning Reflexes >

– Your awareness is raised to a higher level, giving you the ability to dodge blows, as well as execute maneuvers that require fast movement.

—-

< Beast Bane >

– When fighting against Beast Type Monsters, increase physical and magical damage by 20%

—-

< Improved Elemental Resistance >

– Decrease all Elemental Damage by 20%

—---

"Let's dance," Lux declared before using the skill, Lightning Strider, to instantly teleport in front of Nero and deliver a punch to the latter's face.

Nero's fast reflexes allowed him to dodge Lux's attack and launch a counter-attack of his own, which the Half-Elf blocked with his clawed hands.

The Lightning Strider skill was a skill that was highly effective in close combat. It was quite different from Lightning Steps, which allowed someone to move extremely fast in any direction they wanted.

Although both fighters seemed to be teleporting all over the arena, it was only Lux who was using the teleport skill, while Nero was using his Lightning Step to the fullest.

"I thought My Daddy was a Summoner?"

"He also specializes in close combat? I've never heard of Summoners like this!"

"Such crazy talent. He moves so fast despite the fact that he's quite chubby. His speed isn't any slower than Nero's!"

It was a very common knowledge in Solais and Elysium that most Summoners weren't proficient in close combat. This was why when people fought against them, they would first target the Summoner, instead of their Summons in order to end the battle.

Of course, there were exceptions to this rule.

Iris, who was a Beast Tamer, could also be considered a Summoner in her own right. However, because she had practiced the Kaizer Sword Arts, alongside Lux, ever since they were little, she was proficient in melee combat as well.

However, no one knew this. Iris' Summons were always there to protect her, so everyone thought that she didn't practice any form of martial arts.

Lux had only been a Necromancer for a little more than a year, but during his childhood, he had trained as a warrior under Vera's tutelage.

Although he wasn't able to put these powerful techniques into practice due to his weak constitution, their forms and executions had been ingrained in his body, waiting to be unleashed at the right moment.

Two blurs clashed against each other repeatedly, sending sparks all over the arena.

Orion simply stood and watched the battle unfold without interfering in it. Lux had ordered him to not take any action unless he specifically told him to move.

The Half-Elf had spent a lot of time studying the Dragon War Arts that he had learned through the rewards that Keoza had given him. He even subtly modified them to work alongside the Kaizer War Art that he was more accustomed with, creating a new style that worked only for him.

Lux called this new style Kaizer Dragon War Art, which he was now using against the brown-haired teenager, whose true strength he was experiencing for the first time.

"Dragon Claw!"

"Lightning Slash!"

The ground burst apart, sending dirt, and rubble flying in every direction, as the two powerful attacks collided in the center of the arena.

Lux was about to follow up his attack, but his sixth sense warned him that he should distance himself from his opponent.

The Half-Elf had experienced many life and death scenarios in Elysium, and had learned to take heed to the warning of his senses, so he immediately teleported away.

A second later, black lightning bolts emerged from Nero's sword, decimating the place where he stood just a minute ago.

"Abyss Lightning Bolt," Lux muttered as he landed several meters away from the brown-haired teenager, whose sword had been enshrouded by black lightning.

Crackling sounds spread in the arena as the black lightning bolt from Nero's sword spread into the armor covering his body.

"Abyss Lightning Body," Nero said as lightning crackled around him like living snakes that were looking for something to bury their poisonous fangs on.

Lux took a deep breath as he took a fighting stance. His Abyss Touch [EX] wasn't active because he didn't want to alert Nero of this ability of his from the get go.

He knew how cautious Nero would become once he perceived that Lux had an ability that could get past his defenses. The Half-Elf was looking for the perfect opportunity to activate this skill alongside a powerful attack that would catch his opponent by surprise.

"Tempest Fury," Lux chanted as the wind element circled around his body, bestowing the power of Wind Elements to his attack.

The two fighters gazed at each other before disappearing from where they stood. A few seconds later, loud explosions spread across the entire arena as both fighters unleashed their ranged, and close combat skills against each other, trying to get the upper hand, in a battle that was getting more intense, with every passing minute.

Chapter 253 My Wish [Part 2]

"This My Daddy is better than I thought," Natasha, the High-Cleric of Wildgarde Stronghold, as well as Vera's good friend, muttered. "Summoners that can fight in close combat are very rare."

Gerald, the Leader of Wildgarde Stronghold, and the one who made the important decisions nodded his head in agreement. "Just what kind of rock did this chubby boy hide under until now? With his skills, he certainly doesn't have a simple background."

Nero's Master, Rainer, who was also one of the Guardians of Wildgarde Stronghold like Vera, also reluctantly nodded his head.

As someone who had been guiding the brown-haired teenager until the young man achieved his current strength, he couldn't help but be impressed by the tenacity that the chubby teenager was showing.

"The young will surpass the old," Rainer commented. "A few years from now, these two teenagers will surely become the new leaders of the young generation."

"I don't know why, but for some reason, I feel like I have met this boy somewhere in the past," Natasha rubbed her chin as she gazed at the chubby teenager who was fighting Nero in close combat. "Don't you guys feel the same?"

"Hmm, now that you mention it, I also have this faint feeling that I know him as well," Gerald scratched his head. "But, I don't recall meeting him before."

"Maybe the two of you are just overthinking things," Rainer replied. "I have a very good memory, and I can tell both of you with certainty that this My Daddy isn't one of the children from our stronghold nor the neighboring villages and town."

Just like the Stronghold of Norria, the Wildgarde Stronghold was the Overlord of a region. It was the protector of several villages and towns that paid them a yearly tribute. Also, any outstanding children from these towns were brought to the Wildgarde Stronghold in order to be nurtured by the Guardians before they entered Elysium.

Rainer was one of the people that supervised the yearly recruitment, so he was certain that this was the first time he was seeing the chubby teenager that went by the name My Daddy.

"Maybe you're right," Natasha shrugged. "Maybe I'm just overthinking things."

"True," Gerald commented. "If someone like My Daddy has been within our domain all along, we definitely wouldn't let a talent escape our eyes."

Rainer nodded before shifting his gaze back at the arena where the two fighters were currently engaged in an intense battle for supremacy.

Although he didn't want to admit it, he also felt the same way as Natasha. However, due to his strong memory, he was certain that he hadn't met someone like My Daddy inside the Wildgarde Stronghold and its surrounding territories.

----

As someone who was in possession of the skill Abyss Touch [EX], Lux fully understood how the powers of the Abyss worked.

Because of this, whenever Nero attacked using his black lightning, he would either dodge it, or meet it with an attack of his own, preventing it from landing directly on his body.

Fortunately, he was someone blessed with the Dragon Scale [EX] and Dragon Heart [EX] passive abilities, so he was able to resist the Black Lightning's effect to a certain extent.

Still, Lux knew that he needed to be careful or else, he would end up like Nero's previous opponent, Ackley, who got seriously injured by the Black Lightning that belonged to the Abyss.

The young man was still in the infirmary and was in a coma. Although his life wasn't in any kind of danger, according to the High-Cleric, it might take Ackley a week or two to regain consciousness.

Nero who had been continuously attacking Lux didn't relent in his attacks and kept on unleashing a barrage of black lightning bolts both in close and long range.

Perhaps the brown-haired teenager had realized that Lux didn't plan on asking the Rock Golem for help in their match, so he no longer worried about its "Taunt Skill" that would force him to exchange blows with it.

After getting used to Lux's speed, and attack patterns, Nero made a feint, which caught the Half-Elf by surprise, allowing Nero to get behind his back with his fist pulled back and black lightning swirling all round it.

"Thunder Punch!"

Nero's blow landed perfectly on Lux's back, which sent the latter flying towards the barrier at the edge of the arena. However, Nero had no intention of letting his opponent get off scot free after managing to hit him once.

The brown-haired teenager used his lightning step to reappear a few meters away from Lux with both of his fists posed to stroke. "Thunder Assault!"

Lux, who was momentarily stunned by Nero's Thunder Punch finally regained his senses and immediately took control of his body to unleash a counter attack.

"Dragon Wart Art Second Form," Lux shouted. "Dragon's Roar!"

A powerful dragon roar erupted from Lux's lips, disrupting Nero's assault and leaving him open for Lux's counter attack.

"Dragon's Claw!"

Lux didn't hold back and activated the skill, Abyss Touch [EX], and smashed his fist into Nero's chest, sending the latter crashing towards the ground.

But before his body could even hit the Arena Floor, Nero righted himself, allowing his two feet to land on the arena, and skidded on the ground for a few meters before coming to a stop.

His right hand clutched his chest as he looked at Lux with a serious expression on his face. Blood seeped at the corner of his lips, which showed that he had received some internal injuries after getting hit by Lux's blow.

If one were to look closely, the armor on Nero's chest was a bit dented, and the mark of Lux's clawed hand could be seen on its surface.

Unlike Lux, Nero didn't have the Dragon Physique that could make his body more sturdy and powerful. This was also why, even though Lux got hit by Nero's attack, the damage he received was nothing compared to what the brown-haired boy had suffered from the Half-Elf's counterattack.

"You are also touched by the Abyss," Nero said as he slowly stood up with his gaze firmly locked on the chubby teenager's body.

It wasn't a question, but a statement. All those who fought against Abyssal Beings could tell if the attacks they received were infused by the power of the Abyss.

Lux didn't answer but simply teleported to the ground taking a fighting pose. Now that the secret was out in the open, the battle between the two of them was bound to rise to the next level.

Chapter 254 My Wish [Part 3]

After hearing Nero's statements, a murmur started to spread through the audience area of the Coliseum.

Abyssal Creatures were popular in stories among those who had entered Elysium, because they sometimes appeared as World Bosses that wander around the world.

Although many people knew they existed, not everyone had the chance to encounter these diabolical monsters. The experience points gained in fighting them was quite abysmal, even if you were to fight against an Argonaut or Dreadnaught Rank Abyssal Monster.

The only true prize in defeating one were their Beast Cores, which contained Abyssal Skills, which were far from common in the world of Elysium.

However, today, two teenagers possessing the Powers of the Abyss were facing each other in the Semifinals of the Lionheart Tournament. For an ordinary person, they wouldn't think too much about it.

But, to those in the know, the significance of this discovery allowed them to take a second glance at the mysterious chubby teenager, whose background had eluded all the information guilds, merchant guilds, as well as the other people that specialized in information gathering.

Any person who possesses an Abyssal Skill wasn't an ordinary person.

They were someone who had faced the Abyss and survived to tell the tale.

"Grandma…" Iris glanced at her grandmother, and the latter only nodded her head to confirm Nero's words in the arena.

"He met the Abyssal Beast while protecting a city from a Beast Tide," Vera said softly. "If I'm not mistaken, it was an Argonaut-Ranked Abyssal Beast, and the one who defeated it wasn't Lux, but a High-Ranker in the Dwarven Kingdom of Gweliven.

"I guess the High-Ranker gave the Beast Core to Lux, and allowed him to wield the power of the Abyss. As for what his reason was for doing so, we can ask your brother when the tournament is over."

Iris nodded her head in understanding. She understood that this wasn't the right time to ask her step-brother this question, so she one again shifted her attention to the chubby teenager, whose aura had suddenly changed after activating the power he had kept a secret in his previous matches.

Nero took a deep breath before the armor he had equipped on his body disappeared. A few seconds later, it was replaced by a pure black armor that made Lux arch an eyebrow.

'An armor made from an Abyss Monster's body part,' Lux thought as he appraised Nero's new armor with a critical gaze. 'Does it have Abyssal properties as well?'

Very few blacksmiths were able to work with the body parts of Abyssal Monsters. Lux's Master, Randolph, was someone who didn't have the ability to forge equipment from these monsters. But, within Wildgarde Stronghold, there was one person who could.

'It must be Sir Rainer who forged Nero's armor,' Lux thought.

Rainer was a Grand Master Blacksmith who was rumored to be only a step away from becoming a Zen Master Blacksmith. Lux knew that Rainer was Nero's Master, so it was only normal for the Guardian of Wildgarde Stronghold to forge an armor for his Disciple.

This was similar to how Lux's armors were crafted by his own Master, Randolph, who had made it in accordance with his needs.

Rainer, who was watching the battle from the audience area, sighed after seeing the black armor that was covering his Disciple's body.

'So your hand is forced,' Rainer thought. 'It doesn't matter. Now that the Abyss Armor has made its appearance, this battle is as good as over.'

At least, that was what Rainer, and Nero, thought at that time.

"I apologize, but I can't afford to lose this match," Nero said as he summoned two black swords in his hand. "There is something that I wish to achieve, and I will use everything in my power to grasp it in my hands."

Lux smirked as he looked at his opponent.

"There is nothing to apologize for," Lux replied. "I also have a wish as well, and for that to become a reality, I must defeat you here."

"Good." Nero smiled before the visor on his helmet closed. "May the best man win."

The two both took a fighting stance, while the audience waited with bated breath on what would happen next.

"Go win, My Daddy!"

Cai, who was looking at the battle from the contestant's platform, shouted.

"Bring home the bacon!" Cai shouted. "Pork chop is fine too!"

Just as soon as the chatty boar finished its shout, Lux and Nero charged at each other at the same time.

Lux's Dragon Claws, grabbed hold of the two black swords that had descended upon him with a vengeance, creating sparks of black lightning that shouted out wildly around them, destroying the ground where it landed.

"Lightning Descent!" Nero shouted and a black lightning bolt descended upon him causing his entire armor to crackle with the power of lightning.

Lux, who was holding onto Nero's swords, felt a stinging pain on his body as tendrils of black lightning that were coming from Nero's armor attacked him.

"Spinning Blades!" Lux roared as razor sharp blades circled around him, hitting Nero's armor, sending sparks flying in every direction.

All of Lux's attacks were imbued with the power of the Abyss Touch, while Nero's attacks were powered by Abyss Lightning.

Both of them were losing Health Points at a rapid pace because neither of them was backing down. It was as if they had set an unwritten rule that whoever stepped back from this head-on confrontation would be the loser of this match.

Nero shouted as he kneed Lux's stomach because both of his hands were occupied, dealing lightning damage to his opponent.

Lux didn't stand idly and counter attacked with his own knee as well.

Nero's armor allowed him to resist the power of Abyssal attacks by a huge percentage, which was the reason why he and Rainer had the confidence to think that he would be able to triumph over Lux in this head-on battle.

However, what they didn't know was that Lux's Abyssal Skill wasn't an ordinary abyssal skill.

It was an Abyssal Skill that had evolved, which made it more powerful than its counterparts.

—-

< Abyss Touch [EX] >

– The touch of the Abyss ignores all kinds of defenses whether it be physical or magical.

– Any attack you deal to your foes will deal True Damage, regardless if it is physical, or magical in nature.

– This ability allows you to deal 200% Bonus True Damage against Abyssal Creatures of any Rank.

– This skill has a very small chance to inflict Abyss Charm on any monster (including Abyssal monsters) that is similar to your Rank or Below. The condition that must be met in order to trigger this skill is that your target must have less than 10% of its Max Health remaining.

– Charmed creatures will obey your every command for thirty minutes, regardless of what it is. Once the Charm effect's duration has ended, you will be unable to charm that creature again.

– This skill has a very small chance to inflict Fear Status on your opponent.

– This skill has a very small chance to inflict Paralyze Status on your opponent.

– This skill has a very small chance to inflict Diseased Status on your opponent.

– This skill has a very small chance to inflict Weakened Status on your opponent.

—-

On Lux's eighth blow on Nero's body, the Weakened Status took effect.

This effect decreased all resistances, as well as all defenses of the inflicted target by 50%.

After Nero's resistance had decreased by Half, the other status effects that had a small chance to activate, suddenly activated, hindering the brown-haired teenager's continuous blows.

With a shout, Lux gave his opponent a headbutt, inflicting the Disease Status to Nero.

This status effect made Nero feel fatigued, and he found his movements started to turn sluggish.

Seeing that his opponent's strength had waned by a good margin, Lux pried the black swords out of Nero's hands and tossed them away.

After that, he gave the brown-haired teenager a punch on the face, making the latter take two steps back. However, Nero was someone who had no intention of backing down ,so after getting punched, he immediately counterattacked with a Thunder Punch, making Lux take three steps back in return.

A moment later, the two continued to exchange blows with each other. Neither of them dodged each other's attack. They either blocked, deflected, or got hit by the blows that they unleashed against each other.

Nero's Black Lightning was similar to Abyssal Touch in a sense that it ignored all defenses and dealt half of its original damage to its target. Despite the damage only being half, this was compensated by the lightning's quick and swift attacks, causing its target to be stunned for a second, or two, allowing another attack to hit its mark.

Lux's attack, on the other hand, was infused by the Abyssal Touch, which dealt not only crippling status effects, but also dealt increased damage to Abyssal Creatures of any rank.

Since Nero was wearing an Abyssal Armor, the skill treated the brown-haired teenager as an Abyssal Monster, therefore nullifying the resistance it had against Abyssal based attacks.

All of Lux's blows dealt the same damage as when Nero wasn't wearing any armor, making the latter stagger with every punch and kick that landed on his body.

Lux wasn't faring well either since Nero's attacks were quite fast, and the black lightning would render him numb from time to time.

Suddenly, Nero held Lux in a bear hug as the lightning in his armor intensified, electrocuting the Half-Elf, making him scream in pain.

"Lightning Annihilation!"

Iris, who was watching the scene, covered her lips with a hand because he could feel the genuine pain from Lux's scream that reverberated inside the Coliseum.

Half a minute later, Lux gritted his teeth, endured the pain, and wrapped his arms around his opponent, holding him in a vice grip.

"Have it your way!" Lux roared as he opened his mouth wide. Since it had come to this, he also decided to go all out and throw caution to the wind.

Two clones appeared beside Lux, and both of them held onto Nero's body on his left and right side, making it impossible for the latter to escape.

Magical energy then started to gather inside their mouths as they prepared to unleash their strongest attack at point blank range, no longer caring about the consequences that would happen afterward.

Alexander stood up from his seat of honor as his gaze locked on to the two individuals that were hell-bent on winning this match at all cost.

"""Dragon's Breath!"""

A loud explosion shook the entire arena, making the barriers around it break one by one. Lux's attack was something that ignored defenses, which also included the barriers that were protecting the audiences from any stray spells and attacks coming from the two combatants.

"Brace!"

The Sorcerer, who was also the leader of the Mages in the arena shouted.

"Don't let the attack reach the civilians!" the Sorcerer ordered. "All hands, reinforce the barrier!"

Bruno and Judge Dredd were a step faster and focused on reinforcing the last barrier that also served as the last line of defense against stray attacks.

Due to the unexpected effect of Lux's ability, the first four barriers broke easily, while the last barrier showed several cracks on its surface.

However, with all the magicians, as well as other High-Rankers who specialized in creating barriers, the worst case scenario was avoided.

A moment later, everyone tensely looked at the dust-filled arena, waiting for the dust to clear up. They wanted to know the aftermath of the two teenagers' desperate attacks and see who among them triumphed over the other.

As the dust cloud slowly dispersed, they saw the silhouette of a person who was lying down at the center of the destroyed arena.

His armor was in tatters, and blood flowed from almost every part of his body, including his nose, ears, and mouth.

Those who saw him all sucked in deep breaths because the aftermath was more severe than they had expected.

A loud scream of horror and pain came from one of the VIP rooms in the Coliseum, which broke everyone out of their daze.

The Clerics who were stationed outside of the arena immediately rushed towards the young man, who seemed to have stopped breathing, whose body lay in the center of a smoldering, hundred-meter-wide crater.

The mask he wore slid down the side of his face, as the power that kept it in place disappeared without a trace.

Chapter 255 The Winner Of This Match Is…

(A/N: Did you feel your heart being squeezed inside your chest just now after reading the title? Kekeke).

As the Clerics rushed to the smoldering crater where Lux's body was lying, the Sorcerer, Garric, who was also the one responsible for preventing the loss of life in the tournament, sighed.

Lying beside his feet was Nero, whose armor was also in shambles. When Lux unleashed three Dragon Breaths, the Sorcerer heightened all of his senses to estimate whether the Guild Master of the Storm Dragon Guild would be able to take it or not.

However, just half a second after Lux's full-powered attack was unleashed, Garric had no choice but to teleport Nero out of the arena as soon as he could to save the other party's life.

Glancing at the youth who was at the center of the crater, Garric had a complicated look on his face. For the sake of victory, Lux had gone all out, even endangering himself in the process in order to beat his opponent.

Life and death battles were a norm in Elysium, so as much as possible, they wanted to prevent the loss of such talented youth in the tournament.

Garric had assumed that Lux would be able to handle the backlash, so he didn't teleport him out of the arena. He didn't know why, but for some reason, he felt as if teleporting the chubby teenager out of the arena was a bad thing to do, so he stayed his hand.

"He's still breathing," the Head Cleric that had arrived beside Lux said with relief. "But, he's not out of danger yet. Everyone, I'll focus on treating the serious injuries. You handle the rest."

""Yes Sir!""

While Lux was being treated by the Clerics, Bruno waved his hand, making the mask lying on the ground fly towards him.

'So, this is the reason why you had repeatedly told me that I should make sure that this brat doesn't die,' Bruno thought as he glanced at Alicia, who was standing beside Alexander.

The beautiful woman noticed Bruno's gaze, and gave the latter a brief nod before shifting her attention back to the Half-Elf, whose identity was revealed for everyone to see.

"L-Lux?!" Gerald, who was the Leader of Wildgarde Stronghold stood up from his chair in shock and disbelief. "He's My Daddy?!"

"Impossible!" Natasha, who was the Wildgarde Stronghold's High-Cleric, and the person who spent the most time among the Guardians checking Lux's condition, gasped in shock.

She couldn't believe her eyes. The Lux who was currently being treated by the Clerics of Barbatos Academy was very different from the Lux that she had watched grow up.

"It's not impossible," Rainer, who was also Nero's Master, commented. "The proof is already right in front of your eyes."

Rainer had been there when Lux took the previous entrance exam that would allow him to enter Elysium. As someone responsible for managing the newly recruited members of the young generation, he wanted to know if Vera's adopted grandchild was capable of surviving in that harsh world.

Gerald, Natasha, and Rainer, had seen it when Lux didn't hold back during the examination and ended up fainting before even catching the Horned Rabbit. The Lux back then, and the Lux that had taken the persona of the chubby teenager in the tournament, was like comparing a hill to a mountain.

The difference was that obvious, and although they didn't believe it, they had no choice but to believe it.

"Rainer..." Gilbert glanced at the old Blacksmith of Wildgarde Stronghold with a complicated look on his face.

"Let's talk about it after the tournament," Rainer replied. "I'm sure that Vera will explain this to us at a later time. Perhaps she can even tell us how that sickly Lux managed to stand up against the strongest members of the young generation in just the span of a year."

Gilbert and Natasha nodded their heads in agreement. Although they had plenty of questions, no matter how much they tried to think of the answer, the only one who could give them an answer was not with them at the moment.

Vera, who was seated beside her granddaughter, firmly held Iris' hand. She was afraid that if she let her granddaughter escape her sights, the latter would immediately go to where Lux was, and this was something that she didn't want to have happen at this point in time.

"Don't worry about him," Vera said after confirming that Lux was safe. "The Clerics are taking good care of him. He'll be patched up in no time."

Iris nodded, but she couldn't stop herself from worrying. Eiko, who was perched on top of her Mama's head, remained silent.

Just like Iris, she was also worried about her Papa, but as Lux's Beast Companion, her connection with Lux was very strong.

Earlier, she felt Lux's heart stop beating for half a minute. As she was about to fly towards the arena, the Half-Elf's heart suddenly pulsed inside his chest, beating strongly, proving that he was fine.

Eiko also faintly heard a roar of a Dragon from within Lux's body, as if it had awakened from a baptism of fire. Because of this, the baby Slime knew that her Papa was going to be fine. Even so, she couldn't help but feel worried as she focused her attention in the arena that had been reduced to a giant crater.

Ten minutes later, the High-Cleric waved at Judge Dredd and Bruno, signaling them that Lux's life was no longer in danger, and that they would be moving him to the infirmary.

The other Clerics who had been freed of their job went to check on Nero's condition, and started to heal him as well.

Bruno then raised his hand and declared the victor of the match.

"The winner for this match is My Da..."

"No."

A weak, yet firm voice reached Bruno's ears, stopping him from completing his announcement.

"That's not my name," Lux said as he struggled to keep his consciousness. "Say my name."

Bruno smirked before giving the Half-Elf, who was now like a candle that was about to lose its light, a thumbs up in his heart.

"The winner of this match is none other than Lux Von Kaizer!"

Suddenly, a clapping sound was heard high above the coliseum.

Iris was clapping her hands while tears streamed down the side of her face.

Vera joined her and clapped her hands as well. A sweet smile could be seen on her old face, showing how proud she was of her grandson's achievement.

Their clapping brought everyone out of their daze as the audience gave Lux a thunderous applause, while others cheered and shouted his name.

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

Lux, who heard the chants of the crowd, couldn't stop himself from sighing in his heart.

"I said my name is Lux..."

That was the last thing the red-headed teenager muttered before he lost consciousness. Although he looked fine on the surface, the power of the Abyss was still rampaging inside his body.

Nero's Black Lightning wasn't something simple, and it had sapped Lux's physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength, making him succumb to his exhaustion.

The Head-Cleric personally escorted him to the infirmary under everyone's eyes. Even after the Half-Elf could no longer be seen in the arena, the crowd still shouted his alias, which they had grown to love and that was none other than...

My Daddy!

Chapter 256 I’ll Stay With You Forever

"The match will be delayed for a few hours since they still have to fix the arena," the Cleric notified Keane who was seated in a wooden wheelchair. "For now, please stay here and wait for your next match."

"Thank you," Keane replied.

The Cleric nodded his head and left the room, leaving the skinny swordsman alone to meditate.

Keane's injuries had healed, but the damage he received from his battle with Gilbert was not of the flesh but of the soul.

Gilbert's final attack had rendered him unable to gather internal energy, which prevented him from using his technique to the fullest.

The irony of it all was after he had purified the insidious tea that was filled with laxative that Cai had given him, Keane had used up most of what little of the Internal Energy had remained inside his body.

Although the Boar's plan to make the skinny teenager spend the entire day inside the bathroom failed, it still managed to cripple his opponent in a manner that even that chatty boar didn't expect.

'I only have enough strength for one blow,' Keane thought as he circulated what little internal energy he had left. 'It is all or nothing in my next match.'

In order to prevent the Boar from further sabotaging him before their match started, Keane asked the officials to bring him to the waiting area located on the right side of the arena. He even didn't go and watch Lux's battle because he didn't want to get distracted, and simply meditated, while waiting for his next match.

He had even requested the staff to not accept any visitors, especially the shameless, and thick-skinned boar, whose mere voice was enough to trigger a PTSD reaction from him.

For the sake of his inner peace, he had made sure that the boar wouldn't be able to come near him before their match started.

While Keane was meditating, his heightened senses heard a disgruntled voice in the hallway leading to his room.

"I'm Little Swordy's best friend! Why am I not allowed to see him?"

"Contestant Cai, you are not allowed to enter the waiting room. Your opponent is currently meditating and asked not to be disturbed."

"Impossible! I was the one who raised Little Swordy since he was a child. Hey! Don't push me! I said don't push me! Little Swordy! It's me! Hey stop pushing meeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

Disgruntled squealing sounds sounded from the hallway as the staff members, who ensured that the Lionheart Tournament wouldn't encounter any mishaps, forcibly kicked the Boar away from Keane's waiting room.

Keane had to cover his ears with his hands because Cai's screaming loud enough to wake up the dead.

Fortunately, after five minutes, the squealing stopped and peace once again settled inside the waiting room.

Two hours later, one of the officials of the tournament informed Keane that the battle was about to start.

Keane took a deep breath as the official pushed his wheelchair towards the arena, where his opponent was waiting for him.

—----

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we deeply apologize for the delay," Judge Dredd said using the artifact that magnified his voice. "Now that the stage has been fixed and new barriers are in place, we will now continue with the last match for the Semifinals! Whoever wins this round will proceed to the Final Round, which will be held tomorrow!"

The crowd cheered as they waited for Judge Dredd to announce the two contestants that had also reached the Semifinals.

"Hailing from the Nomadic Rowan Tribe, and standing four meters tall, our next contestant had miraculously reached the Semifinal rounds," Judge Dredd announced. "In truth, I never thought that it would make it this far in the tournament because no matter how I look at it, this contestant simply got lucky!

"This contestant likes to eat pork chops, baby back ribs, pork stew, steak, and pork barbecue! Ladies and gentlemen, make way for the one, and only…. Cai!"

The crowd laughed and clapped after hearing Judge Dredd's teasing voice. Some had labeled Cai as the mascot of the tournament because the Boar didn't look that strong. Just like the referee of the tournament said, they felt that Cai just got lucky in the tournament.

His strongest opponent had conceded before their match even started, allowing Cai to reach the Semifinals without problems. Although many suspected foul play, and blackmail, no evidence that the Boar's opponent had been threatened or bribed in any way, making the officials who did the investigation decide to drop the case altogether.

The Boar arrogantly entered the arena with its snout raised high, as if everyone around it were mere peasants, and undeserving of its attention.

After climbing the stage, Judge Dredd decided to interview the boar in order to liven up the atmosphere before the match.

"Cai, do you have something to say to our audience?" Judge Dredd asked before placing the artifact near the Boar's snout.

"Two tigers cannot share the same mountain," Cai said with a voice that seemed that it had come from a hermit who had seen the ways of the world. "Although it breaks my heart to fight my friend, this is something that must be done. I just hope that after this match is over, Little Swordy and I can remain friends and continue to face the challenges of the world with our heads raised high."

The audience looked at the Boar as if they were seeing its true colors for the first time. Even Judge Dredd was almost conned by Cai's eloquent words. If not for the fact that he had seen how shameless the Boar was behind closed doors, he would be just like the audience that looked at Cai with admiration and respect.

Not wanting to hear anymore of the boar's nonsense, Judge Dredd walked back to the center of the arena and announced Cai's opponent.

"We don't know much about our next contestant because he likes to keep to himself most of the time," Judge Dredd said. "All we know is that he is an excellent swordsman, and that he is deserving of his spot in the Semifinal rounds. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the mysterious swordsman, Keane!"

Another round of applause and cheering resounded in the arena as the crowd favorite appeared in front of their eyes.

Keane was seated in a wooden wheelchair, being pushed by one of the staff members that had been assigned to him.

Garric pointed his finger at Keane's direction, making the skinny swordsman disappear from the wheelchair, and reappear in the arena.

Keane stood tall, with his thumb resting at the hilt of his sword. This was the pose he had taken in every match, and everyone was already accustomed by it.

As a mysterious contestant, Keane had piqued the interest of the audience, as well as several high-ranking officials, and nobles, of the Six Kingdoms. They were doing their best in order to scout the young swordsman to serve their kingdom, but the latter evaded their approach by requesting the help of Barbatos Academy.

"Do you have anything to say to the audience, Keane?" Judge Dredd asked as he handed the artifact to the swordsman who looked pleasing to his eyes.

"Thank you for having me in the tournament," Keane replied. "I wish everyone a good day."

After saying these words Keane returned the artifact to Judge Dredd making the referee of the match chuckle.

"Well then, are both fighters ready?" Judge Dredd asked as he glanced at the two contestants.

Keane nodded his head. "I'm ready."

Judge Dredd then shifted his attention to the Boar who was looking at Keane with the "Never say Die, and Never Surrender Gaze."

"Before we start this match, I have something to say to Keane first," Cai said.

Judge Dredd nodded his head, and Keane looked at the boar who had forced him to join its organization.

"First and foremost, I applaud you for having come this far," Cai stated. "As a member of your Secret Organization, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, you have made me proud by standing on the same stage as me."

The corner of Judge Dredd's and Keane's lips twitched after hearing Cai's words.

What secret organization?

You just announced it in front of everyone as if you are advertising it!

"Keane, I just want you to know that if I lose this match. I will accompany you all your life. I will wake you up every morning, and greet you a good day everyday. During lunch time, I will accompany you to eat pork chops. Um, steak is fine too.

"Whenever you go to the comfort room, I will follow you as well. I will ensure that you can take a dump peacefully without being bothered by anyone.

"At night, I will tell you stories, and cover you with a blanket when you fall asleep. I will repeat these things on the next day until you grow old and become decrepit. I'm sure that both of us will have a wonderful and fulfilling life ahead of us. That is all I want to say."

As soon as Cai finished its speech, several images flashed in front of Keane's eyes.

'Rise and shine Keane! Um, can you wake up? I'm already hungry. What's for breakfast?'

'What are we having for lunch? Do you want to hunt wild boars in the mountains? I want to eat some pork chops.'

'Keane, where are we going next? Let's visit the next town!'

'Um, are you going to the bathroom? Perfect, I feel like going there as well.'

'Keane, are you going to sleep? Let me tell you a story first about this old bandit named James. This old coot is so shameless that even I feel inferior to how thick his skin is…'

'Keane, I'll stay with you forever.'

'Forever…"

'Forever..'

'Forever.'

The images in Keane's head caused the remaining internal force inside his body to disperse as if they were a pile of leaves being swept away by a broom, resulting in him vomiting blood, staining the floor red.

Due to his unstable state of mind, he wasn't able to hear Judge Dredd's declaration to start the battle.

'Living everyday in torment is not worth it,' Keane thought as muddy images emerged in his head. Just thinking of spending the rest of his life with the shameless boar by his side day and night broke what little resolve he had of winning the tournament.

While Keane was still in a daze, the Boar had already charged in his direction using its Wild Charge, colliding with the skinny swordsman who seemed to have lost the will to live.

A moment later, Keane's body was sent flying towards the barrier, before falling towards the ground unmoving.

Cai didn't follow up his attack, and simply stared at its "friend" who seemed to have lost consciousness.

"I wish there was another way," Cai said as a single crocodile tear slid from the side of its face, making it look like it had been forced to hurt its friend. "I didn't want to hurt you too much, so I only used 1% of my strength. Keane, please forgive me. I am simply too strong for you."

Judge Dredd crouched down beside Keane's body to check if the latter was alright. After seeing that the skinny teenager had only lost consciousness, he stood up and announced the shameless victor of the match.

"Winner Cai!" Judge Dredd said with a helpless look on his face. He had seen how Keane had lost the will to fight after hearing Cai's words, but there was nothing he could do about it because the Boar didn't break any rules.

"Hahaha!" Cai laughed as it arrogantly raised its snout to the heavens. It was feeling so good right now as if it had just won the lottery. "Final match, here I come!"

The Boar's unrestrained laughter reverberated in the arena, while the audience cheered and called out its name.

Even though the last battle for the Semifinal match ended in a manner that no one expected, the only thing they could do was applaud the shameless, and thick-skinned Boar, who had broken his opponent's fighting spirit, before the battle even started.

Chapter 257 Cai’s Late Night Expedition

The night after the Semifinal Matches ended…

A foot-tall boar sneakily made its way to the infirmary where Lux was currently resting. So far, it had evaded

the detection of the Clerics who were busy treating the other contestants that got injured during the tournament.

'I'm sure that it is around here somewhere…,' Cai thought as it slowly wandered around the hallway. 'Oh, I guess I'll visit Little Swordy after I've paid My Daddy a visit.'

After their match, Keane was taken to the intensive care unit. His soul was a bit unstable to begin with, and his fight with Cai had caused what little internal energy he had left to disperse. Even so, his life was in no danger and the High-Cleric said that he would just need a week of rest before he regained his strength.

As the "Little Boar" made its way inside the infirmary, it came across an unusual creature standing in the middle of the hallway.

'What is this?' Cai thought as it approached the jelly-like creature that was looking back at it with an UwU expression on its face.

"Awwww! How adorable!" Cai said as it looked at the baby Slime who looked back up to it with a smile on its face. "Hello, little one."

"Hello!" Eiko returned Cai's greeting.

"What's your name?"

"Eiko!"

"That's a very cute name," Cai commented before lightly patting the baby Slime's head with its hoof, making the latter giggle.

Cai had seen many kinds of Slimes since it belonged to a Nomadic Tribe that migrated on a seasonal basis. At first look, Eiko looked like an ordinary blue slime, but Cai could tell that she wasn't like any of the Slimes it had met in the past.

"Um, do you happen to know where My Daddy's room is?" Cai asked.

"Pa?" Eiko tilted her head to the side.

"Not Pa. My Daddy."

"No." Eiko shook her head. "My Daddy!"

"Eh? We're not talking about Your Daddy," Cai replied. "We're talking about My Daddy."

"Pa!"

"Like I said, not Pa. My Daddy."

The Little Boar and the Baby Slime exchanged words for a bit, but after realizing that the conversation was going nowhere. Cai decided to check the room that Eiko seemed to be guarding.

Seeing that the Little Boar was planning to enter the room, Eiko moved to block its way with a disgruntled look on her face.

"No!" Eiko said as she stood between Cai and the door.

"Um, I'm just going to take a peek." Cai looked down on the baby Slime who seemed to be hell-bent to prevent anyone from entering the room.

"No."

"I'm just going to check who is resting inside. I told you didn't I? I'm looking for My Daddy."

"Not your Daddy!" Eiko stated. "My Daddy!"

"Right, I'm looking for My Daddy."

"No! My Daddy!"

"... Um, I believe we already had this discussion a while back," Cai said with a sigh as it looked at the unmoving baby Slime that was glaring at it. "Fine. I'll go check other rooms. See you later, Eiko."

"Bye bye," Eiko no longer glared at Cai as she watched it leave peacefully. She resumed her duty of guarding "Her Daddy's" room, preventing anyone from sneaking past her.

Inside the room, Iris and Vera were looking after the recovering Lux, who was in deep sleep. The side effects of the Black Lightning that held the power of the Abyss was no joking matter. Despite Lux's strong constitution, the damage he received during his fight with Nero had taken a toll on his body.

There was even a possibility that he wouldn't be able to wake up until a few days later, according to the High-Cleric's words.

"Grandma, tomorrow is the Final Match," Iris said as she caressed the side of Lux's face. "Will he wake up by then?"

Vera, who was looking at the door, didn't answer right away. She had sensed that someone had approached Eiko outside the door and was chatting with the baby Slime.

The room where they were at was a private room, and no one, other than the Clerics assigned to Lux, were allowed to enter this part of the Infirmary. After making sure that her great-granddaughter wasn't in any trouble, she shifted her attention back to the worried Iris, who was busy caressing the side of Lux's face.

"I don't know if he'll wake up tomorrow," Vera replied. "But, I'd like to believe that he will."

"Grandma, how about we turn Cai into pork stew? If we do it right now, no one will notice."

"Hahaha. That will be a bit troublesome. Aren't the two of you close friends? Besides, it will be too suspicious if the contestant that is going to fight in the Final Match suddenly disappears before the match starts."

Iris chuckled as she thought of the shameless Boar who had entered the Tournament without telling her.

In truth, the blue-haired beauty had a nagging feeling that Cai only joined the tournament because of the decree that her father had made. She had briefly mentioned this matter to Cai when she visited the Rowan Tribe to participate in their Annual Festival, where she danced one of their folk songs.

Clearly, the Boar wanted to help Iris and prevent her from getting married to someone she didn't like. This was why the Boar had traveled all the way from its Nomadic Tribe to Barbatos Academy to join the Lionheart Tournament.

"Now that I think about it, Gerhart might have been forced by Cai to join this tournament as well," Iris smiled because she knew what kind of attitude her close friend had.

Cai was the type of person who wouldn't hesitate to use foul means, whether it was bribery or blackmail to get what it wanted.

"The Rowan Tribe and the Elswyth Kingdom might have started a diplomatic dialogue with each other in regards to the incident in the tournament." Vera nodded her head in agreement. "I just hope they settled it peacefully in the end."

Iris sighed for the second time as she looked at her beloved step-brother who had gotten injured for her sake.

"Any news from Wildgarde Stronghold?" Iris asked after a few minutes had passed. "I'm sure that they are still reeling from the shock after discovering how strong Brother is."

This time, it was Vera's turn to chuckle.

After the tournament, Gilbert, Natasha, and Rainer came to find her to ask her what was going on. The only thing that Vera told them was that Lux was cured by a mysterious medicine man and had undergone physical therapy under his tutelage.

Although they were quite doubtful of her story, they didn't pry any further and just accepted the fact that the Half-Elf, who had repeatedly failed to enter Elysium for the past four years of his life, had now defeated Nero, who was the youngest prodigy that belonged to their faction.

"Go and rest, Iris," Vera said as she lightly brushed her granddaughter's hair. "I'll look after Lux to ensure that nothing will happen to him."

"...Un." Iris nodded before lowering her head to give Lux's left cheek a kiss.

A minute later, she left the room to rest. She knew that even if she were to stay, it wouldn't change anything, so, for the time being, she decided to follow her grandma's advice and rest.

"Ma!" Eiko greeted Iris as soon as the latter exited the door.

The young lady picked up the baby Slime and patted her head.

"Good Job in guarding your Papa's room," Iris said softly. "Did anyone suspicious appear?"

Eiko shook her head. For her, Cai wasn't someone suspicious because she had seen the Boar accompany her Papa throughout the duration of the tournament.

"Good." Iris smiled. "Grandma is going to watch over your Papa for a while. We will go back to our room to sleep and watch him fight in the tournament tomorrow."

"Pa!" Eiko nodded.

In truth, Eiko wanted to fight alongside Lux during the tournament, but because Lux had to hide his identity, she was told to stay with Iris in order to prevent anyone from discovering who My Daddy really was.

Five minutes after Iris and Eiko left the room, Cai once again returned to the hallway. It had already checked all the rooms in the infirmary except for the one that Eiko was guarding.

Because of this, the Boar was confident that My Daddy was resting in the last room that she still hadn't checked.

It had even visited Little Swordy's room earlier to check on his condition. The Boar was even kind enough to cover the skinny teenager with a blanket, tucking him properly, to ensure that he had a comfortable sleep before leaving.

When the Boar saw that the baby Slime was no longer guarding the door, it breathed a sigh of relief before sneakily making its way towards it.

When it arrived at its destination, it placed its hoof on the door, and activated an unlocking spell that allowed it to enter any place even though it was locked using Physical and Magical means.

The moment Cai opened the door, it came face to face with an old lady who was looking down on it with a calm expression on her face.

Vera had her hands behind her back, as she stared at the late-night-visitor that had decided to pay her grandson a visit.

Just a glance was enough to tell Cai that the person in front of it was a Ranker, making its baby fats tremble.

"Um… sorry, wrong room," Cai said as it gave the old lady a forced smile before making a hasty retreat with its tail tucked between its legs.

The Boar had a feeling that if it stayed a second longer inside the room, the old lady would slice it to pieces, and add it to the infirmary's menu when morning came.

Chapter 258 Eriol’s Condition

"You've come so far, Lux. I am proud of your achievements. As expected of the person that Max chose for his Heaven's Gate Project."

"If you really feel that way, can you just treat the corruption of the Abyss inside me, so I can fight to my fullest tomorrow."

Eriol chuckled after hearing Lux's request. Right now, the two of them were talking in Eriol's God Domain.

When Lux opened his eyes, he found himself in what seems to be an elegant garden located on a floating island.

At the center of it was a small gazebo, where a young boy with short, dark-blue hair, and gray eyes, who seemed to be only around the age of ten, sat.

Lux naturally knew he was because it was the same person that had played a major role in allowing him to take that first step to realize his goal.

It was none other than the God of Games, Eriol.

"I can't do that, you know," Eriol said in a teasing tone as he moved a pawn forward. "As a God, I must be impartial."

"Impartial my foot," Lux grumpily replied as he moved the knight to make an offensive move. "I'm just asking for my Abyss Corruption to be treated. It's not like I'm asking you to help me win my match in the next few hours."

The two had been playing chess for several hours already, but out of the ten games they played, Lux hadn't even won once.

"I can't heal your injuries because that will be breaking the rules," Eriol stated as he moved his Queen right in front of Lux's King. "People think that Gods are omnipotent, but there are things that even we cannot do, like saving a dying world. Okay, checkmate."

Lux sighed as he looked at the chessboard looking for a way out. Seeing that there was none, he leaned back and scratched his head in frustration.

Eriol chuckled after seeing the frustrated look on the Half-Elf's face, making the latter glare at him hatefully.

"Let's put aside the Abyss Corruption talks for now," Eriol said. "Can you tell me what your short term goals are for the time being?"

"Short term goals?" Lux crossed his arms over his chest. "I've been too busy thinking about the tournament, that I shut out anything else from my mind. You can even say that my short term goal is winning the tournament. After that I will return to Elysium and continue my journey."

"I see…" Eriol smiled as he eyed the red-headed teenager in front of him that was quite different from the one he had met several months ago.

The Lux back then was on the verge of giving up, but now, he was filled with determination in winning the tournament and going to Elysium to continue his adventure.

"Say, Lux, after this tournament, Gilbert and the Elders of the Wildgarde Stronghold will definitely change their opinion about you," Eriol stated. "There is a chance that you will join the Storm Dragon Guild and become Nero's subordinate after the tournament ends."

Lux vehemently shook his head. "No way. I don't plan on becoming Nero's subordinate. The reason why I joined the tournament was to beat him and…"

"And you did it splendidly. But, this tournament is just a turning point in your life. After this, you will be placed in the spotlight and would be forced to take on some responsibilities, befitting of your achievements. That's not so bad, right?"

"Indeed. That ain't so bad."

Eriol smirked and gave Lux a knowing glance.

"However, the power of a single individual is not enough to save the world, Lux," Eriol commented. "If it were that easy, Max wouldn't have taken a gamble and founded the Heaven's Gate Project with me, alongside another God.

"The three of us formed the Trinity that bound Solais and Elysium together. Since Max is currently recuperating and out of the picture, only two Gods carry the sky over our shoulders and are preventing it from collapsing."

Eriol paused as he lifted the Pawn Chess Piece before looking at the Half-Elf in front of him.

"Because we are busy trying to ensure that Solais won't collapse in a short period of time, our hands are tied," Eriol explained. "This is why we need Pawns, like you, to become our foot soldiers in the fight to save Solais, by finding the solution in Elysium."

"Being called a pawn right in front of my face hurts a bit, you know?" Lux smiled bitterly. "Can't you sugarcoat it a bit to make it less depressing?"

"This is why we decided to choose a handsome, and dependable guy, like you, to help us save a dying world from destruction."

"That's much better."

Lux smiled as he nodded his head in satisfaction, making Eriol look at him in disdain.

"There is a question I've been meaning to ask you guys for a while now," Lux stared at the God of Games with a serious expression on his face. "Why don't you choose more people to participate in the Heaven's Gate Project? To be honest, I don't think I am able to handle this responsibility alone."

Eriol shook his head after hearing Lux's words. "It's not that we didn't want to add more people, it's because we can't. The more people we bring into this world, the faster its death progresses. Also, having more people doesn't necessarily mean that it will be better. If by chance, the people we summoned were to only complicate things, rather than fixing them, then they would just make things worse."

"Yes… just like the Hundred-Year-War. A war that was brought by the very same people whom we thought would save the world."

Lux's eyes widened in shock after hearing Eriol's words. If he were to interpret God's words correctly, it meant that they had already summoned people in the past, but they failed to meet the Gods' expectations.

"There are other people aside from me?" Lux asked. "Where are they now?"

"Dead is what I'd like to say, but in reality it's different," Eriol replied with a sigh. "When they first arrived, things were fine at the beginning. However, since they were given the so-called 'cheats', they abused their powers and started to make others submit to them. Those who refused would be subjugated by force, which had sparked the Hundred-Year-War in Solais.

"It also advanced the progress of the death of the world, which forced me to bind Elysium to it, in an attempt to slow the progress of its destruction."

Lux didn't interrupt Eriol's explanation and listened to it with full concentration. According to the God of Games, Solais was on the verge of becoming a dying world after the Hundred-Year-War took place, plunging the entire world into chaos.

Out of the twelve people that were summoned and were responsible for instigating the war, nine died, while three remained. These three tried to reverse the situation, but still failed in the end.

As a last resort, the world under Eriol's control, Elysium, bound itself to Solais, allowing the latter to get a breather.

The three people that remained had gone to Elysium in order to recuperate and regain their powers.

But, one of those three people had fallen prey to something that she had accidentally summoned to Elysium, and that was none other than the Abyssal Creatures.

They were the alien-like Monsters whose sole mission was to cause destruction to the world. Fortunately, after Solais and Elysium merged, the warriors of both worlds worked together to repel the Abyssal Armies, forcing them to return to the Abyss where they belonged.

However, since the pathway to the Abyss had already been opened, Abyssal Monsters would appear in Elysium from time to time, spreading havoc wherever they went.

"Although the Abyssal Corruption is a pain to deal with, most of the time, it doesn't lead to deaths when treated immediately,," Eriol stated. "But, those afflicted by it must rest for several days to fully recover. That is the only way to deal with the abyssal dregs that are still inside your body. So, just rest for now, okay?"

"You already know that I can't do that, right?" Lux shrugged. "If I don't fight in a few hours, Iris will be forced to marry someone she doesn't want to marry. I don't want that to happen, so I need to find a way to regain consciousness."

Eriol wagged his finger at Lux and gave him a mischievous smile. "If it's just regaining consciousness, I can do that. However, even if you regain your consciousness, the exhaustion your body feels will make you so drowsy that the moment you close your eyes, you will be off to Dreamland."

Lux blinked once then twice as he gazed at the God of Games, who had a playful smile on his face.

"Can you make me regain consciousness?" Lux asked.

"Of course, but I doubt that you will be able to stay awake for long," Eriol replied. "But, doing this feels like cheating. So, you'll have to do something for me when you return to Elysium."

"I knew it," Lux commented with a fed up look on his face. "There's no free lunch in this world."

"Exactly."

"So, what is it that you want me to do for you? As long as I am able to fight tomorrow's match, even for a brief moment, I will do as you say."

Eriol chuckled after hearing Lux's fed up statement.

"Since we already have an agreement I need you to do two things for me," Eriol said. "The first thing that you need to do is…"

Chapter 259 Without Both Of You, My World Is Just Filled With Darkness

An hour before sunrise, Lux slowly opened his eyes. After finding himself in an unfamiliar room, his gaze landed on the old lady that was resting on a chair beside him.

"Grandma," Lux muttered.

Vera, who was half-asleep, and half-awake, opened her eyes to look at her Grandson.

"Good morning, Lux," Vera said before placing her hand over the Half-Elf's forehead, and neck. "It seems that you have developed the Abyss Fever. You should rest for a while longer."

Lux shook his head. "Grandma, if I close my eyes now to sleep, I will sleep for a long time. Please, help me stand up."

Vera frowned but after seeing Lux's determined gaze, she had no choice but to help him stand up.

"What are you planning to do?" Vera inquired. "In your current state, it will be hard for you to fight in the tournament."

"It's fine, Grandma," Lux answered. "I can do it. I will win for sure."

"Maybe Iris is right. I should have cooked pork stew last night."

"Pork stew? That sounds delicious. Let's eat it with Iris after I win the tournament."

Vera shook her head helplessly and gave her grandson a bitter smile. Seeing that the red-headed teenager had no intention of backing down, the old lady made a few hand seals, and summoned a wooden doll to carry Lux in a princess carry.

"This brings back memories, Grandma," Lux said softly as he allowed himself to be carried by the wooden doll. "Back then, Woody would pick me up whenever I fainted. It was like yesterday…"

Lux looked up at the wooden doll with nostalgia. He had many sad, yet fond memories, with the doll he had nicknamed Woody, who had been one of his guardians while he was growing up.

"Now, you're already so big and strong," Vera commented as she walked beside the wooden doll in the hallway of the infirmary. "Perhaps this will be the last time that Woody will carry you like this."

"I hope so," Lux chuckled. "It has been a while since I felt this helpless."

The two then walked in silence for several minutes until they reached the Coliseum. When the wooden doll stepped on the arena, it was still dark.

In truth, Lux was doing his best to fight off sleep because he knew that the moment he closed his eyes to rest for a bit, he would fall into deep sleep, unable to wake up for several days. By then, the tournament would be over, making him lose by default in the Final Match.

Eriol told him that if he didn't wake up now, he wouldn't be waking up anytime soon because his body was truly exhausted and needed to rest badly. However, since he made a deal with Lux, he had forcefully awakened his consciousness, to make him open his eyes a few hours before the match began.

"Thank you, Grandma."

"Mmm."

Vera stared at his grandson long and hard before sighing. She knew that the Half-Elf would not back down once he had made a decision, and as his grandma, she wanted to support him as well.

"At least, drink this," Vera said as he gave Lux a vial with a purple serum inside it. "This will help with the Abyss Fever. You need to drink it every four hours."

Lux obediently drank the Serum, which made him feel so comfortable that he almost fell asleep then and there. Fortunately, he managed to catch himself just in time and gave himself a pinch on the waist, waking him up instantly.

Seeing his antics, Vera couldn't help but chuckle. It reminded her of the days when Lux was still young and did silly things around the house.

"You've come so far, Lux," Vera stated. "Just hang on for a little while longer."

"I know, Grandma," Lux replied. "How many hours are left before the match begins?"

"Mmm… around three to five more hours."

"That long?"

Lux yawned before rubbing his eyes. He really wanted to sleep so badly, but doing so would just waste everything that he had accomplished.

"I wish morning would come faster," Lux complained. "Waiting will tire me out."

"That's just how it is." Vera patted her grandson's shoulders before summoning a blanket to cover his fever-infested body. "A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world."

Lux allowed himself to be pampered by his Grandma because it had truly been a while since Vera had tucked him in for the night.

"Grandma, when was the last time we watched the sunrise together?" Lux inquired when Vera had finished wrapping him up with the blanket.

"More than a year ago if I remember correctly," Vera answered. "You were too busy with your training, and when you gained the opportunity to go to Elysium, you just stayed home for a few days before going back."

Lux remained silent because his grandma was right. After he gained access to Elysium, he would go back for only a few days before returning. He didn't have the opportunity to do things with his grandma, like watching the sunrise like they did more than a year ago.

"I'm sorry, Grandma," Lux said softly. "I have been too busy as of late. One of these days, let's take Eiko and Iris to have a picnic somewhere together."

"Sounds good," Vera commented. "It has been a while since we went to a picnic together."

Lux gazed at the sky which was still dark. Vera, on the other hand, waved her hand, from time to time, sending a silvery string across the opposing ends of the Coliseum. This continued for a few minutes before Woody suddenly started to walk towards the old lady who seemed to have finished her preparations.

A moment later, she, along with the wooden doll carrying Lux, slowly floated towards the sky. At least, this was what those who were observing the two would think.

Lux, on the other hand, knew what was going on. Vera's ability was similar to Vall, whom he had fought. Both of them had the ability to conjure and manipulate strings.

A minute later, the two hovered above the Coliseum, while looking at the East, where the sky was slowly brightening.

"Lux, I don't really care even if we don't view the sunrise together like we did when you were younger," Vera said firmly. "What I care about is that you keep yourself safe and return to me on a regular basis. For me, you and Iris are the sun in my life. Without both of you, my world is just filled with darkness, never hoping to see a sunrise ever again."

Lux smiled before nodding his head in understanding.

"I understand, Grandma," Lux replied. "I will do my best to survive both in Elysium and Solais."

"You do that," Vera said as she continued to gaze at the East. "We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness."

As soon as Vera finished talking, the first rays of the sun peeked beyond the horizon, bathing the world with the promise of a new day.

Lux sighed as he pulled the blankets closer to him. A new day has finally begun, and the Final Match that would decide his step-sister's fate, was only a few hours away.

He just hoped that, when it was time for the match to officially start, he would still be awake, so he could fulfill the promise he made in his heart.

This would allow the beautiful blue-haired lady, who was hailed as the Princess of Barbatos Academy, to regain her freedom, and live her life the way she wanted to live it, without being used as a political tool by her father.

Chapter 260 I Too Have Someone I Have To Protect!

"Oh, isn't that… My Daddy?"

"It is, My Daddy."

"Is he too excited to fight that he's already here before the Coliseum has already opened?"

"Well, it doesn't matter. We know that this Final Match is just for formalities. There is no way that Cai will be able to defeat him."

"Yes. That Boar just got lucky he was able to enter the Final Match."

"Luck? That may be true, but since Cai already got this far by luck, wouldn't it be lucky this time around as well?"

"Hahaha. That's impossible, right?"

As the people entered the Coliseum to watch the Final Match of the Lionheart Tournament, Lux leaned on Orion's chest, while sitting on his left hand.

His Grandma Vera had just left a few minutes before the gates of the Coliseum were opened to allow the people to enter. Although she was very worried about Lux, there was nothing more she could do because this battle was not hers, but her grandson's.

"We've come this far, Orion," Lux said softly while he used the Kaizer Breathing Technique that Vera had taught him long ago to keep himself awake. "Just one more fight and we can rest for a few days."

"Mmm." Orion nodded as he held Lux as if he was a precious object that would shatter at the faintest touch.

Lux sighed. "It's fine for me to go all out, right?"

"Yes," Orion replied.

"I wish they would just hurry up with the preparations," Lux complained. "Staying awake really hurts."

Lux could no longer feel his legs, and arms as if they had become numb. Every minute that passed brought him closer to falling into a deep sleep, and only his undying determination barely kept him awake.

A few minutes later, Judge Dredd walked up to the arena and headed towards Lux to do some small talk.

"I thought that you would not be here today," Judge Dredd said with a solemn look on his face. "Thank you for coming."

He could tell that Lux was barely hanging on, and admired his tenacity. Any injury regarding an Abyssal Power would require a few days of rest to fully recover. However, Judge Dredd knew that Lux knew what was at stake, so he refused to just close his eyes and let it end in this manner.

"Judge Dredd, I have a question in regards to the rules of the tournament," Lux stated. "Is it possible to continue the match even if…"

Judge Dredd listened to Lux's words with a serious expression. A moment later, he gave him the answer he was looking for.

"It's in the gray area," Judge Dredd replied. "But, since I am the Judge of this tournament, I will allow it."

"Thank you," Lux sighed in relief.

For a brief moment, he almost fell asleep then and there due to the relief he felt. Pinching himself would no longer do any good because he could no longer move his hands. Also, even if he did, the numbness in his body would prevent any feeling of pain.

"When will the match start?"

"It will start in less than an hour. Will you be able to hold on until then?"

"I will."

Lux didn't even mention the word, I will try, because he didn't want to try. He would do it no matter what it took.

Every second that passed felt like hours…

Every minute that passed felt like days…

Finally, when the Coliseum was filled to the brim, and the guests of honors had all arrived, Bruno raised his hand to signal Judge Dredd that the Final Match could start.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, today is the day when history will be made," Judge Dredd announced. "Today, two warriors among tens of thousands will stand here before you to fight in the Final Match of the Lionheart Tournament!"

The crowds cheered as Judge Dredd hyped the Final Match that would bring an end to the tournament.

Gilmore Faisal, one of the Four Kings that remained to watch the rest of the tournament, stood on the viewing platform reserved for the contestants with his arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was locked on the Half-Elf whose head was bobbing up and down, as he desperately tried to stay awake.

A moment later, he heard the sound of wheels rolling behind him, but he didn't turn his head to look. There was no need to do it because there was only one person who would dare to approach him in the spot where he stood.

"I thought you'll be sleeping for a while longer," Gilmore said without even looking at the brown-haired teenager who was sitting in a wooden wheelchair.

"How can I possibly sleep at this point in time?" Nero answered. "I want to see the ending of this tournament with my own eyes."

Nero had asked one of the Clerics in the infirmary to bring him to the Coliseum to watch the final match. Although the Cleric was reluctant, he still agreed to Nero's request and took him to the viewing platform to watch the final battle unfold.

"Who do you think will win?" Gilbert asked.

"You and I both know the answer to that question." Nero snorted. "He will win even if it's the last thing he did."

Gilbert nodded. "True."

The two then stopped talking and just focused their attention on the arena. They knew that the Half-Elf would try to end this battle as quickly as he could due to his condition.

"Let me introduce the contestants for the final match!" Judge Dredd shouted. "On the right corner and sitting on his Rock Golem is none other than the one, and only, My Daddy!"

"Hey… It's Lux," Lux grumbled. "Get it right, Old Man."

The crowd gave a thunderous applause and chanted Lux's alias, which made him feel helpless.

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

"""My Daddy!"""

It seemed that regardless of what he said, the People would always refer to him as "My Daddy" from this point onwards, which made the Half-Elf think that his future prospects were dim.

"And now, our next finalist is someone that you, me, and everyone else didn't expect to be here!" Judge Dredd shouted. "I don't want to say that he reached this point in the tournament due to Luck, because Luck is also part of someone's strength.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome, the one and only… Cai!"

The spotlights all focused on a Boar who walked towards the arena with arrogance. Although they wouldn't admit it, everyone had become fond of the Boar whom they treated as the mascot of the tournament.

The shouts, cheers, and applause given to Cai was louder compared to the one given to Lux.

"""Cai!"""

"""Cai!"""

"""Cai!"""

"""Cai!"""

"""Cai!"""

After Cai stepped on the arena it eyed Lux with all the smugness that it could muster.

"I applaud you for coming this far, My Daddy," Cai said. "I didn't make a mistake when I invited you to join my secret organization which is called the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I expect great things from you. Um, I still have many things to say, so let me just take out this scroll I prepared beforehand…"

Cai unrolled a scroll that rolled up to the edge of the arena. Every part of it had words written on it which made the corner of Judge Dredd's lips twitch, and Lux almost coughing a mouthful of blood.

The Half-Elf knew that if he allowed Cai to read the scroll he had prepared, he would definitely fall asleep half-way through it so he decided to take drastic measures.

"Judge Dredd, let's start this battle," Lux pleaded.

"Okay," Judge Dredd replied. There was simply no way he would allow Cai to finish reading such a long speech and immediately raised his hand to catch everyone's attention.

"Since both fighters are now ready, I, the referee of this match…"

"Oi! I'm still not finished with my speeeeeeeeeech!"

"Hereby declare the start of this battle. Battle Start!"

As soon as the signal to start the battle was given, Orion rushed towards Cai and smashed his fist towards the boar in order to end the match as soon as possible.

"First Gear, Immovable Mountain."

A resounding clap reverberated in the surroundings as Orion's fist, met with Cai's tusk, stopping the Rock Golem's blow completely.

Cai's hooves crushed the ground underneath its feet, but it was mostly unharmed as its size increased to four meters tall.

"I know that everyone doesn't have a high opinion of me," Cai said as it raised its tusk to repel the Rock Golem's fist. "They think that I will lose as soon as the fight starts."

Cai then eyed the Half-Elf that was sitting on the Rock Golem's left hand with determination.

"But, just like everyone else who joined this tournament, I too have a goal," Cai declared. "I too have someone I have to protect! Even if I face an opponent stronger than me, I will not yield! I will fight, and stand my ground! My Dad… no. Lux Von Kaizer, even if you are a member of my secret organization I will not show you any mercy."

The color of the Boar's fur suddenly changed from light-brown to black, with golden streaks forming lightning patterns on both sides of its body. Several sharp spikes protruded on its back making it look more fearsome and intimidating.

"Second Gear," Cai said as steam oozed out of its nose. "Hildisvíni!"

Judge Dredd who was standing not far away from the two gazed at Cai that had undergone a transformation.

"Rank 4 Mutated Field Boss, Hildivisni," Judge Dredd muttered. "Looks like this Final Match will not end the way everyone thought it was supposed to end."

A mighty roar spread across the arena as Cai finished its transformation.

"Come, Lux," Cai stated. "Let's rumble!"