Chapter 67: The Tryouts (10)

Eden stretched his arms above his head and let out a quiet groan.

The battlefield around him was almost unrecognizable.

What had once been a massive stadium floor was now a chaotic landscape of floating platforms, shattered walls, broken chunks of reinforced flooring, and scattered unconscious Awakeneds. The air was thick with dust and the faint scent of burned Essence.

And yet, somehow, the worst part of the entire battle wasn’t the destruction.

It was the voice inside his head.

[You kissed her.]

Eden’s expression twitched.

’Technically, yes.’

[You kissed another woman.]

Eden scratched the back of his head.

’It was a combat strategy..?’

[You still kissed her.]

There was something distinctly irritated about Sylvia’s tone.

Eden sighed internally.

’I didn’t exactly have many options.’

[You could have punched her.]

’Her Domain would’ve made that difficult.’

[You could have kicked her.]

’Same problem.’

[You could have used Dark Matter.]

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

’I’m not using an ancient primordial power I barely understand during the first round of a public tournament.’

A awkward silence followed.

[You could have just lost.]

Eden stared blankly into the distance.

"...Are you seriously upset about this?"

[Oh no master, not at all. I am merely expressing my dissatisfaction.]

"I can feel you pouting."

[I do not pout.]

"You absolutely do."

[Master.]

"Fine, fine."

Eden rubbed his forehead.

"Sorry."

The response came almost immediately.

[You’ll make it up to me.]

Eden blinked.

"...What?"

[You heard me.]

"And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

[I’ll decide later.]

Eden stared at the broken battlefield.

Somehow, that answer worried him more than any opponent he’d fought today.

"...Fine."

[Good.]

Eden had no idea what he’d just agreed to.

He probably should have asked.

He didn’t.

Before he could think about it any further, a male voice suddenly rang out behind him.

"You’re pretty damn strong."

Eden’s head turned.

"Would you mind sparring with me?"

His eyes widened.

A red blur was already in front of him.

Jax.

Eden barely had enough time to register the crimson eyes and red wolfcut before Jax’s fist appeared directly in front of his face.

It was fast.

Far too fast for eden to react to at close distance.

Eden’s body instinctively tried to react, but there wasn’t enough time.

His muscles tensed.

His Perception screamed at him.

Yet the fist was already there.

An inch away from Eden’s face.

Maybe less.

Thankfully, a deafening horn echoed throughout the stadium.

Jax’s fist stopped.

The timer above the battlefield reached zero.

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Jax’s fist remained frozen dangerously close to Eden’s eye.

Then Jax slowly lowered it.

"...Damn."

He sounded genuinely disappointed.

Eden stared at him.

Jax sighed dramatically.

"I really wanted to fight you."

Eden blinked once.

Then twice.

’That was fast.’

Even with Corrupted Surge active, Eden wasn’t sure he’d have reacted in time if Jax had actually been allowed to land that punch.

Jax suddenly smiled and extended his hand.

"Jax."

Eden looked at the offered hand before shaking it.

"Eden."

Jax’s grin widened.

"I’ve been watching you for a while."

"That’s slightly creepy."

Jax shrugged.

"I don’t really care."

For some reason, Eden found that answer strangely refreshing.

Another series of announcements echoed throughout the stadium as the floating platforms began moving.

Slowly, the massive chunks of reinforced flooring descended toward their original positions. Walls shifted back into place, cracks sealed, and the battlefield gradually transformed back into something resembling an actual stadium.

Medical personnel rushed onto the field almost immediately.

The first round was finally over.

Across the battlefield, Lucy finally deactivated her skill.

The pink Essence surrounding her body faded away, leaving only a faint glow around her fists.

Opposite her, Luvian released his own remaining flames.

Both stood still for a moment.

Neither had won.

Neither had lost.

The area around them, however, looked like it had been caught in a natural disaster.

Lucy wiped sweat from her forehead.

"That was... exhausting."

Luvian breathed heavily.

"..."

They looked at each other.

For the entire hour, neither had revealed their strongest cards.

Luvian hadn’t used Flame Heart.

Lucy hadn’t unleashed everything Essence Accelerator could potentially provide.

They had simply fought until the timer ended.

A stalemate.

Luvian clicked his tongue.

’Damn it.’

His eyes drifted toward the other side of the battlefield.

Toward Eden.

’I couldn’t even get to him.’

His expression darkened.

’Fine.’

If he couldn’t beat Eden today, then he’d simply become stronger.

There were still two more rounds.

And he had no intention of losing to Eden again.

’I’ll train harder.’

His fists tightened.

Next time, I’ll be the one standing above him.

Several hours later, Eden pushed open the doors to the Stadiums infirmary.

The first round had ended hours ago, but the stadium was still buzzing.

Scores were being calculated.

Participants were being treated.

Reporters crowded the halls.

And hundreds of Awakeneds were discussing the battles they’d witnessed.

Eden ignored most of it.

His attention was on one particular bed.

Sophia sat against the headboard, staring at the ceiling with a mildly depressed expression.

Her black-and-white hair was slightly messy, and a small bandage was wrapped around her arm.

She had passed.

That should have been enough.

But losing to Jax that badly had clearly bruised her pride.

Eden approached.

"Sophia."

Her amber eyes immediately snapped toward him.

Her expression brightened.

"Eden!"

She sat up.

Eden held out a plastic cup.

"I brought you something."

Sophia stared.

"Iced coffee?"

"You looked like someone who needed one."

Her hands carefully accepted the drink.

Sophia smiled.

"...thank you."

She took a sip.

Her shoulders relaxed almost immediately.

"This is good."

"Right?."

She gave him a suspicious look.

"Did you taste it?"

"Nah."

’Yes.’

"Then how do you know?"

’...’

"I just do."

Sophia laughed softly.

"So confident."

Eden pulled up a chair beside her.

"How are you feeling?"

"I’m fine."

She paused.

"...Mostly."

Eden raised an eyebrow.

"So who defeated you?"

Sophia sighed.

"Jax."

’...!’

’That Redhead?’

She looked down at her coffee.

"I knew he was strong. But I didn’t expect him to completely overwhelm me like that."

"They’re displaying the rankings soon."

Her eyes immediately widened.

"Really?"

"Apparently."

She suddenly looked much more energetic.

"I want to see."

"Then let’s go."

Sophia hesitated.

"I’m supposed to stay here until tonight."

"You can walk, can’t you?"

"Yes."

"Then we’ll walk."

She stared at him for a second before smiling.

"Okay."

Eden stood.

Sophia followed.

Before leaving, Eden glanced back at her.

"And don’t worry too much about Jax."

Sophia blinked.

"Why?"

"I heard the final round is going to be one-on-one duels."

Her amber eyes widened.

"Really?"

"That’s what I’ve heard."

Eden shrugged.

"Just get stronger before then."

Sophia stared at him.

"You mean..."

"You can get your revenge."

Her cheeks gained the faintest hint of color.

"I’ll... definitely do that."

Eden nodded.

"Good."

For some reason, Sophia’s heart felt strangely lighter.

The rankings were displayed on a massive holographic screen in one of the main halls.

Dozens of participants had already gathered around it.

The moment Eden approached, he spotted a familiar face.

"Eden!"

Lucy waved both hands.

Her expression brightened instantly.

Eden waved back.

Then Lucy’s smile froze.

Her eyes shifted toward the girl walking beside him.

Sophia stopped as well.