MIGHT AS WELL BE OP

Chapter 313 Betrayal

Lucian dropped to one knee, his katana anchoring him as he struggled to catch his breath.

Every last drop of his mana had been expended.

His body refused to obey him, he couldn't move, couldn't so much as lift a finger, having poured the remnants of his energy into the soul based attack.

Yet, despite his exhaustion, a faint smile found its way to his lips.

He had finally emerged victorious over his opponent.

Not just any opponent, but Aaaninja.

At last, he had prevailed.

'The author didn't betray me'

The thought crossed his mind as a weary smile tugged at his lips.

A battle that had spanned a lifetime.

Lucian had employed the same strategy Anthony once used to defeat Aaaninja, forcing him into a fleeting moment of stillness.

However, unlike Anthony, he had not relied on the time element.

Instead, he had wielded blood.

By copying a vampire's regenerative ability, he had naturally acquired blood manipulation as well.

Yet, the stronger the opponent, the more difficult it became to control their blood, making Aaaninja's blood an immense challenge to control.

Thus, just like Anthony, Lucian froze Aaaninja's blood, paralyzing his body while leaving only his thoughts untouched.

The same outcome, achieved through a different method.

But merely immobilizing Aaaninja was not enough.

Lucian needed an attack powerful enough to render him unconscious without dealing a fatal blow.

That was why he turned to a soul-based assault.

Though it inflicted damage upon Aaaninja's soul, it was an injury that could be treated, a necessary sacrifice for victory.

'It feels good to know the author has some dignity'

Lucian mused as he finally collapsed, his body unresponsive.

Yet, despite his utter exhaustion, his grin only widened.

While he basked in his triumph, the onlookers did not share his joy.

Aaaninja had lost.

And worse, he had lost to a human.

He had just been Enlightened by the galaxy, yet even that newfound power had not secured his victory.

Disbelief rippled through the crowd.

No one could trust their own eyes.

Mere moments ago, they had been speculating about Aaaninja's inevitable rematch against Anthony in the final round.

Yet, against all expectations, he hadn't even made it past the semi-finals.

Disbelief turned to scrutiny as their gazes shifted, first to Charles Evander, then back to Aaaninja.

Both had fallen.

And both had lost to the same humans.

A shared fate, a bitter irony.

Attention then drifted toward Zachary and Nyxaria, Aaaninja's parents, anticipating a reaction, anger, disappointment, something.

But they remained unmoved, their expressions unreadable.

They didn't seem to care that their son had lost.

"I should have known"

With that, he let his eyes close, surrendering to the weight of exhaustion.

A ripple of shock swept through the spectators once more.

They had believed Aaaninja had lost, defeated, bested.

But now, it was clear.

He had been playing along all along.

A knowing smile appeared on Zachary and Nyxaria's faces.

Of course, they had never doubted their son.

They knew Aaaninja had a way to counter soul-based attacks.

A subtle shift spread through the crowd. Although many of the top races bore no goodwill toward the Celestial Race, their pride was far greater.

Watching two humans crush their elites?

That was unacceptable.

One was already too much.

But the second?

No.

Aaaninja would crush the last human in the finals.

That much, they were certain.

"Muhahaha!"

The Overseer's laughter boomed across the arena as he materialized before the audience.

"I must say... That was a good match. The true thrill of battle always lies in the unexpected"

His voice resonated with an undeniable authority, sending ripples through the stunned crowd.

With a mere flick of his hand, Lucian's unconscious body vanished from sight, disappearing as if it had never been there.

Then, turning to Aaaninja, his smile widened.

"Congratulations on making it to the finals"

His piercing gaze bore into Aaaninja as he continued, his tone laced with intrigue.

"You have lost once. I wonder... will you lose again?"

A smirk curled the Overseer's lips as he spoke.

"The final battle will commence two days from now. I hope you rest well"

And with that, he vanished, his presence fading like a wisp of smoke, yet the weight of his words remained.

Silence settled over the arena for a fleeting moment before countless gazes shifted.

All eyes locked onto two figures.

Anthony.

Aaaninja.

Expectations burned in every stare, anticipation crackling in the air like an impending storm.

This was it.

The battle that would decide everything.

_________

AUTHOR'S NOTE.

SIKEE!!!!