"It's finally this guy's turn. I wonder if I'll get to see why everyone thinks he's the strongest," Skullius wondered excitedly while leaning forward from his seat.
On the white platform encased in a thin barrier, a man with long white hair tied into a ponytail was standing on the platform. He wore a comically plush sky blue jacket with a fuzzy exterior, shivering as he stood.
He blew into his hands as he felt cold, cursing the chill every chance he got.
For to him, it was definitely more than a bit cold.
This man was regarded as the strongest individual among all the Families. He had never known defeat. Every tale told about him ended with him catching victory.
Very few had ever seen him fight, which made many doubt the prospect of whether or not he truly couldn't be defeated but his very air made everyone believe that at the very least, he was immensely powerful.
While no one could feel anything from him, the silent wind around him gave an empty but vast sense of foreboding.
Like a desert.
"Quite the young legend, this one," Alaris folded his arms and smiled.
He sat among the most highly regarded witnesses watching the matches while analysing the contenders as all the others did.
A few years back, he had heard murmurings about this young man and had sought him out only to find a rather humble person instead of the proud combatant he had been expecting.
He could see through the genuinely pitiful face he made when he was feeling 'insecure' about his strength, struck with anxiety, to see the strangely crafted strength he had.
His shifts in mood weren't facades.
When he was confident, he was incredibly proud of who he was.
When he was feeling insecure, he berated himself constantly.
But all this aside, in terms of power, he was the real deal.
It was as if this young man wasn't human but a concept instead.
The concept of strength.
Alaris had never gotten around to fighting him but he knew he probably didn't stand a chance. If he were younger, he would have charged in head first but... no. That wasn't worth it.
He was not alone in his thoughts.
All of the contenders paid rapt attention to this match.
They had been waiting for it.
The Mage, Tallo, soaked his eyes in mana in order to better perceive what was so interesting about this man. His reputation was so profound that even Grandmaster Mages had approached him just to see what the hub bub was all about.
Maxim narrowed her eyes. She wanted to see if her technique would be enough against this man who was placed on a high pedestal, even when compared to her Family.
If she was to fight him in the Royale, best to get a grasp on his true abilities.
Kurtish Oldd leaned back and waited for the show to begin.
Vali wasn't as concerned with the match. The result was already clear. Besides, she had met Aurolio before and found him distasteful.
Aurolio considered her the same.
"These humans have some funny notions," the Sif, Darwel said with a smile. "Strongest is a larger word than they realise."
On the platform, Aurolio took deep breaths as he set his gaze on his opponent.
It was a man with a stern, triangular face that promised to portray a strict demeanour and personality. Tufts of well combed dark blue hair stood on his face, contrasting his like coloured eyes.
He stood at attention, over his body casual leather armour. A faded silver pauldron – shoulder cover piece of an armour – could be seen on his shoulder, with marks that looked to have been added by a sharp object carved on its surface.
To Skullius who used Crude Vision for a better view, this was familiar.
The mark on the pauldron was highlighted vividly in white.
'Hmm? This is the same thing Bek wore,' Skullius thought.
The pauldron with the marking on it.
This was how Stray Knights dressed.
These types of Knights were usually Capital Knights who had done something disgraceful, resigning by themselves as a result or being forced to by the Capital Service.
It was customary to continue to wear the pauldron from the armour they had worn in service and carving this mark on it. That way, they could be acknowledged to have served the nation and could be re-hired provided they spent enough time wearing the pauldron in public, announcing that they had shamed the name of the nation.
This served as a kind of a punishment. One that wasn't mandatory though.
Some Knights preferred to move on.
Guissepo rose, giving the two opponents space to battle it out.
Those who were eager to see how Aurolio fought completely disregarded the Stray Knight and focused their eyes on every single one of the Velanqi Family Head's movements.
Even Rearren was interested in seeing what was so fascinating about this young man.
Even while locked up in his home for years, the title given to this young man had never changed at all.
It was... consistent.
"What do you think?" Rearren asked Rias.
"He is... a little tough," the young man gave his assessment with a serious face.
There was no bias in his opinion at all.
He genuinely considered Aurolio to actually be... a little tough.
Perhaps there was a little underestimation.
The air nearly hardened as the witnesses and contenders awaited the beginning of the match with bated breaths.
---
Name : Aurolio Velanqi
Stage : Second Phase Master
Core : Blue
Family : Velanqi
-
Name : Estrange Rill Moon
Stage : Second Phase Master
Core : Blue
Family : Moon
---
This was it!
Let it begin dammit!
As the information was fed to all, Aurolio, while clutching himself for warmth, suddenly raised his hand.
...!!!
What?!
No way!
Was he going to surrender as well in an epically disappointing 'flesh you' to everyone watching closely?!
Even his opponent, the Stray Knight Estrange who had signed into a mid level Family was surprised.
"Are you surrendering?" he asked, hints of disappointment on his face.
"No. I just have a question," Aurolio replied.
Phewwwww!
A collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the stadium!
Thank goodness he wasn't giving up. That would have killed the hype a bit too much.
Estrange was relieved too, strangely enough.
'He's dramatic,' he thought.
"What would you like to ask?"
Aurolio's gaze grew firm.
"Are you really going to fight me?" he asked.
This wasn't a taunt or a question loaded with pride.
He was genuinely curious.
"I will try," Estrange replied, unfazed.
Aurolio nodded.
"Well, for your sake, I hope coming at me barehanded isn't your strong suit. I happen to be so much better at it."
Estrange chuckled.
UUUUUUOOOOOH!
The crowds grew excited.
The Stray Knight held his breath and got into a simple stance.
BOOOOOOOOM!
A pillar of reddish pink light engulfed him before exploding upwards with a hasty shudder that startled the platform, making it quiver madly!
The platform cracked.
Veiny networks ran along its surface, surrounding Estrange's image that was drowned in the light that nearly blinded the common witnesses!
...!
This power...!
It wasn't merely at the Second Phase of the Master Stage!
It was at the very peak of it!
'Magnificent...' Alaris said as he felt the well refined Aura lighting up the entire stadium in a clear reddish pink.
Aurolio's expression did not see a change and neither did his shivering. He faced the full brunt of the roar of Perfect Aura, watching it coalesce around Estrange and form a very vivid image!
"Ohhh! Look at that!"
"Wooow! He looks so beautiful!"
"Amazing!"
The witnesses were drawn to this clear image while the contenders were inspired.
Estrange's body had changed.
His torso remained the same, the only difference being a harsh outlining stroke of reddish pink that splattered like grains of sand at its edge.
What actually caused the marvel was his lower body!
From the waist down, he no longer carried himself with two human legs.
No.
Four legs carried him up, the image of a horse's frame being seen – powerful, thick legs with a lean build for speed as well as power. The same reddish pink hue made this form of his, completing the look of a vibrant centaur!
Estrange stretched out his hand and a coil of darkness wove itself within it, forming a black lance!
This lance looked like smoke, its one sharp end looking like recurring cones that stabbed into each other repeatedly.
Estrange looked at the unfazed Aurolio and smiled.
The space around him became bloated from the strength he exuded.
The full 1000% increase in power that a Master Stage expert could attain could only be reached when they were able to realise the ability to merge seamlessly with their Genuine Incarnation!
THAT was the Peak of the Master Stage!
"Please. Receive my lunge just this once," Estrange said to Aurolio whose gaze remained firm.
The white haired man gave a smile.
"Sure. Do your best."
"Gladly."
Estrange breathed in one long fresh breath and held it in.
...!
Without notice, everyone was forced to cover their ears as an earthshattering noise broke out, spelling the commencement and... end of the 'fight' they had been anticipating!
The contenders felt the brunt of the effects the heaviest, with the weaker ones bleeding from the ears while grunting lightly!
Skullius was one of these victims but he didn't feel any pain. His focus remained unhindered.
What the heck was that noise?!
On the platform, a lengthy trench had torn through the surface, digging its way towards Aurolio while fuming, the remains of the horrendous friction just now having crippled its beauty!
Goodness!
Skullius had had his full focus on these two contenders but he was embarrassed to say...
'I can't believe I couldn't even...' he stammered.
He hadn't sensed any movement from Estrange or Aurolio!
It was as if both had been standing motionless when a completely unrelated force had struck, causing all this damage!
But Skullius along with the other contenders knew better.
That was the speed of a Peak Master Stage expert at work. Close to none of them had been able perceive it.
Even Tallo was left smiling sheepishly at it!
'Ridiculous,' he thought while sweating.
All this was impressive, but after the overwhelming show of power, many were left wondering something.
Something strange, other than the cataclysm needed answers.
"Hey... where's that other guy. Estrange was his name, right?"
"What? I only see one person on the platform."
Within the bounds of thin barrier, only Aurolio's figure could seen.
There were no traces of Estrange at all.
Absolutely none.
Where had he gone?
Wasn't he the one to launch a strike?
Amidst the confusion, the more perceptive individuals, mainly the contenders, like the Tallo could see the remains.
Dust like particles of ash hung in the air, softly swimming in the embers of the turbulence from just moments ago.
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