Azrael's opponent crumbled under the pressure, offering no meaningful resistance before succumbing to Luffy's overwhelming power. The match ended decisively, 16 to 8—a clean victory that surprised no one who had watched Azrael progress.
Among Velkairos's high school students, Azrael's strength had reached legendary status. He was in a league of his own, and everyone knew it.
The following days blurred together as Azrael dominated the quarterfinals and semifinals with ease. Each victory came so effortlessly that spectators began to wonder if anyone could challenge him.
Finally, the championship match arrived. After days of intense competition, the Elite Talent Cup had captured Velkairos's imagination like never before. The arena buzzed with energy as thousands packed the stands, creating a thunderous roar of anticipation.
"Who do you think will win?" one spectator shouted over the noise.
"Nick," another replied, leaning forward in excitement. "Did you see his earlier matches? His refutation technique is absolutely vicious!"
"Are you kidding me? Azrael's the real deal," a third voice cut in. "Nobody knows what cards he's using. Every single fight has been a complete massacre."
The crowd's speculation rippled through the arena in waves. Despite days of competition, Azrael's status as a bronze-level Lore Cardian was still his best-kept secret. This left the outcome of the championship tantalizingly uncertain for the average viewer.
The VIP section told a different story entirely. The guests and executives had witnessed Azrael's true capabilities firsthand, and their casual confidence spoke volumes about their expectations.
"Boss Grave," one of the Novex Financial executives called out with a knowing grin. "Please tell me you've already had Azrael's championship medal engraved."
Boss Grave chuckled, playing along with the joke even though they all knew the truth. "Come on now, the match hasn't even started yet. Are you already crowning Azrael champion?"
Boss Grave had known since his meeting with Director Liu that Azrael's victory was all but guaranteed. In any other year, Nick would have been hailed as a prodigy, a once-in-a-generation talent. Unfortunately for Nick, he had the misfortune of facing a monster like Azrael.
Nick himself remained blissfully unaware of the challenge he was about to face.
The VIP section erupted in laughter at Boss Grave's diplomatic response. Their jovial atmosphere was a stark contrast to the tension building in the arena below.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" Commentator Killian's voice boomed across the venue, instantly silencing the crowd. "After two weeks of incredible battles, the moment you've all been waiting for has finally arrived: the Elite Talent Cup championship match!"
The arena lights dimmed dramatically, focusing twin spotlights on the entrance gates.
"Please welcome our finalists! From Silverbrook High School, Azrael!" The crowd erupted as Azrael's gate slowly opened. "And from Aurora High School, Nick!"
As the massive iron gates groaned open, cameras captured every detail of the two competitors. The Jumbotron displayed their faces in crystal-clear resolution, and the contrast was immediately apparent:
Azrael walked forward with the calm confidence of someone who had already won. His expression remained neutral and almost bored, as if this were just another routine match rather than the championship bout.
Nick, on the other hand, couldn't hide his nerves. His hands trembled slightly, and sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool arena. But as he stepped into the spotlight, something shifted in his demeanor. His nervous energy transformed into steely determination; his jaw set with the resolve of someone ready to fight for everything he had worked toward.
The two fighters approached the center of the arena, where they found something different awaiting them: small wireless microphones clipped to their collars. Every word, every breath, and every grunt of effort would be broadcast to the thousands watching.
Seizing the moment, Nick's voice carried across the arena with teenage bravado. "Azrael, I'll admit you're strong, stronger than anyone I've faced before. But this championship belongs to me!"
Before Azrael could respond, Killian seized the opportunity.
"Oh my! Nick is coming out swinging with some serious fighting words! It looks like our Aurora High competitor is absolutely determined to claim that trophy!"
Azrael glanced up at the commentary booth with barely concealed exasperation, thinking, "This guy really knows how to stir the pot."
Even that tiny moment of annoyance was captured by the eagle-eyed camera operators and displayed on the massive screen above the arena.
Killian, proving his reputation as a master of entertainment, immediately misread Azrael's expression with theatrical flair. "And there it is, folks! Azrael is looking absolutely dismissive of that challenge! You can practically see the confidence radiating from our Velkairos No. 1 representative!"
"What kind of explosive clash will these two young titans deliver tonight? Let's find out together!"
Azrael suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and took a deep breath to center himself. He forced himself to focus on the upcoming battle rather than the circus of commentary surrounding it.
The referee's whistle pierced the air like a gunshot.
Instantly, Luffy appeared on the battlefield in a flash of light. His trademark straw hat sat jauntily on his head as he cracked his knuckles with an eager grin.
But Azrael's eyes widened in genuine surprise as Nick made his move. Instead of summoning one card, two distinct forms appeared on his side of the arena simultaneously.
The first was the familiar Blade Beast·Refutt, the iron-level red card that had dominated Nick's previous matches. The massive warrior stood ready, his swords gleaming menacingly in the arena lights.
The second card, however, was something entirely unexpected. A humanoid figure appeared beside Bo. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable except for the thick layer of mud coating its entire body. But the thunderous heartbeat that echoed through the arena like war drums made it clear that this was no ordinary summon.
The crowd murmured in confusion, unable to identify the mysterious second card.
Killian's voice cut through the uncertainty with perfect timing: "Ladies and gentlemen, we've just received intel from our research team! Nick's mystery card is General Wudi, another legendary figure from the Classic of Mountains and Seas!"
The commentator's excitement was palpable. "Here's where it gets interesting: These two cards can form a powerful bond called 'Overseas North Classic!' We're about to witness a combination attack that Nick has kept hidden until this very moment!"
Nick's voice rang out across the arena, filled with newfound confidence. "Azrael, your reputation precedes you, and I respect your strength. That's exactly why I'm not holding anything back!"
As he spoke, General Wudi moved with fluid grace, leaping onto Bo's broad shoulders in a seamless mounting motion.
Azrael blinked in amazement. In all his strategic planning and battle analysis, he had never considered card fusion tactics. The concept was brilliant in its simplicity: two cards working as one unified entity.
General Wudi's hands moved in complex patterns, and suddenly, a long, ethereal lance materialized in his grip and began to crackle with dark energy. Bo tensed his legs like coiled springs before exploding forward in a devastating charge toward Luffy.
But as they closed the distance, something strange happened. Luffy's feet began to sink into the ground as if the solid arena floor had transformed into thick, clinging mud.
"Behold my ultimate combination, the Blood-Boiling Charge!" Nick's triumphant shout echoed throughout the venue.
Luffy stared down at his trapped feet, genuinely confused, and tilted his head like a puzzled child. "Huh? What's going on here?"
The crowd couldn't help but chuckle at Luffy's innocent reaction, even amidst such an intense battle.
As Bo's charge reached its peak and the ghostly lance thrust forward, Luffy approached the problem in his characteristically unconventional way. Instead of struggling against the muddy trap, he grabbed his legs and began spinning like a tornado.
The rotational force he generated was tremendous, easily breaking him free from the earthen prison. But Luffy didn't stop there. He used the momentum to launch himself high into the air, soaring above his opponents with apparent ease.
The audience erupted in laughter and amazement at this unexpected aerial maneuver.
"Azrael's card is hilarious!" someone shouted from the stands.
"I can't believe he can just fly like that!" another voice added.
"But wait," a more analytical spectator called out. "Even if he can fly, fighting two opponents at once is still going to be incredibly difficult!"
Nick stared up at Luffy in the air with a mixture of amazement and frustration. Fortunately, he had prepared for multiple scenarios.
General Wudi's lance began to dissolve, shifting and reshaping into an enormous bow. Dark arrows materialized one by one, each pulsing with ominous energy before being launched toward Luffy with deadly precision.
Luffy dodged the incoming projectiles with almost lazy efficiency, tilting his body just enough to let each arrow whistle past harmlessly. After a particularly close call, he dramatically wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead.
"Whew! That was a close one!" he called out cheerfully.
Azrael watched his card's theatrical behavior with fond exasperation. "All right, Luffy, playtime's over. Let's wrap this up quickly."
His words, clearly broadcast through his microphone, sent shockwaves through the arena.
Killian's voice climbed several octaves in disbelief. "Did we just hear that correctly?! Azrael just told his card to stop playing around! Has this entire championship match been nothing but a warm-up for him?"
Nick's face flushed with embarrassment and anger. It was clear that Azrael hadn't been taking the fight seriously.
In response to his master's wounded pride, Bo summoned multiple spectral swords that hovered around him before launching them toward Luffy in a coordinated assault. Simultaneously, General Wudi increased his rate of fire, arrows flying in rapid succession.
The combined attack filled the air with deadly projectiles, creating an inescapable web of destruction.
But Luffy simply pulled his arms back, stretching them far behind his body as if they were made of rubber, building up tremendous potential energy.
"Gum-Gum Bazooka!"
When Luffy's hands snapped forward, they carried the force of a meteor strike. The wind pressure alone was deafening, and the ensuing impact was absolutely devastating.
BOOM!
The explosion sent smoke and debris flying in all directions, completely obscuring the battlefield. The arena fell silent, only the sound of settling dust and echoes of the massive impact could be heard.
When the smoke began to clear, Nick stood motionless in the center of the arena. His face had gone from flushed red to pale white. His cards had been completely overwhelmed, flickering before disappearing entirely.
His voice, barely a whisper, was amplified by his microphone and carried a note of dawning realization and absolute shock.
"You're not just any Lore Cardian, are you?"
The words hung in the air like a death sentence for his championship dreams.
"You're bronze level, aren't you?!"